Some of the best travel memories are made on summer trips; beach staycations, exotic island adventures, island hopping, you name it. So, to make more epic memories this summer, you’d better be well prepared. That’s why I’ve compiled this travel essentials list for you to have an unforgettable summer.

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What to Add to Your Summer Travel Essentials List?

Sunscreen

Summer or not, sunscreen is a very essential product to have. So, if your skin needs sun protection every single day, imagine how much protection does it need on hot summer days? Exactly, more than ever!

According to the American Academy of Dermatology, it’s recommended to wear sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher to protect your skin from around 97% of the sun’s harmful UV rays.

My all-time favorite sunscreen is anything by La Roche-Posay – their Anthelios products to be more precise. I tried almost the entire line and what I like the most about their sunscreens is that they’re very moisturizing and they’re not oily or sticky like most sunscreens are. They’re also SPF 50+ so that means extra protection. Local shoppers can find La Roche-Posay products on Noon and benefit from my 10% discount.

NOON PROMO CODE: GM88 (10% discount)

If you’re environmentally conscious like me, you might want to also get a reef-friendly sunscreen for when you’re going to the beach.

What’s a reef-friendly sunscreen? The terms “reef-friendly” and “reef-safe” are used to indicate that a certain sunscreen does not contain oxybenzone and octinoxate, which are two common UV filters that are believed to cause coral bleaching. This means that regular sunscreen may be useful to your skin but harmful to the environment.

It’s important to note though, in order not to fall for greenwashing gimmicks, that the studies around this matter are still not definitive. Meaning that there’s limited evidence that these UV filters cause a significant impact. Not to mention that terms like “reef-safe” can be pretty broad and may give consumers a sense of false security.

My personal opinion on this? It’s always better to be safe than sorry. Even if the exposure of corals to these filters in a natural environment is very insignificant to that in a lab, it may still have a negative impact, no matter how little it is. I’d personally prefer to do my part, just in case, if I’ll be swimming in a sea – and if I have access to reef-safe sunscreen, of course.

When getting a reef-safe sunscreen, it’s important to read the ingredients and do your own research about it first to make sure it’s not just a marketing bit. And given that I haven’t tried any international products, I can’t really give recommendations. Unfortunately, I haven’t found any brands that sell reef-safe sunscreen here in Egypt – I’ve been searching for years. However, I’ve recently found Surfface, a colored mineral sunscreen by Norshek that I’ll be trying this summer.

Skincare products for after sun

Just like sunscreen is a must-have on your travel essentials list for the summer, after-sun care is also important, especially if you’re having so many beach days. My favorite after-sun cream is also by La Roche-Posay and it’s available on Noon.

Applying after-sun cream is not enough – you need to have a proper skincare routine that keeps your skin hydrated and moisturized. The most essential product that should be on your list is a decent body scrub. My favorite is the Green Tea Rice Face and Body Scrub by a local brand called Urban Ducks. Local shoppers can find it on EcoCart, alongside other natural skincare products, and benefit from my 10% discount.

ECOCART PROMO CODE: EC4 (10% discount)

Further sun protection

You never have too much sun protection! That’s why you should never travel without a pair of sunglasses and a hat/cap (if your hair’s not too big like mine and actually fits in).

Exfoliating towel

When you’re traveling for longer periods, running water isn’t really enough for a “shower”. Sorry, but a shower isn’t a proper one if you don’t scrub some shower gel all over. So, do you often end up traveling with a loofah? Well, this isn’t a very convenient solution given that loofahs take ages to dry and being constantly damp also means more bacteria. So, you don’t want that anywhere near your luggage or skin, right?

Honestly, my life has changed ever since I threw away all the loofahs I had and started using exfoliating towels instead. This is basically a loofah that looks exactly like a thin towel. You simply scrunch it into a ball or wrap it around to reach your entire back and just scrub your body with it like you would with a regular loofah. The only difference is that because it’s super thin, it dries really fast and it doesn’t home bacteria. Hence, bye-bye bacne if you have any! Home or away, exfoliating towels are a game-changer.

The exfoliating towel that I use is by The Body Shop but it runs out of stock from the branches and website all the time, so I got it from Noon instead. You can find The Body Shop’s on Noon as well as other generic brands as well.

Swimwear

This one goes without saying, because what’s summer without beach days and pool parties? I got some of my favorite bathing suits from Monsoon, Tommy Hilfiger, and H&M. There are also local brands that I like for their pretty designs and decent quality such as Fufa, The Shore Thing, Kai Collections, and Nina The Brand.

