Roll everything. Swimsuits don't wrinkle, but cover-ups do.

Your beach clothes are mostly forgiving, but that linen shirt or cotton sarong will look like a crumpled napkin if you fold it. Roll all your cover-ups, shorts, and even the towel. Swimsuits are stretchy and don’t hold creases, so toss them in however you want—but rolling them with the rest keeps your bag organized.

Use packing cubes if you have them (helps separate wet suit from dry later), but not essential. For straw hats: pack upside down and fill the crown with socks or underwear to hold shape. Sunglasses go in a hard case or wrapped in the center of a rolled top.

Sunscreen and liquids: double-bag in ziplocks. A leaky sunscreen bottle will ruin more than your mood.

Your beach towel should be rolled too—tightly and tied with a rubber band. Saves space, stays flatter.