TRAVEL | What To Pack For An Active Beach Holiday – Essential Tropical Packing List

September 6, 2018 Shell Robshaw-Bryan

Adventure Travel, Luxury Travel, Our Adventures, Sponsored posts, Travel

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After getting back from a recent diving trip to Mexico I decided that now was a great time to share my active beach holiday packing list with you. Scroll down for my ready-made beach holiday packing list!

Active Holiday Packing List Considerations

The first thing to consider when packing, obviously, is the type of holiday that you’re going on, it goes without saying that a winter snow holiday packing list is the total opposite of a beach holiday packing list!

I’m not one for lying around doing nothing, so holidays for me mean exploring, snowboarding, diving, snorkeling, swimming, kayaking, and occasionally relaxing with a good book.

When it comes to holiday activities I like to take my own gear with me whenever possible, and whilst in most resorts you can hire what you’ll need, I much prefer using my own trusted gear so always make sure my baggage allowance allows me to take everything I’ll need.

**Sunblock and insulated mugs are a holiday must-have!**

Before my most recent Yucatan diving trip I did a fair bit of holiday shopping, not least because I felt like treating myself, but practically speaking I’d dropped a dress size so genuinely needed some more beach-appropriate clothing.

I spent hours trudging around the shops hoping to find everything from the perfect pair of shorts that didn’t make me look a) frightful or b) like I live in a trailer park (yeah, that didn’t happen) to a gorgeous maxi dress. Instead of shorts I ended up buying to a couple of pairs of linen trousers from my local Gap outlet. Back at home online, I also got myself a gorgeous maxi dress(yay!) and a pair of beach pants from Apricot.

**Shatterproof Magic Mirrors make a great travel companion!**

Although I’m no longer considered ‘plus size’, shopping for nice summer clothes and beachwear can be difficult if you are above a size 14, so I’d previously found places like ASOS really good (though I find quality can be hit or miss), whilst for guys, shopping somewhere like Jacamo is a great bet, especially when shopping for things like swim shorts.

When it comes to luggage I usually take either my American Tourister Spinner suitcase or the much larger Osprey Transporteer case and for flight luggage use either my Mia Tui Jennie travel handbag, or my brilliant Lifeventure Kibo travel backpack.

Packing flight bag — **What do you pack in your hand luggage?**

My Active Beach Holiday Packing List

Sports/Fitness Packing

Snorkel, mask & flippers
Swimsuits x 2
Rash vest (avoids a burnt back when snorkeling all day long)
Water shoes
Animal Nova shortie wetsuit & O’Neill Reactor wetsuit
Trainers
Gym leggings
Sports bra
Swimming goggles for getting in serious lengths in the pool
Workout top
Micro towel

Entertainment & Electrical

Charging cables
Go Pro
Go Pro mount & float
Camera, lenses & spare batteries
Lenovo Yoga tablet
Books/Kindle
Travel plugs/adapter
Earphones
Phone stand
Waterproof Braven 405 bluetooth speaker
Varta power bank

Essentials

Passport (well d’uh!)
Prescription glasses and/or sunglasses
Airport parking reservation
Travel insurance details
Holiday/flight/hotel booking details
Travel cabin bag
Foreign currency

Clothing/Footwear

Beach pants x 3
Underwear
Nightwear
Linen pants
Vest tops x 3
Shurg/cardi x 2 (for cooler evenings)
T-shirt x 2
Cotton crinkle top
Maxi dress
Sun dresses x 3
Sun/beach dress x 3
Beach cover-ups
Toms or other light canvas shoes
Birkenstocks
Teva sandals
Sarong
Flip flops

Travel Outfit

Denim jacket
Converse high-tops
Beach pants (elasticated waist, super comfy for flying in!)
T-shirt
Hair/headscarf
Sunglasses & case

Toiletries & Cosmetics

Shower gel
Toothbrush & toothpaste tabs
P20 SPF50 sun protection spray (not to be used when swimming near coral reefs)
Hawaiian Tropic Aftersun
Shampoo
Conditioner
Body butter
Face cream
Lip balm
Mascara
Coloured eye liners
Pressed powder
Baby oil
Supplements
Alka Seltza, Paracetamol, Ibuprofen, Imodium instants & Gaviscon
Jungle formula bug spray
Antihistamine bite cream
Hair brush
Ear plugs
Nail clippers
Tweezers
Shaving razor

Random stuff

Beach bag
Hydroflask reusable water bottle
Magic Mirror mini travel mirror
Buff, hair bands & hair bobbles
Earrings, bracelets & necklaces
Osprey dry bags in various sizes

DISCLOSURE: This post has been written in collaboration with Jacamo but is all our own original thoughts and content. You can find out more about our sponsored post policy here.

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Shell Robshaw-Bryan

Editor & Owner at Camping with Style

Shell loves all things travel and outdoors and is a nature-loving, comfy-camping kinda girl. Shell started the Camping with Style blog after a serious snowboarding accident which left her with a broken back. Despite this she used the outdoors and healing power of nature to aid her recovery and she continues to spend time outdoors whenever she can.

From open water swimming, snowboarding and kayaking to hill walks and meditation, Shell shares her travels and microadventures here on the blog and in various publications she's written for, Shell has a particular interest in promoting wellbeing and the many benefits of nature therapy.

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