Beauty, Fashion, Skincare, Styling Tips, Travel

My Tropical Vacation Packing List

Hey, lovelies!

I hope you’re keeping warm this wintry December! I know I sure have!

In fact, I just returned from an amazing trip to Nassau (in the Bahamas)!

I miss the sun too much to stay in the wintry cold for too long -you’ll usually find me jet-setting to sunny beaches and tropical breezes in the later months of the year!

I know some people HATE the idea of packing – after all, you have to fit a ton of different looks into your luggage for longer trips. However, it’s actually one of my favorite activities for a few reasons:

As I’m packing, I’m envisioning all the places I’ll be and fun I’ll be having
I love the strategy of doing more with less on a trip – with a few tweaks to your wardrobe, you can use the same pieces to create fresh looks every day!
I’m mentally preparing for the journey, and taking time to make sure I don’t miss any essentials!

My Tropical Vacation Packing List

My Packing Rules

Usually, when I’m headed off to the beach somewhere, I employ some hard and fast packing rules to make sure I’m making the most of my luggage space (and sanity!) If you need some inspo on how to manage your tropical travel without stressing or losing it – try these out!

Skincare First.

This might seem weird, but I’m pretty fair and my skin and hair can get really dry and less-than-perfect with lots of sunlight. Plus, buying products you need is so expensive when traveling – and you can’t guarantee you can grab your favorites. Before I do anything else, I go over the itinerary for the trip and grab must-have staples – like moisturizing products, sunscreen, and after-sun treatments!

Plan Outfits Based On Activities.

It seems like a no-brainer, right? It helps me to map out what we’ll be doing and the level of formality required for each. Then, I’ll choose pieces that can be reworn in another combination, and shoes and accessories that can go with multiple outfits. I’ll also take pictures on my phone of each combination so that I make sure everything winds up in my luggage, and I don’t stress over pulling out my wardrobe when I’m there.

Include Backups.

Sometimes I catch some jokes about this from my boyfriend or friends, but I always include a backup staple from each category where I can. Why? You never know when you’ll have a wardrobe malfunction, and I’d rather spend my money on fun experiences and keepsakes than a last-minute wardrobe addition. No thanks, tourist mark-ups!

Want to see my packing tips in action? I made these handy downloadables with three main categories for packing – dresses, beachwear, and care essentials!

Unless we’re doing some serious climbing, hiking or exploring, I always pack dresses when I’m headed to the tropics. They’re breezy and still look chic – plus dresses are so much easier to dress down (or up!) depending on what you’re doing.

Here’s a look at the styles and types of dresses I packed on my recent vacation. Links to the outfits pictured are listed below the image with corresponding numbers!

I’ll go over some of my reasons for the choices below, too, so you can see where my packing strategy took me!

Must-Have Vacation Dresses

Okay, lets talk strategy! You’ll notice most of these are breezy, lightweight minis. That’s because this is one of the most versatile styles of dress. I could wear these poolside, out to lunch, walking around town, down to the beach and even dress them up for dinner.

I included some midis and wrap maxi dresses that are a little more elegant and formal. However, I erred on the side of bright, breezy prints (again, to keep these pieces as versatile as possible).

The activities you have planned will dictate which style of dress you should have more of, and even how many you pack!

I also packed four pairs of shoes with fairly neutral prints so that they would match multiple dresses and outfits. The cheetah print mules are the only loud pair, and I could pair those with either the red Mistwood gown for a sexy-chic look, or add a pop of fun to a more basic dress like the crochet mini!

Must-Have Vacation Beachwear

If I didn’t have access to the beach, I would probably die. Visiting the beach is my favorite part of any vacation – in fact, it’s hands-down where I spend the most time.

Because of that, it shouldn’t surprise you that multiple swimsuits, coverups, and beach accessories are an absolute must on my packing list.

Some of my favorite bathing suits are really glitzy pieces I get from my favorite bathing suit retailer, Beach Bunny. Some of them are mega-cute pieces that I got for CHEAP on Amazon, too!

If you didn’t know that Amazon has pretty much everything by now, you’re welcome. Try hunting for a bathing suit there sometime.

Check out my essentials below!

Indian Summer Poncho, $110
Chiffon Blouse with Rhinestone, $24
Net Bathing Suit Coverup, $16
Myra Romper, $216
Indian Summer Lace Dress, $130
Crinkle Twill Beach Tunic, $98
Mercy Solid Strapless Mini, $92
Sarong Swimsuit Coverup, $16
Gold Flat Top Panama Boater, $11
Slim Animal Print Flip Flop, $30
Shiny Rhinestone Crystal Bandage Bikini Set, $10
Ariel Triangle Top and Side Tie Bottom, $298
Crystal Bling Halter Bikini Set, $41
Shiloh One Piece, $250
Two-Piece Pink Rhinestone Bikini, $7.98

Must-Have Vacation Essentials

As I mentioned before, my skin and haircare are so important that they’re packed first during vacation planning! That’s because I don’t want to return from the beach burned, cracked, peeling or dry dry dry!

Here are the other essentials that make up my must-have packing list – including skincare, haircare, body care, and travel essentials!

LANEIGE Kiss Me All Day Lipcare, $35
Sephora Hydrating Watermelon Cleansing Wipes, $8
Watermelon Pink Juice Oil Free Moisturizer, $39
Sephora After-Sun Watermelon Mask, $5
drybar Party of Four Hair Care Set – $50
COOLA Sport Continuous Spray SPF 30, $36
Miamica Pink Dirty Laundry Bag, $9
Rosmax Travel Makeup Case, $22
Ambeur 2- Piece Spinner Luggage Set, $325
SUNWILL Stainless Steel Tumbler, $15

What do you think? Let me know which of these vacation essentials you also swear by – or if there are items not on this list that you always include on your trips!