Your Ultimate Tropical Vacation Packing List: Beach vacation essentials + Packing tips
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With so many of you headed on vacation soon for spring break and summer, I thought it would be beneficial to share a full packing guide with all my must have beach vacation travel essentials. As someone that loves organizing, I actually find packing somewhat fun. Especially when I’m packing for a tropical getaway!
I love putting together cute beach outfits, buying new sandals, organizing everything. It makes me so excited. So for those of you headed to a tropical destination soon – this is for you! Sharing my beach vacation packing list below with my top recommendations for SPF, beach totes, sun hats, tanning lotion and more!
Luggage + Packing Necessities
Carry-On Luggage – Calpak is one of my favorite brands for high quality luggage and travel accessories. Their Hue Carry-On is one of their best sellers. It’s expandable up to 2 inches, functional in design and has built in TSA locks.
Packing Cubes – these make organizing your suitcases so easy. I love Calpak’s 5 piece set. The pouches are made of mesh fabric and they’re durable and high quality. Amazon has a more affordable packing cube option (under $25), but I’ve heard the quality isn’t as great.
Truffle Clarity Clutch – I own a few sizes of Truffle’s clarity clutch, and they’re all great. I use the large Clarity Clutch for all my skincare and facial products when traveling. It’s TSA-approved and roomy enough to fit all my full size products. The clutch features Saffiano leather trim with a gold plated zipper, and I love the slim design. It’s the perfect size and doesn’t take up a ton of space in my suitcase!
I use the small Clarity clutch for my electronic devices, chargers, AirPods, etc. It keeps everything organized and in one place!
Wet / Dry Bag – I always keep a small waterproof bag in my beach tote so I can throw any wet clothes or swimsuits into it!
Clear SPF Pouch – it’s a good idea to use a separate bag for your sunscreen, so that your beach bag doesn’t get all sticky and gross! My clear pouch is from JM Customs and I’m obsessed. It turned out so cute. I chose to have SPF written on my bag, but you can customize it to have your initials or whatever you’d like! Jaysa (the owner) is so sweet and can work with you to create yours!
Tropical Vacation Essential Items
Sunscreen – I should probably make an entire section of this post on SPF because it’s THAT important. If you’re going to be spending most of your vacation out in the hot sun, you need to have plenty of sunscreen on hand.
Best Spray Sunscreen – The Coola Classic Sunscreen spray is my go-to for days at the pool/beach. I use it for my arms, legs and stomach. It’s super lightweight, so you won’t feel sticky or tacky, and gives off a slight shimmer. The Peach Blossom scent is my favorite – I can’t even describe how good it smells!
Best Natural Sunscreen – Edible Beauty’s award-winning, natural and reef-safe sunscreen is back in stock! This is one of my all time favorite SPF’s. It provides SPF50 UVA/UVB protection, contains beauty-boosting botanical actives like Kakadu Plum and Vitamin E, for added hydration and collage boosting effects, and leaves absolutely no white cast on your skin. Also safe for pregnant women and newborns.
Reusable Water Bottle – you’ll want to pack a water bottle that will keep your drink cold for hours, especially in the hot weather. This stainless steel MiiR bottle is vacuum insulated and leakproof. Toss it in your beach bag without the stress of it spilling or heating up before you can drink it.
Beach Towels – these Dock + Bay beach towels are quick drying, super absorbent and sand-free. Shake them and all the sand immediately falls off! They’re also made of 100% recycled materials and have an elastic hook, so you can hang them to dry.
Beach Blanket – ThulaTula creates the most beautiful heirloom blankets that are sustainably and ethically made in South Africa using the finest materials. Seriously, these are our favorite blankets! They’re designed for both indoor and outdoor use, so we love taking them to the beach with us because they’re large (60×80″) and super comfy. ThulaTula also works hard to empower and enhance the South African rural communities by providing well-paid jobs, warmth and water.
Miscellaneous items to pack: hand sanitizer, waterproof phone case (for photos underwater), bug spray, water shoes, small first aid kit, good book to read on your beach trip (I’m currently reading Atomic Habits).
Clothing + Accessories:
Bathing Suit – Target and Aerie are always my go to retailers for affordable, great fitting swimsuits. I did a Target swimsuit try on a few weeks ago on Instagram sharing my favorite bikinis and one-piece suits this season. If you want to see how a few of the suits fit, I’ll link the try on here. I’ve tried ordering a few swimsuits from Amazon, but I haven’t found any that I absolutely love.
Wide Brimmed Hat – Both of my sun hats are from The Shade Collection, a female-owned small business on the north shore of O’ahu that creates beautiful island accessories and handmade coconut palm hats! Their hats are absolutely gorgeous and perfect for providing shade while you’re at the beach. Their Islander sun hat is one of my favorites! It’s made from tightly woven papyrus and has an adjustable band to ensure a comfy fit. The Crownless Maile is another favorite, made from 100% straw and inspired by ancient Hawaiian art.
Beach Bag – Seriously, how cute is this tote!? I had my beach tote designed by JM Customs, just like my SPF pouch! Jaysa is my go-to gal for all my customized accessories. She does makeup bags, totes, bridesmaid gifts, bracelets, and more. She just released this leopard print tote the other week and I LOVE it. It’s so large and roomy, perfect for the beach or traveling!
Sunglasses – Can’t forget your sunnies! DIFF recently came out with sunglasses in size XS for those of us with smaller faces and I am SO happy. It can be so hard to find sunglasses that don’t slide down my nose. The Bella XS Black Grey shades are one of my favorites.
If you’re looking for a more affordable option, WMP Eyewear is another one of my favorite brands to buy sunglasses from. I love their line of eco-friendly Willow frames made from recycled ocean plastic!
Pair of Flip Flops – I just bought these pearl studded jelly flip flops and they’re so cute! If you want to elevate your average beach flip flops, these are under $20 and can be worn for a day at the beach or dressed up for a nice dinner.
Denim Shorts – I always pack a few denim shorts so I have options. These distressed Curve Love High Rise Mom shorts and black High Rise Mom shorts are some of my favorites.
Other Clothing Items to Pack: Light jacket, tank tops, swim coverup, face mask, pair of sandals, one pair of jeans, sundresses, formal wear
Beauty Essentials
Lip Balm – my lips always get dry when I get too much sun, so I always pack my Coola Liplux SPF30. Keeps my lips smooth and hydrated for hours!
Ice Roller – a MUST HAVE beauty tool. Every woman needs an ice roller. If you haven’t heard about the benefits of ice rolling, I’ll give you a quick break down. Ice rolling reduces puffiness, redness, and inflammation, tightens your skin and boosts lymphatic drainage. I always pack my ice roller for beach trips, because after a long day in the sun, the cooling sensation feels amazing.
D-Bronzi Sunshine Drops – My secret to a natural, bronzed glow, without the sun damage! I mix 1-2 drops with my Virgin Marula Facial Oil and apply to my face and neck. It’s perfect for days that you don’t feel like wearing foundation, but still want some color!
Cleansing Balm – this makeup melting butter instantly removes any makeup, dirt or sunscreen, including water-resistant formulas. Great for after the beach!
Other Beauty Items to Pack: Waterproof mascara, aloe vera, shampoo + conditioner, self tanner, face oil, body lotion
Okay! I think that’s everything. I hope you found this beach packing list helpful! Have an amazing trip!
Other posts you may like:
- Secrets to Healthy, Glowing, Sun kissed Skin
- Ultimate Road Trip Packing List: 50 Car Ride Must Haves
- 100+ Fun, Silly + Thought-Provoking Road Trip Questions
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