Top Essential Items To Pack In Your Suitcase For Summer Part 1

You’re going on holiday? You’re no doubt excited to spend some time with your family or friends and enjoy a little R&R. But wait! Before you pack, there are some essential items you need to bring with you. Follow these tips and you’ll be ready for a great summer.

Travel Steamer

I always pack this travel steamer with me on summer trips. I live in linen pieces for warm weather, but they’re notorious for getting wrinkles. This steamer is light, small, and dual-voltage. I’ve used it on summer trips from California to Portugal to China to keep my outfits looking crisp.

As a curvy gal, I swear by Mega Babe’s Tigh Rescue to combat chafing, which is so uncomfortable during humid, sticky summers. A few summers ago I forgot to apply this to my thighs in the morning on a hot July tip to New York City. We walked over 10 miles that day and I ended up getting huge welts on my inner thighs. It was so painful and took weeks to heal. I will never forget to use this now!

Lastly, I always bring a travel-sized sunscreen so I can re-apply as needed throughout the day. I’m a pale redhead so I burn easily!

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Sleep Mask

Whether it’s a quick weekend trip to another state or a month-long excursion on another continent, I always make sure to pack a sleep mask, waterless body wash, and portable cellphone charger.

A sleep mask like the Manta sleep mask (which is really comfortable and provides 100% blackout) always helps me adjust my sleep schedule to new timezones, as well as allow me to nap during flights.

A waterless body wash like the Walton Wood Farm Waterless Power Shower helps me clean up after a busy day of traveling or during a long layover when I do not have access to a shower.

And my portable cellphone charger always keeps my smartphone charged while I’m sightseeing. This is essential, as I need to always have access to GPS while out and about.

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Swimming Suit

An olive green tie side bikini top and bottom laid out with a gold necklace

The number one item in my summer suitcase is a swimming suit. You might think you’ll have no opportunity to use it, but it’s summer. There’s always a chance. Since it doesn’t take up much room, there’s no excuse to leave it at home.

I would never travel without my Chacos. While they’re not entirely appropriate cocktail attire, they’ll work with just about any other outfit, from swimwear to dinnerwear. They’ve kept my feet comfortable and protected on a mountain hike, sandy beach, and city sidewalk.

Sometimes, you think summer is all sunshine, but summer storms are always possible if not probably. So, I always squeeze a packable rain jacket into my suitcase. With a good quality jacket, I don’t have to let a rainy day keep me from enjoying my vacation.

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Beach Essentials

If you are prepping for a beach trip with your family or friends, here are some beach essentials that you can carry on with you in your beach bag.

Insulate Water Bottle

You need to rehydrate yourself while staying under the sun for a long period of time. This 64oz insulated water bottle from HydroFlask is the perfect way to keep you hydrated and refreshed during the summer. It can keep your beverage cold for up to 24 hours.

Turkish Beach Towel

A towel is essential for any beach trip. This oversized beach towel makes a difference in terms of feeling. This cotton towel is not fluffy as your old pool towel, guest towels, traditional towels or cotton towels. One of the most important things about this unique lightweight beach towel is it has the Quick-drying technology that you need on the beach, you don’t have to waste time to make it dry.

Sunscreen

Since you are exposed to the sun, sunscreen is a must to avoid skin irritation, or worse, skin conditions. This clean lotion from Bare Republic blends in invisibly to provide high-performance protection that’s clearly best-in-class. Enhanced with antioxidant-rich Grape, Raspberry, and Carrot Seed oils, this non-greasy formula is free of parabens, phthalates, and synthetic fragrances, for worry-free fun in the sun.

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Hanging Toiletry Bag

If I’m traveling anywhere, you’ll most likely find me with these 3 essential items.

The first is a hanging toiletry bag. These are especially great for hotel bathrooms or Airbnbs (especially European ones!) with limited counter space.

The second is a travel steamer. I can’t tell you how many hotels I’ve been to lately, especially abroad, that don’t have an iron and I just need quick steam to get rid of some wrinkles. It’s very frustrating!

The third is a medicine kit bag. My first aid bag has anything and everything I could possibly need in case I catch a cold, have allergies, or even run into some poison oak. I always keep it stocked and I just throw it in my luggage.

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Electric Fan

A small black desk fan with a cat shaped base sits near a potted plant

One of the best purchases I made for summer travels was a small, electric fan for cooling down. Sun protection is critical for summer, so everyone automatically packs sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses, but most times we assume we’ll just put up with the heat.

But most of us underestimate how uncomfortable the heat and humidity can get when traveling, packed in close to others on a plane, boat, or bus. I’ve used my small handheld fan way more times than I thought I would during summer trips, to the envy of other travelers forced to withstand the heat with no relief.

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Power Bank

Our power bank is one item we always bring when we travel, especially on lengthy flights and buses. The worst situation is when you arrive in a new location and have no idea where to go because your phone suddenly died. I can assure you that we have gained experience. Bring your phone charger, at the very least, if you don’t have a power bank. It would spare you from having to start searching through your luggage in the middle of the airport for an outlet to plug your phone into.

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Cool hats

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I have a penchant for collecting hats from exotic locations as I have figured it is the easiest way to upscale a look, especially when traveling in unbearably hot weather. The same goes for the pair I cool shades that can cover the trip by being a constant friend. Cooling sprays have been by a recent companion. They are a must-have for anyone who can’t handle too much sweat. Similar to body mist, cooling sprays keep the skin dehydrated and give a much-needed chilling sensation in dreary summer noons.

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Thermal Flask and Documentation Copies

Thermal Flask

Especially if you’re an outdoors person who loves to wander off into unurbanized places, a thermal flask can be a game-changer. Ok, although a thermal flask is commonly known to keep things hot, it is also used to keep things cold. Trust me, it will be nice to have a nice cold drink if you’re trekking through a hot and humid jungle!!

Makarizo Hair Vitamins

Dry and frizzy hair is common. Especially during those hot summer vacation days, and when on vacation, it can become almost impossible to keep long hair looking nice as it should be: shiny and hopefully with no frizz. A solution to this mess is Makarizo’s Vita Caps. Small capsule-like vitamins containing an exact potion of argan oil that help maintain and nourish hair on the go.

Documentation copies

Having backup copies of important documents such as passports, insurance policies, and identification will always come in handy in the rare event your originals get lost. Make a few copies and keep them in every baggage.

Recommended by James Cutajar, Co-founder of thetraveldeck.com

Sunscreen and Headphones

Black Sony over ear headphones hang against a felt textured wall

I think everyone should have sunscreen with them at all times. Everyone’s daily routine should include it, particularly in the summer. SPF50+ sunscreens are my top pick because they do a great job of shielding you from the sun’s rays.

I doubt I’m the only person who feels like their life is ending when they forget their headphones in case of traveling. They’re a must-have item that keeps you occupied on lengthy trips and lifts your spirits while you’re in unfamiliar surroundings.

The majority of individuals frequently underestimate how important having comfortable sandals or shoes is. When you are prepared for summer travel, it will protect you from many unfortunate incidents and painful experiences.

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Travel Wallet

My first essential item to pack for travel is my travel wallet. Travel wallets hold everything you need – ID, passport, credit cards, cash, boarding passes, vaccination cards, etc. – in one place, making it much easier to go through an airport without having to dig through your bag to find what you need to present.

Another essential item is my international power adapter. Many other countries have entirely different electrical outlets than we do here in the US, which means you are left scrambling to buy a new charger for your phone if you only brought your regular charger. My international power adapter allows me to use the usb plug in from my regular charger to plug into the adapter, which has the capability of plugging into virtually every type of outlet. It also allows me to charge up to five items at once, which is why I often take it with me even when I travel domestically.

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The Right clothes and Sun Protection

The top 3 essential items to pack in your suitcase for summer are clothes, sunscreen, and a swimsuit.

Clothes are a necessity for any season, and summer is no exception. You’ll want to pack light and airy clothes that will keep you cool in the heat. A few key items to bring are shorts, tank tops, and sandals.

Sunscreen is another essential item for summer. The sun can be very strong and damaging, so it’s important to protect your skin. Make sure to pack a sunscreen that has a high SPF to offer the best protection.

Finally, a swimsuit is a must-have for summer. Whether you’re going to the beach or the pool, you’ll need something to swim in. Make sure to pack a suit that is comfortable and chlorine-resistant, especially if you’re going to be swimming in a pool.

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Kindle

A hand holds a Kobo e-reader on a sandy beach with turquoise water beyond

My top three essentials for summer travel are my Kindle, my passport case, and my travel hand sanitizer. Summer travel usually means long wait times at airports, with layovers and crowds, so having a few books conveniently contained to a Kindle is essential for finding some quiet amidst the rush. The hand sanitizer is important for staying safe in areas with such a high concentration of people, too. Having a durable passport case is a must-have, and my multi-purpose passport holder can also hang on to important cards and boarding passes.

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Beach Day Essentials

You tend to pack different things depending on the time of year you travel. So, the top three things you’ll find in my suitcase for my summer travels are:

Daypack

Yes, it sounds funny to have another bag in your suitcase, but a daypack is a much smaller and lighter bag. I like to put all of my essentials in here like a light jacket, my wallet or some extra cash, and anything I think I may need throughout the day when I’m out and about. You can even get waterproof ones to protect your items if the weather takes a turn.

Sunglasses

It’s essential that you take steps to protect your eyes in sunny locations, so having a trusty pair of sunglasses that I can switch on and off as needed ensure that I stay comfortable.