Going on a trip to the tropics and don’t know what to pack? Luckily, warmer weather calls for lighter luggage. I’ve been on a fair amount of tropical trips and am naturally a light-packer, but this tropical vacation packing list includes the essentials I ALWAYS bring for total comfort and to avoid overspending.
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Choosing Your Luggage
Assuming you’re taking a plane, most airlines allow you to bring a carry-on and one personal item. When choosing your backpack, make sure to value comfort, especially if you’re doing a lot of physical activity. Other qualities to look out for are lightweight and durable bags. I’ve been using a JanSport backpack for years and highly recommend it!
My favorite luggages are the hard-case ones. The spinner wheels make it easy to roll by your side and feel less heavy than lugging it behind you. I use a simple 20-inch carry-on size Samsonite luggage.
All your stuff can easily get lost in big luggage and backpacks, so bring packing cubes for easy storage. It’s seriously a game-changer, and you’ll feel way more organized.
The Essentials for a Tropical Vacation Packing List
These items may sound obvious, but check these off your tropical vacation packing list first!
- Documents – Of course, if you’re traveling out of the country, you will need your passport to even get there. To preserve and protect your passport, put it in a special case or a plastic bag.
- Another form of ID – To stay on the safe side, keep a state-issued ID or Driver’s License in your wallet, too.
- Photocopies of important documents – Getting your ID stolen or lost is a nightmare, but the situation is even worse in an unfamiliar place. In case of emergency, bring a photocopy of your most important documents and keep them separate from the actual documents.
- Visas and Country Entry forms – Some countries require a visa or an online form to get in. Thoroughly check the travel guidelines for wherever you’re visiting.
- Cash & Wallet – Even in today’s digital age, it’s advisable to have some cash in your bag for emergencies. To protect against fraud, use a snap-shut RFID wallet.
- Medicine & Vitamins
- Glasses/Contacts in a Protective Case – One of my BIGGEST fears while traveling is losing my contacts/glasses and not being able to see the entire trip. I always bring my glasses, contacts, and a spare contact set.
Clothing
The great thing about a tropical vacation packing list is your clothing will be a lot lighter. This list covers all genders, so just take note of what applies to you.
- Swimsuits or Swim Trunks – Bring more than one swimsuit set so you can swap them out, especially if you’ll be going in the water.
- Beach cover-up – Certain areas of pools/resorts require you to have a cover-up on before entering, so having a modest one that’s easy to put on and take off is ideal.
- Tank Tops and Blouses – Have 3 to 5 shirts to switch out from, especially since you might be sweating through them a lot. Opt for linen clothing since the natural fiber helps you stay dry and cool. Avoid dark-colored clothing and fabrics that trap heat and moisture like wool, silk, and cashmere.
- Shorts & Skirts – Bring 2-3 separate bottoms that you can mix and match with the tops.
- 2 Pajamas – On a trip for 3 days or less (or if you’re washing clothes there), you may get away with just 1 set of pajamas. For ultimate comfort, I bring two.
- 2 Dresses – Some restaurants have a dress code, so bring 1-2 nice dresses.
- 1-3 Sweaters – Depending on the time of year you’re visiting the tropics, you may need sweaters. Check the weather of the location that you’re going to, and plan your layers accordingly.
- Quick Drying Long Pants
- Underwear & Socks – Especially if you’re showering multiple times a day or exercising, plan accordingly for the amount of underwear and socks you’ll be going through.
- 2 Bras
- Sports Bra & Workout Set – Depending on the amount of exercise you’ll be doing, you can bring multiple sets. I love the Lululemon biker shorts and bra top set.
- Windbreaker – If you’re hiking or it gets chilly, it’s helpful to have a sheer windbreaker handy.
Shoes
Shoes take up a lot of space inside your luggage, so I’d only bring what is necessary for your trip activities for your tropical vacation packing list.
- Flip Flops – I’ve made the mistake of buying uncomfortable flip-flops (which I didn’t even know was possible), in the past, which resulted in cuts on my foot and pain in every step. Ensure that your flip-flops are comfy by testing them out before bringing them on a vacation!
- Sneakers – Think about what exercise level you’ll be doing on the trip. Will you be hiking? Or just want comfy walking shoes to go on a stroll? No matter what sneakers you choose, try to go for a lightweight one.
- Sandals – Many people love the Birkenstocks.
- Hiking boots – Before your trip, check if you’ll be doing any hiking or find out if you’ll be on any rugged terrain. Hiking sneakers or boots are essential to a safe and comfortable hike. I’ve been using waterproof hiking boots from Columbia for years and they’re great!
