Lately, I have even found myself rushing to the beach for barely 24 hours. Beach holidays have changed for me. I no longer think of them as week-long holidays that need months of planning and a suitcase full of clothes. Long weekends work. Regular weekends work. Sometimes, that is genuinely all you need. What has changed along with these shorter trips is the way I pack for them. My ultimate beach packing list is actually quite long, but the clothes themselves are very simple. Cotton trousers, shorts and multiple T-shirts that I can mix and match form the base.
Because spending two days by the sea and coming home with sunburnt arms is not my idea of a successful beach break, i always carry a shirt that I can throw over anything sleeveless.
Then come the little things I use constantly. Sunscreen, a portable fan, Bluetooth earbuds, wet wipes and plenty of hydration salts and vitamin C fizzies always make the cut. I use transition glasses, which also means I do not need to carry a separate pair of sunglasses and keep switching between the two. Once you stop packing a separate outfit for every meal, beach visit and evening out, fitting a Goa weekend into one tote becomes surprisingly doable. Canvas, nylon and neoprene all work well, though I prefer something that can cope with a little sand, moisture and general beach holiday mess without needing to be treated too carefully. I would still buy water locally rather than carrying heavy bottles from home. For toiletries, three days calls for minis. Sunscreen takes priority, followed by moisturiser, cleanser and whatever hair products you actually need. Small refillable bottles work well if you prefer using your regular products rather than hotel toiletries. Here’s what to know about the Grand Train Tour
For this kind of trip, I would use a roomy 20 to 25 litre tote with a zip across the top. Destination Buzz: Planning a Switzerland train holiday in 2026? Because it is remarkably easy to spend hours outside, drink less water than you think and then wonder why you feel exhausted by evening, read more: This month in Goa, I stayed in a quiet Anjuna cottage with the sea outside, and the ocean became my sleep therapist Hydration salts are particularly useful on beach weekends.
