What to Pack for a Spa Day: A Complete Checklist

These are all of the essentials to bring for a relaxing day at the spa.

Anna Popp is a Commerce Writer at Travel + Leisure where she tests, researches, and writes about travel products. Since living overseas in 2018, Anna has been a travel writer and began reviewing products in 2021.

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Travel + Leisure / David Hattan

There’s no better way to get a little R and R than a relaxing spa day. Whether you need a pause on vacation or a mini weekend getaway, a rejuvenating trip to the spa can be the perfect way to unplug and reset. While day spas usually provide the basics to enjoy the facilities, we put together a list of essentials you’ll likely want to pack to make the day even more comfortable with your own personal touches.

From cozy loungewear to a water bottle for staying hydrated, we compiled this list from products we’ve tested and loved, plus we consulted Rachel Lee Lozina, a licensed esthetician and owner of Blue Water Spa, to get tips and tricks for getting the most out of a wellness trip. Keep reading to find out the must-haves — and which items you may want to leave at home.

It can be easy to overpack for a day trip to the spa so we’re here to help you narrow down the packing list so you arrive — and depart — feeling less weighed down. There are many items you can leave behind since spas will provide the necessities but bringing a few of your own things can elevate the experience, explains Lozina. “You don't need to stress yourself out at all. Just take the time as a moment for self-care and try to not overthink the situation.” That being said, Lozina also says bringing basics like comfortable loungewear, swimsuits, and any skin care items can be helpful for the visit.

According to Lozina, the number one thing to bring for a spa day is loose-fitting clothing. “You're always going to want to wear comfortable clothes,” she advises. Wide-leg pants or shorts are excellent options for loungewear before and after your spa treatments.

If you’re planning on adding any type of workout class to your spa day, be sure to pack a pair of breathable and flexible leggings. “Destination resort spas also have gyms so, if you feel compelled to squeeze in a workout or do a yoga session, you already have the clothes prepared for that.” Lastly, Lozina says not to forget to pack a swimsuit, especially one you feel comfortable in, since many spas will have a pool or sauna to use, too.

Cozy Earth

These wide-leg pants from Cozy Earth are the ultimate loose-fitting pants that offer both comfort and style. We love the high-waisted fit and that the elastic waistband is stretchy enough that it didn’t leave marks or dig into our skin when we tested the pants ourselves. The buttery soft, modal-blend fabric is breathable and lightweight, and the ultra-wide style is easy to slip on after a relaxing massage or mud bath.

Price at time of publish: $160

Lululemon

When it comes to men’s pants, you can’t go wrong with a pair of silky smooth joggers from Lululemon; they are some of the most comfortable pants we’ve ever tried. We love joggers’ adjustable waist to get the perfect fit in the waistband, and that the tapered leg gives the pair a versatile style whether lounging at home or heading into the spa. The pants come in sizes XS to 5XL and you can pick a pant leg length in 27, 29, or 32 inches.

Price at time of publish: $118

Andie

Lozina recommends packing the swimsuit style you feel most at ease in, whether that’s a bikini or a one-piece. We found Andie’s The Amalfi One-piece to be impressively comfortable both in and out of the water so it’s a great option for a spa-goer to toss in a tote bag. It has adjustable shoulder straps and the fabric doesn’t stretch or bunch in the water. The best part is that you can fully customize the color, pattern, texture, and coverage to create the perfect piece for you.

Price at time of publish: $98

Vuori

Similarly, for men, a pair of comfortable swim trunks are essential for a day at the spa so we think these ones from Vuori are the best option. The shorts are extremely lightweight and run true to size without feeling too tight or loose-fitting in the waistband as you move. Because the fabric isn’t too thick, the trunks dry very quickly which makes them ideal for wearing in and out of the water. One thing to note is that the shorts don’t have a built-in liner but we think that makes them a bit more versatile to wear for both lounging and swimming.

Price at time of publish: $68

Lululemon

Lululemon’s iconic Wunder Train Tights are some of the best leggings we’ve tried. The material is soft and buttery while still providing the perfect amount of compression for working out or lounging around. Arguably, the best part of these leggings is that they come with two side pockets on either leg and a discrete pocket in the back waistband for storing keys or a credit card. There are tons of bright and muted colors to choose from as well as sizes ranging from 00 to 20 in 25- and 28-inch leg lengths.

Price at time of publish: $98

Next to comfortable clothing and swimsuits, Lozina stresses the importance of packing a pair of shower shoes like flip-flops or slides to wear around the spa or pool. “You always want to bring your own shoes because you do not want to walk around the sauna floor with bare feet,” she says. Since floors in the spa or poolside might be slippery, you’ll want to pick out a pair of sandals with solid traction and a sturdy footbed to prevent your feet from sliding around after an oily massage.

Amazon

For anyone who is not a fan of flip-flops, these cushioned slides offer an alternative style with the same benefits for lounging in the sauna or walking through the locker room. The slides have an impressive amount of support and sturdiness in the footbed thanks to the brand’s proprietary Oofoam material which offers soft cushioning and arch support. The slides are designed to cradle the foot and absorb impact with every step which makes them an excellent pair of recovery slides for the spa day.

