DoorDash Is the Summer Travel Hack I Didn’t Know I Needed (And Now Can’t Live Without)

By Alexis Mikulski Ruiz

Alexis Mikulski Ruiz

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Picture this: You finally arrive at the vacation you’ve been counting down to for months. The room is spotless, the views are exactly what the photos promised, and somehow your luggage actually made it to your destination with you. For a moment, everything feels perfectly in place.

Then you open your suitcase.

That’s when you realize you forgot not one, not two, but at least three beach-trip essentials: sunscreen, a speaker, and, somehow, even more impressively, a bathing suit. No judgment here, but maybe next time a packing list deserves a spot in the group chat.

To make matters worse, there’s no hotel convenience store in sight because, naturally, you booked the secluded bungalow retreat of your dreams. Which is great for peace and quiet, not so great when you suddenly need supplies.

Here’s the part you may not know: DoorDash isn’t just for late-night food orders and emergency takeout runs anymore. The app has quietly become one of the more useful travel hacks out there. 

Along with restaurants, DoorDash now offers access to a wide range of retailers that can help replace all the things you accidentally left sitting on your bathroom counter back home.

Depending on your location, you can browse hundreds of products without leaving your vacation bubble. Stores like Ulta can cover the sunscreen situation, while retailers like American Eagle can step in if your beachwear problem needs immediate attention.

Oh, and for the speaker, which, for a proper beach day, is a need, not a want, DoorDash has an entire electronics section worth browsing. It’s stocked with everything from audio gear to everyday tech essentials, all delivered fast.

The section also covers the less exciting but equally important stuff, like phone chargers and headphones. So if your beach playlist ends up being a little louder than your neighbors were hoping for, you can always switch to earbuds and keep the good vibes going without causing a scene.

The biggest selling point of DoorDash is the convenience. Nobody wants to spend vacation time trekking to the nearest store, especially if you skipped the rental car and fully committed to the “I’m not driving this week” mindset. Instead, essentials can show up right where you are, often faster than traditional online shopping. And yes, this comes from experience. Every scenario above? Unfortunately, very real. DoorDash ended up saving the day more than once.

Beyond vacation emergencies, it’s also surprisingly useful for summer in general. Need beach chairs, pool floats, party supplies, or one random item you somehow forgot an hour before people arrive? It takes a lot of the effort out of making a last-minute store run.

DashPass, DoorDash’s membership program, costs $9.99 a month and includes a $0 delivery fee benefit on eligible orders, which can quickly become worth it if you find yourself using the app regularly. What starts as a one-time vacation fix can easily become one of those subscriptions you end up keeping around.

And for anyone who’s dealt with delivery headaches before, customer service is another plus. When things do go wrong — which, in my experience, isn’t often — they’re generally quick to respond and helpful about issuing credits or refunds.

Summer inevitably comes with forgotten items, last-minute needs, and small disasters, but DoorDash is the easiest solution to make things right.