The season for lazing and sizzling on the sand is in full swing – crowds of holidaymakers enjoying their long-awaited break are gathering on the Polish coast. Are you planning a seaside trip too? Then have a look at our beach essentials guide and pack all the accessories worth taking to any beach – by the sea, in the city, somewhere exotic or on a lakeshore.
What to take to the beach?
“On the beach, on the beach, it’s so much fun” – as Polish singer Majka Jeżowska puts it. Lounging on golden sand in the pleasant warmth of the sun, in sensible doses, is what a holiday is all about, isn’t it? But for it to be completely stress-free, you need to prepare properly and pack the right things for the beach. And we don’t just mean a towel and a windbreak. So what should you take to the beach?
Let’s start with the basics: a beach bag or backpack
Before you start packing, you need something to pack into! So you’ll need a beach bag or a backpack to stow all the essential accessories. A large shoulder bag is a good idea, with a special slot for a rolled-up blanket, towel or beach mat and several inner pockets to keep your phone, flip-flops or sun cream in.
A backpack will also do nicely for the beach, especially if it has side pockets and space for a blanket, towels or mats. It’s handy if it has a separate pocket for a water bottle and small inner pockets for smaller items, such as your phone or keys.
It’s important that your bag or backpack leaves your hands free to carry extra things – a windbreak, a beach tent or a deckchair, because those won’t fit inside.
Sun cream with a UV filter to protect your skin
This is a very important item you can’t forget! Of course, everyone wants to get a bit of a tan at the beach, but remember that UV rays are harmful too. To avoid exposing yourself to them, apply sun cream with a UV filter beforehand – ideally a waterproof one if you’re planning to swim, or a regular one otherwise. After getting out of the water, and every so often in between, you’ll need to reapply it to ensure maximum protection against harmful radiation.
The sun creams available on the market offer different sun protection factors – for the beach we recommend a minimum of SPF 30, or SPF 50 for more sensitive skin. For children, we recommend specialist products that protect delicate young skin.
A hat and sunglasses
Another very important thing when it comes to beach safety. Spending a long time in the sun can lead to overheating or sunstroke, so protecting your head is essential. Pack a straw hat, a baseball cap or at least a thin headscarf in your beach bag.
Besides a hat, it’s also worth adding a pair of sunglasses to your beach bag – they’ll protect your eyes from tiring squinting as well as from harmful UV rays. Just make sure the glasses actually have a proper filter. The best place to buy them is a reputable optician’s. Without the right filter, tinted glasses can do more harm than good.
A large beach towel is a must!
Beach towels are quite different from ordinary ones. Above all, they’re bigger and more absorbent – precisely so you can wrap yourself up completely and dry off quickly when you get out of the water. A towel like this can also double as a blanket with room for several sunbathers.
These days you’ll find plenty of different beach towels on the market, with all sorts of motifs, patterns and prints. The important thing is to choose a towel that suits your needs and is comfortable to use.
As an alternative to classic towels, there are also towelling ponchos you can put on after getting out of the water. They work like a towel, except that you don’t need to wrap yourself in them – you simply slip them on. Ponchos usually reach at least to the knees and have short sleeves, or even a hood you can pull over wet hair.
A blanket, mat or deckchair
In other words, everything that makes your time on the beach more comfortable. On a blanket, mat or deckchair you can sit comfortably, or even lie down and relax to your heart’s content. If you go for a blanket or beach mat, choose a big one – the bigger the better. Round blankets up to 150 cm in diameter are all the rage right now!
If you opt for a deckchair, pick one you can carry around easily. Its weight will matter, as will how easily it folds up. A deckchair is great, but it’s worth bringing a blanket or mat as well, because in a half-sitting position you may find it hard to tan your back.
A beach tent for shelter from the wind
Beach weather can be changeable – sunshine one moment, wind the next. And with the wind comes sand, which gets whipped up and blown into your eyes, mouth and ears. It’s worth being prepared for this by bringing a beach tent that shelters you from behind and from above.
A tent like this is ideal for people who can’t stay in the sun for too long. They can retreat into its shade and still enjoy their time on the beach. A tent will also come in handy for children, who can take a nap inside.
Flip-flops or water shoes
Sliders, flip-flops or even water shoes don’t take up much space, and they’re well worth having with you. They let you stroll comfortably along the beach and nip to a nearby shop or bar for a snack. What’s more – they dry quickly, they’re light and they won’t get ruined by sand or water.
