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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I love your posts! This is unique and very helpful information and I learn so much from you as well! Keep it up.
Great tips; I learned the hard way about bringing extra shoes. LOL
Yes! The shoe tip is the BEST!
That’s a fav of mine too!
So excited to start my travel adventures this year, thank you for the great tips!
You’re welcome. I hope you have the best adventures this year!
Great tips! The one about the shoes is something I didn’t really think about. I usually try to bring a pair of sandals and tennis shoes, but never thought to bring any extra of those.
Shoes are bulky and hard to pack but I always find a way to bring one extra pair. I’ve never regretted it.
Please take me with you!!
Come on! 🙂
Summer travel packing is always so much more enjoyable than when you pack for winter and bulky clothes. Thanks for the tips – Hawaii in 6 months!
Hawaii!!! I hope you have a fabulous time!
Good list of tips. And thanks for making me want to ditch the cold weather and fly to somewhere warm! 😆
I’m so ready for warmer weather too!
Your tips are amazing and so thought out! I never think about extra shoes!
It’s the simple things we forget. Ha! I love the shoes tip too and use it often myself.
These are great tips! One tip I would add is along with an extra pair of shoes, make sure to bring at least one extra bathing suit. We bring two so that one can hang up to dry while we’re using the other one.
That’s a great tip too Allison. Thanks!!
these are great tips! extra shoes is key!!!
Yes!!!! That’s one of my favorite tips. 🙂
Great tips!! I am one that has not done a lot of traveling to warm sunny places. I am one of those that is wishing I was at a place like that now, while I am looking out my window at 2 feet of snow. I will keep these tips handy for when I do get to travel to that warm sunny place.
I hope you can get somewhere warm soon! Stay warm with all that snow!!
Great tips! I love traveling to tropical places!!