Surf travel
Discover the different ways you can combine travel with your passion for surfing
Surf travel Inspiration
The world of surfing is also a world of travel. There is no surfer out there who is satisfied with their home break and does not have the yearn for surf travel, others don’t have the luxury of living by the coast, and surf travel becomes the only option to score some waves.
Even if it is a vacation with the family, it always becomes a family surf vacation. This happens surreptitiously or serendipitously, but it always starts by packing a surfboard.
When planning a surf trip, there are a few important things to consider. We have made the process easy for you by making this step-by-step list.
Surf Travel Made Easy:
Plan Your Surf Trip In 6 Steps
Choose a destination
Browse through our selection of surf guides and get inspiration for the destination of your next surf trip
Pick accommodation type
What kind of surf experience are you looking for? Pick the accommodation type that suits you best
Get your surf gear ready
Make sure to be prepared. Figure out what gear you need for a surf trip
Find the best surf schools
If you are a beginner, then you need a surf school. Find the best surf school and book your surf classes
Book Flights and transportation
After choosing your destination and accommodation, then you need to take the final step of booking your flight and transportation
Get surf Travel Insurance!
Now, everything is booked, and you feel ready for your surf trip, but one important thing is missing; travel insurance!
Before your surf trip
Despite what we would like to believe, the best surf trips are those that are carefully planned, with the destination analyzed. Everything is done in advance, especially when it comes to surf vacation packages. A strike mission surf trip is for those people who are lucky enough to have no restrictions and can travel by themselves when they want to and thereby hunt down the perfect swells around the world.
What To Pack for your surf trip?
There are many essentials that you need to pack for a surf trip, regardless of whether the surf vacation is a first-world hotel holiday or a third-world family surf vacation.
Surfboards
The ideal quiver for a surf vacation is three surfboards, including a standard surfboard, a small board for fun days, and a slightly longer board for bigger days.
Surfboard accessories
Surfboard essentials are all the hard goods that you need to go with your board. These include but are not limited to, surfboard fins. You will need a few spare sets. Surfboard leash. Same here; you will definitely need a spare or two.
Wetsuit or swimwear
Depending on your destination’s climate and water temperature, you will need a wetsuit or board shorts/bikini to surf in.
Exception for beginners
If you are a beginner and are planning on surf lessons at the destination, there is no need for any surfboards, as the surf school will have all you need there.
Sunscreen
Can’t have too much of it, be it a block out or a zinc style sunscreen. A surfing hat would also work well here.
Wax
Remember to choose the correct wax for the water temperatures at your destination. Wax for cold water is very different to wax for tropical water.
A medical kit
This is imperative, no matter where you are going or if there is a hospital right there. You will always need a medical kit and the knowledge to use most of the equipment therein. Minor things like a reef scrape or a mosquito bite can quickly get badly infected if not cleaned and looked after, especially in tropical climates. So, the basic cleaning agents and anti-bacterial creams, as well as plasters and bandages, would be a good start.
Travel insurance
This is vital for all surfers. Many people who choose surf vacation packages and embark on some of the best surf vacations are remiss about their insurance and the travel insurance of their loved ones. Your surf travel insurance needs to cover many options, including the possibility of needing a helicopter medevac. Even the most remote surf destinations have a helicopter landing pad somewhere, usually just a clearing in a jungle or an area at the local school. Still, it is set up for a reason – there is a need for the occasional medevac. If your insurance isn’t up to scratch, the helicopter won’t be arriving.
Entertainment
While you are going on a surf trip with the boys/girls or you are going on a family surf vacation to spend time with the family and surfing some insane waves, there is also a need for entertainment and downtime diversions.
These days most of this can be done on a good mobile phone, but a tablet could help. Remember to check that you have the correct plugs for charging your handsets and ensure that you have all your data controlled. Downloading a game or a pile of emails on data in a foreign country can cost you the earth. A good idea is to purchase a local sim card on arrival and fill it up with data through the local currency.
The final advice
The final advice for surf travel is the oldest but the most crucial piece of advice: pack half the clothes you think you need, but have twice the money available. Literally, pack your bags, and before you leave, take half of them out. You can survive for weeks in boardshorts and tee shirts, especially off the beaten track. You do need to have twice the funds available that you think you need in case of emergencies. This advice is the best advice you can get as a surfer going on a surf trip.