Often, it is the winter clouds hanging grey and heavy above you, or perhaps the glimpses of flora that spring brings about – that sends you day-dreaming of sandy beaches, balmy evenings and lazy days in the sunshine. Whatever your stimulus, make planning that well-deserved trip a priority, it is the best way to unwind and destress; it is good for the soul.

Before you can jet-set towards the horizon and fully relax, there’s one important question you need to ask: “What should I pack for my trip?”

Summer holidays are all about fun in the sun, so you just need to pack accordingly. Many people love packing for a beach holiday, it marks the start of their vacation. Others find this to be a daunting task and tend to leave it until the very last minute when there’s the propensity to forget many of the essentials.

It’s easy to overpack and end up with a bag full of clothes you will never wear, or to under-pack and be scrambling to find something suitable.

Whether you love it or hate it, we’re here to help. We’ve done the hard work and listed everything you should consider for a beach holiday, allowing you to arrive at your destination feeling relaxed, refreshed and suitably stylish. From sunscreen and swimsuits to insect repellent and hats; follow our ten top tips for ‘packing like a pro’ and you’ll be good to go.

As all airlines now charge excessive fees for hold luggage, travelling with solely your hand luggage has become the norm and is an obvious way to keep costs down. It forces you to really think about the items you’ll need and doesn’t leave room for anything superfluous.

The style of luggage you choose is very much about your personal preference. Some may prefer a pull-along suitcase particularly if carrying heavy items; or like ourselves you may favour a rucksack. We find it easier to throw a bag on our back and have our hands free to chase our son through a busy airport or navigate cobbled streets without the awkwardness of a suitcase in tow.

The most important consideration when purchasing luggage is that it is within the airlines hand luggage size restrictions (they all vary) and that it is lightweight so you can pack more holiday goodies and not go over the weight constraints.

If purchasing a rucksack we would recommend the: Snugpak Sleeka Force 35L Rucksack. We’ve had this bag for many years so fully endorse Snugpak, finding this brand to be reliable and durable with its heavy-duty nylon outer fabric, whilst being lightweight. It is extremely comfortable with padded shoulder straps, and is the perfect size at a generous 35L. It even has an extra waterproof cover compactly folded beneath the bag, should you find yourself in heavy rainfall or an exposed boat in the tempestuous sea – as we did in Thailand!

With regards to carry on cases, we love the Eastpak Tranverz L Suitcase. Again, this case is very durable, with padded compartments for laptops. It has sturdy wheels, a trolley handle and padded bottom should you be carrying heavy items. This can also be used as a rucksack, as it has a comfy quilted back with padded shoulder straps. A versatile bag that gives you the best of both worlds.

• • Rolling your clothes instead of folding them conserves space and helps prevent creases in your clothes. It’s a win-win! My husband is always astonished at how many items of clothing I have managed to pack.

• • Other space-saving suggestions are to place smaller items into very conceivable nook and cranny your bag has to offer – items such as socks and pants can slide into your shoes, hats etc. You can go to the extreme of using Vacuum Storage Bags to compress clothing if space is paramount.

• • Cabin-only luggage requires that liquids are limited to 100ml, so you will need to ensure that all toiletries are travel size and packed into transparent Ziploc bags. Select compact bottles and remove all outer packaging.

• • If using a suitcase, Packing Cubes are great for keeping your clothes organised and wrinkle-free. They also help prevent overpacking by giving you a visual representation of how much space you have left to fill in your case.

• • Wear your heaviest items on the plane, such as bulky trainers or a thick jumper, so they don’t take up valuable space in your luggage.

• • Leave room for souvenirs! Make sure to leave some extra space in your suitcase when packing for holiday goodies. We usually attach any additional shoes in a separate bag and tie this to the outside of our backpacks to make room for souvenirs.

There are so many things to consider when selecting clothes and shoes for your trip, such as what activities will you be doing? What’s the weather going to be like? Before you know it, you’re ambitiously attempting to squeeze your whole wardrobe into one cabin case! Realistically, you’ll have a few key items that you will end up rotating, so avoid the temptation of overpacking.

This is why we always aim to pack a capsule wardrobe for our holiday travels. A capsule wardrobe (for those that are clueless), is a small collection of versatile clothing in either a neutral colourway, or a palette of tones that complement one another – that can be mixed and matched to create multiple looks. With just a few key pieces teamed with accessories, you can travel light and still have endless outfit options to look unique in all your holiday selfies – that will take you from daytime adventures to evening drinks effortlessly.

