Travel Tips

What to Pack: Your Summer Holiday Essentials

Posted on by Sally McMahon

Ready for your summer holidays? Make sure you’ve packed all of your summer sun essentials before you go.

Overhead view of a young woman packing her suitcase with summer holiday essentials.

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After a chilly Spring, are you feeling ready for a summer holiday? I know I am!

I usually like to spend my holidays either travelling to a new city or by the sea. But sometimes you can’t beat a few days of relaxation, lounging by the poolside and sipping on something cold.

Whether you’re planning a city break or relaxing in a villa in the country, there are some essentials that you’ll need to pack for every summer holiday.

These are some of my favourite summer packing list essentials to throw in your case.

Sunscreen and Skincare

A young woman sits at the side of the swimming pool and applies sunscreen liberally.

This one is a real essential, and should be the first thing you pack for any trip. If you’re going to be spending time by the water, the UV rays will be even more intense than usual. 

So make sure to put on plenty of sunscreen with the right SPF for your natural skin tone. For example, if you’re fair skinned, you will need a higher SPF than if your skin is naturally olive. And if like me, you have tattoos, don’t forget to cover them up with a high SPF sunscreen or sunblock, to keep the colours looking bright.

Remember to apply your sunscreen generously and reapply regularly, especially if you’ve been in the water.

Many of the high street stores have special offers on sunscreen from  Spring onwards, so shop around for the best prices.

After sun is also important, as the sun will really dehydrate your skin. I like to use Palmers cocoa butter to keep my skin soft, and an aloe gel is very cooling if you spend a little too long in the sun.

Sunglasses

A pool lilo, sunglasses and a sunhat - some of the essentials for a summer break by the pool.

Sunglasses aren’t just a fashion statement, they’re also really important for the health of your eyes.

Your eyes are very susceptible to damage from UV, so it’s important to protect them. And that’s even true when you’re sitting in the shade poolside, because the UV rays will bounce off the water.

So be sure to check that the sunnies you buy have lenses with UV filter on them. There should be a sticker or tag on them saying if they do.

It might be tempting to buy a cheaper pair of sunglasses, but the health of your eyes is worth the investment. Choosing luxury sunglasses with certified UV protection and high-quality lenses can help safeguard your vision while also offering better durability and long-term value. 

Eye Drops

Did you know the air inside an aeroplane is drier than the Sahara Desert?

That explains why our eyes get so dry and itchy when we’re flying to our holiday destination. So it’s worth popping a bottle of eye drops in your carry-on, especially if you’re flying long-haul.

TheraTears make an excellent range of eye-drops, formulated with ingredients like hyaluronic acid and aloe vera to keep your eyes feeling comfortable and looking bright. Most of the range is contact-lens friendly, so you can refresh your eyes without needing to remove your lenses.

The range includes TheraTears ScreenEyes, ideal for everyone who spends hours sitting in front of a computer screen. There’s even a Theratears 50+ designed for those of us in perimenopause or menopause – yes, dry eyes is another symptom to look forward to!

Fresh juicy watermelon decorated with heart-shaped pieces of watermelon, pomegranate, and a sprig of mint

Good Hydration

No, I don’t mean a great cocktail list!

Obviously, it’s lovely to be sipping on a cold cocktail or mocktail as you float around on your pool lilo. But it’s even more important to keep hydrated on a poolside holiday.

Your body will already be getting dehydrated by the hot sun, and alcohol will dehydrate it even more. So give it some help by drinking enough fluid. If you pop a water bottle in your suitcase, it’s easy to make sure that you’re keeping hydrated.

Do check that tap water is safe to drink in your holiday destination. If in doubt, refill your bottle with mineral water.

Chilly’s water bottles are great because they’re reusable and made of stainless steel, so they’re BPA free. They keep cold drinks cold for 24 hours or more, or you can use them to keep hot drinks hot for up to 12 hours.

And with different sizes and a range of fab colours, you’re sure to find the perfect Chilly’s bottle to suit your needs. Click here to check prices and colour availability on Amazon.

But you don’t have to stick to plain water for your hydration. Tea and coffee, mocktails and soft drinks also work, or you could cool down with an ice lolly or some chilled fruit.

If you’re going abroad for your summer holiday, always check if the water is suitable for drinking, and stick to bottled water if you are unsure.

A young woman enjoying the summer sun in a bikini, coverup, sun hat and sunglasses.

Swimsuit or Bikini

If you’re planning a beach holiday or booking a hotel, you’ll need to pack something to wear in the water. Of course, the decision of whether to opt for a one piece swimming costume or a bikini is entirely up to you. I’d recommend taking at least two with you, so that you can wear one while the other is drying.

My thoughts are that you should wear whatever makes you feel happy and comfortable. But make sure to pack something to cover up when the sun is at its highest and UV rays at their most intense.

A a cover-up will help to keep the sun off your shoulders when the sun is at its strongest, and a summer hat is great for keeping the sun off your eyes and the back of your neck.

A Good Book

A good book is always a travel essential for me, but even more so if I’m going to be relaxing by the pool for a few days.

I like to take my Kindle with me, so that I can load it up with plenty of books to choose from. But it’s always fun to pick up a new paperback in the airport as well.

If you’re not already an Amazon Prime member, why not sign up for a 30-day free Amazon Prime trial?

As well as Unlimited free premium shipping for millions of items, you’ll get 5GB storage space for photos using Amazon Photos (fab for your holiday snaps!) and free streaming of millions of songs with Amazon Music Prime.

