I used to pack light as a travelling teenager but then Facebook happened. Suddenly I HAD to take those nude pumps I could barely walk in with me wherever I would  go. "Who's looking?" bemused mum would ask. Uh, everyone on my friend list, mum! 

Thankfully aging comes with wisdom, and I have tearfully let go of those shoes (and some ridiculous beauty standards). And while the fear of bad Facebook pictures does not haunt me as much anymore, packing for a vacation still remains a careful art.

One of the first things we shed at a beach, along with our heavy clothes, is our worries. And you can see this from the way people dress in those places, particularly the touristy ones. All things breezy, flowing and colourful work great, which is why the super comfortable maxi dress is a winner on my list. It can be amped up with a really long stole. The stole also doubles up as protection from the freezing, cold air blasting through the vents in the plane to and from there. For men, the classic Bermuda shorts or just basic beach shorts seem to be the most practical. Add a pair of swimwear, and you are all set.   

Some things like toiletries, camera, chargers, emergency meds, sleepwear and undergarments remain on the packing list regardless of where one is going. Then there are certain beach-specific items. If you plan on attempting to snorkel then you will found out, like I did earlier this year, that plastic flip-flops tend to float away in water and walking barefoot in a waterbed of crushed corals can be quite painful (and sometimes bloody). 

As awful as they may look, strap on beach sandals and crocs are foot savers if you are not using fins. Then there is the sun and how you deal with it. I use spray on sunscreen, sunglasses and giant straw hats. If you take night strolls on the beach like me then a torch and some bug repellent, I have found, can be quite handy. Of course, there is always the option of packing only the bare necessities and just getting there. It's the beach 
and, as my mother says, 'Who cares anyway?

Photo courtesy: Sheema Hossain