A week by the sea in one bag
Linen, a hat, one pair of sandals, and a tote that doubles as the beach bag. A packing list that fits under the seat in front of you.
By Ida Lund2 min read
Every summer I pack too much and wear a third of it. This year I tried the opposite: 7 days on the coast near Porto with one canvas tote and nothing in the hold. I did not miss anything.
Choose linen
Linen is the best fabric to travel with in the heat. It dries in an hour on a balcony, it stays cool against the skin, and it is meant to look a little creased. A linen dress goes from the beach to dinner with a change of shoes, and a linen shirt is a cover-up, a jacket, and a shirt.
The list
- A linen midi dress, worn on the plane.
- A relaxed linen shirt and 2 T-shirts.
- One pair of shorts and one pair of loose trousers.
- A swimsuit, rinsed and dried every evening.
- One pair of leather sandals. They take you everywhere a beach town goes.
- A wide-brimmed hat, worn rather than packed, and sunglasses.
The bag is part of the outfit
A canvas tote is light enough to carry on, and once you arrive it becomes the beach bag and the market bag. Pack the heaviest things at the bottom and roll everything else. Rolled linen creases less than folded linen, and what creases there are fall out after an hour of wearing.
Leave room at the top. You will come home with a jar of something, a book, and a ceramic bowl you did not need, and they have to go somewhere.
