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by Jacqueline Gifford, Brides

The colder it gets outside, the more time we spend inside dreaming of an incredible tropical getaway. In anticipation of an upcoming luxury honeymoon, a girls' beach trip or family fun in the sun, we asked Brides' travel editor Jacquline Gifford to offer up some tips on how to prepare for the beach. Here, 9 ways to ready yourself from head to toe!

1. Whittle down your packing list.
For daytime, you'll need a couple of cute bikinis, two shorts, three nice T-shirts, a great cover-up (stylish enough to wear to lunch), and flip-flops. For evening, you'll want two nice dresses, a cute clutch, and stylish sandals. That's it! Don't be afraid to repeat outfits, beach vacations are generally low-key.

All that (plus toiletries and pj's) can easily fit into a standard carry-on suitcase. I love being able to get off a plane and go right to my hotel, change into my suit, and hit the beach. Avoid the temptation of over-packing, and you'll save money and