Beach holidays with children: from the beach bag to evening walks
A beach holiday involves more than packing for the beach. The journey, time at your accommodation, days by the water and evening activities all need different things. Thinking about them separately makes the beach bag easier to manage, too.
Find out what to expect at the beach
Are beach towels provided? Is there shade, somewhere to do laundry or space to dry wet clothes? What is the shore like, and how far will you walk to get there? These details help you decide what to bring.
Towels supplied for the accommodation may not be available for beach use. Before packing bulky equipment, check what you can use locally and what you will need to carry yourselves.
Give your beach bag its own list
- Swimwear and a dry change of clothes for everyone who needs them.
- Towels, or the beach towels provided locally.
- Hats, sunglasses, your usual sun-protection essentials and shade equipment if needed.
- Drinks, food for the day and something to clean hands with.
- Footwear suited to the shore.
- A separate bag for wet or sandy belongings.
- A few chosen beach toys.
This is a packing guide. Adapt your beach activities and the use of equipment to the conditions and your children’s needs.
Pack for time away from the beach, too
An evening walk, a restaurant meal or a cooler day may need different clothes from an afternoon swim. Choose pieces that work together and use the forecast to decide on extra layers.
When planning everyday clothes, consider laundry and drying space. Do not automatically assume everything will be dry by the next morning.
Reset the bag for the next day
Check the beach bag each evening as well as before the first day. Remove damp items, replace anything used up and set aside a dry change of clothes. There will be fewer things to remember in the morning.
In Packing What, you can keep track of clothes by traveller and list shared beach equipment under the trip’s items. Alongside your own family rules, you can ask for extra suggestions based on your planned activities.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a new list for every beach day?
Not necessarily. Reuse a list that works for you, checking it daily and replacing anything used up or still drying.
How can I make the beach bag smaller?
Check what equipment is available locally and choose just a few toys. Match the bag to what you plan to do that day.
