From soaking up the sun to relaxing in a hammock under a palm tree whilst listening to the calming sound of breaking waves, beach holidays are perfect for relaxing, re-charging your batteries and getting some natural Vitamin D. But before you start throwing things into your suitcase, take a moment to consider what you will need, especially when you are a woman travelling solo and have no one else to watch over you or your belongings. If that is you, then your beach holiday packing list should include some extra items that you might not have thought of.
Our beach holiday packing list for the female solo traveller
Our solo holiday packing list for the female traveller includes everything from safety items to beach necessities for a fun and safe beach vacation. So, before you start packing, check that you have all of the following items for your single holidays on the beach:
High factor sunscreen
Sunscreen may be an obvious item, but it remains one of the most important items on this list to avoid sunburn on holiday. Apply it liberally and often, especially if you are fair-skinned, because there is no one else to point out your shoulders or nose turning red. Find a waterproof, broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30. If you can find a tinted sunscreen, all the better as you can be sure you don’t leave any patches of skin out by accident. Reapply every two hours, or more often if you are swimming or sweating. Pack a sunscreen stick for easy re-application on the face, and don’t forget to pack lip balm with SPF as well.
Hats and sunglasses
Sunhats and sunglasses are equally essential for protecting your skin and eyes from harmful rays. Your sunhat should be wide brimmed providing shade for your sensitive eyes, face, and ideally your shoulders, too. If you have several pairs of sunglasses and hats, all the better. After all, you don’t want your beautiful beach hat to fly off whilst you are zip lining. So, grab an extra pair of sunglasses and hat, for both practical purposes and to look stylish in every situation.
A good quality cooler bag
If you want to stay safe and avoid heat stroke whilst travelling solo, take a good quality cooler bag that will keep your food and drinks chilled all day long, whether you’re lying on the sand or taking a dip in the sea. It’s important to choose a bag that is big enough to accommodate all of your food and drink for the day but not so big that it becomes cumbersome to carry, such as a Lifewit cooler bag. Be sure to pack plenty of snacks, drinks, and a lunch if you plan to spend the day at the beach. Fruit and vegetables, which contain a lot of water, such as melon work are great foods as they also keep you hydrated. Cereal bars and bananas are also good snacks, if you want to keep your blood sugar from dropping.
Insect repellent
Insect repellent is another essential item for any beach holiday packing list. Mosquitoes and other insects can ruin a perfect meal or good night’s sleep after a day at the beach. If you are heading somewhere tropical, be sure to pack insect repellent that contains DEET or picaridin. Apply it liberally and be sure to reapply it every few hours. If you prefer a more natural approach, you could try lemongrass essential oil products instead. You can even get patches that you can attach to the inside of your clothes to deter mosquitoes.
Depending on your holiday destination, you could – for added protection – pack a mosquito net to sleep under at night. And don’t forget to pack some insect bite relief cream in case you do get bitten after all. And don’t forget, insect repellent is not just for mosquitoes. It can also protect you from ticks, fleas, and other insect bites, which could lead to more serious illnesses – something vulnerable solo travellers should avoid at all costs.
Selfie- stick
If you haven’t got one yet, go and buy yourself a selfie stick. There is nothing more boring than countless beach photos, and pictures taken at a weird angle because your arm is too short. With a selfie-stick you can take full body shots and the great view. Selfie sticks also reduce shakiness that you can get from a tired arm. Best of all, they mean not having to ask for help and risking a stranger running of with your most important holiday item.
Portable Charger
There is nothing worse than your battery dying, which in this day and age will contain your boarding pass, contact details of your airport transfer, accommodation, GoogleMaps, camera, and so much more. For your own safety and convenience, it is wise to pack a portable power bank and charging cable in your luggage. They take up little space but can power up several of your travel gadgets including your mobile phone when you travelling abroad or are out and about on a day trip.
Anti-theft beach and travel bags
Whether it’s a travel scarf or a money belt, make sure you have a travel bag with built in safety features that is theft proof both for your journey, the beach, and any sightseeing you are planning to do. This can be a cross body bag with lockable zipper and plenty of interior pockets for valuables or a more sophisticated slash-proof bag with cut-proof shoulder strap and RFID blocking pockets to stop digital theft. When you travel solo, it is even more important to ensure that your money, documents, and valuables are safe.
Even if you are only taking your room card and your phone to the beach, since there is no one else watching your belongings, a waterproof pouch that can hold both, are a great idea. If you prefer to leave your items behind, consider a portable combination safe that attaches to your sun lounger. Best of all, it looks like a water bottle!
The right beachwear
One of the advantages of travelling solo without family is that you can travel lightly. This saves money on your flight booking and time at the airport. Packing a capsule wardrobe is a great way of travelling lightly. Fortunately, beach holidays don’t require you to pack many layers, but a bikini alone won’t do it if you are a slightly more mature solo traveller. You will want floaty cover ups, midi skirts, palazzo pants and possibly a one-piece swimsuit with slimming features, such as body sculpting, chest support, or ruching in the waist area. Whether you travel completely solo or are in a group setting on one of our singles holidays for the over 60s – it’s important to find the beachwear that’s practical, appropriate and chic, so that you feel 100% comfortable, even if you have put on a few extra pounds during COVID.
Holiday packing can cause quite a headache, especially for female solo travellers. Which bag or bags to bring and which items to pack or leave behind suddenly has more significance, as there is no back up person who might lend you their adapter or sarong when you have left your own behind in the holiday packing frenzy. Our packing list includes just a few helpful hints of the items female solo travellers should consider bringing, but we hope they are useful in getting you started with your beach holiday packing list!
