9 Things We Must Pack For Summer Vacations

Summer is here! As much as we love getting out soaking in the sun for some Vitamin D, we can’t help but also feel that the summer sun is getting scorchier (is there such a word?), and our skin feels sunburnt much easier.

🍬Fun fact: When our skin is exposed to sunlight, our body produces Vitamin D. This is the only way our body makes this essential vitamin that is important for bone health.

Here are 9 things we always pack when we are travelling during Summer. Forgetting any one of these means buying one during our trip. We have so many lip balms now because we keep forgetting to pack them. 😆 

#1 - Sunscreen / Lip Balm

This is the Number #1 thing and the most obvious, but people always forget to apply sunscreen! Sunscreen should be applied 15-30 mins before you head out, this will give it time for the sunscreen to bind to our skin. Most people don’t apply the right amount of sunscreen, and it is our best interest to apply sunscreen daily even when we are indoors.

A good sunscreen should provide “broad spectrum” protection from UVA and UVB rays, be at least SPF30 and above, and feels light on our skin. We have tried a variety of sunscreens, and have a few thoughts.

We generally don’t recommend spray-on sunscreens, because it is difficult to get the right amount of sunscreen using it. The aerosol drops do feel cooling on the skin, but that doesn’t mean it is effective. Also, they tend to be bulkier to carry around, taking up precious space on our backpack.

We bring along 2 sunscreens when we travel and we highly recommend them - Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry Touch SPF50+ Sunscreen and CeraVe AM Lotion (SPF30). They feel light and gentle on the skin, and this makes us want to apply and reapply them when we are out.

A quick note on sunscreen for our lips. We learnt the hard (and painful) way that our lips need sun protection too. So please remember to apply a good lip balm with SPF when you are out.

Children under the age of 6 months should avoid sun exposure as their protection mechanism isn’t fully functioning yet. Sunscreens are also not effective as their skin cannot absorb it well. Consider using a baby carrier/cloth that has UV protection.

Sunscreen should be our last, not first or only line, of defence against excessive exposure to UVA and UVB rays. There are other items we pack in our travels to complement our protection.

#2 - Umbrella / Hat / Cap

Do you realise that there is no sunscreen for our head? 🤯

The only way for us to protect our vulnerable scalp is to cover it. We bring along a foldable umbrella when we travel, and a good umbrella can shield us from strong winds, heavy rain, and hot sun. It baffles us why people don’t carry an umbrella when the sun is so scorching during Summer.

Else, pack your favourite hat or cap. Better yet, buy one with UV protection! We really like caps from Adidas that have UV protection.

#3 - Scarf / Bandana / Headband

Still on the topic of layering our defences against excessive exposure to sunlight. Depending on your activity of the day and fashion preference, a scarf, bandana or headband provides plenty of flexibility for us to cover up specific areas of our body (eg. neck, forehead, arm, etc.) to block out UV rays. They work pretty well soaking up some sweat from the heat too!

#4 - Sunglasses

This will be our last recommendation for UVA and UVB protection. Sunglasses are like sunscreen for our eyes - Proper UV protection and looking good at the same time with our Ray-Ban Aviator Classic 😎

I still recall that moment in Las Vegas (see image at the top of this post, no clouds, just sun!) when we exited a casino at noon to grab some lunch a few blocks down. The intense rays hit our eyes the moment we stepped out, and it was almost impossible to see where we were heading in the desert. In our recent visit to New York’s SUMMIT One Vanderbilt, they also provided sunglasses for protection because the observation deck can get very bright on a clear day. Protect your eyes!

Whether we are out exploring cities, hiking mountains, or people-watching at the beach, we are exposed to UVA and UVB rays. Practise good sun protection habits and say goodbye to sunburnt skin!

#5 - Water Bottle

Hydrate, hydrate, and hydrate. If you ever had a headache after a long day out, it is probably because you didn’t hydrate enough throughout the day. When thirsty, drink up, and having a filled water bottle wherever we go makes it convenient as we explore places.

We observed that more cities have drinking water points where we can refill our water bottles. Restaurants can also help us refill our bottles (sometimes for a small fee). This way, we use less plastic while keeping our bodies hydrated. We prefer water bottles that are sturdy, light, wide-mouth (easier to wash), and BPA-free, like this one from Nalgene.

Sometimes when we forget to bring one, we would buy a bottled water and keep the bottle for use throughout our trip. Just remember to recycle by disposing it in the recycle bin at the airport!

#6 - Power Bank / Cables

There is something about Summer time that makes us take more pictures and videos. Maybe it is because the lighting makes our pictures and videos look good. While our phones can typically last a full day when we aren’t travelling, they don’t usually have the same lasting power when we constantly switch between Camera, GPS, Maps, Drive, Photos, etc.

Bring along your power bank (remember to charge it the night before) and the right cables along. We use Xiaomi Power Bank 10000mAh, this is sufficient to recharge both our phones when needed. And instead of carrying multiple cables, we bring our 3-in-1 USB cable that has USB Type C, Micro-USB, and Lightning (Apple) ports, and supports quick charge too.

#7 - Insect Repellent

Creepy crawlers and fliers become more active during Summer. Especially if you are travelling to tropical countries, mosquitoes (and the diseases they may carry) are a concern. Spray mosquito and insect 2-in-1 repellent after applying your sunscreen. For kids, use mosquito patches and paste them on their clothes or bags to form a “shield” around them.

#8 - Beach Towel

While this may sound like an item only used at the beach, there are many reasons why we pack a beach towel for our trips. There were times when we check-in to an airbnb/motel/bnb and realised they forgot to include bath towels.

Lookout for microfibre towels that are easy to wash and dry quickly. They are also versatile and can become a pool towel, picnic mat, table cover, and car seat cover etc. Decathlon has great choices with different sizes, pick your perfect one for your Summer vacation!

#9 - Backpack or Tote Bag

With all that said, you gotta have a bag to carry them all! 😄

A proper backpack with the right compartments for all the different things we bring makes carrying them easier. We are constantly seeking that ONE travel pack/bag that rules them all! Our goto backpack now is a Hiking Backpack from Decathlon.

We love to know what you use, do share with us in the comments!

Did we miss your favourite thing to pack for Summer? What must you pack for your Summer vacation? Let us know in your comments too!

If you know someone who needs to read this post and pack well for their summer vacations, consider sharing this post with them! We appreciate that!