Here are our favourite ten tips of items to consider:

1. A Casual Dress. This is perfect for sightseeing and lunch dates. Opt for a style that can be dressed up or down with different accessories and shoes. I love H&M’s black cotton, lightweight t-shirt dress, as its simple, yet stylish and will keep you cool and comfortable in the heat.

A Plain T-shirt is the equivalent for the guys. As this can be dressed down with swim shorts for a casual daytime look or smartened up with some dapper linen shorts.

2. Sportswear. I love to wear sports clothing on a daily basis, as it’s super comfortable and breathable, so perfect for hot climates. Women’s brands such as Sweaty Betty and Lulu Lemon with their gorgeous prints, allow you to take to the streets looking effortlessly stylish and feeling relaxed.

3. A Long-Sleeved Top. Layers are essential for any trip. Even if you’re travelling somewhere warm, it’s always good to have an extra layer to hand. A jumper or cardigan is useful should the temperature dip at night, or the air-conditioned restaurants, museums and airports leave you shivering.

Ensure you wear short-sleeved items underneath a long-sleeved top or jacket, so you can strip off easily and adjust your clothing according to the temperature.

I usually pack a lightweight long-sleeved top such as the Sweaty Betty Tori Drawstring Top, as the Spandex fabric is super comfortable and flattering. This can easily be rolled up and stored in my carry-on bag or worn around my waist. That said, I have not needed to utilise this in the Caribbean due to the consistent warm weather; but it’s useful to have one item for when you disembark the plane to cooler temperatures when returning from your holidays.

4. A Waterproof. Even if venturing to hot climates, there’s always a chance of a tropical showers – so you can be prepared by carrying a foldable jacket such as a Mac in a Sac. This is compact, lightweight and can be conveniently attached to the outside of luggage if you’re short of space.

5. Swimwear. A must-have for any summer holiday. Whether you’re planning on spending lazy days by the hotel pool or hitting the beach, you will find that you live in your swimwear. For this reason we always take a couple of choices to alternate.

We recommend a rash vest if going to hot climates such as the Caribbean, as it provides added protection from the strong midday sunshine. Marks & Spencer and Next provide many good quality options for children’s swimwear.

Brands such as Freya, provide supportive swimwear with fashionable prints that look great when peeking out from beneath a beach cover up.

6. A Beach Cover Up. A scarf or sarong is a versatile, multipurpose summer essential that can be used as a beach cover-up, an impromptu beach blanket, a towel or even worn as a scarf or shawl on cooler evenings. Ideally choose one in a neutral tone and pattern that will compliment your capsule wardrobe.

I also love to throw on a long-sleeved beach shirt, that can be worn as a dress to help protect you from the intense sunshine when required and you can comfortably stroll from one beach bar to another without feeling exposed.

It’s worth packing a travel towel should you have space, as your hotel may not allow you to take towels to the beach. We recommend Lifeventure Recycled Soft-Fibre Lightweight Towel. We also love the Dock & Bay Poncho/Towel for kids.

7. A Hat. Is a great way to protect your face and head from the sun, whilst providing some much-needed shade. If you don’t own a hat, now is the time to invest in one and it’s a must for kids. Here’s a Sun Hat from Splash About which protects the eyes and neck and is quick drying.

A Panama or large-rimmed hat is good for keeping the sun off your neck and face, although it can be cumbersome to pack. I prefer to use a cap as its more compact and easier to attach to the outside of your luggage.

8. Comfortable Shoes. You’re likely to be doing a lot of walking on your holiday, so make sure to pack two pairs of shoes that won’t leave you with blisters at the end of the day. My go-to shoes are always a pair of trainers and some sandals that can also be worn with evening wear. My favourite brand currently is Ancient Greek Sandals with their multiple strap designs in tones such as gold for an added touch of glamour.

I would caveat that in very hot climates such as the Caribbean I would forgo the trainers in exchange for cushioned sliders such as Nike’s Victori One, unless I have hikes or sporting activities such as zip lines planned that will require closed-toe shoes.

9. Sunglasses. These are the most important accessory you will need for fun in the sun. It is important to keep your eyes protected at all times from the brightness of the sun to reduce the risk of sun damage to your eyes.

We always opt for polarised sunglasses as they are the best protection and look pretty cool too. Classic brands such as Ray Ban are great if you have the funds to treat yourself. But we often opt for cheaper brands as polarised lenses can get scratched very easily, so we tend to replace them regularly.

