Island vacations are some of the best, but I’m sure you already know that.
They allow you to completely relax and recharge and actually take some much-needed time away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. However, knowing what to pack for them can cause anxiety.
That is why we have put together a packing list for a tropical vacation. Rest assured you won’t forget any items behind if you follow this list.
Get ready to pack your bags and start enjoying a whole bunch of relaxing on the beach.
Your tropical vacation awaits you.
I’m sure you can already feel the warm sun on your face and the ice-cold frozen cocktail in your hand.
23 Items To Pack for a Tropical Vacation
1. Beach Bag
Since you’ll be leaving your suitcase back at your hotel or Airbnb, you’ll need an additional bag that you can walk around with that can hold all of your beach essentials. Thisbeach bagis perfect because it’s mesh which will keep the sand out.
After all, that’s something you definitely won’t want to track back to your hotel. It’s spacious and has additional pockets for separating your belongings. The best thing about this bag is it is easy to fold up and put in your suitcase. So it won’t take up a lot of room.
2. Travel Towel
I absolutely love my travel towel, I use it all the time, even when I’m not traveling. It is perfect for a hair towel when you are at home. When I am traveling I keep it on me all the time. It is small and easy to pack up.
Easily fits in my day backpack or beach bag. So much easier to carry around than bulky beach towels. Be sure to pack a travel towel when heading out on your next vacation.
3. Waterproof bag
A small waterproof bag is essential if you’ll be doing different water activities. Nothing is worse than going on a sunset cruise and falling in the water with all your belongings at the end, trust me I know.
Thiswaterproof bag is perfect because it has a shoulder strap to make it easy to carry. Keeping your towel, clothing, but most importantly your phone dry.
4. Packing Cubes
I can’t express more how these things have changed the way I travel. It is a great way to ensure you will have a good tropical vacation by staying organized with your packing.
These packing cubes have been a life changer for me. Now when I go on vacation, everything I own is neat and organized before I even get there.
It makes living out of a suitcase that much easier. I highly recommend these packing cubes, especially if you don’t like chaos when it comes to packing.
5. Bug Bands
I am not always a fan of bug spray, however, I love bug bands. There are super easy to wear and you don’t have to think about applying bug spray. It does all the work for you and they usually last for a few days.
They are perfect for keeping those annoying mosquitoes away during those beautiful sunsets.
6. Underwater Camera
One of the best things about island life is the abundance of sea animals. You’ll be amazed at the unique and colorful fish off the coast and the best way to document such a great memory is with an underwater camera.
Anunderwater cameracan make vacation so much fun. It’s a great way to document your trip and hold onto the memories for years to come.
Take selfies with fish, each other, and photos of the amazing marine life and enjoy! It’s also a great camera to use in general during your vacation if you’re worried about getting a nice one ruined.
7. Water Bottle with Built-in Filter
Fresh and clean drinking water is something many people take for granted that others don’t have the luxury of enjoying.
It’s a safe idea to bring awater bottlewith a built-in filter on vacation with you so that you don’t even have to worry about the water at all.
It will save you money from having to purchase water bottles on the go and it will keep you safe from anything harmful in the tap water. They are also great for the environment, helping to keep those beautiful beaches clean.
8. Reef Safe Sunscreen
Sunscreen is a must on a tropical vacation where you’ll be outside under the hot sun all day. The sun is not only bad for your skin, but a bad sunburn can lead to an uncomfortable rest of your trip. We all want to come back from holiday tanned, not lobster red.
It’s not worth the pain and suffering. Thisreef-safe sunscreen is perfect for protecting your skin while also protecting the sea animals from harmful chemicals. Remember to reapply if you are going to be spending all day out in the hot sun.
9. Foldable Sun Hat
Nothing screams island vacation more than sitting on the beach and soaking up the rays. Of course, if you are going to be doing so, you not only want to protect your skin with sunscreen, but you also want to protect your face from damaging rays.
Wearing a sun hat is a must! Especially if you plan on spending a lot of time in the sun.
This sun hat will not only protect your face from sun damage and premature wrinkles. It also folds up nicely in your suitcase.
