Checklist for a seaside weekend before you leave home
A practical checklist covering bookings, clothing, food, the car or train and sun protection to run through before you set off for a weekend by the sea.
Most seaside weekends go smoothly when a short round of preparation happens before anyone reaches the car or the platform. The items below cover what is easy to forget and hard to fix once you are on the coast: confirmations, clothing for changeable weather, food that must stay cold and a reliable way to get there and back.
Work through the list the day before you leave rather than on the morning of departure. That leaves time to buy what is missing, charge what needs charging and move anything that would be inconvenient to find at the last minute.
Confirm bookings and transport
Before you leave, confirm the details of the place you are staying. Save the address, the check-in time, the host's contact details and the parking arrangements both on your phone and on paper. Signal can be patchy on some coast roads, and an offline copy means you can still find the right door at nine in the evening.
Check the transport legs as well:
- Confirm ferry, train or bus times, especially outside the busiest months when services can run less often.
- Note the parking instructions for the car, including any permit or access code needed.
- Check the car's tire pressure, fuel or charge level and fluid levels, and make sure the spare or repair kit is in place.
- Charge phones and a power bank for the journey, and pack a charger for the car.
Confirm reservations for restaurants and boat trips the day before. Many small operators confirm by phone or message and may have changed their timetable, so a quick call can prevent a wasted trip.
Look at the forecast for every day of the weekend rather than only the first one, and note where the wind is expected to come from. If a shore walk is planned, print the tide times for each morning and afternoon you will be on the coast, so the plan does not depend on a phone signal at the water's edge.
Pack clothing for sea air
The coast often feels cooler and windier than the inland forecast suggests, so pack in layers. A light windproof jacket or fleece is useful for evenings and for cool mornings on the shore, even when the afternoon is warm. Bring at least one pair of shoes with good grip for wet rocks and sand, and a pair of sandals for the beach and town.
- Swimwear and a towel, plus a spare set of dry clothes for the drive home.
- A wide-brimmed hat or cap, sunglasses and broad-spectrum sunscreen.
- A reusable water bottle for each person, since sun, wind and heat can leave people thirsty even when they do not feel hot.
- A small bag for wet swimwear and sandy shoes, so they do not travel loose in the car.
Reapply sunscreen as the label directs, including after swimming. Coastal weather can change within an afternoon, so a compact waterproof layer is worth packing even when the forecast looks settled. It takes little space in a bag. On stony beaches, inexpensive water shoes or sneakers protect the feet far better than bare toes or flip-flops, and they are a sensible addition for anyone who plans to explore the tide pools.
Pack food and supplies
Food is where many weekends go wrong. Pack a cooler with ice packs for perishable items, and keep it in the shade when you are not using it. If you plan to buy fish or shellfish on the way, carry it in its own insulated bag and get it into the fridge or cooler as soon as possible after purchase. Food safety guidance generally suggests keeping cold food at or below 40 degrees Fahrenheit (4 degrees Celsius) and not leaving perishable food out for more than two hours, or one hour when the air is above 90 degrees Fahrenheit.
Pack the cooler the night before. Chill drinks and food in the fridge first, so the ice packs are not working to cool warm items. Keep raw fish and shellfish sealed in a container at the bottom, away from bread, fruit and ready-to-eat food, so juices cannot drip onto anything that will be eaten without cooking.
Pack non-perishable snacks, a basic first aid kit with bandages and any personal medicines, and a few bags for trash and wet items. Think about the kitchen as well. A bottle opener, a sharp knife and a cloth can save a surprising amount of time on arrival, especially if the rental does not include them.
Close up the house
Check the home before you go. Empty any trash that would smell over the weekend, unplug appliances you do not need and set a timer for a light if the house will be empty for several days. Lock the doors and windows, and let someone you trust know when to expect you back.
Once the house is secure, run the whole list one last time with the weekend in mind. Ask which item you would most regret forgetting, and make sure it is in the car before the door closes. A short list worked through calmly leaves more room for the actual pleasure of the trip.