Table of Contents
Planning your Beaches Vacation, here is what not to take on your next travel to the beach ! The last thing you want is for your valuables stolen while your swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving or just relaxing on the beach. We want to keep our items safe, so with all my travels, here are some travel tips I on what to take to the beach. Let me share some alternatives and tips to make your trip less stressful that I have learned along the way.
Roatan West Bay Beaches Vacation -Caribbean!
Items Not to Take On Beaches Vacation
Purse or Wallet: Taking your purse or wallet is asking for someone to steal your credit cards and all your money even if its in your fancy beach bag. Only take money you need and an ID. I have found a waterproof container that will hold 1 key, ID and bills. This container hangs around the neck or waist and is with you at all times. Makes you beaches vacation trip easier and less stressful. Try this Waterproof Sports Case. I also use this case when I scuba dive, where it fits right under my wetsuit.
Phone: Try to leave your phone behind but today with the ability to take photos and videos to share, having a camera is a must. This Phone Waterproof Case works well to keep my phone dry. Note that I have not tried keeping the phone underwater in the case for long periods of time. I suggest you test out before using.
Expensive Jewelry: Flashy jewelry is showing everyone you have money. Try and take inexpensive jewelry that would not make you sad if lost or stolen.
Electronics: First off, the heat is to much for electronics like your phone, laptops, e-readers, and tablets. To much heat will turn your electronics off. I like to take my phone but put it into a waterproof bag that is clear and has a cord to hang around my neck. That way I can take pictures or answer my phone. If you have an underwater camera, you can buy straps that will fit around your wrist. Sand is not electronic friendly.
Bug Spray: Bug Spray has negative effects on the ocean reefs. Let us try and protect our ocean and not use.
Keys: Perfect place to loose your keys is in the sand. Take 1 key and put it in the Waterproof Sports Case. I like to also add some cash in there to pay my beverage and food bill at the local palapa.
Alcohol: Careful when drinking alcohol in the sun and heat. Dehydration can happen quickly and drinking alcohol can acceleration the affects. Please make sure to drink lots of Safe Water in a Re-Useable Stainless Bottle that will keep you water cool. If you need a Filtered Water Bottle try this one.
Passport: This is one way to lose your passport wether it is stolen or lost in the sand. Try and lock it into your room safe or have the hotel desk hold it for you. Passports are precious and hard to replace. Tip: Make sure to always have a copy of your passport. That copy can also fit into you container in #1.
Chairs: Why burden yourself with dealing with chairs. Just rent a lounge chair and umbrella or some resorts will offer for free.
Tamarindo Beach, Costa Rica!
California Beaches Vacation!
Chen Sea Resort and Spa on Phu Quoc Island, Vietnam
Overview – What Not To Have On Beaches Vacation
These are just a few items and tips that I have found to be helpful when I pack for my Beaches Vacation Travel. I have witnessed fellow travelers at resorts on the beach losing their items along with their expensive beach bags. They become a target with flashy items. I only bring things that I can be easily replaced. Items that I must have are placed in waterproof cases that will be attached to my neck or wrist. Happy Travels!
For more Adventure Travel visit me at 1AdventureTraveler. Look here for more Beaches Vacation Travels: Roatan Caribbean, California USA, Florida USA, Vietnam, Costa Rica, and more. To plan your travels visit Trip Advisor and Lonely Planet for valuable information.
Remember life is short, go out and have an Adventure!
Pin This For Later
This is all so true! I had a very close encounter with someone in Miami when I had all of my camera gear. It completely shook me so I never take expensive stuff to the beach!
Helena, It can happen so quick but glad your scary close encounter in Miami turned out okay with your camera gear. I have been lucky so far but friends of mine had their items stolen right next to mine. Thats with us watching them. Hopefully these travel tips will help others. Happy Travels.
Great info! It makes sense to take as little as possible, but people take purses and all kinds of things and leave them in the sand when they are in the water. I like the suggestion of taking a key and ID and putting it in a waterproof holder.
Thanks Sharon, The neck holder for my key and money works perfect, which is too small for an ID. That way I can enjoy a great day at the beach.
Great advice! Bathers, shorts, a towel & a book. Oh yeah, and the water. Perfect! 🙂
Thanks Shana… That is perfect advice for a day on the beach ☀️⛱🌴
It’s truly amazing the things people take the beach that they shouldnt! I never take valuables other than a camera, and I never go so far from my stuff. #FeetDoTravel
Good thinking… less is better for a day on the beach 😊☀️
Such a useful list! Did not realize bug spray had negative effects on the ocean reefs… As well as we all normally take wallets and phones with us everywhere without even questioning whether we might actually need them! I always carry it around and can´t “lose the sight of the shore” lol cause someone might steal my bag!
Thanks Anna. Yes bug spray after studies that have been conducted has a negative effect on ocean reef. Watch those wallets on the beach 😊 Money and a car key fits well in my neck container that hangs from my neck. I even wear it under my wet suite when diving. The money does get a little wet though. Lately using the plastic holder to protect my phone from sand, rain and water splashes works well.
I love your tips, Stephanie! I will definitely try all of them next time I go the beach!
Thanks Agness, Just tips I learned on my travels. Heard from to many people of their items being stolen on the beach. Thanks for your comment…🙂
These are all great ideas and tips to keep in mind. Too often, we don’t even think twice about bringing wallets, purses and phones to the beach because we take it with us everywhere. Thanks for the reminders!
