What 8 Essentials to Pack for Your Summer Weekend Getaways

Cindy Richards Avatar
Relax on the beach.
Relaxing on the beach on Espiritu Santo Island. Photo Credit: Colin Ruggiero

It’s officially summer weekend getaway season. Whether you’re headed to a swanky resort with a glimmering pool, a serene lakefront cottage, or a breezy beachside Airbnb, you will want to look fabulous, feel comfortable, and be ready for anything from lounging by the water to sipping a sunset cocktail.

These must-pack items blend comfort, style, and versatility so you can spend less time stressing about what to wear and more time soaking up the sunshine.

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A peaceful resort beach with a sandy shore, cabanas, palm trees and umbrellas, all set up for guests to relax while looking out at a calm bay.
There’s a lot to do and see in the Caribbean this summer, or you can choose to do nothing and relax in paradise. Photo credit: Buccaneer Resort St. Croix.

Four stylish women's tops with elbow length sleeves, v-necks and flattering cuts for casual summer travel.
These tops from Umgee offer a boho vibe. Photo credit: June Adel

Casual Tops and Shorts

Summer travel starts with shorts and breezy tops. The key is to feel cool and comfortable while looking cute and put together. That’s where the boho-cool vibe, breathable fabrics, soft hues, and flattering cuts of these options from Umgee come in.

Whether you prefer flutter sleeves, embroidery, or flowy tunic styles, Umgee tops are perfect for pairing with shorts during the day or resort pants in the evening. Just add a pair of statement earrings and you’re ready for dinner with a view.

Four stylish women's shorts that are mid-thigh and made of various bright cotton patterns for casual summer travel.
No summer weekend bag is complete without at least one pair of well-fitting casual shorts. Photo credit: June Adel

When the right option is pairing that breezy top with cute casual shorts, the June Adel collection features comfy, stylish options that are easy to dress up or down.

We love the lightweight materials, soft textures, and neutral tones that go with everything. Whether you’re walking the boardwalk or exploring a beach town’s local markets, these shorts are an easy go-to all day long.

Get Water-Worthy

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Look cute and protect your skin from the sun with a Rashguard swimsuit. Photo credit: WET Swimwear

My go-to weekend getaways almost always revolve around water — a beach, ocean, lake or really great pool, So I never leave home without the basics: a swimsuit or two, a cute cover-up, board shorts and a rashguard for playing in the sun.

Whether you’re swimming, surfing, or just spending a full day in the sun, a rashguard swimsuit from WET Swimwear offers a flattering fit and bold, fashion-forward designs that make sun safety seriously cool.

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Pack a silk caftan (or two). Photo credit: Vanner House

Weekend getaways mean packing light, which requires clothing that does double duty, like a silk caftan from Vanner House. You can throw it over your swimsuit as a cover-up at the pool and then wear it to dinner with wedges and statement earrings. Go ahead, pack two. You’ll live in them all weekend.

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For active days in and around the water, a great pair of board shorts is essential. Photo credit: Maxine of Hollywood

These board shorts from Maxine of Hollywood provide more coverage than your typical bikini bottom without sacrificing style. They’re my choice when I’m being active in and around the water, paddleboarding, kayaking, or simply walking along the shoreline.

Chic Resortwear

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These resort pants are the next best thing to wearing pajamas! Photo credit: La Blanca

I am fortunate enough to visit resorts several times a year — often enough that I have a section of my closet dedicated to resortwear. Then, when it’s time for my next trip, I simply pull those clothes off the hangers and fold them into my suitcase.

That section of the closet includes a couple of cute pairs of resort pants, fun jumpsuits and sun dresses and at least one lightweight sweater for cool evenings.

Lightweight, flowy resort pants like these from La Blanca can do triple duty on a weekend getaway. They are made for lounging in style — think bathing suit cover-up, beachside brunches, or post-swim cocktails. Their flattering silhouette makes them ideal for tucking in a tank top or pairing with a silk blouse. They’re also super easy to pack and wrinkle-resistant, which is a big plus when you’re living out of a weekend bag.

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A chic jumpsuit like one of these from Elegance Miss is the holy grail of a summer travel wardrobe. Photo credit: Elegance Miss

I love, love, love a great fitting jumpsuit. They’re easy and make you look instantly put-together. Whether you’re heading out for an al fresco dinner or exploring a charming coastal town, a jumpsuit from Elegance Miss is the perfect mix of casual elegance and comfort.

Pair with sandals and a straw hat for daytime, or swap in wedges and a clutch for evening — either way, it’s a suitcase MVP.

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Pack a linen blend cardigan for cool nights, chilly planes and overly air-conditioned restaurants. Photo credit: June Adel

Even in the height of summer, evenings near water can get breezy. Enter this linen blend cardigan by Umgee. Available at June Adel, this layer is both practical and polished — the kind of piece you’ll throw over your shoulders while watching fireworks on the beach or roasting marshmallows lakeside.

It’s light enough to pack without a second thought, and stylish enough to elevate any look.

Bonus Tips for a Smooth Weekend Getaway:

  • Keep your palette cohesive so all your pieces mix and match easily.
  • Invest in packing cubes (these are the ones I never leave home without to save space in my carry-on).
  • Limit your shoes to one pair of cute sandals, one pair of water/beach shoes and one pair of comfortable walking shoes.
  • Pack travel-size essentials and a small waterproof bag for beach or pool days.
  • Don’t forget the SPF!

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Cindy Richards is a Pulitzer Prize nominated journalist who serves as the Editor-in-Chief of SheBuysTravel.com. She also is the mom of two now grown kids who have traveled with her since that first, fateful plane ride when one preschooler discovered a barf bag in his seat pocket and his sister, finding none in hers, demanded, “I want a barf bag too!” She has been a reporter, editor and columnist at the Chicago Sun-Times and Chicago Tribune, an editor at Chicago Parent and Catalyst Chicago and an instructor in the graduate school at Northwestern’s prestigious Medill School of Journalism.
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