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What to Pack on Vacation: Your Ultimate Guide for a Virginia Beach Getaway

The group at Anchor Reatly love hosting all of our beautiful guests every year! But one of the biggest questions people always ask anytime they travel - what do I bring? What does the vacation home offer?

I  know you want to spare that extra cash on the luggage if you can! 

Here's a quick little guide that we put together for you so you can pack smarter and only bring the essentials when staying in Virginia Beach and our rentals. 

1. Beach Essentials

You're coming to the beach! I know you know that...it is in the name Virginia Beach after all. So of course we want to bring what seems obvious but is so hard to forget.
  • Your swimsuit - I recommend you bring multiple so you can stay comfortable and stylish when walking around the boardwalk!
  • Sunscreen - Pick up that tan, but do it safely please!
  • Sunglasses and a Hat - Cute attire but also functional to get a little break from that sun. 
  • Beach towels, umbrellas, and chairs - Please ask before you pack these. Some of our homes have these available for you in the garage or storage that you can use throughout your stay. For those smaller homes without as much storage, we do have rentals available at an incredibly affordable rate! Want to know what we have in store? Check it out here before you book. https://app.thehost.co/9273/
2. Beach Attire - Comfortable and Cute
  • You'll want some lightweight clothing to beat the summer heat! Because it is a beach town, you can pretty much walk around anywhere in your beach attire. The only specific is that you do need to have a shirt and shoes on to eat in most places. So bring your coverup! 
  • Walking beach shoes - Almost all of the rentals we have are within an easy walking distance to the beach. However, you are going to have to cross a street, walk on the sidewalk and boardwalk to access the beach. Also, our sand here tends to get very hot very quickly, I don't want you to burn your feet! Make sure everyone has comfortable shoes that you can wear until you settle into the sand at your spot. 
  • The weather spans about a 20 degree difference throughout the day. The height of the summer is usually in the upper 90s with mornings starting around 78-82 degrees. It doesn't usually cool off until well into the evening. 
3. Entertainment and Activities
  • Fortunately, this is one place you can pack light on! You have all the activities the area offers, from the beach to museums, state parks, and amusement centers. 
  • Don't forget your books and magazines to catch up on the beach while you are suntanning! 
  • While some of our rentals have them, the waves offer a ton of fun for anyone using a boogie board or snorkeling. Kites are also quite popular to use on the beach. 
  • Looking for some ideas? Check out our website for information about our local area. The Virginia Beach City website also has an awesome list put together. 
4. Health and Safety

This is your vacation so we want you to enjoy it to the fullest! 
  • Make sure you pack a small first aid kit, not all of our homes have this stocked right now. 
  • Medications so everyone can stay in tip top shape throughout your stay. 
  • Hydration - drink water! Boost your hydration with electrolytes to stay feeling your best throughout the day. My personal favorite are Liquid IV. You can get them at Costco for a crazy good price! 
5. Food and Snacks
You are truly surrounded by amazing food, any and all types that you could want - from small snacks to huge fancy meals. Whatever your preference, we know someone in the family is always looking for a bite to eat. 
  • A small cooler to bring drinks and perishables. You are able to have this on the beach without problems. Please avoid glass bottles as best as you can. 
  • Reusable containers - Most of our homes have a few of these. Ziplock bags save space and can be used for so many things, not just for food. Keep your phone and tech dry while you are on the beach, and you can use it while it's in the bag! 
  • Coffee - All of our homes include something to make coffee, almost all of them have a drip coffee maker. At this time, though, we do not provide the coffee. You may want to plan to make a small trip to the store to get these basics before you arrive! 

I hope this is helpful! We wanted to provide that quick checklist about the area and a quick reminder while you get ready to join is very soon for your family vacation. We truly can't wait to see you! 

Pro tip - If you haven't booked your vacation for next summer, we are offering our best ever rates for next year starting TODAY! Book directly with us to save on those high Airbnb fees at www.anchorvirginia.com to get the best experience of Virginia Beach from born and raised locals.