HM Packing...

adrienne0925 · January 2012

Hi Ladies,

So I have NEVER been anywhere outside the U.S., not to mention an island...we are going to Jamaica for HM!!

Could anyone provide a "must have" list of things or suggestions on what to pack besides the obvious bathing suit, sundresses and sunscreen?? I want to make sure I have the necessities.. I get so nervous that I will forget something important!

[Deleted User] · January 2012

Pack more sunscreen than you think you'll need. I've run out on a Caribbean trip before and they majorly mark up the prices to buy it there!

Some othe items I'd recommend

- a hat, I usually bring a baseball cap for more active days and big floppy one for laying on the beach or by the pool

- a second pair of sunglasses

- lip balm with SPF in it

- after sun lotion/aloe

- a sweater or sweatshirt... you'd be amazed how chilly you'll feel at night with that ocean breeze after sitting in the sun all day

- tylenol/excedrin, etc

- antacids or pepto

- photocopies of your passport, drivers license, credit cards - if something gets stolen or lost, these will be a HUGE help

- also make sure that any prescriptions meds you bring along are in the original pharmacy bottle and not a pill case

Aks3131 · January 2012

Something I always forget to take and regret after is bug spray and cream to stop the itching. I always get a few mosquito bites and have to buy the cream in the hotel stores. Band aids are good to remember too.

adrienne0925 · January 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-club-boards_march-2012-weddings_hm-packing?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding Club BoardsForum:955e4823-0be1-44ef-9ee7-99a63794e103Discussion:b5f98f39-9ea9-4b1e-90d1-8b32b214cc58Post:a7dbc937-6b82-466f-be6a-9dbb5ac4ce02">Re: HM Packing...</a>:
[QUOTE]Pack more sunscreen than you think you'll need. I've run out on a Caribbean trip before and they majorly mark up the prices to buy it there! Some othe items I'd recommend - a hat, I usually bring a baseball cap for more active days and big floppy one for laying on the beach or by the pool - a second pair of sunglasses - lip balm with SPF in it - after sun lotion/aloe - a sweater or sweatshirt... you'd be amazed how chilly you'll feel at night with that ocean breeze after sitting in the sun all day - tylenol/excedrin, etc - antacids or pepto - photocopies of your passport, drivers license, credit cards - if something gets stolen or lost, these will be a HUGE help - also make sure that any prescriptions meds you bring along are in the original pharmacy bottle and not a pill case
Posted by harmony0417[/QUOTE]

Thanks so much!! Great idea on the hat and extra sunglasses!

bdgrl73 · January 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-club-boards_march-2012-weddings_hm-packing?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding Club BoardsForum:955e4823-0be1-44ef-9ee7-99a63794e103Discussion:b5f98f39-9ea9-4b1e-90d1-8b32b214cc58Post:a7dbc937-6b82-466f-be6a-9dbb5ac4ce02">Re: HM Packing...</a>:
[QUOTE]Pack more sunscreen than you think you'll need. I've run out on a Caribbean trip before and they majorly mark up the prices to buy it there! Some othe items I'd recommend - a hat, I usually bring a baseball cap for more active days and big floppy one for laying on the beach or by the pool - a second pair of sunglasses - lip balm with SPF in it - after sun lotion/aloe - a sweater or sweatshirt... you'd be amazed how chilly you'll feel at night with that ocean breeze after sitting in the sun all day - tylenol/excedrin, etc - antacids or pepto - photocopies of your passport, drivers license, credit cards - if something gets stolen or lost, these will be a HUGE help - also make sure that any prescriptions meds you bring along are in the original pharmacy bottle and not a pill case
Posted by harmony0417[/QUOTE]

This...and I would add an extra swimsuit..just in case one isn't dry the next day :)

nikkinay89 · January 2012

I'm in the same boat, never been anywhere in the Caribbean, and we're going on a cruise for the HM. I'll have to remember these suggestions!

jml1981 · January 2012

This is a little trivial, but I completely forgot my mascara and had to buy some cheap (but expensive) mascara in the resort store. I thought I would be ok without it, but not so much. I like to look good in pictures, lol. Just double check everything and make a list.