Accessories
- Sunglasses – In the tropics, the sun is STRONG! Look for sunglasses that block 99% or 100% of all UV Light. Another way that companies list this is UV Absorption of 400nm. I recommend Ray Bans.
- Baseball Cap or Bucket hat – Protect your face and neck in hot weather and strong UV.
Beach Essentials
Many resorts and hotels have beach towels either complimentary or for purchase. If your accommodation does not, I recommend bringing your beach towel.
- Beach bag or collapsable tote with plenty of space
- Reusable Water Bottle – Trust me, in the heat you’ll NEED to refill your water regularly.
- Power Bank – You’ll likely be outside and away from power outlets, so a power bank is an absolute must. The magnetic portable chargers are great because you won’t have to worry about wires.
- Small umbrella – Tropical climates sometimes call for (unexpected) rainstorms. I LOVE my Totes Umbrella. It’s super compact at 5 inches, so it’s easy to throw in a beach bag and isn’t annoying to carry.
Electronics for Your Tropical Vacation Packing List
As far as electronics go, it varies by person how much they want to disconnect from screens on their tropical vacation. I’m someone who always has remote work online, so I tend to use my laptop a lot. For any of these electronics, bring extra batteries and a charger.
- Waterproof GoPro
- Laptop and case – My choice is the Macbook Pro 13-inch.
- AirPods or other earbuds
- Apple Watch
- Kindle Paperwhite for reading by the beach – Instead of carrying around physical books for unnecessary weight, a Kindle is the smarter option. Get the paperwhite version so you can see the text while in the bright sun.
- Camera – The Canon Rebel DSLR is a reasonably priced camera for travel photography
- All-in-one travel adapters – The power outlets in certain countries differ from the United States.
- Small Tripod – As someone who films content by myself, this is a MUST for me. This flexible tripod on Amazon is my favorite. I bring it everywhere!
Toiletries
When planning a tropical vacation packing list, I bring minimal makeup and toiletries since I always sweat it all off. In some countries abroad, airport security requires you to put all your liquid toiletries in a Ziploc plastic bag, so I put everything in one to avoid extra work at the airport.
Also, remember that you can only bring liquid in bottles up to 3.4 ounces / 100 milliliters unless you’re checking a bag in.
- SUNSCREEN SUNSCREEN SUNSCREEN!!! – I can’t stress enough how if you can, bring sunscreen on the trip. It can be such a pain to buy abroad, and it can be very expensive. Storytime: I spent USD 70 on TWO regular-sized bottles of sunscreen in Aruba! Look for reef-friendly sunscreen, as they have less harsh chemicals on both your skin and marine life. My go-to is the Sun Bum Spray.
- Face sunscreen – Bring a sunscreen that’s separate from your body sunscreen, as your face needs a higher SPF and protection.
- Deodorant – My favorite is the spray deodorant by Dove. It’s compact and has a refreshing cucumber smell.
- Dry Shampoo – When you have a packed itinerary with no time to wash your hair, dry shampoo spray is the perfect way to have a quick refresh.
- Lip balm with SPF – Most people forget about putting SPF on their lips, but it’s just as important as the rest of your face and body. Just check for the “SPF” symbol on a chapstick that you’re buying.
- Cleanser & Moisturizer
- Aloe – In the unfortunate case that you burn while you’re on vacation, aloe is beneficial in reducing pain and irritation and helping with skin repair and growth.
- Limited Makeup – The amount of makeup you bring is completely up to you, but for a typical tropical vacation packing list, I only bring CC Cream, mascara, eyeliner, and tinted lip balm.
- Micellar water – Micellar water is my go-to choice to remove makeup and face sunscreen after a long day out.
- Cotton pads and cotton swabs
- Tweezers
- Hairbrush
- Small hair straightener
Tropical Vacation Packing List: Comfort on the Airplane
You may have the option to buy eye masks and earplugs in flight, but just adding them to your tropical vacation packing list will save you a few extra bucks.
Other Essential Items for a Tropical Vacation Packing List
- Pack of Tissues
- Antibacterial Hand wipes and hand sanitizer
- First Aid Kit – essential items include bandaids in different sizes, gauze pads, and antibiotic ointments. You can also bring small packs of Advil.
- Alcohol Pads (optional) – to clean your phone and other items as needed.
- Mosquito Repellent
Tropical Vacation Packing List Wrap-up
That concludes my tropical vacation packing list! Wherever you go, pack light and be mindful of items that would be a pain to find outside of your home country.
In the meantime, check out my other travel guides!
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