Last Updated on February 19, 2026 by Eve Dawes
Your vacation packing list must haves
Beach trip and vacation essentials for the pool, beach, romantic meals and exploring. All of the beach clothing essentials, fashion, accessories and skincare you need for mood boosting summery look. I’m so excited to be able to travel again this year as it’s one of my husband and my favorite things to do. Him for beaches, me for culture, food and exploring. This beach vacation packing list is part fashion for the perfect pics and part practical to avoid sunburn and over exposure. Vacation often means a more laid back, summery style and time to play with colors and flowy fabrics. You’ll notice a lot of items on repeat in the images as I’m all for packing as light as possible and leaving room for vacation shopping.
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Your beach trip essentials | Style icon edit
Beach Glam
Get some beach vacation outfit inspiration and make sure to check everything off this beach trip essentials while packing.
16 Fashion Vacation Essentials
A quick check list for your beach vacation packing list fashion and footwear. Not including beauty, makeup, passports, etc.
- Swimwear
- Giant sun hat
- Slide sandals
- Beach tote
- Gold jewelry and layering pieces
- Sunglasses
- Glow Screen SPF & primer in 1
- SPF top/rashguard
- Aftersun care
- Rompers or clothes for exploring
- White dresses to show off your bronzed glow
- Day to night bag
- Self Tanning drops
- Espadrilles
- Pareo/cover up for beach and plane
- Aquasocks if there’s coral, rocks or you’re planning on doing watersports
1. Beach trip essentials | Swimsuit
What would a beach vacation packing list be without a swimsuit or 10, unless you’re visiting a nudist beach. There’s so many stylish swimsuits and bikinis but when in doubt a simple black swimsuit is elegant and flattering vacation essential. Plus it looks gorgeous styled with gold jewelry and oversized cat eye sunglasses.
After a year of luxe athleisurewear being in trend, glam looks are ever so welcome. Check out these stunning designer swimsuits and bikinis for the chicest looks for Summer.
2. A giant sun hat that’ll survive your suitcase
Avoid getting too much sun exposure and keep your rosé cool under this giant sunhat. This one rolls up so you can see when you want to walk and also to throw it in your luggage without worrying about crushing it or carrying it on the plane. Plus it makes a stylish photo prop.
3. Beach trip essentials | Poolside flats
If you’re trying to cut down on the amount of shoes you pack, pretty much any of these will work for the pool, beach, walking and meals. Slides are the multi tasking vacation shoe that’s more lightweight and summery than sneakers. These are the top 50 slides from luxe to luxe for less, pool and beach friendly or the trending style.
Otherwise, fresh white sneakers are an option if you don’t mind a more casual look and are planning on lots of walking or have short connections between flights.
4. Beach tote
One of the must have beach vacation essentials! The beauty of a beach tote is their size and that you can use it as a carryon. There are so many stylish options it’s hard to choose.
Consider where you’re going before buying. Sometimes a designer tote is out of place and other times it’s all just part of the jet set scene. Here are the best 50 beach totes to suit every budget and destination.
5. Gold jewelry
Gold layered necklaces, hoop earrings and bangles take am ordinary vacation outfit to stylish and golden goddess status. If you don’t normally wear gold, try it. It really compliments a tan more than silver.
6. Beach trip essentials | Sunglasses
I always take at least 2 pairs of sunglasses with me. 1 designer pair for lunches and walking around cities, etc and one for the beach that I don’t care if they get scratched or lost.
Beach Vacation Essentials For Your Skin | Sun Protection
We’ve covered the fashion but just as essential is the sun protection and hydrating skin care for long days in the sun, sea, chlorine and AC.
7. Supergoop Glow Screen SPF 40 face & SPF for the body
You can’t go on a beach vacation and not take sun protection. SPF is at the top of most peoples vacation packing list, unless you’re going for the lobster look.
If you don’t want to wear makeup on the beach but want a golden glow this face sunscreen is perfect. It leaves skin even toned and glowing without leaving a white film or being sticky. I’m not a fan of glow screen for the body as the body version is a bit sparkly but Coola is another cruelty-free brand I love.
I also like an SPF setting spray or SPF powder if I’m wearing makeup on vacation or at the pool or beach to keep my SPF topped up throughout the day. All of these are Supergoop as I like using products from the same line as they’re normally designed to work together.
As with most SPF setting/refresher sprays they do smell a little of alcohol due to the ingredients and can tingle when you first spray, it’s completely normal. If it bothers you, go for the SPF powder instead.
8. Beach trip essentials | Cute long sleeve SPF top or rash guard
This is one of my top beach clothing essentials. No matter how much sunscreen I wear, I always seem to catch the sun on my chest on the first day. This top is a great vacation essential for the second day so that you can still be outside but not get anymore sun as well as for water sports and snorkeling. I always go for long sleeve rather than cap sleeves so that I don’t end up with weird tan lines.
9. After Sun Care
Don’t forget the hydrating after sun lotion on your vacation packing list. Coola does a lovely one thats also 70% organic.
10. For The Explorer | A neutral coord set or playsuit
Rompers aka playsuits are a comfortable option for exploring and walking. I’ve included 2 bag options, as sometimes a belt bag is a safe option for exploring places that are busy like market places and leaves your hands free for eating ice cream and shopping.
11. Beach Vacation Essentials | Romantic Evenings
Nothing looks better with a tan (real or fake) than a summery white dress. One that’s stylish and flowy as flowing material looks so gorgeous especially on breezy nights. You’ll look like a golden goddess.
12. Day to Night Bag
Use your day bag if you’re going more low key or add some classic chic for a more upscale dinner with the trending Bottega Veneta purse or similar padded bag. Accessories and bags have the power to completely change an otherwise simple look.
13. Beauty Vacation Essentials | Tanning drops
If you self tanned before you left these are great for keeping your tan topped up during your vacation so you don’t go through that awkward fading unevenly tanned phase. I use Tan Luxe tanning drops the whole time to cheat my holiday tan as I don’t sunbathe.
Tanning drops are much easier to use than fake tanning solutions and friendlier on the hotel sheets. They’re also smaller to pack.
14. Espadrilles
I tend to look at the instagram of the resort I’m going to get a feel of what girls are wearing and the dress code. Most of the time, unless you’re going to a city, heels end up unworn. Cobblestones in Europe, laid back in the Caribbean, etc. Espadrilles and wedges are the answer, they give height but are less likely to give you a broken neck.
Jet Set | Stylish and Practical Beach Clothing Essentials
I’m always cold on the plane and in the hotel AC so a coverup that doubles as a wrap is perfect. Throw it over a jumpsuit so that you can sleep in comfort and comfortable but fashionable slides so that if you have to run to the gate you can.
15. Beach Vacation Packing List : Cover up | Pareo
Another multi tasking beach vacation essential for your packing list. Use it on the plane when you get cold when going from the beach to lunch and poolside and on cool evenings.
16. Aquasocks or watershoes
Aquasocks might not be the sexiest footwear but if you’re planning on snorkeling, watersports or the beaches are rocky you’re probably going to want to add these to your beach vacation packing list.
Vacation Essentials – Check!
Now that your beach vacation packing list is covered, you can check one more thing off of your vacation essentials check list.
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