Help me pack!

Beads921

One week from now I'll be hanging out on a plane, somewhere above the Caribbean Sea I would imagine. I have to get all my packing done by Thursday pretty much, since I have exams Friday AM and Saturday PM. I started making a list last week, and I've been adding to it as I realize I've forgotten things. So, give me all of your packing wisdom: Suggest/remind me of things I might forget (or tell me things you thought were going to be useful when you went away, but were just a waste of valuable space in your luggage). We're going to be at an AI for 8 days, and plan to go off resort several times, if that helps at all.

TIA.

heyimbren

Camera charger. I always forget that one!

I'm so jealous that you're going on vacation in April... while I'll be doing exams. Sighhh.

Hazel_B

Lots of sunscreen, your Canadian winterized skin won't know what hit it in the Caribbean. Atleast, that's what my pictures from my last tropical vacation showed.
What island are you going to? Do you know if the regular tap water at the hotel is drinkable? When I went to the DR it wasn't.

SeaTea02

I always forget my tooth brush because you need it in the morning before you leave. 

Phone charger so it will be charged on the way home. 

Advil incase the bed is uncomfortable. 

Shoer shoes or rubbery flip flops. 

underwear? 

Beads921

Bren - I have exams this week. Friday and Saturday. Most of my friends are still writing exams while I'm away, and some aren't done until well after I get back. I just lucked out with my exam schedule - big time!

Hazel - Sunscreen is a check. I'm very fair-skinned, and I have to be super liberal about the sunscreen application. We're going to Costa Rica, and from what I understand the water at our hotel is drinkable (I'll probably stick to bottled water anyway though).

SeaTea - I actually have to buy some more bras and underwear before I go. I don't have enough to last the week!

Elle1036

I'm sure this is already on your packing list, but I have a real problem remembering to pack socks.  I forget them about 75% of the time.

MLekathLEEN

Do Canadians have the same 3 oz rules as the US?? If so, I'd skip sun screen and get it once you're there. If you're like me, you'll use more than 3oz and have to buy more anyways.

Sunglasses

Bring money if you want to buy little trinkets. You won't need money in the resorts but they have people walking around with fun crap that FI and I wish we had cash for.

Go to the ATM or get cash BEFORE you leave. FMIL said to get $$ while in Mexico  because it would just transfer the rates. We were so confused by the ATM. It said it would be a charge of $29 and I thought "WTF?! I'm not paying $29 to get cash!" To find out, it was in pesos. When I tried to use it again, my card was declined and I knew I had plenty of cash, which bringsa me to my next point.

Check with your bank about how they go about using your debit card internationally. My bank completely cuts my card off once I'm out of the US/Canada unless I fill out some form...This info would have been useful before or during my trip.

Bring extra underwear incase you shiit yourself. I've never been in that situation but I always have more than needed just in case, lol.

I don't need any special face wash/shampoo and whatnot so the only toiletry I usually bring is toothpaste. It saves room in my quart size bag for my makeup needs. The hotel or the gift shop usually will have whatever you need.

Bring a travel mug!!! The AI we went to had tiny cups for drinks so many people brought travel mugs with them so they wouldn't have to make more trips to the bar. One guy had a GIANT Corona bottle that he'd drink out of. The big regret FI and I had about our trip was not bringing a travel mug.

If I think of more, I'll add.

bourgehm

Roll everything instead of just laying it flat in your suitcase. THat helps to save room! Also, for facewash and such, stop at Target and get travel size bottles. They have them for less than a dollar in the 'travel' section, and you can fill them up with the liquids you need.

Bring headphones! When I traveled last week the airplane had a movie playing and if we had headphones we could watch it.

Beads921

EKath - To my knowledge, we have liquid restrictions in terms of what we can bring in our carry-ons, but not in our checked luggage. One reviewer of our resort said sunscreen was hideously expensive there, so that's one thing I'm definitely taking no matter what. We're also taking cash, to cover everything (excursions, etc), and we plan to avoid using any cards completely, but it's good to know about the issues you encountered, should we need to use cards for whatever reason. I'm going to look into that. I also always take extra underwear - you just never know when it could come in handy. Good point on the travel mug as well. 

Bourgehm - BF's Mom gave us some airplane headphones, which have 2 jacks instead of one, so we're covered there (his Mom travels a fair bit, and was able to help us out with a few things). And I'm totally getting little bottles for stuff. I don't think I'd manage to stay underweight with my luggage otherwise!

calindi

Costa Rica - YAY!  I'm going on a family vacation there in October, though we're renting a house rather than staying at a resort.  We went on a family trip there to an AI when I was in high school, and my guy and I went on our first vacation together to Costa Rica.  LOVE love LOVE love LOVE Costa Rica!

