Hey there, fellow travelers! Today, we’re talking about beach trips. Most of our trips are pretty active, exploring far-away countries and cities, but every once in a while, we long for fun beach vacations. We’ve had some great beach vacations all over the world. Whether you are traveling with friends or family, spending a week at the beach, or just a day, these are some things you should NOT do on a beach vacation.
Don’t Forget to “Go” Before You Go
Depending on the beach you are visiting, there may or may not be public toilets. Do your research ahead of time and make sure you go to the bathroom before you go to the beach! Even if there are public toilets, they might not be the cleanest, so be prepared.
Don’t Get Burned
It’s so easy to get a sunburn when you spend a day at the beach. But it’s also not that hard to protect your skin and avoid sunburn. Every beach trip packing list should include high SPF sunscreen. And don’t forget to reapply it throughout the day. Even if it’s waterproof, you still need to reapply. A bad sunburn is not only painful, but it can ruin some of your vacation plans.
*Depending on where you are traveling, be sure to use “reef-safe” sunscreen that won’t damage the ocean life
Don’t Overpack
Make it easy on yourself by packing light. There’s always one family that is loaded to the gills with wagons, coolers, and backpacks full of beach furniture, toys, and games. Truthfully, kids will have fun at the beach with just about anything. You don’t need to bring a ton of stuff to the beach. It will just stress you out and exhaust you when you are hauling it around looking for the perfect beach spot.
Beach Trip Packing List for Turks & Caicos
Don’t Forget Drinks and Snacks
If you’re going to be at the beach all day, you do want to have some drinks and snacks on hand. Depending on the beach you visit, you might be able to buy these things, however, prices and options will vary quite a bit. If you’re in the States, be prepared to spend top dollar for a soda and a bag of chips at the beach. Sometimes, it’s better to just bring your own. Rather than packing everything in ice, just freeze your water and juice bottles the night before so you’ll have cold drinks and you won’t have the extra weight of ice.
*Skip the glass containers for your drinks and snacks. Glass + bare feet do not mix!
Don’t Litter on the Beach
Now, we’re sure none of our readers would intentionally litter, but accidents happen. A wind gust can send your trash particles flying all over, or sand can bury some of your trash out of sight. I recommend digging a little trash hole in the sand and lining it with a grocery bag to keep your trash in one place. This makes cleanup easy and leaves the beach nice for the next visitors.
Don’t Forget Beach Etiquette
Use common sense when you are at the beach. A little bit of common courtesy can go a long way. Don’t shake your beach towels and spray your beach neighbors with a bunch of sand. Don’t blast music right next to your neighbors, and if you are listening to music, try to be respectful of young ears. Try to spread out if possible rather than setting up right on top of another party. And don’t take up more space than you need!
Don’t Feed the Wildlife
This is especially true for seagulls. Once you feed seagulls, they will never leave, and more and more of their friends will show up for free food. It’s never a good idea to feed any kind of wildlife. They lose their fear of humans and can lose their ability to hunt for food.
Don’t Ignore Warnings
If the beaches have red flag warnings or posted signs, make sure you adhere to them. If the lifeguards tell you not to go into the water, then don’t go into the water. Whether it’s riptides, high surf, jellyfish, sharks or even high pollution levels, there’s a reason they tell you to stay out of the water. It’s for your own good.
Don’t Mess With Riptides
Riptides are a hidden danger at many beaches. The water can seem perfectly calm, but strong riptides can exist under the surface. People try to fight the riptide and they get exhausted. If you get caught in one, you have to swim parallel to the shore until you are out of the riptide. Again, heed the warning signs, especially when it comes to riptides.
Don’t Expect Every Beach to Have a Lifeguard
While many public beaches have lifeguards, not all of them do. If you are traveling with kids, they are still always your responsibility. Even if there is a lifeguard, they are focused on the entire beach, not just your kids.
Don’t Forget Beach Shoes
Walking barefoot on sand can be very hot, so we always make sure everyone in the family has beach shoes. Whether it’s flip-flops or water sandals, you need something to protect your feet from hot sand and sharp items that are lurking in the sand. Not all beaches are sandy. Many beaches in the Mediterranean are pebble beaches, so you really need a good water shoe that will cushion your feet.
Don’t Be Ashamed to Bring Your Own Beach Gear
Many people take a beach vacation once a year and just buy or rent gear upon arrival. If you visit the beach often enough, there’s nothing wrong with having dedicated beach gear that you bring along. Saving money is always a good thing, and when it comes to things like snorkel gear, it’s nice to have your own that you are accustomed to using.
Best Advice for Traveling with Kids
Don’t Forget to Bring Waterproof Bags
You can purchase dry bags or special waterproof cases for your electronics and wallet, but oftentimes, a Ziploc bag is good enough. You just want something to keep the water and sand out of your wallet, cell phone, and other electronics.
Don’t Forget Baby Powder
We always keep a small container of baby powder in our beach bag or in the car. Baby powder is our secret trick for getting those last bits of stubborn sand off your skin before you get into the car or the house. It works great and keeps your car and house clean!
Don’t Expect Easy or Cheap Parking
Depending on the beach you visit, you might have to drive around a bit before you find a good parking spot. You might find easy parking, but it won’t be cheap. And if you find cheap (or free) parking, it’s probably not going to be super easy to reach the beach. This is something to think about when choosing your beach accommodation. Sometimes it’s worth it to spend a little more to be within walking distance of the beach and save yourself the hassle of parking. Do NOT park where you aren’t supposed to; you will get towed!
Don’t Miss Out on Non-Beach Activities
While you might plan your vacation around the beach, make sure you explore the other things to do in the area. A few days at the beach are usually enough for us before we want to explore other options. You can rent kayaks or jet skis for the day, go fishing, or explore nearby museums. Always have a rainy day plan in case your beach day gets rained out.
Don’t Forget to Make Dinner Reservations
If you are traveling to a beach town during high season, you’re going to need dinner reservations as the best restaurants will be very busy. After a long day at the beach, the entire family will be hungry and exhausted, so the last thing you want to do is wander around trying to find a restaurant that doesn’t have a two-hour wait time.
Don’t Forget to Try on Your Swimsuit Before You Leave
If it’s been a while since you have been in your swimsuit, you might want to try it on before vacation. Just to make sure it still fits! You don’t want to get to the beach to find out your trunks are too small, or your swimsuit has become threadbare and see-through. Otherwise, you’ll end up spending a lot of money on a new swimsuit at an overpriced tourist shop.
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I hope this helps you start planning a trip to the beach with your friends and family. If your beach trip runs smoothly, you’ll be more likely to start a tradition and take more beach trips! Do you have favorite destinations for beach getaways? Tell us about it in the comments! Looking for more travel tips? Check out some of our other blog posts: