Spring Break is around the corner, and you probably have everything planned for a great vacay with your friends. If you’re like me, you’re one of those people who always overpack and end up taking a suitcase fit for a three-month trip. I get you, it’s hard to choose only the essentials, especially if you love bringing all your best outfits, meaning up to five outfits per day (sorry, people who travel with me, I can’t not be fabulous, even on vacation).
I was already planning my thirty changes of clothes for Spring Break when Marie Kondo’s wisdom made me see the light. Leaving aside the fact that I donated two-thirds of my clothes and barely have enough to actually get dressed on a daily basis, my super extra self is kind of enjoying the practical aspects of minimalism. With that in mind, I made the perfect list of the ultimate essentials to look fabulous without carrying your weight in stuff.
Swimsuits
This will depend on how many days your trip will be, but you’ve got to pack at least two suits, so you can leave one drying while you wear the other one. Plus, you’ll have two different looks for your Instagram pics.
Sweater
I know it might sound crazy, but I always carry a sweater or a hoodie even when I go to the beach because you never know when the weather is going to change. It’s even great for the return home to avoid getting sick with the temperature change.
Shorts
I mean, these are essential for a casual yet trendy look. A good, versatile pair of denim shorts can help you create tons of looks. Plus, you can carry a pair in your beach bag without it taking most of the space.
Pool Wrap
Beach towels are great to cover up, but they’re so annoying to carry around. Instead, my ultimate favorite is a nice wrap you can wear all day for a fashionable style and to dry yourself up after a good swim. A great way to accessorize your swimsuit is by getting a wrap with a neutral design, so you don’t have to carry more than one.
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Dresses
If you’re looking for a more dressy style to go out, dresses can be both fresh and stylish pieces. The best part is it’s only a single piece for an outfit, so it won’t take up too much space.
Sandals /Sneakers
Shoes are my weakness (and honestly, the only thing I couldn’t Marie Kondo), so I always travel with all sorts of shoes that I end up never wearing. A pair of sandals, some flip flops, and good sneakers to walk in are more than enough.
Jeans
Like sneakers and sweaters, jeans are always great for sudden weather changes. But don’t worry, these can be the same you wear while traveling, so they don’t take that much space on your bag.
Towel
I wouldn’t name this an ultimate essential since most hotels give you towels. But if you’re going camping or somewhere without this amenity, or simply if you can’t stand using shared towels, bringing your own would be a good idea. Though I recommend using it only for showering.
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Shirts
I recommend bringing the same number of shirts as the days you’ll be traveling. That way you can create a different look each day by wearing it with different bottoms, or you can simply use it as a cover-up during the day.
Underwear
Again, the same number of days you’ll be out if you’re lazy like me, or a pair you can alternate and wash if you want to save some space. Just think about it: you’ll be wearing your bathing suit most of the day, so packing tons of underwear doesn’t make that much sense.
Fresh PJs
This is kind of personal. I can’t sleep without my PJs no matter what, so I always have to bring a pair. But if you’re one of those people who can sleep with just a shirt, bring it on, you’ll save a little more space.
Hat and Sunglasses
Besides being extra stylish and fashionable, these are also basic skincare products to prevent terrible sunburns. Now, don’t go crazy, just one of each is more than enough to look fabulous.
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Sunscreen
You can leave your underwear or even your sandals, but there’s nothing more important for a Spring Break trip than your sunscreen.
Mosquito Repellent
This depends a lot on where you’re going. So, do some research before going, and if those SOBs are common in the area, you better bring your best repellent to avoid getting bitten.
Mini First Aid Kit
I know I’m going to sound like a nagging mom, but seriously, bringing a first aid kit is a must to be prepared for any possible accident. It doesn’t have to be that big: some analgesics, bandaids, alcohol, gauze, and something for the stomach is more than enough.
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Condoms
I’ll just say this once. Spring Break, alcohol, and people in swimsuits are the ingredients for crazy nights. So, it’s best to be prepared.
Essential Toiletries
As I said before about towels, this section depends a lot on the amenities your hotel offers. For instance, you might not need to bring shampoo, or soap, but if you have a big, crazy mane, you’ll probably want to bring your conditioner. Bring only what you’ll be wearing; your entire makeup collection is probably a bit too much, but your skincare routine products are kind of essential. It all depends on you.
ID
Don’t be like me, and please, always bring your ID. Something I like to do do when I travel to prevent dumb old me from losing my ID is to photocopy it and bring the copy with me at all times, and keeping the real one in my room. This way, you have something to identify yourself at all times without the risk of losing it.
A Book
You probably won’t be doing a lot of reading, but it’s always good to have a cool book at hand for when you just want to relax a little. Bring one you enjoy a lot or that’s easy reading, so you don’t have to engage a lot with it. Also, one that’s not that heavy and you can carry around in your beach bag.
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Charger / Power Bank
I know it’s kind of impossible nowadays to forget our chargers, but something we don’t think enough about is the chances to actually plug them. I highly recommend bringing a good power bank so you’re communicated at all times.
Ziploc Bags
What? I know this might sound weird, but you have no idea how useful these things are. You can put your phone in one if you want extra protection, or you can use one to take snacks to the pool, but actually, what these bags are great for is to put wet clothes inside your bag, while keeping the rest of the stuff dry. Believe me, they’re a life-saver!
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Images by @marta_sierra
