Beach Vacation Packing Tips

Have a great time at the Beach!

We have packing advice especially for beach travel and a vacation packing checklist for any vacation.

There are a few things you should know if you'll be spending time at the beach. Here's you'll find things you need to know to have a safe and sensational beach vacation.

A list on what to pack specifically for the beach can be found at our beach trip checklist page.

Packing Advice for Beach Travel

Our Beach Vacation Packing Tips are about so much more than packing - from sea glass to first aid on the shore it's all about having fun on beaches.

Before I buy anything I check at Sierra Trading Post. I've always been happy with their service and the prices can't be beat. If I can't find it at Sierra Trading Post, then I go looking elsewhere. This is my preferred place to buy sandals, flip flops, bathing suits and summer wear for myself and my husband.

Type something into the search box at the left - like "kid's sandals" or "women's swimsuits" without the quote symbols, and go to Sierra Trading Post.

Tips for Your Beach Vacation

• Digital Cameras ~

  Electronics such as digital cameras don't like humid environments very much.
  
  Save the silica gel packets from vitamin and medication bottles (the little things you're not supposed to eat) and tuck them in the camera case. Keep the camera in the case or plastic bag with the gel paks when you're not using it.
  
  Pack a disposable waterproof camera to take along on beach days.

• Beach Glass ~

  Frosted, colorful beach glass is beautiful and can be found along the seashore in almost every country.
  
  Display it in little glass bottles along with other tiny shoreside treasures for a beautiful memento of your trip. It also looks lovely in a shallow dish and it's porous surface holds scent for a few days if you spray or drop your favourite fragrance onto it.
  
  If you're the creative type, beautiful jewelry and window hangings can be made with sea glass.

• Beach First Aid ~

  Common sense beach safety tips for a happy healthy beach vacation.
  
  Common places for sunburn are, feet and wherever your hair parts (particularly if you get those braids or cornrows). Under your nose and chin can burn when water reflects the sun in these areas. Any skin that has been unexposed for months needs protection from the tropical sun.
  
  Cool burns with cool water. Stick to water soluble (non greasy) gels or lotions if you want to apply anything to superficial burns. Pack aloe gel or Noxema to soothe burns.
  
  The pain of Jellyfish stings can be relieved by applying vinegar, carry a small spray bottle of white vinegar in your beach bag if the jellyfish are out. Thin lycra suits or pantyhose protect against contact with jellyfish in the first place.
  
  Avoid painful stingray stings by shuffling your feet on the sand bottom when going into and out of the water. Stingrays whip their tails around, often stinging feet and lower legs when they're stepped on. Shuffling scares them away before you can step on them. Treat stingray stings by repeatedly soaking the part in water as hot as the patient can stand and offering up to 600mg of acetaminophen (Tylenol).

• Tanning ~

  Pack sunscreen. Some of you will go to the tanning salon for a few sessions before going on a beach vacation and others will use the instant tanning potions. What ever you decide, take it slow in the sun for the first few days.
  
  The instant tan potions do NOT protect you from sunburn. Your skin may look tanned... but it isn't.

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