10. Accessories. I love to buy local jewellery when I am abroad: bracelets made up of local seeds and symbols – so I don’t take too much away with me. I always pack a statement necklace, earrings and a few additional bracelets to accessorise and transform daytime casual to evening chic.

If taking a beach bag, this can double up as your handbag for the trip. Ensure it is large enough to carry a beach towel, extra clothing, water bottle, suncream etc. We prefer to use a local reusable shopping bag – as it is less obvious that you may be carrying expensive items, thus less chance of theft whilst you go for a paddle!

Before you jet off, make sure you pack some essential gadgets to ensure you keep connected and capture some wonderful memories. Ensure that you place electrical items where you can easily access them, as you will be required to place them in a tray during airport security checks.

• • A Universal Travel Adaptor such as MyTravelPal ensures all electrical items can be charged allowing you to use devices to navigate your way around new towns and cities and capture the sights along the way. As it is universal, you don’t need to do any research prior to travel to ensure you have the correct adapter for the country you are visiting. It is also convenient if you have a few stop offs, so it gets the thumbs up from us!

• • Camera – A high definition camera will help you capture memories that will last a lifetime. For most people, a mobile is sufficient to shoot on the go which is the most convenient and space-saving option. For those budding photographers, you may want to take a professional SLR camera with its various lenses and tripod etc, but this equipment can get heavy and take up valuable space. Should you be committed, it will be totally worth the investment! GoPro’s are great for action holidays to capture you doing numerous sports: from surfing – to cycling – to climbing, Even the underwater footage is of excellent quality with the newer models. As it’s small and lightweight, you can conveniently squeeze this into luggage without much effort.

• • A Waterproof Case – If you do not have the budget for a GoPro, a case for your mobile is an affordable way of converting your mobile into an underwater camera. You will be able to capture marine life easily, but the quality will not be as good as the GoPro. The waterproof casing also protects the phone from grains of sand and beach debris that may get into the device if you are on the coast. We purchased the Yosh Universal Waterproof Case.

• • A Portable Charger – A useful gadget to pack is a portable charger. Whether you’re sightseeing or just relaxing on the beach, chances are you’re going to be using your phone frequently, so will require extra battery life. The Anker Power Bank portable charger is a great way to keep your phone charged and avoid those dreaded “low battery” notifications.

• • An E-Reader – If like me you get restless when sitting on a beach, a book is the perfect solution. However, books take up valuable space in luggage, so the answer is an E-Reading device such as the Kindle. These devices are small, lightweight and can contain numerous titles to ensure you’ll never get bored. Personally, as I hold a UK library account I have downloaded the Borrow Box App to my mobile, which allows me to download library titles, This way I do not have to carry as many devices when travelling and the content is free. But you will be limited to the range and availability of titles which is the only downside.

• • Headphones – A useful travel gadget, as you can listen to music, podcasts etc whilst on long journeys, in airport lounges and chilling on the beach. Apple Airpods Pro Second Generation are worth the hefty investment, as not only do you get a richer audio experience, they boast next-level active noise cancellation, so you can avoid noisy distractions around you. For kids, the POGS headphones come recommended for comfort, robustness, music sharing and they have an inbuilt noise limiter to ensure ear drums are protected. They are available as bluetooth and wired – which is preferable so you don’t need to worry that they are charged whilst on the move.

There are strict rules about how much liquid you can take on a plane so make sure that there are no items over 100ml before packing them into your carry-on case. Each person is permitted one transparent small sandwich size bag each. As there is a requirement to place all liquids into a tray during airport security checks, we advise that you pack toiletries at the top of your bag for ease of removal. Here are some other tips:

– Buy slimline travel bottles to dispense your own products into, this way you can use your favourite products when away and save money, as travel toiletries can be expensive.

– Opt for solid versions of any toiletries that may spill or leak, such as soap bars and deodorant sticks.

– Be careful with liquids and make sure everything is secure and will not leak during transit. Ziplock bags are great for this – pop all toiletries into them. The bags are also handy for any loose jewellery items so they won’t get lost.

• • Sunscreen: No matter how much time you spend in the sun, it’s important to protect your skin from harmful UV rays. Be sure to pack an SPF value dependent on weather, skin type and age; as well as a lip balm with SPF to protect your lips. The most effective suncream we have used is Riemann’s P20 SP50. It is a triple protection suncream that is a clear, lightweight, quick-drying spray that keeps you protected for up to 10 hours with only one application. It remains water resistant up to 80 minutes in the water. So great if you are navigating back and forth from sea to sun lounger. We just apply this once and it keeps us protected all day.

