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A beach vacation allows you to escape to the sun, let go of your worries and enjoy warmer weather in the best way. Book your hotel and plane tickets, and you’re halfway there. Before you jet off though, make sure you have the perfect beach vacation packing list for your dream getaway.
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You don’t want to arrive to the beach without your essentials. Nothing is more stressful than starting your vacation off with an emergency trip to Target. To avoid that, check out this bookmark-worthy beach vacation packing list below.
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1. Sunscreen—so much sunscreen
For a vacation that revolves around catching some rays, make sure you have plenty of sunscreen. We like Hawaiian Tropic mineral sunscreen as it blends in seamlessly without a stark white cast.
For touch-ups bring along the spray-on version so you can stay protected all day long.
Hawaiian Tropic Mineral Sunscreen for $13 at Amazon Hawaiian Tropic Sunscreen Spray for $19 at Amazon
2. A packable towel
Unless you’re at an all-inclusive resort, you’ll want to bring your own beach towel. Go for a towel that folds up into a snug package so you don’t have to worry about it taking up too much room in your suitcase.
Dock & Bay’s beach towel comes with a small pouch that your towel can be stored away in. When in use, it measures over 5 feet long so you can stretch out. It’s quick-drying so it will be ready to go whenever it’s time to head home.
3. A cute swimsuit
Avoid the terror of opening your suitcase only to realize you’ve left your swimsuit at home. Upgrade last season’s suit with something fresh. Amazon has a great variety of styles, like this chic ruffled one-piece or these classic swim trunks.
Cupshe Ruffled One-piece for $33 at Amazon MaaMgic Swim Trunks for $19 at Amazon
4. Beach shoes fit for the sand and the boardwalk
The magic of those first moments on the sand can be quickly dissipated by the scorching heat on the pads of your bare feet. Protect your toes with a pair of Birkenstock EVA sandals that are sand and water safe. These rubber shoes come in a variety of playful summer colors but are chic enough to wear out to brunch.
5. A trendy sun hat to protect your hair and eyes
Did you know UV rays can damage your hair? Keep your locks looking luscious—especially on vacation—with a cute sun hat. This bucket hat from Chok.Lids looks cute and will keep your scalp sunburn free.
6. An e-reader for that stack of beach reads
Unplug on your vacation and bring along a riveting beach read that will keep you entertained. Rather than take up space in your suitcase with a stack of paperbacks, the Kindle Paperwhite is a great beach companion.
This e-reader is waterproof so you don’t have to worry about it getting wet by the ocean. Its adjustable brightness comes in handy so you can read clearly even with the sun blazing overhead.
7. A beach tote fit for a day by the ocean
Carry everything from your hotel room to the shore with a cute carryall tote. This Ledaou tote can fit your towel, water bottle and more. On the outside of the tote are easy-to-reach pockets, ideal for storing your phone and e-reader.
As you’re packing up to leave the beach, use the tote’s waterproof pocket, where you can keep wet towels and swimsuits so they don’t get your whole bag damp.
►Related: 8 amazing beach bags to shop on Amazon for your upcoming summer getaways
8. A handy tool to get you sand-free
If you’re heading straight to dinner after the beach, you don’t want to have to sit through a meal covered in sand. Luckily the Sand-off Mitt can get off all that nitty gritty. Long gone are the days of tussling off sand with your beach towel; this Reviewed-approved mitt is super effective.
It comes with a handy carrying case so it won’t spread sand around in your beach tote or suitcase.
9. A water bottle to keep you hydrated
Even when you’re sitting by the water, you’re not going to be magi hydrated. Bringing a water bottle to the beach is crucial for staying hydrated and avoiding heat stroke. At Reviewed, we love the Brita water bottle.
This water bottle keeps water ice cold for up to 24 hours—even when you’re outside all day. It filters your water and the cover over the mouth will prevent any sand from creeping in.
10. A waterproof speaker for your summer playlist
Upgrade your beach atmosphere with a portable speaker. This JBL waterproof speaker is under $100 and is ultra-durable.
Its waterproof design means that even if it gets splashed in the waves, it won’t falter. The battery life runs up to 12 hours so you can have tunes from dawn to dusk.
11. A beach cover-up you can wear to dinner
Go straight from the beach to dinner with a cute cover-up. We like something lightweight, soft and breathable so you can air out. This Ekouaer dress fits the bill.
The V-neck and adjustable tie waist is super flattering. It hits mid-thigh so you can wear it to run errands or to happy hour.
12. Soothing lotion to calm your sun-kissed skin
Even after multiple layers of SPF, you can come home from the beach looking more red than tan. For your parched skin, bring an ultra-hydrating after-sun lotion in your toiletries. Hawaiian Tropic’s After Sun Body Butter smells like tropical coconut and will soothe burnt skin. It will leave skin glowing and keep that beach glow alive even when you’re back home.
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Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.
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