I love relaxing beach vacations where there’s nothing on the agenda but laying out in the sun reading a good book and when you add a tropical cocktail in my hand, well that’s just perfection.
A vacation in the tropics brings to mind relaxation and sunshiny happiness, but don’t start your dreamy getaway by forgetting to pack something essential or not doing your research. Generally, planning a tropical getaway is easy as you need a swimsuit, cover up, flip flops, sunscreen, sunglasses, and voila! Right? Well, almost!
Make sure you get your perfect vacation off to the right start with our tropical travel tips and tips on what to pack!
Travel tips for a tropical vacation
1. Prepare for the worst but hope for the best
When it comes to a vacation in the tropics, you have to be prepared for anything weather-wise but also hope for the best! Do some general research about your travel destination and look at weather history to determine when’s the best time to plan your trip. Start checking weather two weeks out to see if you’ll need to add a light jacket to your suitcase or if you’ll be enjoying plenty of sunny weather.
One thing I’ve noticed on all of our Caribbean getaways is that the weather can change on a dime. It’ll be hot and sunny one minute and then here come some nasty looking clouds to bring in a refreshing downpour. I’ve just learned to accept that there’s always a chance of an afternoon rainshower when going south and that we should bring a travel-sized umbrella.
2. Prepare passports and documentation
Make sure your passport is valid for at least six months after your travel dates if going somewhere where you need a passport or make sure to take care of any Visa requirements well in advance of your trip. Leave a copy of your travel itinerary and passport with a family member or friend as a backup in case anything happens during your travels.
Don’t feel like carrying your passport? Check out these awesome tropical getaways that don’t require passports as they’re part of the US.
Passport-free tropical travel destinations for US citizens
- Hawaii (I feel it’s obvious but I’ve heard so many people asking if Hawaii is a state…)
- Puerto Rico
- U.S. Virgin Islands: St. John, St. Thomas, and St. Croix (you do need a passport if going between the US and British Virgin Islands)
- Northern Mariana Islands
- Guam
- American Samoa
3. Carry some cash
Many destinations in the Caribbean accept the US Dollar so you don’t have to exchange any currency on your trip. Be sure to carry some cash for souvenir shopping as most shops will have credit card minimums as well as tipping – especially if staying at a nicer resort.
Beyond carrying some shopping and tipping cash, be sure to contact your bank and credit card companies and put travel alerts on your card so they don’t deny transactions or deactivate your card during your trip.
4. Mini first aid kit
Like I said in the first point, prepare for the worst and this includes illness or emergencies. Have a mini first aid kit in your bag that has Tylenol or Ibuprofen, band aids, antiseptic, gauze, and wipes. Hopefully you won’t even use it, but always better to be safe than sorry when away from home.
5. Biodegradable sunscreen
Take care of your skin while taking care of the environment and wildlife by using biodegradable or ocean-safe sunscreen. There are even some popular vacation destinations and tour operators that require you to use pre-approved biodegradable sunscreen on their snorkel tours in Mexico and Hawaii. Do your part to take care of the vulnerable reefs and sea life and invest in better sunscreen.
6. Bugspray
Water attracts mosquitoes and I hate constantly scratching ugly red bumps when I’m trying to wear a super cute new dress and look good in photos. It’s easy to buy a small bottle of bugspray to keep the pests away.
7. Extra set of sunglasses
I’m one of those people that always loses a pair of sunglasses in the ocean. I learned a long time ago to pack a second set of cheap, plastic sunglasses for water-based activities or swimming in the ocean. That way if I lose them, I’m not out too much money nor attached to them. Next time you’re at an event or conference, take as many free sunglasses as you can get your hands on!
8. Snorkel masks
Rick and I bought our own snorkel masks for our Caribbean cruises and Jamaica vacations. They do take up a bit of room in our luggage but worth it having our own so we can snorkel at any time instead of waiting for a snorkel tour.
9. Swimsuit covers
While I’m content to layout in my swimsuit all the livelong day, it’s good to take a swimsuit cover for dining or walking around the resort. Most vacation resorts require coverups for entering restaurants or public areas. Think no shoes, no shirt, no service!
10. Pack extra medications
Pack a few extra days’ worth of your medications if possible, just in case there are any delays in getting home. I always bring at least five extra days’ worth of my medications just to be safe. Other medications or OTC pills you’ll want to toss in your suitcase include Tums, Pepto Bismol, Dramamine, Benadryl, and maybe even some melatonin to help keep your sleep schedule on track.
11. Waterproof phone case
I love our waterproof phone cases so I can take photos while we’re enjoying water-based activities or even while we go snorkeling. I don’t have to worry about dropping my phone in the water or not being able to take fun photos on our travels.
If you don’t plan on taking underwater photos or don’t mind leaving your phone on your lounger, a cheap way to protect your phone is to put it in a Ziploc baggie to protect your screen from wet fingers or worse: sand.
12. Plastic bags
A travel hack my mom taught me as a kid was to have a plastic bag or two, like from Target or the grocery store, stashed away in my carry on. I’ve used them for damp swimsuits, water shoes that may be dragging around sand with them, or even dirty clothes.
13. Beach chair clips
Can they be a bit dorky? Sure, but it gets so damn annoying when my beach towel is whipping my face as it won’t stay put on my chair. Bring along some towel clips to keep your towel in place while lounging or while taking a refreshing dip. They make them in such cute shapes now that I might start a collection for my lazy summer days by our pool.
I mean seriously, Amazon has adorable parrot ones, flamingo ones, margarita or beer-shaped ones!
What other tropical travel tips would you share with your fellow travelers? Let us know in the comments or share your travel advice with us on Twitter!
