The fun better outweigh the packing (beach rental house first timer)

[Anonymous]

We are gearing up for our first beach rental house. We are going to Emerald Isle. I've put it off, as I don't like packing/cooking and therefore prefer hotels...but DH is insistent.

I am shocked with how much stuff we need to bring: sheets, towels, FOOD...pack n play, sound machines...basically our whole house, it seems. Then all the beach stuff. I know I can rent the stuff but it's already so expensive, so it's not an option.

I really hope the joy of the beach outweighs this packing!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are gearing up for our first beach rental house. We are going to Emerald Isle. I've put it off, as I don't like packing/cooking and therefore prefer hotels...but DH is insistent.

I am shocked with how much stuff we need to bring: sheets, towels, FOOD...pack n play, sound machines...basically our whole house, it seems. Then all the beach stuff. I know I can rent the stuff but it's already so expensive, so it's not an option.

I really hope the joy of the beach outweighs this packing!

I know this doesn't help now OP, but chances are, you're way over doing it. We've made many beach house vacation trips and every year, we scale back even further on the amount of stuff we bring because you just don't need it. Just because you use something at home doesn't mean you can't live happily without it for a week.

Why are you taking so much food? They have grocery stores there. Take enough for day one, if you must, but it's crazy to haul down coolers full of food, bags of snacks, etc.

And a sound machine? What's wrong with the ocean?

Keep it simple. You can live without it. You don't need every piece of plastic you have in your house and think your kids can't get by without.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are gearing up for our first beach rental house. We are going to Emerald Isle. I've put it off, as I don't like packing/cooking and therefore prefer hotels...but DH is insistent.

I am shocked with how much stuff we need to bring: sheets, towels, FOOD...pack n play, sound machines...basically our whole house, it seems. Then all the beach stuff. I know I can rent the stuff but it's already so expensive, so it's not an option.

I really hope the joy of the beach outweighs this packing!

I know this doesn't help now OP, but chances are, you're way over doing it. We've made many beach house vacation trips and every year, we scale back even further on the amount of stuff we bring because you just don't need it. Just because you use something at home doesn't mean you can't live happily without it for a week.

Why are you taking so much food? They have grocery stores there. Take enough for day one, if you must, but it's crazy to haul down coolers full of food, bags of snacks, etc.

And a sound machine? What's wrong with the ocean?

Keep it simple. You can live without it. You don't need every piece of plastic you have in your house and think your kids can't get by without.

This. Also the sheet/towels rentals tend to be something like $125. It's not nothing, but in the grand scheme of things it's really not much and would make things easier.

[Anonymous]

We pack so much stuff for the beach. With small kids it just makes it “easier” to pack a lot unless you know the place has a lot of stuff. For the beach, we also packed beach toys, kite, bubbles, frisbees etc. I spent weeks preparing. I also packed a lot of food because the grocery stores at the beach get crowded and picked over. Who wants to spend vacation days returning to the store. For me, when my son was young, it was totally worth it. Beacausevwe coukd make the most out of our vacation time.

I do however agree with renting stuff there if you can afford it. We did linens, bath towels, and beach chairs.

[Anonymous]

Tip: instead of sound machine, I downloaded white noise album on my phone for travel when kids were babies

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are gearing up for our first beach rental house. We are going to Emerald Isle. I've put it off, as I don't like packing/cooking and therefore prefer hotels...but DH is insistent.

I am shocked with how much stuff we need to bring: sheets, towels, FOOD...pack n play, sound machines...basically our whole house, it seems. Then all the beach stuff. I know I can rent the stuff but it's already so expensive, so it's not an option.

I really hope the joy of the beach outweighs this packing!

Emerald Isle is amazing. I spent all of my summers as a child there. My grandparents had a small cottage 2nd row and they sold it 5-8 years ago. It was the one bright spot of my childhood. I hope you and your family enjoy every minute of it. <3

The Food Lion there is pretty well stocked normally. I always went grocery shopping with my grandmother and they were never out of stuff. Plan for pizza the first night.
You need one beach towel per person plus an extra. Just do the sheet and bath towel rental.
Baby powder, sandcastle stuff, etc.
If its a house I would be surprised if they didnt have chairs, umbrella, etc. there for you to use. Make sure you review the amenities especially if its a house that owners occupy. In the future those are normally the best rentals. The "investment" properties will nickel and dime you and everything isnt great because they dont go there.

Sound machine absolutely bring because depending on your neighbors there could be louder people there. Bring your own pillows.

As a reminder Emerald Isle does NOT have lifeguards on duty in stands (like in OC) except in the eastern and western access points. The lifeguards do patrols on 4 wheelers. Theyve recently put in rescue tubes in certain areas. Please make your children wear CG approved life vests.

Also watch out for sea lice. Thats one way to make a summer beach trip hell. Limit netting in your childrens swimsuits and make sure they take them off and shower when they go back up to the beach.