Don't be afraid of the water - it's one of the few countries in Latin America with totally potable water (meaning drinkable).  Tap water is fine, you won't have any issues.

Bring lots of sunscreen.  And reapply way more than you think you need it.  Seriously - I reapplied SPF 70 every two hours and I still have never had such a bad burn in my life!  Every 30 minutes.  No joke.  Seriously.  You'll regret it if you don't.

Bring aloe.  Because even with 30 minute reapplication, you're still going to fry.

Bug spray - Costa Rica has lots of rain forests, and that means bugs.  Also, antihistimine lotion so you can rub it on any bug bites that itch.

A few good books, magazines, a loaded iPod - whatever you want for the beach!  A camera - get a waterproof camera at Target/Walmart/CVS as you'll probably want it for any water activities. 

Most places will accept US dollars and give you change in colones (their currency).  So bring cash, but just be subtle about it - don't pull out a chunk of $20 bills and then unwrap one from the pile.  It's a very safe country, more so than most US cities, but you don't want to flash a lot of money in a relatively poor country - just not a good idea to attract attention to it.  Bring smaller bills and lock most of it in the safe and only carry a bit each day.

I always recommend ear plugs because you never know with a resort what type of outside noise there will be.  Trust me, ear plugs saved my sanity this weekend on the cruise when we had a very loud, drunk neighbor.

ETA:  Most airlines now have headphone jacks for normal 1-prong headphones, so just bring whatever pair you normally use.

GreenPepperBurger

Deodorant.

Sparrow87

Whether your checking or carrying your luggage, put anything that is of any value to you in plastic bags.  SO went to California last year for a convention, his liquids were stored in plastic bags, but after he got home he put his bag on the bed and the entire inside and outside of the bag was covered in hot sauce that had burst in someone else's luggage and leaked into his!  Almost everything was completely soaked, it must have been a huge bottle.  Luckily I convinced him to put his $200 costume in a plastic bag and it was safe, but some of his other clothes were completely lost and had to be recycled. 

The moral of the story is just because your liquids are secured doesn't mean your bag won't get tossed in with someone else's whose aren't and you might feel the repercussions as well. 

MLekathLEEN

I always carry on so I completely forgot about having regular sized sunscreen and whatnot in your checked luggage. Disregard my comment about sunscreen.

csousa1

Whatever you do, put a bikini in your carry-on! Throw in a tank and skirt/pair of shorts and light sweater too if you can fit it. If you have lost luggage, other things can be replaced but swimwear can be crazy expensive on islands like that. Also, anything that you need if you have allergic reactions. I forgot my EpiPen when we went to the Bahamas for spring break - luckily I never needed it but it could have been bad!

Beads921

Calindi - Good to know about the sunscreen! I'll really have to watch it if that's the case. And aloe was already on my list of things to pick up today, just in case Bug spray as well. 

Sparrow - Thanks for the tip on the plastic bags. My luggage is hard shelled, so the only place liquid could seep in is at the zipper. It might be something BF would have to be concerned about, though, so I'll mention it. It would be especially awful if everything got wet on the way down

Csousa - Bikini in the carry-on is a check! As well as a spare outfit (including underwear). And all prescription medications. I'm a wee bit terrified of losing my luggage - BF's sister's baggage got lost when she went to Africa and was without them for 3 days.

luvdncn90

If you're camera takes batteries I would put them in your carry on or purse. I stuck them in my suitcase and when we got to Mexico they were gone. I was so pissed because I had a hell of a time finding lithium batteries at the resort and when I fianlly did they were super expensive.

peekaboo2011

Ipod charger!  Seriously, saved my life in Mexico.

I usually forget normal shoes.  Flip flops I always have, but never real shoes.

musikbx

I like to pack most of my clothes within one color scheme, so I know everything goes together.

I also like to pack a day or two before, and then go through everything and really decide whether I need it or not. I think they say something like 20% of the stuff you pack never gets used.

Take as little as you can in terms of toiletries. You can get most of that stuff there (soap, over the counter medications, sunscreen, etc.)

Take old stuff (clothes) you are thinking of getting rid of and throw them out or donate them before you go home. More room for souvenirs!

Don't bother with guidebooks. Photocopy the pages you need & leave the heavy book at home. You could also just tear out the chapters you need, if you're OK with taking the book apart. If you heat up the glue that holds the book together at the binding, you can get the pages out neatly.

Take stuff that does double duty.  For instance, a tinted moisturizer that has SPF or a sarong that can double as a towel.

Wear your bulky stuff (like a thick sweater, denim pants or boots) on the plane instead of putting it in your suitcase

That's all I can think of for now, good luck!