As a Prime member, you’ll also benefit from free lending of selected e-books.

If you’re looking for inspiration for your summer holiday reading, check out some of my Summer book suggestions.

Where would you like to be spending your summer holiday? What are your Summer Holiday essentials?

Sally McMahon

Sally McMahon is the owner and editor of The Getaway Guide. She loves exploring new places, enjoying good food and writing about them here on the blog. When Sally isn't travelling or writing, you'll find her out and about in her beautiful home county of Shropshire, training for her next 10k race or hard at work on her Master's degree course.

263 thoughts on “What to Pack: Your Summer Holiday Essentials”

  13. Krupa says:

    I’m looking to go in on holiday in October / November time, just before my maternity leave ends. I’ve been researching winter sun and have found Oman to be quite interesting and cheaper than Dubai, yet just as luxurious.

    It will be our first gangly holiday with my baby boy, so I’m not sure how much relaxation I shall get, but I’m super excited to make some memories!

    Reply
  14. Martina Pichova says:

    I would love to go somewhere exotic like Morocco… but Cornwall seems more likely option this summer.

    Reply
  16. Steph Louise Gibson says:

    I will be sunning myself up in Majorca this year and hopefully a cheeky Canaries break in October . I always take a good book and I need some No7 in my life too

    Reply
  18. Christine Taylor says:

    I’d love to be sunning myself in sunny spain, luckily it’s all booked for two weeks in august ;) x

    Reply
  20. Nicola S says:

    It would have to be somewhere sunny, by a pool and very private. Good food and wine would also have to be very important.

    Reply
  25. DonnaK says:

    Fabulous prize for summer. Possibly might manage a holiday to Italy this year, hoping it’ll be sunny in the UK though!

    Reply
  42. Jackie says:

    I’d love to enjoy the sun in my beautiful garden, if I need to go and find the sun then I would probably head for one of the greek islands.

    Reply
  60. Rachel Craig says:

    Guernsey. May well be nice for sunshine, events, restaurant meals etc. Some years since I last visited Guernsey.

    Reply
  84. Kim Carberry says:

    We’re moving house soon to somewhere with a garden so I will be quite happy with that after not having a proper garden for years!

    Reply
  105. Carol Thomas says:

    Presently I am on holiday in Kefelonia where we come every year and have been for 13 years. You can leave Kef but it will never leave you. 80% of the visitors yearly are returning visitors

    Where else would I like to go in the world? Hmm tricky as we have done alot of the inexpensive bucket list. I guess New Zealand would be the one

    Reply
  110. Lorna Ledger says:

    I would love to go to Hawaii, it seems like such a beautiful place, with an amazing culture, people, food, eco system and traditions, I would like to experience an action packed day there with everything the island has to offer, finishing off with a bonfire at the beach!

    Reply
  115. Ruth Harwood says:

    we had planned to go to Portugal, but had to cancel due to the operator, who gave full refund, so we’re saving for a last minute break hopefully somewhere nice like Greece or Spain xx

    Reply
  146. Jade Jones says:

    I would love to be going to turkey with the cousins this summer and the 2 stepdaughters but as im high risk pregnancy im not allowed to fly so this year ill be chilling by the canal, in the park and at local events with family

    Reply
  156. Rebecca Salmon says:

    Anywhere other than my back garden, I broke my heel 2 weeks ago and I’m house-bound for another 5 weeks!!!!

    Reply
  163. JULIE FOSTER says:

    Hello Sally My Favourite Place To Be Sunning Myself is in The Dominican Republic , It So Beautiful There , Hot But Breezy , So I Need good Sun Protection , To Cover Up When I Can And Have Lots Of Fluids Too . Same as in the UK where I’m Usually Found Out In My Garden . Thank You for a Fantastic Giveaway . Xx

    Reply
  164. Maria F says:

    My absolute summer essential? A large Mojito. Then it doesn’t matter where you are or what the weather is like!

    Reply
  178. Josephine Pett says:

    I’d like to be sunning myself with my family in corsica. I’ve heard that it’s a beautiful island ️

    Reply
  182. Sandra Fortune says:

    Not going away during the summer just some day trips but will be sunning myself in the garden . Love boots no 7 my favourite products

    Reply
  199. Kerry says:

    My dream would be Iceland but the only sunning myself I’ll be doing will be looking after the plants on my allotment unfortunately.

    Reply
  207. Carly Belsey says:

    I am lucky enough to live near a beach so this is the place we will be sunning ourselves as a family this year

    Reply
  210. Christine Hobbs says:

    Sorrento on the Amalfi coast just down from the delights of Pompeii. Italian food hot sun and beautiful views How TANtalising

    Reply
  219. Kay Broomfield says:

    I’d love to return to Costa Navarino in Greece. We had the best family holiday there a couple of years ago!

    Reply
  229. Paula Tarling says:

    I’d love to go on an aeroplane anywhere! I love holidays. Unfortunately funds aren’t available for a holiday abroad so we will be in Woolacombe this summer x

    Reply
  243. Adrian Bold says:

    We’re off to Rome in August for a family holiday. We haven’t been to Italy before so we’re very excited about it!

    Reply
  246. Fiona jk42 says:

    I’d love to go somewhere really exotic such as Tahiti, however I’m more likely to be at a beach local to us in the Wirral!

    Reply

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