I am a self admitted overpacker. Inevitably when I return home I unpack dresses I haven’t worn, T-shirts that went from suitcase to hanger and back without ever seeing the light of day, even extra bathing suit cover-ups. Why do I have room for all these extra clothes? Because on the rare occasion that I’m not going carry-on only ( a very different way of packing) I’m great at leaving behind key items I know you don’t have to pack. Do you want to pack less? Considering going carry-on only?
Here are 10 things you can safely leave behind when you are headed to to an all-inclusive.
- A hair dryer. You can count on almost every hotel room to have a hair dryer.
- Travel Iron. Pack wrinkle resistant clothes, hang clothes in the bath room while you shower to de-wrinkle, or some hotel rooms are equipped with small ironing boards and irons.
- Expensive Jewellery – Wear those rings and earrings you might use everyday, but don’t bring anything with you that you can’t live without.
- Shampoo/Conditioner – Check your hotel’s website. Most hotels provide nice amenities that are replenished daily. Unsure? Pack a few travel size products to get you through.
- Towels! Your hotel will provide pool/beach towels.
- Your full set of make-up. Down south, it is hot! No sense messing with all those big bottles, it will just melt off your face anyway. Any foundation or liquids that you do need to take should be transferred into much smaller containers and stuffed into a Ziplock bag. This is both to save space and your clothes if one of those containers was to leak.
- A flat iron. The humidity down south means you will need to embrace the top knot. Give your hair a break from over-styling and leave the flat iron at home.
- All The Shoes. I know it’s tempting to pack your fancy heels for dinner. The shoes for that special skirt. Runners, flip flops, water shoes….the list goes on and on. But an all-inclusive is your time to be comfy and practical. If you will be hiking or working out, take your sneakers. Other than that pack a comfy pair of flip flops for the beach, water shoes for the little’s and a dressy pair of sandals that will take you from day to night.
- 7 Bathing Suits: Sure you will be there for a week but this doesn’t mean you need to be making a fashion statement every day. Pick a couple of your “go to’s”, the one’s you feel comfy or fabulous in, maybe even bathing suits that you can mix and match. This is all you need. Toss in one sarong, a second favourite cover-up and you are good to go.
- Your worries! As long as you have your passport, a credit card and some travel insurance you will survive.
Bon Voyage!
I have always been an overpacker so I appreciate these tips. I have to admit that I am better about the towels, toiletries and hairdryer!
Great tips! I’m a last minute packer so I end up over packing.
I know lots of people who overpack, thanks for the tips
I definitely believe in packing only the essentials. This is a great list!
My partner and I are planning a trip to Jamaica this year! Thanks for sharing these tips! They will help keep our luggage under the airline’s weight limit!
Some good advice. We are off next week on a cruise, and I won’t be taking my flat iron:))))
Awesome tips! Over packing can sometimes become more stressful than under packing. So much less to lose.
I agree 100%!!!
I agree about all the shoes. I always bring way too many and they take up so much space.
hahaha this is where I confess that I don’t own a:
-hair dryer
-flat iron
I mean, my husband just bought me an awesome wide toothed comb so I do have that…
Love the amenities suggestion! I love hotels that provide the littles like shampoo, toothpaste…
Many very good points I have learned the hard way! First few trips were extremely shoe-heavy! Now it is a couple of flip flops and a pair of Skechers and that is it!
Those are tips i need to pass on to my daughter she is the biggest over packer i know!
Great tips, I always tend to overpack when we go away. Would be nice to be relaxing in the Caribbean right now!
I would love to go carry on only, it would make the airport so much easier but I feel panic when I imagine not having things I may need…I know it’s silly but I always bring too much stuff that I don’t even use…it drives my husband crazy!