The things that make a beach or pool holiday easier: protecting your phone, staying cool, sun protection, and games that cope with the wind.
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Beach and pool holidays, villas, resorts and hot-weather destinations
A beach holiday doesn't need much: swimwear, sun cream and a book will get you a long way. But a few small extras make the days noticeably easier, particularly keeping your phone safe, staying cool, and having something to do that doesn't blow away.
Waterproof phone pouch – keeps out water, sand and sun-creamy hands, and means your phone, room key and card can come with you rather than sit unattended on a sunbed. Test it with tissue in a sink before trusting it with your phone.
SYNCWIRE Waterproof Phone Pouch 2-Pack
A practical IPX8-rated two-pack for couples or families who want basic water, sand and splash protection without spending much.
A small dry bag – useful on boat trips and for keeping a towel and spare clothes dry.
Small dry bag
Keeps your phone, keys and a towel dry on boat trips and wet beach days.
Power bank – beach days with photos, maps and music drain phones quickly.
INIU 10,000mAh 45W Power Bank
A strong travel balance of 10,000mAh capacity, fast 45W USB-C charging and compact size without moving into bulky high-capacity territory.
High-SPF sun cream – plus a separate stick for faces and children.
NIVEA Sun Protect & Moisture Spray SPF 30 (200ml)
High protection for long days on the beach and by the pool.
After-sun
Sun hats and sunglasses – for everyone.
UV rash vests – particularly good for children who spend hours in the water.
Kids' UV rash vest
Covers shoulders and back in the water, so there's less sun cream to keep reapplying.
Lip balm with SPF
Portable fan – more useful than it sounds in hot hotel rooms, outdoor restaurants and long queues. A folding handheld model that stands on a table is the most versatile.
GAIATOP Portable Handheld Turbo Fan
A compact USB-C rechargeable fan with strong airflow and a long-lasting battery, small enough to carry around on hot sightseeing days.
Insulated water bottle – keeps water cold through a full beach day.
Insulated water bottle
Keeps drinks cold for hours, even sitting in the sun on a hot beach.
Quick-dry towel – packs smaller than a normal towel and doesn't hold on to sand.
Quick-dry microfibre towel
Packs smaller than a cotton towel, dries fast and shakes sand off easily.
A beach bag that wipes clean – sand and sun cream come off easily.
Beach bag
Roomy enough for towels, sun cream and snacks, and easy to clean afterwards.
Water shoes – for rocky beaches, hot sand and sea urchins.
Water shoes
Protect your feet from rocks and hot sand, and dry quickly between swims.
Snorkel and mask – your own is usually more comfortable and hygienic than a hired one.
Snorkel set
Your own mask and snorkel, so you're not relying on hired kit that may not fit.
Insect repellent – for the evenings.
Most small travel games are card games, which become a problem as soon as there's a breeze. These are the ones we'd take for playing outside.
Hive Pocket – chunky, heavy tiles and no cards at all, so wind doesn't matter. Our favourite outdoor game for two.
Hive Pocket
No board and no cards, just chunky tiles that cope with a breeze. Excellent for two players.
Herd Mentality – a group game where you mostly write answers down. Take the cards, leave the box.
Herd Mentality
A big-group game where everyone writes their answers down. Take just the cards and leave the box at home.
Just One – a very funny word game for bigger groups on a terrace in the evening.
Just One
A cooperative word game for three to seven players that gets the whole group laughing on a terrace in the evening.
Hanging toiletry bag – resort and villa bathrooms rarely have enough shelf space for sun cream, after-sun and everything else.
BAGSMART Hanging Travel Toiletry Bag
A proper hanging design with useful compartments and enough space for more than a minimal toiletry kit.
Beach towels – most resorts and villas provide them. Check before you pack two bulky towels each.
Inflatables – cheaper and easier to buy locally.
Big bottles of sun cream, if space is tight – you can buy it almost anywhere with a beach.
A book or a Kindle – a Kindle weighs less than a single paperback and holds a whole holiday's worth of books, so you'll never run out halfway through the trip.
Amazon Kindle
About 158g and smaller than the Paperwhite, so it's our pick for travel. It isn't waterproof, so keep it away from the pool.
Dungeon Crawler Carl: Book 1
Our favourite holiday read: funny, addictive and eight books long. It's for adults, not children.
Games on these lists are ones we've packed and played ourselves. Other products are linked to our researched guides, so you can check whether something is genuinely worth the space before you buy.
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