Check out the Best Sun Hats for Travel
10. Portable Charger
You definitely don’t want your phone to die in an exotic place that you aren’t familiar with. It’s in your best interest to have a portable charger on you in case of emergencies. That way you will always have your camera handy for those incredible sunset shots.
It’s also a great way to charge your phone if you don’t have the right outlet adapters. Thisportable charger is slim and works quickly to recharge your battery. It is also super small, and easy to carry around with you when you are out and about.
11. Universal Adapter
If you don’t have the same outlet sizes as the place you’ll be traveling to this is a must-have item.
Otherwise, you will have no way of charging your electronic devices if your adapter does not match the one on the wall.
Auniversal adapterwill convert your adapter to the one on the wall so that you don’t need anything additional. They are a must for an international traveler.
12. Noise-Canceling Headphones
There is nothing like a pair of noise-canceling headphones for listening to music or a podcast on the plane. Or to block out the screaming baby, that is sitting near you.
I swear by the Apple AirPods pro. They work great and don’t take up a lot of room like other larger noise-canceling headphones.
They are great and will help pass the time until you arrive at your island vacation. It can also be nice to listen to music at the beach in the early morning or on a long walk. If this is up your alley, don’t forget to pack a pair ofwireless headphonesthat won’t take up much space in your bag.
13. Day Backpack
Besides your beach bag, you may want a backpack that can fit all of your things and be easy to carry. If you plan on doing some outdoor activities or even just going on long walks, the ease of a backpack will come in handy because it’s a lot easier to carry than having a bag on one shoulder.
Thisbackpackis the perfect bag to use as your personal bag on a plane and to carry your stuff during your island vacation. It’s lightweight, comes in various colors, and it’s water-resistant. They are great for when you plan on being active and are also great for a carry-on for the plane.
14. Beach Cover Up
Tropical vacations are all about spending time by the beach, in the sun or even by the pool. Wearing clothes becomes a thing of the past. Days are spent in bikinis lounging around. However, sometimes you want something that is quick and easy to throw on so you can head to the bar.
15. Cash
It’s so much easier to travel with cash in the currency of the country you’ll be visiting. You won’t have to worry about your card declining or getting compromised and it’s a good alternative payment option.
If you’re in a small town, it’s possible that some places won’t even take cards and you’ll need cash. It’s important to have some just in case. Like they say. Cash is King.
16. Documents
You can’t have a packing list for a tropical vacation without mentioning the need for your passport, ID, and other travel-related documents like your boarding pass, itinerary, and hotel or Airbnb information.
It might be old school, but I always travel with printed copies of my travel documents, including my Passport.
You never know what is going to happen, and when you are going to need them. It is also a good idea to keep everything neat and organized.Thistravel walletis perfect for holding all of your items and it has RFID protection.
17. Good Book or Magazine
Tropical Island vacations are all about sitting on the beach and finally getting to read or finish that book. Getting the time to open and start a new good read.
If you don’t have any books in mind that you want to read, check out these great books to inspire travel and self-discovery.
18. Waterproof Speaker
Having a great pair of noise-canceling headphones is a must, but also having a good waterproof speaker is also something you will want to add to your packing list. They are great for when you are hanging around the pool with friends, or on a nice beach and want to play some good reggae tunes.
This speaker is great because it is small and easy to carry.
19. Lip Sunscreen
Everyone usually remembers to wear sunscreen and keep their skin protected. However, not everyone remembers to look after their lips. Which can not end nicely, when you have fever blisters all over your lips because you forgot to use a sunscreen lip balm.
Remember to protect your lips as well as your skin.
20. Leave-In Conditioner
Spending time in the ocean is great therapy. However, it can not always be so friendly on your hair. Saltwater dries your hair out and makes it impossible to brush.
This leave-in conditioner is not only great for your hair, but it is also reef safe. That way you can rest assure you can go back in the water with this conditioner in your hair.
21. Eye Mask
These can be blessings. Especially when you are on a long-haul flight and trying to get some sleep. Nothing is worst than showing up to your tropical vacation unrested, because you couldn’t sleep on the plane because you didn’t have an eye mask.
This is an easy cheap thing to add to your list. You will always be happy you have one when you want one.