Price at time of publish: $60

Reef

These Reef Cushion Court Flip-flops feel like stepping on clouds which makes them the best pair of sandals to slip on after your muscles feel like Jell-O from a deep tissue massage. The arch support in the footbed is comfortable without feeling too high and the soles feel sturdy with a grippy outsole for traction. Best of all, we discovered that the flip-flops require zero break-in time so you can easily wear them around the spa right out of the box without having any discomfort or irritation.

Price at time of publish: $45

While you can certainly pack light for a spa day, there are several accessories that you’ll want to consider. If you want to bring your own skin and hair care products for showering after a spa treatment, we recommend packing those cosmetics in small toiletry bottles to toss in your purse or tote bag before heading over. You can also bring in a water bottle to keep by your side in the sauna so you can stay plenty hydrated throughout the day. Other accessories to bring include a wet bag for your swimsuit and an eReader for further relaxation and unwinding.

Amazon

After you take a dip in the pool or rest in the sauna, you’ll likely be left with a wet swimsuit. This can be a drag to store when it’s still damp so we recommend snagging a handy bag like this Rolling Nomad one to store wet items until you can hang-dry them. It is the perfect size for storing a single swimsuit and the pattern of this one is cute enough to use as a toiletry bag or carry-all pouch on other occasions, too.

Price at time of publish: $16

Cadence

Since spas likely won’t carry your preferred hair and skin care products, Lozina suggests bringing your own to keep up a usual routine. These Cadence capsules are the perfect compact size for storing enough product to use after a spa treatment, and they take up virtually no room in a tote bag or toiletry case. The magnetic labels make it easy to see what product is in each little jar and you can customize the labels that come with the set of six capsules when shopping.

Price at time of publish: $84 for 6

Amazon

If the day spa you’re visiting has a pool or lounge chairs, an eReader is the easiest way to kick back and read while relaxing. The Kindle Paperwhite gets our vote since it’s fully waterproof and can store all of the books you’ll ever need in one compact and convenient location (especially if you get a Kindle Unlimited membership with access to thousands of books at the touch of the screen). We love that this model has an adjustable light for a spa’s mood lighting, plus it packs up to 10 weeks of battery life so there’s less concern about the device running out of juice.

Price at time of publish: $140

Amazon

It can be easy to get dehydrated when you’re at the spa, especially if you spend time in the sauna or steam room. Having a water bottle nearby at all times will remind you to drink up so we think this Healthy Human bottle is an excellent option. Not only is it made of a super lightweight stainless steel material but it will also keep your water cold for up to 24 hours which is more than enough time to sip at the spa. Despite its lightweight material, we found out during testing that the bottle doesn’t dent easily so we give it two thumbs up for durability, too.

Price at time of publish: $39 for 32-ounce

Whether you’re at the spa for one day or on an overnight trip, you’ll want to bring a spacious bag for everything you’ll need. For day trips, we recommend a tote that makes it easy to pack your items without feeling too bulky. Travelers embarking on a resort weekend will appreciate a little more space from a weekender bag that can hold more than just your spa day essentials.

Bandolier

This sleek leather tote is spacious enough to fit all of your essentials and it has plenty of built-in features for use beyond a trip to the spa. It has a laptop sleeve, discrete zippered pockets for wallets or phones, and a leash to keep track of your keys. Whether you’re heading into the office or the spa, the bag offers plenty of space for a change of clothes, a laptop, and a toiletry bag without looking, or feeling, too bulky to carry around.

Price at time of publish: $298

Béis

For weekend getaways to a resort with a spa, you’ll want something a bit more spacious like this mini weekender from Béis. We discovered in testing that this bag has a huge capacity without feeling cumbersome to carry around. It comes with a removable shoulder strap so you can carry it as a tote or duffel depending on your preferences, plus it comes with a removable laptop case that can fit in the designated pocket. There’s also a separate compartment in the bottom of the bag for storing shoes and it can be removed entirely if you don’t need to use it.

Price at time of publish: $98

Lozina recommends coming on a wellness trip as you are and focusing on unwinding when you arrive. Whether you’re on vacation or arriving from work, going into a spa is a great way to relax in the moment. “I think it's really, really important to book time and space, for self-love and self-care because no one else is going to do it for you,” Lozina says. It can also be helpful to put your phone on silent or leave it in the locker room to fully unplug when you’re spending several hours at the spa.

One of the most common items you’ll see in a spa is a bathrobe so you can leave that behind while packing but you’ll always want to check with the spa ahead of time to see what they offer. Spas will often offer generic hair and skin care products so Lozina recommends bringing your own products in toiletry bottles after a spa treatment, especially if you have sensitive skin. Spas will also have body lotion which is key to rehydrate skin after spending time in a sauna. It depends on what your post spa-day plans are but Lozina advises you can generally leave behind makeup or hair tools if you’re not heading out immediately afterwards.

Before a spa treatment, you’ll likely get instructions for what to wear under a robe which can vary from keeping undergarments on to being nude under the towel or robe. If you’re unsure of what to take off and leave on, you can always ask the spa attendant or masseuse, or wear whatever you’re most comfortable with under the robe.

T+L commerce writer Anna Popp reviews travel products and writes most of the team’s tested content which ranges from outdoor gear to luggage. To put together this packing list of spa day essentials, Anna chatted with Rachel Lee Lozina, a licensed esthetician and owner of Blue Water Spa in Oyster Bay, Long Island. Anna thoroughly researched packing list items and pulled insights from various products that T+L has tested and loved to recommend the best items to pack for your next trip to the spa.

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