Microfiber towel

A microfiber towel is a pretty practical thing to have on your travel essentials list, especially in the summer when you’re hitting the beach frequently. For starters, it’s compact and doesn’t require much space at all, which is pretty convenient for those who like to pack light or if you simply want to have room for more stuff – it’s just smarter packing. In addition to that, I love the quick-dry feature in microfiber towels. You know that last dip before heading back home? Or the smelly beach bag you end up carrying back to your accommodation just because your towel is still wet from your time at the beach? Well, you don’t have to worry about any of that if you have a microfiber towel.

I have two microfiber towels – one that I got from Decathlon and another that I got from a local brand that, unfortunately, no longer operates.

Beach mat

If you’re traveling with limited space, then your towel should suffice, but if you’re going to your summer house, a beach mat won’t harm, right? Some beach mats are padded like this one, making tanning and laying on the beach pretty comfortable if there’s no seating area. There are also beach “blankets” like this one, which are more or less similar to microfiber towels but they have sand pockets so they wouldn’t fly away, as well as pockets to keep your personal belongings protected.

Tote bag

My perfect alternative for the beach bag is a canvas tote bag. Beach bags are usually bulky so they require so much space, unlike canvas bags that can be folded and can easily fit in your luggage or backpack. This is not the only reason why it’s a practical solution – tote bags can serve multiple purposes as you can also use them for shopping or instead of carrying a purse.

Reusable water bottle

Hydration is key to glowing skin and a healthy body. Unfortunately, with our fast-paced lives, we often tend to forget to drink frequently, and this poses even more risk of heat strokes during the summer as we tend to lose more body water. To avoid that, I personally found it very useful to keep a reusable bottle of water on me all the time, whether I’m traveling or not. Carrying one is a constant reminder to drink, it’s also good for the environment as it helps you reduce your plastic waste.

Here’s my favorite pick from Noon – it’s super cool because it has marks and motivational messages on it, and it also comes in different vibrant colors.

Waterproof camera

Having an action camera on me has served me so much on my previous trips. Not just because of the ability to use it in certain cases where I couldn’t use my phone or DSL camera, but also because I was able to go swimming with it without having to worry about it.

I personally use the GoPro Hero 5 Black, but there are newer ones now on the market. The GoPro Hero 9 is available on Noon, as well as GoPro housing if you have older models that aren’t waterproof.

Swimproof hair oil

Salty hair, don’t care? Well, you should care so you wouldn’t regret it later. Summer doesn’t pose risk to our skin only – our hair can get super damaged as well. So, read along as I have an important addition to your summer travel essentials list.

As a curly head, hair care has always been a priority to me as curls usually require more maintenance. An interesting trick, that I’ve learned over the years, that keeps my hair protected from sea salt and chlorine is applying a tiny bit of hair oil before going for a swim. Make sure to use something light, and that doesn’t have a strong smell, like Argan oil. This adds a protective layer over your hair strands since oil and water don’t mix.

My personal favorite is the Renewing Plus Morocco Argan Penetrating Oil by OGX which is available on Noon. The Hair Addict has an interesting product called the Swimproof Recipe too that I’m trying out this summer.

NOON PROMO CODE: GM88 (10% discount)

On-road entertainment – ROAM SYNDROME

Entertainment is the core of any trip – if you’re not entertained, you’ll get bored. Sure, you’re mainly traveling to enjoy certain activities and experiences in the destination you’re visiting, but who said that’s the only reason to seek entertainment?

You could be traveling with your friends or family to a vacation/summer house, or you could be a solo traveler looking for something to break the ice with other nomads. In either case, Roam Syndrome is the perfect answer!

Roam Syndrome is a travel-themed card game created by Curls en Route – it’s created by a traveler for travelers. You can check it out and learn all about it here.

Travel Essentials List for Overseas Summer Vacays

Travel insurance

The world of travel isn’t always rainbows and butterflies – things might go down south sometimes. You might fall ill or lose your luggage, and that’s when you’ll thank me for having your back covered with travel insurance.

SafetyWing offers different travel insurance packages, tailored to your needs, but their Nomad Insurance is my favorite option.

This travel medical insurance is perfect for frequent travelers. It covers lost checked luggage, travel delay, doctors, hospitals, and more. It even covers the COVID-19 emergency quarantine period if deemed necessary by a physician.

Mobile data

Nowadays, we have to stay connected while traveling. Whether it’s to be able to navigate in a foreign country, use helpful travel apps, or stay in touch with friends and family, mobile data has become essential. However, buying a physical SIM card on every single trip can be a hassle and the “roaming” service is usually too expensive. That’s when Airalo comes to the rescue!

Airalo is an app that offers eSIMS that enable you to subscribe to reasonable local data plans while traveling. This works in over 190 countries, so wherever you are, the internet is only a few clicks away. You just need to make sure that your smartphone is eSIM-compatible and you’re good to go. You can explore data plans here.

So, where are you heading this summer? Let me know in the comments down below!

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• 30+ Important Things to Bring on a Road Trip

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