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Summer is such a great time for vacation! Whether you’re planning an exotic beach getaway or a fun lake house weekend, we’ve got you and your travel needs covered!
Giant Sun Visor
I am not a big hat wearer because my head gets hot and I have a lot of hair but sometimes I need the shade on my face. This package visor is PRETTY large and creates a nice circle of shade covering your chest and a little of your shoulders. I like that I can wear my hair up in a bun or pony tail as well. I have had this for a few years and its held its shape well and is pretty cute if I do say so myself.
Waterproof phone case
Sure your phone is waterproof but its not a great idea to submerge any electronics in salt water. I always find myself wanting to snap a photo once I get in the hot tub or ocean but I don’t want to accidentally drop my phone so I wear it around my neck in this waterproof case that also floats. It says it takes photos underwater but they always come out fuzzy when I have tried.
Water Sneakers
Having water shoes is great if the beach ends up being rocky or having sharp coral pieces on the shore. Also you never know if you will need to climb a few rocks to jump off a fun cliff. I have water sandals but with my sensitive feet they tend to rub blisters. These sneakers are like wearing water socks with a hard bottom with holes that drain the sand and water easily. I truly love them! They also come in a ton of colors.
Snorkel Set
I love nothing more than snorkeling and checking out all of the wildlife in the ocean. It sounds like it might take up a lot of space but it really doesn’t. I love bringing my own snorkel so I don’t have to worry about borrowing one from the hotel. If I am going to the beach, you will see me back my snorkel and sometimes fins to help me be able to stay out there even longer. Just don’t forget to sunscreen up your backside because last time I roasted the backs of my thighs losing track of time!
Dry Bags
Changing clothes at the beach or packing up before your swimsuit fully dries? Use one of these dry bags to keep the rest of your stuff safe. I throw these in our beach bag and pack our wet swimsuits for the trip home.
Scalp Sunscreen
I don’t know why but there are very few scalp sunscreens out there. After reading tons of reviews with some bleaching people’s hair, I chose this more expensive one from Coola. If you have thinner hair or keep it parted while outside, its worth it. Nothing is worse than a burned scalp that peels later!
Insulated Water Bottle and Electrolytes
I always carry an insulated water bottle on the plane to keep hydrated. I hate drinking too much and having to get up a lot on the plane so I drink an electrolyte tablet dissolved in a glass of water. The ones from Nuun come in a little container that do not take up much space and are easy to travel with. They also come in handy if you drink too much wine in the sun one day. I have been taking them for years and they are a must pack for me.
Games
I always throw in a deck of cards and a few games to our beach bag. I think having something to do at the beach, at a bar, or even at the airport is much more engaging and fun with your travel partner instead of scrolling on our phone individually. Games I recommend that do not take up a lot of space are Qwixx and The Game.
Toiletries in Smaller, Lighter Containers
One of my favorite weight and space saving hacks is using small, light spray bottles, small leakproof pods, larger pods, and squeeze tubes for all of my toiletries. I have a dedicated skincare routine and I do not want to let it go while traveling and I also don’t want to lug around full size products in different sized containers. Nothing brings me more joy while packing than seeing my favorite products fit easily in this nice TSA approved zip bag. I also find I need to wash something on a trip so I carry a few of these small packets of detergent.
Bug Repellant Wipes
Don’t want to waste room in your toiletry bag with bug spray? Bring a few of these avon wipes that don’t smell bad and are actually good on your skin. People swear by these and they worked the few times I have tried them. They don’t take up much room and are easy to carry around.
Wine Stain Remover
I love vacationing in areas with a nice wine region and when I do I bring a small bottle of this incredible wine stain remover any time we plan to go wine tasting. I am that person that can’t wear white without spilling red wine on it and this saves me! It also smells weirdly good..
Plug Adapter
I carry this plug adapter even when I am not traveling internationally because it has 4 usb outlets and 1 usbc allowing me to plug in my phone, watch, headphones, external charger, and kindle using only one outlet. You never know how accessible the hotel will be and I find this keeps me from letting any of my devices. If you are traveling abroad, this one adapter covers quite a few countries with no pesky pieces to switch out like some adapters. Just make sure it works for where you are going! (Also remember this just adapts the plug shape and does not convert the voltage so make sure your devices are built for the voltage of where you are going.)
Sound Machine
I used to be able to sleep through anything but as I get older I have become more noise sensitive. Since you never know where your hotel room will be and how soundproof it is, traveling with a nice loud white noise machine will help cover the sound of those slamming doors or people talking loudly in the halls. This one has 20 sounds to choose from including fan sounds and white, brown, and pink noise so find your fav. It also has dual voltage so you can take it internationally and it’s a nice compact size.
Dual Voltage Hair Tools
Just because you buy a plug adapter, it doesn’t mean you can plug whatever you want in it! The USA uses lower voltage meaning you will fry your hair tools plugging them into most other country’s outlets. I bought an expensive voltage converter and I still lost my beloved hair straightener I had for 10 years when I was in Greece. So don’t do this unless you know it can handle the higher voltage! I use this curling iron and this waver when I travel abroad because they are designed to handle 110 to 220 volts and you don’t even have to push a button or do anything. Most electronics like phones are built this way too since they are sold all over the world.
Luggage
I did a lot of research and really wanted to spend money on one of those fancy bags that stalk me on Instagram and TikTok but found this Samsonite bag kept coming up in top performing bag lists. They come in some fun colors and look just as good as those fancy bags we have all seen. I am so glad I went with them because the spinner wheels work great, it is light and holds a lot, and it got a scratch which is going to happen but I didn’t cry because I didn’t spend a fortune on it. I bought the full size bag as well even though I’m a dedicated carry on girl.
Eyebrow Dye for My Light Haired Friends
I am not someone who wears make-up to the gym but I do like having a couple good photos of myself from a trip which I find challenging at the beach after swimming a bunch. One of my hacks is to dye my blonde eyebrows before I go to give me that little bit of color and frame my face in pictures nicely. This is the only dye kit I have found that is easy to use and doesn’t dye my skin.