Picture this: bright blue skies, warm golden sun, sand in your toes, and a pina colada in your hand. Life seems blissful and perfect like nothing can go wrong. But suddenly you realize you’re naked. How and why did this happen? Because you forgot to consult this packing essentials guide for a tropical all-inclusive vacation.
Chances are you would realize you were naked before getting the pina colada. Or you just thought everyone at the bar was really friendly. But to be on the safe side, let’s get you a packing guide.
Packing Guide for a Tropical All-Inclusive Vacation – The Essentials
This is the bare minimum of what you should bring to an all-inclusive vacation in a tropical destination.
Full disclaimer: this isn’t how I pack for an all-inclusive. I pack 5 outfit changes a day, more bikinis than the number of days, and glamorous makeup I never wear at home.
This is for the person I strive to be. The person who only needs the bare essentials. Who is smart and strategic. Someone who realizes they won’t wear the 6-inch stilettos and sparkling sequined dress acquired from a thrift store that’s been hiding in the back of their closet for years.
All jokes aside, I do know how to pack light. We traveled for five consecutive years with all possessions fitting into one 65L backpack each. It’s just that I don’t have to anymore, so I don’t.
BUT YOU SHOULD!
You may even get all of this down to one carry-on bag and personal item. With the price of checked baggage these days, it’s more economical to pack light.
Not sure how to book a vacation? No worries, we can get you started here: The Best Websites to Book Travel
ESSENTIALS
These items are necessary for almost every trip, not just a tropical all-inclusive vacation. The following items are best packed in your carry-on or personal item.
Passport and Important Documents
This one goes without saying but is worth adding here. Anytime I make a pack list I always write down my passport because the time that I don’t will be the time I forget.
The same goes for important documents. This may include your boarding pass, travel insurance, itinerary, and other travel confirmations. I always download PDF versions of everything to my phone. That way I’m not relying on a wifi connection. Physical copies also work.
Medication & First Aid Supplies
Medication is fairly straightforward. If you take regular medication at home, absolutely bring it with you everywhere you go. The same goes for over-the-counter medications. It’s more convenient and sometimes more affordable to pack them from home.
A first aid kit is one you think you may be okay without, and you might be, but it’s not worth the risk. Something as simple as band-aids can be hard to find or expensive. Hand sanitizer and wet wipes are also great to have with you.
Money & Credit Cards
A lot of places in the world accept cards but not all. It’s important to do your research ahead of time and bring at least some cold hard cash with you. You will want to have local currency or USD.
You also want to bring some cash for tipping resort staff. This could be local currency or small USD bills. Do your research to find out what currency and denomination is accepted.
Hot budget tip incoming: get a credit card with zero foreign transaction fees. A foreign transaction fee is a fee charged for every transaction made outside your home country. Most cards charge around 2.5% of the purchase price. This can add up significantly. We have been using a Home Trust Visa for several years. It’s a no-frills credit card that we only use overseas.
Necessities
This is a broad category for anything that you cannot travel without. This could be prescription glasses or contact lenses.
An important one is a reusable water bottle. We carry reusable water bottles with us everywhere we go. Both in everyday life and when traveling.
Some people may include headphones or earbuds as a necessity, I certainly do. I’ve heard of those people who sit silently on flights and just stare blankly ahead of them. I don’t understand these people. I listen to podcasts, music or watch movies when I fly.
Valuables
If you are bringing anything with any sort of monetary or sentimental value, pack it in your carry-on. As this is an essentials all-inclusive packing guide, you shouldn’t have many valuables with you. For me, this means my wedding rings and one favorite necklace that goes with everything.
Carry-On / Personal Item
A great travel packing tip for tropical all-inclusive vacations is to make your carry-on or personal item work double duty. Use a beach bag or multi-purpose everyday tote. Choose one that will fit all your essentials when traveling and your day-to-day necessities when at the resort.
Not sure where to go for your all-inclusive vacation? Check out 10 Unexpected Romantic Destinations for Couples.
CLOTHING
The following clothing list may seem minimalistic, and it is. This is an essentials guide meaning no extra frills for you. A lot of us wear the same clothes over and over again anyway. Why would your vacation be any different?
Undergarments
Depending on your personal preference, this may not be essential to you. This includes underwear, socks, bras, and whatever else you wear as your first layer.
Swimwear
If you’re going on a tropical vacation you most likely need swimwear. Swim trunks or shorts, bikinis or one-pieces, and/or rash guards. A beach cover-up is another great essential that generally doesn’t take up much space and works as your day outfit.
Casual outfit
This would be a multi-purpose outfit for all the things. Something you can wear walking around the resort or out on excursions. A typical option would be shorts and a T-shirt. What this is depends on you, your style, and your comfort level. Stick to neutrals or pieces that all work together.
Evening outfit
Most resorts have a strict dress code for evening dinners. Many also have a nightclub or discotheque. Your evening outfit should be one you feel comfortable in but is a bit nicer and fancier than your casual outfit.
There are requirements you will have to stick to. For men, this often includes a collared shirt and pants or nice shorts. For women, it’s a bit more lenient. The important thing to remember is no beachwear. Check the resort’s policies for details.
FOOTWEAR
Seeing as how this is a bare minimum essentials packing guide, all you need is one pair of shoes.
Which pair of shoes is up to you. Some people are quite happy traveling with only one pair of flip-flops. Others live in their crocs.
If one pair of footwear sounds ideal to you, I recommend a pair of comfortable, reliable all-purpose walking shoes. (You can probably sneak in a pair of flip-flops as well).
Want to learn how to save for an all-inclusive vacation? Check out How To Budget: The Ultimate Guide to Save for Travel
TOILETRIES
Toothbrush and Toothpaste
I don’t think I need to include a description here. You get it.
Daily/Nightly Routine
The resort will likely have shampoo, conditioner, body wash and/or soap, and body lotion. The rest is up to you. If you don’t need anything else, great! If you’re like me you also bring face wash, day and night moisturizers, eye cream, and assorted serums.
Personal Hygiene Products
This includes whatever mix of things you use to keep yourself feeling fresh.
It could include deodorant, floss, razors, feminine products and more.
Sunscreen
Please bring sunscreen. Staying sun safe is important and sunscreen is a big part of that. Word to the wise: sunbathing oils do not count as sun protection.
ACCESSORIES
Wide-brimmed Hat
As with sunscreen, a hat is important to protect you from the sun. It’s easy to get caught up in the enjoyment of the vacation and burn. You’re sitting in the pool having a great time chatting with Bob from Buffalo not realizing your scalp and forehead are on fire.
Wear a hat. Make it fashionable and multi-purpose so you want to wear it.
Sunglasses
Sunglasses are great not just for protecting your eyes. They also hide your eye bags when you’ve had one too many tequilas.
ELECTRONICS & ENTERTAINMENT
Chargers
Make sure you have a charger for every device you bring with you. If you forget, you will likely be able to find them at the destination but will pay a premium for them. Pack them in your carry-on.
Travel Adapter
Depending on where you are traveling to and from you may need a travel adapter. Again this is something you can find at your destination if needed.
Other
This could be books, a kobo, a Bluetooth speaker, etc. Or nothing at all. If we are thinking about bare minimum essentials, you don’t need anything. You and the company you keep could be entertaining enough.
And with that, you are packed and ready to go! The essentials packing guide for a tropical all-inclusive vacation includes the essentials.
As I mentioned in the introduction, this isn’t how I pack. I take a more maximalist approach than a minimalist.
Are you interested to learn about how I pack for an all-inclusive vacation? Comment below and let us know!