Thanks Mary,
Through trial and error and thankfully not every have been robbed some of these tips can be helpful. It is hard to watch your items the whole time. If I am at a pool I take minimum items in a beach bag that I watch while swimming and it goes with me everywhere else. Unfortunately when traveling we need to keep this in mind. Happy Travels 😊
There are some very useful tips here on what not to take to the beach. Losing your keys in the sand must be awful! I couldn’t imagine searching through the sand for them!
Hi, That would be a bummer to lose keys on the beach Less on the beach is the best 🌴
Oh yes, my cell phone died in the sea. Your suggestions are very important. One thing I saw in the Seychelles: such wonderful comfortable, inflatable long chairs. Great for the beach and in the water.
Hi George, Yes, a cell phone protector is important on the beach. Nothing like getting water and sand in the phone. Those inflatable long chairs do sound good and didn’t know they could go into the water. I bet the Seychelles are amazing. Happy Travels…🙂
Whenever I go to the beach, there’s always the worry of leaving my stuff alone while I go for a swim! Sometimes, you don’t have the luxury of being walking distance to the beach from your hotel/rental, so you kind of have to take everything with you. I usually just end up leaving it on the beach near some other tourists and hope for the best. 😛
Hi Anna, I agree there is always a worry leaving stuff alone on the beach. I do to try put items in my container and leave more stuff close to tourists until I heard frequent cases of friends getting their stuff stolen even their shoes. Yes, all we can do is hope for the best…🙂
I’ve never had any major issues on the beach while travelling. I generally keep a close eye on all my stuff even if I have to leave it unattended when I go for a swim. I make sure I always keep it in view and wrap my valuables carefully and ensure they are hidden in the bag!
Great tips Alexei, glad you have had nothing stolen. Like you I always keep my valuables in view. One day all it took was a friend to look away and her purse was gone by someone on a busy beach. First thing that comes to mind is no purses on the beach especially in plain sight.
I’ve seen so many people on the beach getting annoyed because sand has blown into their stuff or they’ve dropped something in the sand. I’m with you, don’t take it if sand can damage it and if it’s sentimental or expensive leave it in the safe. Who needs the stress? 🙂
I agree Shona. If one doesn’t need it or its to expensive, the beach is not the place for it. I do love my neck container that I keep my money in and car key. That way I can go get a beverage on the beac without even opening up my beach bag and getting sand in there or worry about if its stolen.
These are all great tips! I have started just renting my beach chair and umbrella and life is so much easier. No more lugging “stuff” across the hot sand!
Thanks Carmen…like you, I find it is so much easier to rent beach chairs. Still we have to be careful what we take to the beach. Lately, I noticed an increased in theft on my travels and now take as little as possible. Happy travels 😃
Great advice for keeping your valuables safe! Thanks for sharing. #feetdotravel
Thanks Paul and Carole, always looking for travel items to keep valuables safe while traveling…🙂
Great list! It’s so easy to think “Oh I best take that with me” when actually, you don’t need half of it on a beach! I have 2 ipods; one for general usage and an old one specifically for the beach … just in case it becomes covered in sand or a wave creeps up on the beach and covers me (yes that has happened!). #feetdotravel
Thanks Angie, had to chuckle knowing that a wave sneaked up and covered you. You must have been listening to your beach iPod. I had to learn that only a few things on the beach works just fine and you don’t have to worrying about someone taking it from you. This is just simple reminder what not to have on the beach 😃
Good advice! Losing a piece of jewelry, or car keys, or your all-important cell phone just once is a hard but lasting way to learn this lesson! (#Guilty…except for the cell phone – found that!) I suppose there’s a reason those guys comb the beach with metal detectors, huh? 😉 #FeetDoTravel
Thanks Robb & Ann, It is so easy to loose items in the sand. Those metal detector guys must find a lot of items the beach…😎
Great tips! I don’t take the electronics, I take a book to read instead! Nothing better than relaxing on the beach with a real book!
Thanks Kelly, I also like to read real books while traveling but I read so fast that the number of books I packed added to much weight to my overstuffed luggage. So now the next best thing is my kindle but it does not have the book smell…😉
Great list, I always try to go to the beach as light as possible so I can go for a swim without looking for my bag. I will never understand why people take their jewellery at the beach.
Thanks Oana, I don’t understand while people take their jewelry to the beach either unless their afraid to leave in the room. Light as possible to the beach is a good tip…🌴😎
This post reminds me of a TV program my husband has been watching for several weeks. It is about people who have “situations” while traveling. You have no idea of how many stories are there about people who loose all their valuables on the beach or on a beach club. So, better follow your tips in here! #feetdotravel
Thanks Ruth, I have seen some of those TV shoes that happen to people while traveling. I have heard from others about losing their items on the beach which made me re-think what I take to the beach…😎
I’ve seen some pretty cool beach towels that have a hidden pocket in them to put you valuables…but I’d be afraid someone would step on my towel and break something inside. #feetdotravel
Hi Lolo, Those beach towels would be a cool idea with a hidden pocket. Maybe folded up with shoes next to it no one would step on it. Great tip…😎
So many great tips! It always amazes me to see some of the valuable things people bring with them to the beach. In this case, less is more!
Thanks Jenn, I also see people bring valuable things to the beach. I agree, less is more/best. 😊