A water bottle and a flask
You mustn’t forget to stay hydrated at the beach – it’s really important. Take a water bottle with you, ideally one that keeps your drink cold. The ordinary plastic that drinks bottles are made of isn’t necessarily a good idea, because when it heats up it releases particles that are harmful to your health and get into the water. When choosing a reusable bottle, look for the right material markings and choose ones that are safe for contact with food.
A flask will come in handy for anyone dreaming of coffee or tea. Contrary to appearances, that’s not a bad idea at the beach, even when it’s hot. Despite high outdoor temperatures, tea is drunk in Morocco, among other places, to cool the body down.
Snacks in a lunchbox – take them to the beach!
Just as with water, remember to bring beach snacks. Of course, on the Polish coast you can buy from the vendors who roam the beach selling boiled corn on the cob and other treats. But it’s worth having your own food with you – sandwiches, salads, fruit or vegetables. This is a good idea, especially when you’re bringing children along.
Long hours on the beach and swimming are activities that burn up energy, so make sure you top it up with a nourishing snack. We strongly advise against any chocolate treats, as they can melt in the sun.
A cool bag to keep things chilled
A cool bag that keeps your food and drinks cold for several hours is an excellent idea! Especially since it gets hot at the beach. A cool bag doesn’t take up much space – you can always carry it in your hand or over your shoulder. And believe us, it’s a brilliant idea, particularly when the sun is beating down and you’re longing for a cold drink.
On top of that, a cool bag gives you more options for bringing your favourite snacks to the beach.
How to keep valuables safe at the beach? A pouch for documents and your phone
Preferably a waterproof one. You can keep important documents in it, as well as your phone, which can overheat after prolonged exposure to the sun. You can also put money or the keys to your holiday cottage in the pouch.
Naturally, don’t leave a pouch like this in plain sight – tuck it safely away in your bag or backpack. You can also slip a notiOne tracker into it, or attach one to your keys, so you can easily locate a lost item using your smartphone.
A windbreak on the beach – hit or miss?
This is a contentious one. Windbreaks have their fans and their critics. Looking at it objectively, though, a windbreak gives you more privacy, and for families with children it also creates a safe space to play.
We’ll leave it up to you to decide whether it’s worth bringing a windbreak, or whether to go for open space and the company of other people instead.
At the beach with children – what to bring?
Besides the beach essentials already mentioned, when you go to the beach with children you need to bring toys for them – all kinds of inflatables are a great idea! Rings, lilos, inflatable animals and armbands for learning to swim are perfect for hours of fun in the water.
But children don’t live by water alone, so think about sand toys too – spades, buckets, toy cars, diggers or other favourite toys are perfect for building sandcastles or digging up the beach.
Don’t bring too many toys, though, as they can get lost in the sand and children can quickly get bored with them. That’s why it’s also worth coming up with a game for the whole family on the beach – for example, a scavenger hunt for specific objects or characters, collecting shells, going for a walk, and so on.
Parents of the youngest children should also bring swim nappies, a bag for wet swimwear, wet wipes and tissues, and a small inflatable paddling pool where the child can splash about under their parents’ supervision.
And of course, don’t forget hats for the children, water, sun cream and snacks!
What snacks to take to the beach?
Snacks that work brilliantly at the beach, for children and adults alike, are all kinds of fruit and vegetables. You can chop up carrots, cucumber or peppers beforehand, or bring cherry tomatoes or radishes. Fruit is a perfect substitute for sweet treats like waffles and ice cream – it’s best to go for what’s in season, such as raspberries, strawberries and blueberries.
More filling snacks include sandwiches with healthy fillings, e.g. lettuce, radish and cottage cheese, or hummus with crackers or rice cakes.
Avoid unhealthy snacks like crisps or salty sticks, as well as any sweets, which are high in calories and can melt in the sun. It’s also not a good idea to make sandwiches with hard cheese, which can melt too, or with ham, which can simply go off.
Beach time? Let’s go!
A day at the beach is a great way to relax on holiday. When heading to the water, though, it’s worth taking the accessories listed above, which will make a full day of beach-going far more comfortable. Whether you’re planning a beach trip to the seaside, abroad, out of town or even in the city, don’t forget to prepare properly. Especially when you’re bringing children, who quickly get bored of splashing about in the water. And if you’re bringing your dog along, take a look at this article to find out how to travel safely with your pet.
