What to take with you to the sea

A rare traveler hasn't faced the problem of “cramming everything, everywhere, all at once into one suitcase.” We've prepared checklists of essential items for those heading to the coast. They cover key documents, a first-aid kit, and items for a child. At the end, you'll find our top 10 useful tips for packing your suitcase. Let's go! 

List of documents

Have you already decided where to go for a seaside vacation? Keep in mind that it's best to prepare printed copies in advance. If there's absolutely no way, tickets can be printed at the airport information desk or at a special terminal. 

Here are the documents you need to take for a vacation in Russia and abroad:

• passport: Russian or international (for foreign travel). It's a good idea to make notarized copies;
• printed tickets. They are required less and less now, but it's better to be safe than sorry; 
• voucher and printed bookings. When crossing the border, you may be asked for a printed confirmation of your trip;
• driver's license, if you plan to rent a car. For international travel, an international driving permit will be required; 
• medical insurance and compulsory medical insurance policy (OMS). 

Clothing and footwear

Let's talk about clothes. Wherever you decide to vacation by the sea in summer, in Russia or abroad, the essence remains the same. The most important nuance when choosing outfits is natural fabrics. These include linen, muslin, and cotton. Below is a list of items that will surely guarantee a comfortable seaside vacation: 

• long-sleeved shirt and trousers to protect your skin from the sun; 
• T-shirts. It's best to take at least two for changing; 
• swimsuits. We recommend taking no more than two so that everything essential fits in your suitcase;
• underwear. Ideally, at least three sets;
• comfortable shorts or a skirt that will allow you to change quickly on the beach; 
• socks. Three pairs will definitely be enough for your vacation;
• sandals and flip-flops. The former are for walking around the city, while the latter will allow you to quickly and safely make your way to the water across the beach. 

Depending on the weather at your destination and your plans, you can optionally bring: 

• warm clothes;
• an evening suit or dress;
• sandals/heels for an evening outfit. 

Whether to take a large suitcase for clothes or not is entirely your decision. However, the basic set of items often easily fits even in hand luggage. But excess will make you wonder if you can pay extra for luggage at the airport if you don't weigh your suitcase beforehand. So be vigilant! 

Electronics

The fewer devices that require charging, the better. Imagine, after a long day at the beach, in sweet languor, you just want to take a shower and go to bed. And then it turns out you need to charge your headphones/vape/e-reader, etc. The bliss of the day will vanish in a second. 

Let's stick to a short list — what electronics to take on a seaside vacation: 

• phone;
• phone charger;
• power adapter for outlets. If you don't know what type will be in your travel country, buy an adapter locally or ask at the reception;
• power bank, so you can always quickly charge your phone;
• optional: camera, memory card, headphones. The fewer devices that require charging, the better. 

Beach accessories

We've covered what clothes to take to the sea, now it's time to talk about important accessories for a beach vacation: 

• headwear. Anything that can protect you from sunstroke will be useful (even an extra T-shirt draped over your head);
• sunglasses, so your eyes don't hurt from the bright sun;
• a beach bag made of durable fabric. We recommend dark-colored options to avoid visible stains; 
• reusable water bottle. A very eco-friendly and economical solution for the beach: you'll definitely want to drink in the heat;
• towel. Some travelers take two towels to the beach, using one as a sunbed.

Hygiene products and cosmetics

So, let's pack your cosmetic bag! Here's a list of what you definitely need to take on a trip to the sea:

• dental floss, toothpaste, and toothbrush;
• shampoo, shower gel. If you have special care products, we recommend buying small plastic bottles for them. Only containers up to 100 ml can be carried in hand luggage. The total volume of all liquids must not exceed 1 liter per passenger;
• SPF products for UV protection. They are now available in convenient stick form that fits into any bag pocket and doesn't get your hands dirty; 
• comb and hair ties, so nothing can prevent you from swimming comfortably; 
• moisturizing cream for face and body. Skin quickly loses moisture at high air temperatures, so it's very important to take care of it, especially on vacation.
  Great news for those wondering if cream can be taken in hand luggage. The short and clear answer is: yes, it can;
• personal hygiene products for women;
• optional: deodorant, face wash. Important: aerosol deodorant in hand luggage must also be no more than 100 ml. 

First-aid kit

At first glance, traveling with a child might seem “hardcore.” But it's easy to prepare for. We'll go over the list of clothes for a child, pack things compactly into a suitcase and add the following items:

• child's birth certificate and compulsory medical insurance policy (OMS);
• toys, books, tablet with cartoons to get to your destination calmly;
• pacifiers and bottles, if you have small children; 
• diapers, wet wipes, and absorbent pads. 

Don't forget that every child has their own individual health characteristics, so prepare a first-aid kit and a small cosmetic bag for them in advance so that your little one feels comfortable during the trip.  

What to take for traveling with a child

We've compiled ten life hacks that will definitely come in handy for successful packing for a seaside trip. Let's go!

1. We advise putting all documents in a fanny pack so that important papers are always at hand.
2. Utilize the space inside your shoes. For example, magnets from Turkish resorts can be placed inside boots. By the way, it's also better to place boots in different corners of the suitcase to save space.
3. Pack clothes by rolling them up instead of layering. This method will significantly save you space.
4. You can steam clothes using a shower cabin: turn on hot water to create a lot of steam, and hang your clothes on the cabin wall. Small wrinkles will disappear as if they were never there! 
5. Before your trip, take photos of your suitcase inside and out. In case it goes missing, this will help you quickly resolve the issue with the carrier.
6. Check the airline's baggage allowance rules in advance. If it's hard to avoid overweight, try transferring important items from checked luggage to hand luggage.
7. Familiarize yourself with the list of items that cannot be carried in checked baggage due to airline restrictions.
8. To prevent shampoo and other liquid products from spilling out of bottles, seal the caps with sticky tape. The contents of your luggage will thank you for it.
9. If you decide to take warm or heavy items with you to the sea, it's better to wear them — this can reduce the weight of your luggage. Of course, you can take off the clothes in the airplane cabin.
10. Grab two canvas bags: on the way back, you can carry dirty clothes in one and souvenirs and gifts in the other.

So, we've covered the essential items for a summer vacation. We wish you a great trip to the sea and no sunburn!