The Best Packing Tips for a Tropical Vacation

With America experiencing a full-blown winter season, it’s tempting to fly out to somewhere a little warmer. Luckily, tropical countries are sunny all year long, which makes them the perfect destination for a winter escape in the early part of 2020.

Whether you’re headed to the white sands of Thailand or the pristine waters of the Bahamas, here are some packing tips and island vacation essentials to help you get ready for your tropical vacation.

Don’t Forget the Sunscreen

Wherever there’s sun, protection is essential. Lifestyle website The List reports that more than 3 million cases of basal and squamous skin cancer are diagnosed every year, with its leading cause being excessive exposure to UV rays.

If you’re looking to achieve a glowing tan, don’t worry; sunscreen doesn’t get in the way. Instead, it filters out two types of UV rays—UVA and UVB (the latter being the more dangerous).

Protect Your Eyes

Wearing sunglasses isn’t just a matter of style, especially in the tropics. Apart from skin cancer, UV rays are also one of the leading causes of vision disorders, such as macular degeneration and cataracts. Your eyes don’t usually get enough antioxidants to put up the necessary defenses against harsh glares.

For those who already wear glasses, a review on CNet notes some of the best places to get prescription lenses, including Warby Parker, Roka Eyewear, and Lensabl.

Alternatively, you can also wear hats, but they still don’t offer the same level of protection sunglasses do.

Choose Light Fabrics

In one of our previous posts ‘How to Plan the Perfect Beach Vacation’, one of our tips was, of course, to pack the appropriate clothing. But more than packing clothes that make you look like you’re fit for the beach, you’ll need to bring pieces that let you survive the heat. This includes light and flowy garments such as sundresses for women, or loose tees and shorts for guys.

From cotton and chambray to rayon and linen, any of these fabrics will keep you feeling breezy when you’re out of the water.

Bring Enough Medication

Beach trips may be good for the body, mind, and spirit, but it doesn’t mean you’re any less vulnerable to common illnesses like flu, allergies, and colds. So, don’t forget to pack the essentials like Tylenol for headaches, Mucinex for colds, and antihistamines if you have known allergies.

Since you’re in an unfamiliar destination with possibly unfamiliar foods, it’s important to bring antidiarrheal tablets like Imodium just in case. After all, you can’t have a great time when you’re sick in bed.

Have an Extra Pair of Shoes

You might get a free pass for this tip if you’re going on an all-week beach trip where you’ll probably be barefoot most of the time. But if you’re planning to go island hopping or explore nearby attractions, you’re going to need different shoes for each destination.

Plus, travel writer Caroline Costello notes that wearing the same pair of shoes for your entire trip can lead to a serious case of bad foot odor. This is especially true in the tropics where the weather will make your feet twice as sweaty, and in turn, twice as smelly.

The heat is as much of a blessing as it is can be a curse. If you’re out for some beach fun, then make sure you’ve packed these beach vacation essentials to help ensure maximum relaxation in paradise!

Guest Author: Jackie Brinley

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