The ultimate beach bag: What to pack for Malta

From summer skin care to beautiful beachwear

Beach holidays should be relaxing, sun-drenched affairs, but packing for one can prove rather more stressful than anticipated. From the perfect summer read to stylish shades and the all-important travel beauty and sun care products, deciding what to pack for Malta might be harder than you’d thought. Thankfully, we’ve done the legwork for you and come up with the ultimate beach bag to take away on your travels. Whether you’re an active type, or plan to spend your days sprawled in the shade of a palm tree, we’ve got you covered.

Designer swimwear

Great swimwear is an absolute necessity. Whether you’re after a stylish one-piece or a skimpy bikini, the collection at Heidi Klein is sure to impress while strutting down Malta’s beautiful beaches. A one-stop shop for men, Orlebar Brown is to place to go for chic, tailored swim shorts.

Beautiful beachwear

An elegant addition to any holiday wardrobe, the lightweight kaftans and kimonos from 'The Wit and The Will' feature a range of bold patterns and prints, perfect for when you want a little more coverage. Similarly, the relaxed resort and beachwear from Melissa Odabash would easily take you from the beach to cocktails.

Stylish shades

With styles, shapes and colours to suit every face shape and every occasion, you can’t go wrong with the British brand, Cutler and Gross. We also love the new
Ray-Ban Wayfarers; these sleek, stylish shades are solid enough to chuck in a beach bag without fear of bent frames.

Luxury beach towels

Perhaps not the first item that springs to mind when deciding what to pack for Malta – still, nothing quite says luxury like a Hermès beach towel. Alternatively, opt for one of the 100% Egyptian cotton beach sheets from Abyss & Habidecor. Think how comfortably stylish you’ll be as you lounge on a deckchair on our private beach or by one of our crystal clear pools at The Lido St George’s Bay.

Sun care products

Sun care products can be a bit of a bother – with so many lotions and potions to choose from, it’s nothing if not bewildering. Still, it would be foolish to leave your sun care behind. Sisley offers a range of products for men and women, from its Super Stick for sensitive skin to its easy-to-use sun care mist, while Marula Shimmering Gold Oil will make the most of your well-protected, utterly sun-kissed skin

Summer read

Whether it goes on the Kindle or gets stashed in your suitcase, no beach bag would be complete without the perfect summer read. A nail-biting thriller, Girl on the Train is ideal for devouring beachside, while Peter Nichols’ new release, The Rocks, is a top choice for fans of romantic fiction.

Travel beauty kits

The travel beauty kit from cult sensation, Verso, features all their bestselling facial skincare products in miniature – ideal for luxurious face care on the go. Meanwhile, the natural and nourishing travel essentials collection from ila Spa will keep you sweet-smelling, and with great holiday hair, for the duration of your trip.

Summer sandals

A favourite of the Duchess of Cambridge and Elle Macpherson, flip sandals from Penelope Chilvers offer a chic alternative to flip flops, while still remaining sand-appropriate. The espadrilles are also a great choice for men and women.

Retro beach bags

The ultimate beach bag must, of course, contain this essential piece of equipment. The Straw Beach Tote from Madewell is light and spacious, but also reassuringly strong. We also like the beach bags from Maison Scotch – the woven and retro styles in particular.

Sophisticated sun hats

Men should look to Lock & Co – one of the stalwarts of the British millinery scene – for their holiday headwear. Perfect for our list of what to pack for Malta, the Superfino Montecristi can be rolled to fit inside a canvas tube, making it very travel-friendly. For women, Sensi Studio has a great range of panorama and wide-brimmed styles, ideal for keeping the beating sun at bay.