These tips and tricks for what to pack for your all-inclusive vacation will make it so you don’t forget a thing on your trip to paradise.
You booked your all-inclusive vacation, YAY! Now, what do you need to pack?
My all-inclusive experience is with the Caribbean, so that’s what I am going to talk about. We went to Couples Negril in Jamacia for 10 days with some couple friends of ours. It was a lot of fun.
I also wrote a post on what you need to know before you go on an all-inclusive vacation if you are looking for more tips.
I was unsure what to pack so I read a lot of posts and forums on the topic. This is what I ended up taking and a few things I wish I had packed.
For your trip you will need the following:
1. Floral tankini 2. Ruffled suit 3. Striped suit 4. Black suit
SWIMSUITS
You will be wearing one the majority of the time. I would recommend four or five.
You might wear a couple a day, and with the humidity, they might take a day or two to dry out.
I ordered all of mine through Amazon. It was great because they were cheaper than at local stores, and with my Amazon Prime, I got free shipping and free returns.
Just make sure that you leave all stickers and tags in place while you are trying them on. Also, make sure that they say free returns. Not all clothing has free returns, but most do.
Amazon now offers Amazon Wardrobe! It would have been a lifesaver in this situation. I ordered about thirty different ones before I settled on what I liked.
I ordered #1 and #2 in two different prints for a total of 6 swimsuits for the trip. I definitely could have gotten away with only 4 or 5 though.
And yes, the floral tankini does have a lot of support. I wasn’t sure how much of it was photoshopped and how much was the suit.
It has the most push up power of any swimsuit I have ever owned. Which was great. A lot of times my biggest struggle with swimwear is support.
SWIMSUIT COVERS
Swimsuit cover-ups are equally as important. You will want one if you are dining or doing resort activities during the day.
I would wear my swimsuit to breakfast with a cover over it and then I was ready for the pool. Or the beach.
I packed three, but two would have been fine. Remember, it will get wet if you put it on over a wet swimsuit.
DRESSES
You are going to want a sundress or three for dinner time and excursions, depending on what the activity is.
Check with your resort, they might have a “fancy” restaurant that requires a nicer dress code.
SHOES
You are going to want flip flops for the pool and beach and some dressier sandals/shoes for dinner time. You might also need sneakers if you are doing any hiking or zip-lining.
SHORTS
You might want some shorts or capris for activities. It would be hard to zip line in a dress.
I wore denim shorts, but I wish I had brought some yoga pants to wear for the zip line.
SLEEPWEAR
Optional. Haha. Just kidding. Kind of. Whatever you plan to sleep in.
OTHER CLOTHING BASICS
Don’t forget underwear and socks. And a shirt or two to go with your shorts and yoga pants.
TOILETRIES
SUNSCREEN
We took two spray bottles and a lotion. We used both spray bottles and started in on lotion.
We took Neutrogena Beach Defense SPF 70 spray. You can get a two-pack at Costco and Sam’s Club in the summer time.
I love that it’s easy to apply and it smells good. I don’t like smelling like sunscreen.
ALOE / AFTER SUN LOTION
We took aloe vera gel, but I think an after sun lotion might be a good choice too.
BUG SPRAY
You will want some! You are safe during the day at the resort, but the bugs were out in full force after dark.
I have wondered about getting some mosquito repellent bracelets instead of using bug spray.
They were all over our zip line excursion. We ran out of the spray and had to buy some at the gift shop up there. It was $15 a can. So be sure to bring plenty.
Also, depending on the country there could be Zika or other diseases that the mosquitos carry. Be vigilant with your bug spray.
SHAMPOO & CONDITIONER
The resort will most likely provide some, but I prefer my own. My hair needs a good conditioner. Especially after all the chlorine and sea salt.
MEDICINES
There are several that you might want.
- Tylenol
- Ibuprofen
- Tums
- Pepto Bismol / Imodium
- Dramamine
You can buy medicine at the resort gift shop, but it is pricey and might not be your preferred brand.
Or your preferred type. I needed some Pepto, which we hadn’t packed, so we had to buy some in the gift shop. It was super expensive and only came in the liquid form.
Remember that you are eating food that is not your normal diet. This can take a toll on your tummy.
I added something for motion sickness to the list. You might want it depending on the length of your ride from the airport to the resort. Also if you go on any boat rides.
We were 90 minutes away on a windy, bumpy highway. That was rough on my stomach.
OTHER
These are some things that are nice to have.
SUNGLASSES
Obvious choice. The beach is bright.
HAT
If you want some extra sun protection a hat is a great choice.
I brought a floppy hat but I didn’t really wear it. Think about where you might want to wear a hat.
If it’s in the pool or ocean you probably want something with a smaller brim.
I’m considering this hat for my next trip because I could still rock a top knot. Speaking of which, don’t forget hair ties!
BEACH BAG
You will want something to keep sunscreen and room key in while out and about at the resort.
This bag comes in ombre and has interior pockets as well as an exterior zippered pocket.
WATERPROOF CAMERA
If you want to take some photos of the fun you’re having then you probably want a waterproof camera. You could use your phone, but you probably don’t want that near the water.
BRACELETS
Totally not necessary but I used them to keep track of my drinks. I wore a few stretchy bracelets on one wrist and switched one bracelet to the other wrist each time I had a drink.
This helped me know how many I had had. Maybe you don’t want to know. Haha. I just thought it was a good idea to visually pace yourself.
FOR MEN
The men’s packing list is similar.
3-4 pairs of swim trunks
Shirts/tanks to go with the swim trunks
Flip flops or other sandals
Clothes for excursions
For dinners, the men needed shorts and a polo or button up. At the fancy restaurant, they were required to wear pants. Again, check with your resort for dress requirements.
Have you been to an all-inclusive resort? What do you consider a must take?
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