What I Actually Pack for a Tropical Vacation
Examples of mix and matching clothing items on the same trip, comfortable travel/workout clothes, and a special occasion outfit for a nice dinner
I try to pack fairly light for tropical trips because most days require very little…but I will fill a suit case, don’t get me wrong. Backpacking is not necessarily my style and I try not to directly repeat an outfit without tweaking it a bit!
Clothing
I usually bring:
Bathing suits
Cover-ups
A few nicer dinner outfits
Comfortable walking clothes
A few workout pieces
Pajamas
Lightweight layers
One casual outfit for travel days
I also try to choose pieces that can be mixed and matched rather than bringing a completely different outfit for every day.
Shoes
I typically pack:
Beach sandals or flip-flops
One nicer pair of sandals for dinner
Comfortable walking shoes or sneakers that I can also use at a gym
Unless I know I have a reason to wear them, I usually skip heels.
Beach Essentials
I bring:
Sunglasses
1-2 Hats
Beach bag
Sunscreen
Lip balm with SPF
Waterproof phone pouch if needed
I usually bring sunscreen from home because it can be much more expensive at resorts and tourist destinations.
Toiletries
I pack:
Makeup
Skincare
Hair products
Hairbrush
Deodorant
Toothbrush and toothpaste
Razor
Medications
Basic pain relievers
Tech
I usually bring:
Phone charger
Portable charger
Travel adapter
Headphones
Camera or Go Pro if I’m bringing one
Chargers for any other devices
Things That Are Easy to Forget
A few things I’m always glad I packed:
Small crossbody bag
Wet bag for bathing suits
Laundry bag or pocket in your suitcase for dirty clothes
Lightweight sweater for planes or restaurants
Copies of travel documents
A few snacks for travel days
My biggest packing rule is to think about what you are actually doing each day rather than packing for every possible situation.
