With winter vacations in full swing I wanted to post my travel essentials and packing tips.

As much as I love going away I always dread the packing aspect of it. To be honest I am not a light packer by any means. If I am going away for a few days and need 3 outfits I will pack 7…or 9…just in case (after all a girl has to have her options).

And I always worry that I will forget something important so I always make a list of all the things that I need, since I want to be prepared for almost anything on the trip.

So I wanted to write down some essentials of what I pack for the tropical paradise.

Pack sunscreen! Even though it seems like such a straightforward tip I have met soo many people who simply forget and then have to buy it at the hotel at triple the price. Or if you are like me and want to stick to cleaner brands, you will never find them at your tropical destination. Also, if you already have sunscreen at home check the expiry date.

Bring medication with you. I always have on hand pain relievers, antihistamines, hydrogen peroxide, topical antibiotics for cuts, something for upset stomach and eye and ear drops. This provides me a peace of mind as I know many people who get sick and cannot find the medicine they need because it is not carried in the country of destination.

This one is for the ladies, bring a spray bottle and your favourite leave in conditioner.  Then before you go into the water thoroughly wet your hair and spray on leave in conditioner so that your hair doesn’t soak up the salt and chlorine which damages hair big time. Also make sure to rinse it out thoroughly when you come out of the water and spray some more leave in conditioner or conditioning oil.

When I pack I try to go with the most versatile outfits and only bring a few pairs of shoes which are neutral in colour (not always an easy thing to do).  I always bring a few pairs of flip lops (in case one breaks), a pair of high heels for night time and a pair of wedges.

I also always bring my own hair drier. The hotel driers are not the best quality and when your hair is already taking a beating with all the sun and salt water you really don’t want to damage it even more.

One of my travel essentials is a hydrating mist. I always use it on the plane since the air is very dry and then on the beach or by the pool before reapplying sunscreen to provide the extra moisture the skin craves.

Don’t forget your sanitizer and spray/wipe down the surfaces while on the plane as well as in the hotel. As gross as it is, the most commonly touched surfaces are usually cleaned the least and the last thing you want is to be sick while on vacation.

Last but not least, pack a propolis throat spray. It is an amazing antioxidant and is great for use right before you travel and while you travel to boost your immune system.

So these are some my travel packing tips. What are yours? Would love to know what you cannot travel without so leave a comment.