California’s Best Beaches and Bites: Top 10 Shores and Their Must-Try Local Eats

California’s coastline is a beach lover’s dream, with each stretch offering its own unique appeal. From the iconic sands of Malibu and Santa Monica to the tranquil shores of Carmel and Catalina Island, there’s a perfect spot for every type of getaway. Along with stunning beaches, you’ll also find nearby recommendations for where to eat and drink in each beach town. Whether you prefer the lively scenes of Southern California or the peaceful retreats of the Central Coast, these beaches capture the essence of California’s coastal charm. So pack your sunscreen, hit the shore, and explore the breathtaking beaches—and be sure to check out our tips on where to dine and sip while you’re there. Don’t forget to share your favorite California beach spots and tag us on social media—we’d love to see them!

3 Strategies That Make Traveling Abroad Easier

Every time we post anything about making travel easier, you guys ask for more.

So today we’re sharing 3 things we do to make traveling abroad easier and more enjoyable. Hope you love. Let’s get into it.

1. Plan Ahead

Plan out your days ahead of time. This way you never have to take precious time out of your trip to do this.

And even if you don’t remember to plan out every single detail, it’s ok. Planning before you take off will still give you so much more freedom. So don’t stress about any small details you may have forgotten once you get there.

2. Take Advantage Of Layovers

A layover is often talked about like it’s a bad thing.

But this isn’t necessarily true.

It can actually be a bonus if you use the time wisely. Think about it this way – you get an extra destination to explore.

So if you know you’ll be in a new city, come up with a strategy to take advantage of the time you’ll be there and explore.

3. Check Your Passport Twice

The first time you should check your passport is when you book your trip. Many countries require that your passport is valid for at least six months beyond your planned departure date.

This means that if your passport is not valid for the required time period, you may be denied entry into the country, which can ruin your trip. So if it’s not up-to-date when you book, you still have time to remedy the situation.

And then check it AGAIN.

The second time you should check your passport is before you leave.

Any damage to your passport and you can be denied for travel, so it’s essential to have enough time to apply for a replacement if needed.

*Access flexible payment options and discounted accommodations when you book through CREWFARE.

Crewfare’s Master Packing List

Hey guys,

We’ve decided to take on a mission to make traveling abroad easier.

If you read the Crewfare blog or follow us on TikTok you have probably seen us showing up at airports like we’ve conquered the place.

But yes like anyone there are also times when we were scrambling around at the airport or in some city in a complete rush.

And every time we manage to beat that rushed feeling, it’s because we used a MASTER CHECKLIST!

It makes life so much easier.

We keep our energy for the trip, and not last-minute panic over the details of what did we forget, did we bring too much with us… 

So yes we made this MASTER CHECKLIST and organized it into 4 categories.

Whether you travel internationally for work, or fun, get ready to screenshot!

So let’s dive in:

Crewfare’s Packing Checklist Made For Traveling Abroad

Part 1: THE ESSENTIALS

  • ID cards 
  • Passport and a backup saved photocopy
  • Ticket
  • Visa
  • Covid-19 Vaccine Certificate/Negative Result
  • Medications and First Aid kit

Practical Tip: to make your life easier, keep your essentials together in a bag for your commute like this one.

Part 2: THE DO NOT FORGETS

  • Camera (go vintage camcorder if you’re looking for footage you want to share)
  • Phone + SIM card
  • Charger and Adaptors (in a packing case)
  • Headphones (noise-canceling please)
  • Wireless transmitter (so you can use your wireless headphones) 

  • A Book or Kindle to read
  • Water Bottle

Keep your tech items in something like this

Part 3: YOUR TOILETRIES

  • Shampoo
  • Deodorant
  • Toothbrush and Toothpaste (we like this one

  • Sunscreen
  • Hairbrush
  • Travel towel
  • Lip Balm
  • A Bag for dirty clothes

Part 4: CLOTHES

  • Shirt
  • Pants/Shorts
  • Underwear
  • Socks
  • Jacket
  • Sleepwear
  • Flip-flops
  • Shoes
  • Sunglasses

Advice: roll your clothes to keep everything organized or use packing cubes like this are the habits to use.

*Access flexible payment options and discounted accommodations when you book through CREWFARE.

Crewfare Travel Tips: Carry-on Packing

When you’re traveling to a festival, it can feel like you need to prepare for every possibility–what if it rains? What if I lose my hoody? What will look best in the photos? Before you know it you’ve stuffed your entire closet into an enormous duffel which you are then stuck waiting for at baggage claim and then hauling around a new city. It’s exhausting and not worth it. Don’t worry, we’ve put together some tips for getting everything you need into one airline approved carry-on. 

Check the weather ahead of time

You might be traveling from a warm spot to a colder climate or vice versa, so check the weather at your destination to see what you’ll need. Desert festivals don’t usually require rain gear, but an accurate forecast might say otherwise. Save yourself guesswork by packing for the predicted weather. 

Do some sole-searching

Shoes take up a ton of space in luggage, so cut down on how many pairs you have to bring. Sadly this means that your most distinctive shoes that only go with one outfit should be left at home in favor of a (still cute) pair that goes with all your clothing. Wear your biggest shoes when you travel–that way you’ll have more space in your suitcase for actual clothing and smaller shoes like flip flops. Pro-tip–stuff socks or other small items inside packed shoes to help them keep their shape without wasting space. 

Plan your outfits and look for versatile layers

Instead of packing “options” decide ahead of time what you want to wear and only bring those items. And let’s be real: at a three day festival, you can’t wear the same thing every day. But there might be parts of your outfits that can be reused. A cool vest or jacket won’t get too sweaty and can be worn on the plane as easily as to a venue a few days in a row. 

Budget to buy some things on arrival

Often the source of over-packing is fear–what if I lose my sunglasses? What if someone spills a drink on me and I can’t do laundry? What if there’s a hot tub at the hotel and I want to take a dip? So instead of packing like a boy scout–prepared for all possibilities–prepare yourself mentally to solve problems after you arrive. Unexpected rainstorm? Buy a cheap poncho at a drugstore. Colder than you expected? Dash into the nearest clothing store and buy a sweatshirt. Better yet, get some festival merch–functional and commemorative.

Travel-size isn’t just for toiletries

Definitely start with travel-size toiletries–easier for packing, easier for going through the security line at the airport. But keep in mind that certain clothing types pack better than others. Puffer jackets can be squished down way smaller than wool coats. Black leggings can be a good base for any outfit but take up less space than a pair of jeans. Using packing cubes or even gallon size ziploc bags for all your different categories–tops, bottoms, electronics, etc.–keeps your suitcase compressed and organized. No huffing and puffing as you attempt to zip it shut.