Packing List for a Caribbean Vacation: 13 Essentials

Planning a trip to the Caribbean? We can help. From all inclusive resorts to cruises and everything in between we can help you plan the trip of your dreams. Reach out today for a free consultation.

Whether you are going on a cruise to the Caribbean or staying at an all inclusive Caribbean resort there are certain must have items you should bring along with you. Several things on this list may seem obvious but we have included a number of ones you might not be thinking about bringing with you when you are packing for your Caribbean vacation.

Not to brag, but I consider myself somewhat of a packing ninja. One of my proudest packing accomplishments was fitting all the clothes for myself and my three children into one carry on for A MONTH stay on the Caribbean island of St Martin. I love a good challenge when it comes to packing and traveling with kids certainly pushes my travel packing to the limits.

When we stayed on a Caribbean island for a month there were lots of things I was so glad I had packed for our trip and several things I wish I had packed. Hopefully you can learn from this experience and become a packing ninja yourself for your next Caribbean vacation.

1. Beach Bag

The right beach bag can make or break your Caribbean trip. Okay maybe that’s a little dramatic but a good beach bag does make life so much easier. I love this one because it has oh so many pockets for all the things and you can see through the mesh making it easier to grab whatever you need and get back to relaxing at the beach! It’s super durable and mine has withstood lots of abuse over the years. It also folds up small for packing and can be used as an extra carry on bag to bring back souvenirs on the return flight.

2. A Sunhat

You are going to need a good sunhat for those strong Caribbean rays. Be sure to select one that will withstand wind like this one for women. It’s also very lightweight so it will be great in the heat.

3. Water Bottles

Do the environment a favor and please please please pack your own re-useable water bottles. I loved having these silicone ones on our most recent trip to the Caribbean because they fold up nicely AND stay upright without any issues when full. Collapsible water bottles have become somewhat of a trend in the travel packing world (is that a thing??) but many options available on the market are an absolute mess to drink out of when full. Not so with these. Even my young children can drink out of them with no problem.

We found ourselves filling these with water in the evening and freezing so we could use them as an extra ice pack for our cooler at the beach and our water stayed ice cold all day. The attached handle also makes them easy to carry when you have your hands full and we had zero issues with them leaking.

4. Swim Coverup

You are going to basically live in your swimsuit cover up when you are vacationing in the Caribbean so be sure you pack a good one. This lightweight button up will keep you breezy and cool in that Caribbean sun. It has a loose fit so its great to pop over a wet swimsuit when you are taking a break from the water to visit a beach bar. I also love that you could wear it as a regular casual day dress and if you are packing light (which I hope you are) you will need your clothes to work double duty. When we were vacationing I was still breastfeeding our youngest and this coverup is also wonderful for nursing mamas.

5. Multi-Port USB Charger

There is nothing worse than running out of battery because you forgot to charge a phone, camera or other device (okay first world problems but still). Do yourself a favor and bring one of these to make a central charging station so you can make sure all the things are charged and ready to go. These are especially handy if you are going somewhere that will require you to use outlet converters so you can use one converted to safely charge your devices instead of requiring separate ones for each device. Simplicity is a sanity saver!

6. Fanny Pack

When you are traveling a fanny pack is a must have item. Use it when going through the airport to store all your travel documents, hand sanitizer and anything else you need to reach quickly. Once you are in the Caribbean these are great to keep around you or throw into your beach bag. I love this one from Amazon because it’s a great size – big enough for all the important stuff but not so big that it feels bulky. It has plenty of separate pockets to keep your things organized. The mint green color is fun and easy to spot if you throw it into your beach bag.

7. Snorkel Mask

Here is one I did not pack for our last trip to the Caribbean that I wish I had brought. These alien looking ones may seem ridiculous but once you are on the island you will wish you had brought one. This model has a removable camera mount so you can document all the beautiful wildlife you encounter while snorkeling. This one is great for both first time snorkelers and more experienced divers.

8. Waterproof Phone Bag

There are going to be so many times when you are in the water in the Caribbean and wish you had your phone to snap pictures. These waterproof phone bags make it so you can keep your phone close to you at all times. The tie to keep it around your neck will help make sure it does not get lost in the water. I was able to snap pictures with mine still in the bag and they turned out fine. You can also use them to make underwater photos or videos.

9. Turkish Beach Towels

Turkish beach towels are another must have when you are visiting Caribbean islands (or any beach in my opinion). These are lightweight and don’t take up much space. They dry off quickly and are easy to shake sand out of after a day on the beach. You can also use these as a coverup and there are a number of different ways you can tie them much like a sarong.

10. A Small Cooler

Having the freedom to bring your own beverages and food to the beach is wonderful when you are visiting Caribbean beaches. This option collapses so it won’t take up much room in your suitcase but you can fit plenty in it for the day.

11. Extra Sunglasses

I like to keep lots of extra sunglasses on hand when traveling to the Caribbean. These options for men and women are good quality for the price and work great as extras to have on hand.

For Women:

For Men:

12. Sun Protective Shirts

The Caribbean sun is no joke and you are likely going to be spending a whole lot of time outside in it when you are on vacation in the Caribbean. Having some extra protection can be a lifesaver especially if you are trying to heal some sunburn.

These coverups from Amazon have matching options for the whole family that are seriously beyond precious. They provide excellent coverage and can even be used just as a swim coverup.

13. Books

Of course don’t forget to grab a good read or two for your trip!

Amazon Books

Travel Basics

Of course you will also need to be sure you have the right travel basics. Below are some of my favorites for any kind of travel that will help keep all of your things well organized like a travel packing pro.

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Compression Packing Cubes

There is a lot of buzz in travel about packing cubes in the travel world and for good reason. I’m here to tell you the hype is well justified. Many years ago I started using travel cubes and they are fantastic for keeping everything organized, but the new compression cubes available right now take things up a notch. Below is the specific brand I use. For a recent trip, I was able to pack our family of five’s clothes for Saint Martin into one carry on. That’s right clothes for five people one carry on all thanks to these guys.

Another feature I love about these is the mesh on the front that allows you to see what is packed inside. This is a sanity saver especially when you are packing for multiple family members. If you are a Marie Kondo fan, her folding method + these compression bags is pure packing gold.

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Mesh travel bags

There is an endless amount of uses for these see through mesh bags when it comes to packing. Using these to organize your luggage can make it a breeze to quickly see and grab whatever you need. The last thing you want to do is have to pull over at the side of the airport or hotel and dig through a huge bag while trying to wrangle little ones. Don’t let this happen to you! We use these bags for both travel and to keep things organized in our playroom so you will be sure to find uses for them even after your trip.

If you are heading to the Caribbean you may also find these articles helpful:

Best Beaches in Saint Martin for Kids

Stunning Saint Martin Beaches You Won’t Want to Miss

Must See Spots in Saint Martin with Kids

Planning a trip to the Caribbean? We can help. From all inclusive resorts to cruises and everything in between we can help you plan the trip of your dreams. Reach out today for a free consultation.