Welcome to my summer beach resort vacation packing list. This list is aimed at holiday makers travelling to standard beach resorts during the summer months. While dress codes, activities offered and levels of service will vary, this packing guide should help you with your packing and make sure you have a fantastic summer resort vacation!
In September last year, in the midst of the Covid travel chaos, I booked my first ever summer activity resort vacation, to Messini Beach Club in Greece. The resort is run by Neilson, who offer mid-range holidays with activities like watersports, tennis and cycling all included.
This is not my normal sort of travel style at all, but with many countries closed to visitors, and with some super bargainous last-minute deals available, it seemed like the perfect way to escape the daily grind and unwind for a bit.
But since it was the first time I’d ever done a summer beach resort vacation, I wasn’t sure what to pack.
Is there a dress code at activity beach clubs?
I’ve been to beach resorts before, but the dress codes can vary wildly from place to place. In some, the women dress for dinner in flowing dresses, high heels and dripping jewellery every night, while others are much more casual.
Plus Neilson holidays are a bit different from your usual fly-and-flop summer resort – they include all sorts of activities from sailing and cycling to tennis and yoga, so in addition to the normal beach gear you might pack for a summer holiday, you need to think about sportswear or even equipment too.
What you pack for an activity resort vacation will also depend on when you go. I went in September, when it was still hot and sunny during the day, with temperatures reaching low 30s C (high 80s F), but sometimes a touch chilly in the evening.
So here’s a full breakdown of the items I packed for my two-week beach resort vacation in Greece.
An active beach resort vacation packing list: what to wear during the day
I swiftly discovered that on Neilson active beach holidays the dress code is pretty casual, especially during the day. Most people are either lying by the pool or on their way to and from various sporting activities, wearing either sports gear or swimwear. The only dress code is that in the restaurant you must be somewhat covered up, so you’ll need to have a t-shirt or wrap handy.
What to pack for the pool on an active beach resort holiday
For pool-based activities, obviously all you’ll need are a couple of sets of swimwear. How many you bring really depends on how often you like to change!
Most rooms in beach resorts have a drying rack, and in the summer sun things do dry out very quickly, so you don’t need to bring loads – I brought two bikinis and a one-piece swimming costume for wearing under lifejackets, and that was fine.
Some resorts have a big pool which is great for doing laps, so you might also want to bring goggles or a swim cap if that’s something you’re into. Towels are usually provided, so you don’t need to bring those.
What to pack for sailing and water sports on an activity beach vacation
For sailing and water sports you have to wear a buoyancy aid – sometimes these can be a bit sticky or chafey so it’s a good idea to bring a one-piece or even a rash vest or t-shirt you don’t mind getting wet to wear underneath it.
If you think you might spend a lot of time on the water it’s a good idea to cover your shoulders anyway, as the glare off the sea can burn you surprisingly quickly.
I also brought water shoes but soon found I didn’t really need them, it’s perfectly fine to use the boards and boats with bare feet.
What to pack for tennis and other sports on an activity holiday
For tennis, gym and yoga you’ll need to bring sportswear, such as cropped leggings or shorts, and t-shirts or sports vests.
On a tennis court in summer it got extremely hot and I soon found my leggings were too much – in fact I ended up buying a little pair of sports shorts from the resort shop and never wore my leggings. It’s also important to bring a hat to cover your head when playing tennis for any length of time, and sunglasses are obviously a must too!
Racquets are usually provided at activity beach resorts but of course if you’re a keen tennis player, you might want to bring your own.
I only brought 2 sets of sportswear which wasn’t really enough. Sometimes if I got really hot and sweaty in the morning I wanted to change in the afternoon, which meant I was doing a LOT of handwashing (and yes, bring travel wash!)
What to pack for cycling in Greece
If you’re a keen cyclist you’ll want to bring your cycling gear, and if you have cycle shoes with cleats, or even your own helmet or pedals, bring those. The team at the cycle shop can fit them for you.
If you’re not a regular cyclist but fancy going for a spin, don’t worry! Plenty of people, including me, just did bike rides in sports kit and trainers and it was absolutely fine.
What to pack for activity holiday excursions
There are loads of excursions on offer from Messini Beach Club and other holiday resorts, so if you think you might want to take advantage of them you should bring a couple of daytime outfits such as shorts and t-shirts or summer dresses.
I packed an extra pair of shorts and some cropped trousers as well as several t-shirts, but in the end I only did one excursion so I barely wore them. Most of the time I just hung around the resort in sportswear or a swimming costume with a wrap over the top.
Read more: 11 Things To Do On A Thessaloniki City Break in Greece
What to wear in the evening on a summer beach resort holiday
In general I’ve found the evening dress code at summer holiday beach clubs is not super fancy. Men wear light trousers or shorts and shirts or t-shirts, and women mostly wear fairly casual summer dresses and sandals.
Of course you can dress up if you want to, but personally I’d leave the high heels at home. Just wear whatever makes you feel comfortable! For two weeks I took 7 jersey or viscose summer dresses (I wore each one twice) and one pair of sandals which I wore every evening.
However, some other beach holiday resorts do have more of a fancy dress code – and of course you may be someone who likes dressing up, or you might fancy heading into the local town for dinner in a nice restaurant!
So if you’re not sure, check with the specific resort you’re staying in and add a couple of nicer items to your beach resort vacation packing list.
My Essential Active Beach Resort Vacation Packing List
So here’s my suggested packing list for a two week holiday at an active beach resort in the summer. If you’re only going for one week you probably won’t need quite as much as this, so adjust accordingly.
Clothes
- 2-3 sets of swimwear
- 1 wrap or beach cover up
- 3-4 sets of sports kit (shorts and vest or t-shirt) including one pair of shorts suitable for the water
- 3 sports bras
- 7 dresses for evenings (I wore each one twice). The two in the photos above are both jersey dresses from Boden – I love their dresses because they come in bright colours and are packable.
- 1 light cardigan for chilly evenings
- 1 outfit for excursions – shorts and top or sundress
- Underwear (I took 10 pairs so I didn’t have to do too much washing!)
- 1 pair of sports trainers
- 1 pair of casual shoes for excursions
- 1 pair of flip flops
- 1 pair of sandals for the evening
- You might need a windproof or waterproof jacket, depending on the weather forecast
Accessories
- Sunglasses
- Headphones
- Cap or sunhat
- Suncream. I swear by Riemann P20 because it’s hard wearing and you only need to apply it once a day.
- Face SPF. I love Skin Defence Multi-Protection Light Essence SPF 50 from the Body Shop.
- Shampoo, toothpaste and other toiletries
- Camera
- Powerbank or portable charger
- EU plug adaptors
- Chargers and cables
- Books, tablet or e-reader
- Sports equipment if you want to bring your own
- Beach bag
- Refillable water bottle
- Travel wash or laundry soap
Thinking about booking a Neilson Active Holiday?
Why not read my full review, which you can find here: A Neilson Activity Holidays Review – Messini Beach Club in Greece
Book now!
Convinced? You should be! Just click the button below to head to the Neilson Activity Holidays site and start your adventure!
Have a great trip!
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