• • Insect Repellent: Nothing can ruin a perfect summer day quite like pesky bugs. Whether you’re dealing with mosquitoes or sandflies or likely both, be sure to pack insect repellent to keep them at bay. We recommend REPEL wipes and Off! Active spray to be the most effective repellants. Whatever you purchase ensure it contains Deet.

• • An Electric Toothbrush – with several brush heads for the family is a good space-saving idea. But remember to take a charger, as the battery will run low very quickly if you are all using the same device. We like to use Oral-B Pro 3000 Electric Toothbrush as it has a timer and bluetooth connectivity.

• • First Aid Kit: You never know when you might need a plaster, antiseptic wipes, Ibuprofen, or Insect Bite & Sting Relief Antihistamine Cream. If travelling with kids I always pack some Calpol Paracetamol Sachets for fever and pain relief. It’s always better to be safe than sorry, so be sure to pack the essentials – just in case!

Seasoned travellers know that one of the keys to a successful trip is packing light. But when you’re headed to the beach with the kids in tow, that can seem like an impossible feat. So we’ve put together the ultimate beach toy list to help you make the most of your time by the water.

• • Snorkels – If you’re heading to clear waters such as the Caribbean, a full face snorkel is a must! Our son loves to terrify everyone in his Shark Snorkel Mask; it has given him the confidence to swim further out into the ocean and be able to see an abundant of tropical fish and turtles. For adult snorkels we recommend Decathlon or Amazon’s Panoramic View Full Face Mask. Both have been tried and tested by us!

• • Pool Noodles – a versatile foam tube that can be used as flotation devices or impromptu fencing for sandcastles. They’re great for providing extra confidence to both kids and adults to feel safe in the sea. They can be wrapped around luggage often.

• • Inflatable Pool Loungers – a transparent design is great for relaxing for both adults and children alike and also snorkelling for little ones that will be able to see what is beneath them should the water be clear. Another appealing fun item for kids would be a Great White Shark Inflatable, Arlo never tires of playing with this in the pool.

• • Waboba Splash Ball – is small so can be packed easily and provides hours of fun skimming the water or playing various ball games in the sea.

• • An Aerobie Pro Frisbee is incredibly lightweight, its flat shape means you can easily slip this into hand luggage. It will help keep everyone entertained in parks and on the beach.

• • Bucket n Spade – Kids love digging in the sand, so be sure to bring along a shovel and bucket for building sandcastles or searching for seashells. We love the Scrunch Bucket as the tactile silicone material allows you to roll it, scrunch it or fold it into baggage.

• • Water Guns – are a a hit with kids. We have found that Zoggs Foam Water Blaster is the best quality water gun of its kind and relatively small and lightweight to be packed.

• • Net – Fishing is fun, whether it be catching tadpoles, starfish or scooping up a heap of coral and shells – a small Fishing Net with Telescopic Pole will keep inquisitive kids occupied for hours, leaving you time to sip on your Pina Colada in peace. 

Staying cool is key in the heat, even if you’re just lounging by the pool all day, it’s important to drink plenty of water to stay hydrated. If you have space, ensure you pack a reusable water bottle so that you can rehydrate on the go and it will save you from purchasing drinks regularly. The Aladdin Sports Thermavac™ Stainless Steel Water Bottle is my bottle of choice, a great quality sustainable brand that keeps your drinks cold for 10 hours (35 hours with ice), so perfect for the tropics.

If travelling with children, do not forget to pack some snacks. Vacations can often be unpredictable with a lot of waiting around and other countries may not have the array of sugar-free, healthy snacks we are accustomed to in the UK. so it is unpredictable what kids will consume – particularly if you have a fussy eater like Arlo. So, it’s always better to have something to nibble on than have them go hangry. Non-perishable snacks like granola bars or nuts are always a good option.

Check what documents are required for the destination country, and ensure you have all the relevant travel documents such as passport, visas, immigration forms, boarding pass, COVID vaccination record and travel insurance information.

We like to have printouts as well as placing items electronically in our Apple Wallet, just incase we lose our phone. It’s easier for airport staff to check documentation when printed, but not so green I’m afraid!

And finally, relax and enjoy your holiday. No matter how much, or how little luggage you have with you, the most important thing is that you have a good time and destress. So what are you waiting for? Get packing!