Beach vacation packing list for families
A beach trip with kids looks simple until you're three days in with one wet swimsuit each and a sunburned toddler. These lists are built around the places families actually go, each with its own weather, water, and dress code.
Kristina's notes
- Pack two swimsuits and two rash guards per child so one is always dry.
- Mineral sunscreen plus UPF clothing beats reapplying every hour on wiggly kids.
- Most resorts have a dressier dinner spot, so bring one nicer outfit for everyone.
The complete family beach vacation packing list
Beach trips look simple to pack until you're on the sand without the one thing you needed. The secret is planning for sun, water and an easy dinner out, then leaving room for souvenirs. Here is our master beach list, then pick your island or coast below for weather and tips by month.
Get the free printable checklist
Sun protection
- Reef-safe mineral sunscreen; some places, like Hawaii, ban certain sunscreen ingredients
- Long-sleeve rash guards for kids, which mean less sunscreen to reapply
- Sun hats and polarized sunglasses for everyone
- After-sun or aloe for the inevitable pink shoulder
Swim and play
- Two swimsuits per person so one can dry
- A Coast Guard-approved life jacket for little swimmers on boats; we skip puddle jumpers
- Goggles or a snorkel mask that fits each child
- Water shoes for rocky beaches and coral
- A mesh bag for sand toys and wet suits
Clothing
- Light cover-ups and linen for hot afternoons
- One easy dinner outfit per person
- A light sweater for breezy evenings and cold restaurants
- Sandals plus one pair of walking shoes
Beach bag
- A sand-free beach towel or the resort's towels if provided
- A waterproof phone pouch
- Refillable water bottles and snacks
- Wipes and a zip bag for wet clothes
Health
- Children's pain reliever, bandages and antibiotic ointment for scrapes
- Insect repellent for dusk
- Any motion sickness remedies for boat days
Family basics
- Toothbrushes, toothpaste and floss
- Shampoo, conditioner and body wash, or use the hotel's
- Leakproof travel-size bottles
- Deodorant, hairbrush and hair ties
- Glasses, contacts and solution
- Prescriptions in their original packaging
- Bandages, a thermometer and hand sanitizer
- Phones and chargers
- Driver's licenses or IDs and health insurance cards
- Credit cards and a little cash
- Flight, hotel and car confirmations saved offline
- A warm layer or light jacket for each person
- Mesh laundry bag for dirty clothes
- Before you go: hold the mail, set the thermostat, charge everything
Three mistakes we see families make
- Packing a chemical sunscreen where it's banned or harmful to reefs
- Bringing just one swimsuit per child
- Forgetting a warm layer for windy boat trips and air-conditioned dinners
Choose your destination
30A & Rosemary Beach
White sand, bike rides, and easy beach-town evenings.
Anguilla
Quiet, powdery beaches and some of the calmest water around.
Antigua
A beach for every day of the year and a deep sailing history.
Aruba
Sunny, breezy, and usually south of the storms.
The Bahamas
Paradise Island resorts, Exuma sandbars, and swimming pigs.
Bahamas: Exumas & Harbour Island
Sandbars, swimming pigs, and Harbour Island's pink sand.
Barbados
Calm west coast water, Friday fish fry, and real island culture.
Bermuda
Pink sand coves, a quick flight from the East Coast.
Bonaire
Reefs right off the shore, flamingos, and calm, quiet days.
British Virgin Islands
Island hopping by boat, The Baths, and beach bars by the water.
Cancún
Turquoise water, easy flights, and big family resorts.
Casa de Campo, DR
Golf carts, polo fields, and a calm marina beach.
Costa Rica, Papagayo
Rainforest adventure and beach days in one trip.
Curaçao
Colorful Willemstad, cove beaches, and great snorkeling.
Fiji
Warm welcomes, great kids' clubs, and reef snorkeling off the beach.
Florida Keys
Snorkeling, boat days, and Key West sunsets.
French Riviera
Nice, Cannes, and Monaco on one glittering coast.
