I always seem to forget something and realize as soon as we’re too far to turn around…
But referencing this list is the perfect way to make sure you pack everything you need for a beach trip! This packing list is appropriate for several days at a hotel, motel, or condo, aside from meal planning.
Plus, I’ll be packing zero-waste, all-natural products with me to the beach. I’ve partnered with Elegant Rose Boutique on Etsy and did receive these products as a gift, though my opinions on them are genuine!
Clothing
Before I realized you can mix and match your tops and bottoms while on vacation, I found myself over-packing my bag full of clothes I never managed to wear.
When packing to leave, it always came back to bite me.
Here’s how I keep my bag from overflowing with an entire wardrobe:
- 1-2 dressy outfits (dresses, rompers, etc)
- 1 pair sandals
- 1 pair of comfortable walking shoes
- 2 pairs of shorts
- 1 pair of pants or capris
- 3 shirts/tops
- 2 extra pairs of socks
- 2+ sets of pajamas
- Plenty of extra underwear!
- 1+ extra bra
- 1+ extra bathing suits
- 1 light jacket or hoodie
- 1 pair of sunglasses (not expensive ones!)
- Minimal inexpensive jewelry
This is enough clothing for 5-6 days depending on if you have a washer available to you. In that case, you can make it last much longer! Be sure that you have extras of the essentials: socks, bras, and underwear.
Toiletries
The bathroom is the easiest place to start with zero-waste products. I didn’t want to use plastic bottles for my shampoo and conditioner while traveling, so I opted for bar shampoo and conditioner! I even managed to get my first-ever tooth powder AKA zero-waste toothpaste!
I can’t believe how easy it was to make simple switches to travel less wasteful! Here’s what I’m bringing in my toiletry bag:
- Face wash
- Deodorant
Regardless of whether the ingredients in your deodorant are labeled as toxic or not, adding any chemical to our waterways is going to have an impact on the environment. I am switching to organic, all-natural deodorant while at the beach so I feel good about what products I’m wearing in the water.
I’ve been trying out the Citrus Bliss deodorant by Elegant Rose Boutique, which you can check out here!
The scent of this deodorant is gentle and it isn’t an overbearing perfume smell. I enjoy the citrus burst as it isn’t too strong but it keeps you smelling fresh!
- Bar soap
Bar soap is a great alternative to bringing a large bottle of body wash, and it’ll get you just as squeaky clean!
- Toothbrush
- Toothpaste
I have always had to be diligent with my oral care because I am prone to getting gingivitis. I always pay special attention to what products I use and what foods I eat as both of these are important factors in tooth health. For example, I don’t drink coffee often as I already have weak enamel and it’s prone to staining!
Using mineral toothpaste is a great way to strengthen your teeth without contributing all those plastic tubes to your local landfill. I hate how most toothpaste comes in a wasteful, single-use plastic tube and some brands have harmful chemicals listed in their ingredients. I am so excited to bring this mineral toothpaste from Elegant Rose Boutique to the beach with me and avoid using harmful chemicals on a daily basis.
This toothpaste is a nice peppermint flavor and it doesn’t take much to get your teeth squeaky clean. I’ll be sure to share my results as I continue to use this product!
- Hair/nail oil
- Bar shampoo
- Conditioner
This is probably the easiest way to save space packing for vacation. When I have taken family vacations in the past, I remember my mother packing everyone’s shower supplies in one big, heavy bag. The bottles would take up so much space they could easily add another bag to our trip.
Using bar soap is perfect if you are traveling in groups since you won’t have much room to pack all your belongings! Who wants a whole bag of toiletries when you can slip these anywhere in your bags?
I was a little afraid to try bar conditioner on my natural hair, but I’ve had great results with how these feel on my scalp and curls.
They leave a very clean feeling and I smelled super fresh afterward. The Campers soap has some great natural bug repelling properties too, which I know we need in my area!
- Aloe (if you burn easily!)
- Lotion
- Sunscreen
This is another great product that is extremely useful but can sometimes be made with harmful chemicals. Switching to an organic or all-natural sunscreen marked as Reef-Safe will eliminate any chance of leaving potentially harmful chemicals behind.
- 1 towel
- 1 loofah/washrag
Miscellaneous
These are just a few more items I deem “essential” for my trip. My reusable water bottle is a must-have for sure and I can never forget my scrunchies to save my curls from the raging sun and salt water!
- Speaker
- Wallet + money for the trip
- Phone + charger
- Reusable bottle
- Backpack
- Scrunchies
- Medications you take
- Vitamins
Everyone has their own needs and I recommend altering this list to fit your beach trip better, but use it as a guide to remember the essentials! If you’re prone to leaving things by accident, I also like to use my packing list when I am about to leave for home so I don’t forget any of my belongings.
I’d like to thank Melissa from Elegant Rose Boutique who provided me with the wonderful bar soaps, deodorant, and toothpaste that allowed this trip to be more zero-waste than I ever thought it could be!
Check out her beautiful Etsy shop where you can find all her products, here!
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