What to pack for a beach getaway

When traveling on a beach getaway you’ll want to have everything needed to make the experience stress-free. Below I’ve included some of my favorites that you can add to your cart before your next trip.

Collapsible Water bottle

This collapsible water bottle is made of food-grade silicone, BPA Free, and FDA Approved. It’s perfect for filling with ice water then collapses easily when you’re done. Toss it in your day bag or hang it from the included metal carabiner. Click here to purchase.

Micofiber Beach Towel

A microfiber towel is essential for any beach getaway, it’s quick-drying so it’ll be ready to go when you need it. This one has an elastic band that can be used to hold the towel in place when folded or hung on a hook to dry. It’s compact, comes with a carrying bag, and sand doesn’t stick to it which we all know is the most annoying part of going to the beach. Click here for all colors.

waterproof phone case

As a solo traveler enjoying the beach is difficult, you often spend most of your time in the water looking over your shoulder to ensure your belongings onshore are still safely “hidden” under your beach towel.

These allow you to swim comfortably knowing that everything important is with you in the water at all times. It keeps your money, credit cards, and phone secure while also turning it into an underwater camera.

Not all brands offer floating cases so if you accidentally drop it in the sea you’re out of luck when it sinks. I highly recommend this one, it floats and comes in a pack of 3 colors to match any swimsuit you pack. These were also included in my post “Favorite travel items from Amazon” which you can view here

Mirrorless Camera

If you’re heading on a beach getaway you’ll want to capture every beautiful moment. Carrying a DSL camera can be a major hassle due to its size, weight, and inability to be thrown into a bag for the day. For that reason, a mirrorless camera is a great alternative since it offers superb photo quality on par with a DSLR but without the added bulkiness. Unlike a typical “point and shoot camera” this mirrorless camera (Sony a6000) has a removable lens that can be replaced with a higher-end lens for sharper images, much like a DSLR.

It has full HD 1080p video and built-in Wi-Fi. It also has wireless photo transfer which means you can transfer a photo from your camera onto your phone by placing the two devices together. I have the older a5000 version and it’s what I’ve used to take a lot of the images on my blog, unfortunately, it doesn’t have IR (infrared) which means it can’t be used with a wireless remote. If you have wifi abroad you can hook it up to that and use your phone as a remote otherwise you’ll have to use the self-timer and run back and forth like a lunatic as I’ve done for years. I recommend purchasing the a6000 which has IR and other updated features. Click here for current prices.

If you have an older model without IR this wireless shutter release includes a remote compatible with older Sony models.

Sunblock Lotion

The scent of this sunblock is divine, I like using it before leaving my accommodations because I can lather up and make sure that my entire body is fully covered and protected. When it comes to reapplying throughout the day I dread having sunblock on my hands so I use the spray version which you can find here.

Face sunblock

Finding a good facial sunblock can be difficult, most have an odd scent, are heavy, leave a white residue on the face or cause breakouts. This sunblock by Dermalogica is great because the scent is light as well as the formula. It offers sun protection of SPF50 and can be worn alone, mixed in with moisturizer or worn underneath makeup. It’s also gentle on your skin so you’re unlikely to react to it. Click here to purchase.

print sun hat

This sun hat is super cute and includes sayings like good vibes, bride tribe, just married, on cloud wine, resting beach face, and more. View styles here.

UV / UVP 50 sun hat

This sun hat offers UV UPF 50 sun protection, can be folded while retaining its shape and includes a detachable chin strap for those windy beach days. Click here to purchase.

Bikini Cover up

A cute cover-up is essential for covering your shoulders when the sun is strong or if you want to visit the beach snack bar and prefer to be discreet. This one is really cute and comes in a variety of styles which you can view here.

Bikini

The color of this bikini is universally flattering and the front tie is really feminine. If you prefer color it comes in other prints which you can view here.

There’s also this bikini that’s really popular with over 4,700 reviews and lots of styles available. If you prefer a one-piece, this one offers coverage but with sheer material in all the right places for an added bit of sexiness.

Water Sandal

These Ahnu sandals are great for exploring terrain and water. When I visited Costa Rica locals said the humidly was the highest in over a decade which left everyone wanting to wear as little clothing as possible. Sneakers and socks were not an option so these sandals became my everyday shoe from hiking down to La Fortuna waterfall, exploring around Arenal Volcano, zip-lining through the rain forest, horseback riding on the beach and swimming in the sea. The toe area and heel are closed so there’s no chance of stubbing your toe on rocks or any creepy crawlers entering your shoe.

I purchased the style Dahlia a few years back and loved them, they’ve since been discontinued however this style is similar. Click here to purchase.

My Anhu sandals also came with me to Malta and were perfect for swimming in the blue lagoon as well as exploring other islands which you can read about here.

Beach Bag

What’s a beach day without a cute beach bag? This handwoven bag has a drawstring closure to keep your valuables safe in high-traffic areas, a small zipper pocket, and comes in a variety of styles and colors. Click here to purchase.

Beach Bag for Moms

Mom’s need functionality because they know the most important part of a beach day with the kiddos is snacks. This bag includes an isolated cooler on the bottom and is leak-proof and perfect for ice packs and cold drinks. It keeps food and snacks cool for 2~3 hours and can be purchased here.

Small Rattan Purse

The floral print fabric inside of this rattan bag is unexpected and totally adorable making this the perfect accessory for every summer look. Click here to purchase.

Folding Sunglasses

I always have a pair of fold-able sunglasses on hand, they are easy to store in my bag and when worn you would never know they were half the size moments before. This pair is polarized and includes a carrying case. Click here to purchase.

If you’re a die-hard fan for Ray-Ban and refuse to wear anything else, they also make a fold-able pair that you can find here.

Bikini Bag

Once you’ve changed out of your bikini into dry clothes a bikini bag is great, it allows you to keep your bikini separate so your other belongings stay dry. I like this one because the wet suit pocket is located on the back and there’s also a top zipper where I can carry my sunblock, keys, and anything else I may need. Click here to purchase.

If you only need one zippered compartment for your wet bikini and don’t require space to store your beach essentials then this one is for you. It comes in a variety of styles and includes a wrist strap.