22. Travel Pillow
Again travel pillows are great for helping you sleep on the plane. Making those uncomfortable flights a little more comfortable. They are also nice to have on the beach while you are tanning.
Travel pillows make traveling a little more comfortable.
23. Polarized Sunglasses
We have talked about protecting your skin, face, and lips, but probably the most important thing you want to protect is your eyes. Having a good pair of polarized sunglasses is not only essential for your tropical vacation, but also in life.
You only have one pair of eyes, so you want to protect them with a good pair of polarized sunglasses.
Other Items To Pack For Your Tropical Vacation
Depending on what type of accommodations you’ll have on your tropical vacation you may or may not want to include some of the items below.
The items below are all linked on amazon to help make shopping easier. You focus on enjoying your trip and leave the research for the best products to us!
What Clothes Should You Pack On Tropical Vacation?
When you’re on a tropical vacation, you can expect warm and sunny weather, assuming you’re going in peak season.
Depending on how long you’ll be on your trip you can adjust the amount of clothing needed. For a week’s vacation, you can bring one swimsuit for every couple of days. Swimsuits are great because they are easy to clean and dry quickly.
You’ll also want one or two good coverups to wear to the beach and to walk around in. If you don’t have that many coverups you can even wear light dresses.
You will also want one or two nice outfits forgoing to restaurants, shops, or to walk around. If you want to save room in your suitcase, you can re-wear shorts and light pants.
Don’t forget all of your underclothing for seven days as well as pajamas for the night. You may also want one light sweater or jacket in case it gets cold at night.
If you’ll be visiting during an island’s “winter months” you may want to pack some additional light pants and light sweaters for the morning and night when it can be a bit cooler.
You’ll also want to bring at least one pair of sneakers and one pair of sandals.
We suggest wearing your sneakers on the plane since it’s a bulkier item and weighs more.
List Of Clothing For 1 Week Tropical Vacation
- Bathing Suit x 2
- Bathing Suit Coverup x 2
- Sun Dress x 2
- Nighttime Outfit x 2
- Tanktops x 3
- Tshirts x 3
- Light Shorts x 2
- Jean Shorts x 1
- Pajamas x 1
- Jeans x 1
- Leggins x 1
- Lightweight sweater x1
- Hoodie x 1
- Sun hat x 1
- Baseball hat x 1
- Sunglasses x 2
- Sneakers x 1
- Dressy Sandals x 1
What Should You Not Pack for Clothes On A Tropical Vacation
- Don’t pack heavy jackets or other bulky items. Unless you are traveling someplace cold afterward. If so pack a foldable jacket.
- Don’t bring beloved valuable items. You should consider leaving your expensive purses, jewelry, and other electronics at home if you don’t need them.
- Don’t overpack! You should save room for any souvenirs you may want to purchase. Nobody enjoys spending a few hours at the end of their vacation trying to cram everything back into a suitcase.
- Always look at the items that will be provided with your accommodations so that you don’t pack unnecessary items. For example, you may be given a towel, toiletries, and other essentials which would mean you don’t need to pack those things in your luggage.
Expected Activities During A Tropical Vacation
I love doing impulsive things when I am on holiday, however, this could lead to not being prepared for them or being properly packed. Here is a list of activities that you might want to do on your tropical vacation.
- Swimming
- Snorkeling
- Relaxing at the beach
- Hiking
- Walking
- Scuba diving
- Boating
- Shopping
- Exploring
- Wakeboarding
- Surfing
- Kitesurfing
How To Save Money On Your Island Vacation
- Pack everything instead of planning on buying things like toiletries or towels.
- Instead of buying mini shampoo and conditioner bottles, buy reusable travel-size tubes that you can pour your shampoo and conditioner into.
- Plan out your trip ahead of time. Coming up with an itinerary will help you budget and have a plan as to how much everything will costs.
Most importantly, have fun! The fact that you’re reading this packing list for a tropical vacation means you’re prepared and considering all of the things you may need for your stay.
The key is to bring the necessities without overpacking. However, with this list you’ll be ready for the vacation of a lifetime.
Less is more in the end because if you don’t have to spend time trying to puzzle piece everything to fit in the luggage you’ll be happy.
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