What to Pack for a Beach Vacation: The 15-Piece Resort Packing List

The short answer: for a week at the beach, pack two swimsuits, one pareo, one cover-up dress, one tunic, one pair of loose trousers, one skirt, two dinner dresses, a straw hat, two pairs of sandals, sunglasses, a basket bag and gold jewellery. Keep to one palette, ecru with black, green, wine, and everything mixes. Build the edit from our beachwear and dresses pages, and see the full Johanna Ortiz resort wardrobe.

The secret of packing light for the sun is that resort clothes do two jobs. A pareo is a skirt and a shawl. A one-piece is a bodysuit at dinner. A linen dress is a cover up at noon. Choose pieces that layer, in fabrics that dry overnight, and a carry on is enough.

The 15-piece beach packing list

Our picks

1. Raiz Marina One Piece

The plain one-piece: ecru with chocolate binding, in recycled polyamide.

2. Whispering Tides One Piece in Wine and Green

The printed one-piece, in a wine and green leaf print.

3. Solar Drift Object Pareo in Ecru and Black

A 170 by 130 cm cotton pareo. Learn the knots in how to tie a sarong.

4. Paraiso Agrste Dress

The cover-up dress: ankle length ecru and navy cotton voile.

5. Caretaker of the Jungle Tunic Dress

The tunic, in linen. More in tunic dresses.

6. Femininity Dramatic Pant

Linen wide leg beach pants with hem ties. More in beach pants for women.

7. Territorio Atemporal Skirt

A floor length poplin skirt in wine and green. More in printed maxi skirts.

8. Zea Palm Dress

The cotton maxi, with an empire waist and adjustable straps. More in cotton maxi dresses.

9. Ebb and Flow Dress

The big night: a sheer halter maxi with a front ring and cut outs at the waist.

10. Song of the Gaucho Hat in Ecru

Hand woven iraca palm. More in wide-brim straw hats.

How to pack it

• Roll linen and cotton, fold structured pieces, and put the hat on your head.
• Pack in one palette so every top meets every bottom.
• Carry one swimsuit in your hand luggage, in case a case goes astray.
• Leave denim at home. It is heavy, hot and slow to dry.

Heading somewhere specific? Read what to wear in Cartagena and European summer outfits, and see the full luxury resort wear guide.

Frequently asked questions

How many swimsuits should I pack for a week?

Two, so one is always dry. Make one plain and one printed.

What should I wear to dinner on a beach holiday?

A cotton maxi dress, a printed maxi skirt with a bodysuit, a linen dress, with heeled sandals and gold jewellery.

Can I pack a beach holiday in a carry on?

Yes. Fifteen pieces in light linen and cotton fit easily if you roll them and wear the hat.

What fabrics are best for a beach vacation?

Linen, cotton voile, cotton poplin and swim lycra. All breathe and dry quickly.

What should I not pack for the beach?

Denim, heavy knits, and anything that needs ironing to look right.