Also - if you are going to a resort or on a cruise, make sure you bring some nicer things to wear. If you're not going to a buffet, most people dres nicer at dinner. Like a pretty sundress and sandals, instead of flip-flops.

bdgrl73 · January 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-club-boards_march-2012-weddings_hm-packing?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding Club BoardsForum:955e4823-0be1-44ef-9ee7-99a63794e103Discussion:b5f98f39-9ea9-4b1e-90d1-8b32b214cc58Post:1506c460-a3fc-4c9d-8a4b-f964056a346f">Re: HM Packing...</a>:
[QUOTE]I'm in the same boat, never been anywhere in the Caribbean, and we're going on a cruise for the HM. I'll have to remember these suggestions!
Posted by nikkinay89[/QUOTE]

For your cruise, look and see how many formal nights, that way you can take a more formal dress for your dinner...and take sneakers, if you like to workout, I'm a goof and even though I was on vacation, I LOVED hitting the gym :)

cmac3504 · January 2012

Yeah, I second the gym clothes... aka shirt (dri-fit is great in the warmer temps), sports bra, shorts, SOCKS (which you may forget because you'll be thinking warm/ sandal weather), and sneakers. I always bring at least 3 bathing suits on trips 6+ days. I'm thinking about bringing a journal to include in a scrapbook of our honeymoon pictures, tickets, etc. (if I ever get around to it)...

For me, honeymoon outfit shopping isn't until March & packing isn't until early April (feels good to know I'll have 2 weeks post-wedding to figure all of that out!!)

bdgrl73 · January 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-club-boards_march-2012-weddings_hm-packing?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding Club BoardsForum:955e4823-0be1-44ef-9ee7-99a63794e103Discussion:b5f98f39-9ea9-4b1e-90d1-8b32b214cc58Post:385544ff-7da6-4b8e-81e4-1b392a47b023">Re: HM Packing...</a>:
[QUOTE]Yeah, I second the gym clothes... aka shirt (dri-fit is great in the warmer temps), sports bra, shorts, SOCKS (which you may forget because you'll be thinking warm/ sandal weather), and sneakers. I always bring at least 3 bathing suits on trips 6+ days. I'm thinking about bringing a journal to include in a scrapbook of our honeymoon pictures, tickets, etc. (if I ever get around to it)... <strong>For me, honeymoon outfit shopping isn't until March & packing isn't until early April (feels good to know I'll have 2 weeks post-wedding to figure all of that out!!)
</strong>Posted by cmac3504[/QUOTE]

Me too!!! :)

JCWhitey · January 2012

I'll be in Jamaica for the third time in just a few weeks! Here's my packing list based on my previous trips to the Caribbean:

-Cover-ups for your swimsuits. I only brought two with me the first time, I ended up buying 2 more. They are all I wore during the day the whole week except the day we went zip lining!

-A dress or two for dinner. Some restaurants have dress codes, we weren't allowed into one because the person I was with didn't have long pants on (and didn't pack any).

-An extra pair or two of flip flops. It seems vacations are when my flip flops decide to break on me!

-Extra sunblock (you do use a lot!)

-Extra sunglasses (I've had a few end up in the ocean...)

Oh, and if you are packing two suitcases it's recommended that you pack half of your stuff in one suitcase and half in another. Then have your FI put half of his stuff in one and half in the other. That way, if one suitcase goes missing, you'll each have some clothes to wear.

And if you are going to an all-inclusive they sometimes handle your bags for you and deliver them to your room for you. Which is nice, but when you arrive you'll probably be hot and tired and want to change into a bathing suit and soak in the ocean then take a nap or something Or it could be close to dinner time and you'll need to freshen up for dinner. Anyway, in my experience at Sandals it takes about an hour to get your bags for some reason. So you'll want to pack a bathing suit and a change of clothes in your carry on so you can get out of your travel clothes immediately!

[Deleted User] · January 2012

Ditto PP about the luggage being delivered to your room, same thing on a cruise... Pack a carry on with anything you'll want or need immediately!

4n6chick · January 2012

Bring some cold medicine with you. It seems like every time I travel after a few days I have a cold (probably from the air on the plane) and while I've never been to Jamaica and they may have good cold medicine, Europe does NOT. I think they have the idea that you should just wait out a cold or some such nonsense.

I bought a pack of Advil Cold & Sinus for us to take on our honeymoon - when I was in Sweden & Denmark three years ago I was sick and had a cough and their pharmacies were useless. And when I finally got the woman in Denmark to agree to sell me the good stuff, it turned out they didn't take anything but Danish credit cards so I couldn't buy it. Aggravating, I won't ever travel without the pills again!

centladyliz · January 2012

I agree with everything the PP's said! We went to Mexico (where we got engaged!) and they really overprice the basic necessities that you might forget. Like, there are some places to go snorkeling that require a biodegradeable sunscreen (to protect the fish and other sea creatures). You can get it here for like, $10... There it can be at least twice that!

So if yall are doing any specific excursions, make sure there aren't rules about what you can and cannot have with you. :-)

Also, I will never again travel without ziplocks/plastic bags. We had a souvenir bottle of rum break in my suitcase on that same trip. :-( I really regret not having ziplocks on that trip.

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