Grand Cayman
Stingray City, Seven Mile Beach, and easy, calm water.
Grenada
Grand Anse Beach, waterfalls, and the scent of nutmeg.
Hawaii: Big Island
Volcanoes, manta rays, and black sand beaches.
Hawaii
Maui, Oahu, Kauai, the Big Island, and Lanai in one list.
Hawaii: Lanai
A quiet island with spinner dolphins and calm snorkeling coves.
Jamaica
Waterfalls, reggae, and all-inclusive ease for every age.
Kauai
Green cliffs, quiet beaches, and canyon views.
Koh Samui, Thailand
Palm-lined beaches, island temples, and warm, easy water.
Los Cabos
Desert meets sea: whales, resort pools, and swimmable coves.
Maldives
Overwater villas, seaplanes, and lagoons made for first snorkels.
Mallorca
Turquoise coves, mountain villages, and a vintage train.
Maui
Beaches, sea turtles, and a sunrise above the clouds.
Mauritius
Calm lagoons, green mountains, and a warm Creole welcome.
Mustique & the Grenadines
Private-island calm, sailing days, and empty white sand.
Mykonos
Sandy beaches, windmills, and a day trip to ancient Delos.
Nassau & Paradise Island
Waterparks, calm beaches, and a short flight from Florida.
Oahu
Waikīkī mornings, North Shore afternoons, and history.
Puerto Rico
Old San Juan, rainforest hikes, and glowing bays, no passport.
Puerto Vallarta
Banderas Bay whales, a seaside Malecón, and jungle hills.
Punta Cana
Long white beaches and easy all-inclusive family resorts.
Punta Mita
Calm bay beaches, surf lessons, and humpback season.
Riviera Maya
Easy flights, cenotes, and all-inclusive ease.
Santorini
Caldera views, volcanic beaches, and whitewashed villages on cliffs.
Sardinia
Caribbean-clear water, boat days, and soft white sand.
Seychelles
Granite boulders, giant tortoises, and island-hopping by boat.
St. Barts
French style, calm coves, and bakery breakfasts by the sea.
St. Kitts & Nevis
Two quiet islands, a hilltop fortress, and a short boat ride.
St. Lucia
The Pitons, rainforest hikes, and warm volcanic mud baths.
St. Martin / Sint Maarten
One island, two cultures, and French food on the beach.
St. Thomas & St. John
Caribbean beaches and a national park, no passport needed.
Tahiti & Bora Bora
Overwater bungalows and a lagoon full of rays and reef fish.
Thailand: Phuket
Andaman beaches, island boat days, and Phang Nga Bay cliffs.
Tulum
Clifftop Maya ruins, cenotes, and a jungle beach road.
Turks & Caicos
Calm, shallow water that's perfect for little swimmers.
Zanzibar
Spice island beaches, Stone Town alleys, and a safari finale.
Beaches packing, answered
What should a family pack for a beach vacation?
Reef-safe sunscreen, rash guards, two swimsuits each, hats, sunglasses, water shoes, a life jacket for little ones on boats, cover-ups, an easy dinner outfit, a waterproof phone pouch and a small first aid kit.
Is reef-safe sunscreen required?
Some destinations restrict sunscreens containing certain ingredients, such as oxybenzone and octinoxate in Hawaii. A mineral sunscreen with zinc oxide is the simplest choice everywhere.
Do kids need rash guards at the beach?
They help a lot. A long-sleeve rash guard blocks sun on the shoulders and back, where kids burn first, and cuts down on sunscreen reapplication.
Should I bring a life jacket for my child?
For boat days and open water, a properly fitted, Coast Guard-approved life jacket is the safest choice. We don't recommend puddle jumpers.
How do I get a list for my exact beach trip?
Choose your destination below, then set your month and your kids' ages for typical weather and what's happening that time of year.
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Kristina's edits for this trip
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I'm Kristina, and planning family trips is what I do.
As a luxury travel advisor with KM Luxe Travel, I plan the hotels, the flow of the days, and the little details, often with perks like breakfast and upgrades when available.