A long weekend by the sea should feel light, and so should your luggage. With a little planning, four days at the beach fit easily into a small carry-on suitcase, with room left for a souvenir on the way home.
The secret is not squeezing more in, but bringing less. Most of us pack for the trip we imagine, not the one we are actually taking.
Start with a list and a color plan
Write down what you will really do: swim, walk, eat out, maybe one nicer dinner. Then choose two or three colors that go together, such as white, navy and sand, so that every top works with every bottom.
For four days, a good base looks like this:
- two swimsuits, so one can dry while you wear the other
- three or four light tops
- one pair of shorts and one pair of linen trousers or a skirt
- one dress or shirt for the evening
- a light sweater for breezy nights
- sandals for the day and one pair of comfortable shoes
If a piece goes with only one other item, leave it at home. Everything in a small suitcase has to work at least twice.
Maja Strand, travel stylist
Pack it the smart way
Roll soft items such as T-shirts and swimwear; they take less space and crease less. Lay linen loosely on top. Put heavier things like shoes at the bottom near the wheels, with socks or chargers tucked inside them.
Wear your bulkiest pieces on the journey: the sweater, the trousers, the comfortable shoes. A sun hat can travel on your head, or be packed upright and filled with small items so it keeps its shape.
Liquids take up more room than you think. Fill travel bottles with only what you need for four days, and use solid shampoo or soap bars where you can. Sunscreen is the exception: bring enough, or plan to buy it on arrival. Many hotels and holiday rentals provide beach towels, so check before you go; a thin, quick-drying towel that folds to the size of a book is a good backup.
The final check
Before you close the lid, take out one item. You will not miss it. Then lay sunglasses, a reusable water bottle and a foldable tote bag for the beach on top, where you can grab them first when you arrive.
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