This past week, we traveled back to one of our favorite family destinations, Oahu. My family and I discovered so many great vacation essentials on this trip. Our experience was amazing, but it reminded me that as much as I love to travel, packing can be downright stressful. So, today I’m going to share some of my favorite vacation essentials, along with some packing tips for your next summer getaway. Come on then, let’s start packing!
Top 5 Packing Tips for Vacation:
1. Packing Cubes
If there’s one item travel experts, frequent travelers, and even Marie Kondo, swear by, it’s packing cubes. Packing cubes and other organizational bags make packing and unpacking easy. I almost never put any loose clothing or cords into my luggage and bags. Everything has its own bag in my luggage, and you can even assign a color to each kid. This helps me easily locate things I need and keeps me organized throughout the trip. Plus, you can use them to keep worn items separate from clean clothes.
They’re especially handy when you’re traveling with only carry-on luggage. If packing light feels impossible, but you want to avoid checking a bag, packing cubes help you to maximize space in carry-on bags. You can even roll your clothes inside the packing cubes to further add more room.
Some additional packing bags I like to use are:
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- Hard Case for Chargers
- Travel Jewelry Organizer
- Waterproof Toiletries Bag (no plastic bags necessary!)
2. High Quality Travel-Sized Toiletries
My hair is always a tangly mess after the pool and beach, so I love investing in travel-sized, high-quality products for both my hair and body. There’s something so refreshing about a post-beach shower in your hotel and smelling your favorite luxury products linger on your body for the rest of the day. This is why I love investing in Oribe’s travel set. Two of my other favorite Oribe products are the texturizing spray and body creme. Both are under TSA’s 3.4-ounce limit, so you can keep them in your carry-on.
3. First Aid Kit
My favorite travel-sized first aid kits are by Welly. They have a large variety of different kits you can buy, and all of them come in a high-quality tin container. I always throw one in my bag in case the kids have any small casualties while playing. For this trip, I used the waterproof bandages the most! They just really came in handy when I needed them, and everyone could still enjoy time in the water without having to lose them or replace them after.
4. Insulated Reusable Water Bottle
As a family of 4, we go through water quickly in the hotel room. We stock up on large jugs of water for the hotel room and rental car. For instance, I like to fill up our reusable insulated water bottles with ice and water from the hotel so the kids can stay hydrated throughout the day. Staying hydrated on vacation (and in general) is suuuuper important, and these water bottles make it so much easier.
5. Reusable Storage Bags
One of our first stops after checking into our hotel is always the convenience store and/or grocery store. We stock up on snacks that we can take on the go. Afterwards, I put them into our reusable storage bags so the kids can always have something to snack on in between our activities and meals! Makes getting around a total breeze.
Top 7 Tropical Vacation Essentials:
1. Women’s Sport Sandals with Yoga Mat Insole Hiking Sandals Light-Weight Shoes
My older daughters and I all got a pair of these shoes, and they were one of only a couple of shoes we wore for the entire trip. They are comfortable, waterproof, lightweight, and you can even go hiking in them. Black sandals are a must for ensuring that everything mixes and matches easily, without the need for extra items.
2. Supergoop! Handscreen
This is the only hand sunscreen I trust when I’m out in the sun all day. I grab a new one every summer–and yep, you can get it on Amazon too! It melts in like a dream, no greasy feel, and leaves your hands soft and protected after hours by the pool, beach, or just living life outdoors. Total must-have. The top of your hands are one of the most missed places when sunscreen is applied!
3. Coola Sunscreen
Now to the body sunscreen! No packing list is complete without sunscreen. I love their fragrance-free scents and their tropical scents! It automatically puts me in the mood to go to the pool or beach. I also like that it doesn’t leave that white residue on your face.
4. Waterproof Phone Case
These waterproof phone cases are the best. I wore the strap around my neck during all of our water activities and never had to worry about my phone getting wet. Without this, I wouldn’t have been able to get some of my favorite family photos and videos!
5. Straw Hat
This hat gives great coverage, and I can conveniently hang it around my neck when I don’t want it on. It also secures under your chin, so it doesn’t fly away on windy days. It got pretty windy at the beaches so, this was the only straw hat I was able to wear on some days.
Trust me, once you try a neck fan, you’ll never survive a tropical trip without one again. This bladeless version is lightweight, quiet, and actually cute. And it keeps you cool during long walks, beach lounging, or just waiting in line for your next piña colada. I think it’s a real game-changer in the heat!
This dress is your absolute go-to for holiday pics in stunning courtyards or sipping cocktails by the water. The puffy sleeves and slight ruffle feel girly and vintage, while the mid area hugs your waist. The lightweight cotton fabric keeps it breezy and cool all day. It’s perfect for that sun-drenched, tropical glow. It’s the perfect island dress.
Make packing easier than ever!
Packing for vacation can feel like a total juggling act. Hw do you fit everything you want (and need) without overloading your suitcase? Whether you’re headed to a tropical paradise or a city getaway, smart packing saves time, stress, and soooo much suitcase space! Now you can pack efficiently, stay organized, and still look fabulous wherever you go.
You can find a full Amazon shopping list of the rest of my favorite vacation essentials here. I hope that you found these tips helpful and that it helps you stay organized for your next vacation!