If your kids are open to it, we spent hours finding sea fleas/crabs and put them in a bucket with water and sand and watched them burrow. My grandma had a clear one she found and we could see them do it. Probably spent a good hour every day doing that. If your kids are <8 plan on only having them down in the AM for 2 hours and PM for 2-3 hours. Just make a schedule, let them watch TV while you clean up breakfast, go from 930/10-12, eat lunch, clean up, play games, prep dinner, and then go from 3-5/6. If you take them down all day you will have demons on your hands. They dont need to wash their hair, they dont need baths- forget all that stuff.

[Anonymous]

https://www.womenshealthmag.com/health/a27438380/sea-lice/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We pack so much stuff for the beach. With small kids it just makes it “easier” to pack a lot unless you know the place has a lot of stuff. For the beach, we also packed beach toys, kite, bubbles, frisbees etc. I spent weeks preparing. I also packed a lot of food because the grocery stores at the beach get crowded and picked over. Who wants to spend vacation days returning to the store. For me, when my son was young, it was totally worth it. Beacausevwe coukd make the most out of our vacation time.

I do however agree with renting stuff there if you can afford it. We did linens, bath towels, and beach chairs.

OP here and right?! Thanks for this. I’m hearing a lot of “less is more”...but my “vacations won’t go so great if I’m running out to get water bottles, toys, food, etc. A lot of little things make our lives a peaceful existence and I worry if I forget it then we’ll have a lot of tantrums (from me). Ha

[Anonymous]

OP, my kids are bigger but I still think I pack a TON and mostly am glad I did despite the hassle. I was like you before we rented a house and thought this is ridiculous, I want my hotel stay! But I now love it. So much nicer to have the space, the kitchen for drinks/snacks all the time, the washer/dryer, and did I mention the space? Staying in a small hotel room just gets old after two days, particularly at the beach with the swimsuits and towels and gear and snacks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, my kids are bigger but I still think I pack a TON and mostly am glad I did despite the hassle. I was like you before we rented a house and thought this is ridiculous, I want my hotel stay! But I now love it. So much nicer to have the space, the kitchen for drinks/snacks all the time, the washer/dryer, and did I mention the space? Staying in a small hotel room just gets old after two days, particularly at the beach with the swimsuits and towels and gear and snacks.

Do you have any tips for organizing? Or any tips for packing?

[Anonymous]

I hope you have fun, OP. I packed for the beach for the first time ever last year, and I didn't mind the packing at all. What I DID mind was that beach vacations are boring! We only went because we didn't have anywhere else to go during the pandemic. Well, now I know I'd better stick to mountains

[Anonymous]

I've learned to pack mix and match clothes; and like 3 outifts and wash them. It DOESN'T matter. No one is going to be reviewing your beach vacation pictures and realize anyone is wearing the same outfit. This honestly made my life infinitely easier. Every night I throw our clothes in the washer and drawer, didn't even bother folding them (I'm on vacation too!). I also buy tons of prepackaged stuff I'd never dream of buying at home. But again, it is my vacation as well!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've learned to pack mix and match clothes; and like 3 outifts and wash them. It DOESN'T matter. No one is going to be reviewing your beach vacation pictures and realize anyone is wearing the same outfit. This honestly made my life infinitely easier. Every night I throw our clothes in the washer and drawer, didn't even bother folding them (I'm on vacation too!). I also buy tons of prepackaged stuff I'd never dream of buying at home. But again, it is my vacation as well!!

I was definitely planning on bringing only 3 outfits! And I’m planning on bringing LOTS of Trader Joe’s food. Hope the freezer is big enough!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've learned to pack mix and match clothes; and like 3 outifts and wash them. It DOESN'T matter. No one is going to be reviewing your beach vacation pictures and realize anyone is wearing the same outfit. This honestly made my life infinitely easier. Every night I throw our clothes in the washer and drawer, didn't even bother folding them (I'm on vacation too!). I also buy tons of prepackaged stuff I'd never dream of buying at home. But again, it is my vacation as well!!

You are truly living la vida loca!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We pack so much stuff for the beach. With small kids it just makes it “easier” to pack a lot unless you know the place has a lot of stuff. For the beach, we also packed beach toys, kite, bubbles, frisbees etc. I spent weeks preparing. I also packed a lot of food because the grocery stores at the beach get crowded and picked over. Who wants to spend vacation days returning to the store. For me, when my son was young, it was totally worth it. Beacausevwe coukd make the most out of our vacation time.

I do however agree with renting stuff there if you can afford it. We did linens, bath towels, and beach chairs.

OP here and right?! Thanks for this. I’m hearing a lot of “less is more”...but my “vacations won’t go so great if I’m running out to get water bottles, toys, food, etc. A lot of little things make our lives a peaceful existence and I worry if I forget it then we’ll have a lot of tantrums (from me). Ha

It is true that the more you plan, prep and cook in advance the more time you can just relax when you get there. I wouldn’t want to go grocery shopping the second I start a vacation.