15 Must-Have Travel Essentials When Traveling to the Caribbean

Whether you’re traveling to the Caribbean for a few days or weeks of well-deserved relaxation and fun under the sun, there are a few essential items that you shouldn’t forget to pack with you. These items will make your vacation hassle-free and allow you to make the most out of your time in paradise.

No one should have to worry about damaged gear or run around looking for appropriate equipment while on vacation, which is why we’ve gathered the following 15 Must-have travel essentials when traveling to the Caribbean into one list.

We hope you enjoy your time in this beautiful part of the world!

10 Essential Packing Tips for the Caribbean:

1. Passport and Visa: Depending on your nationality and which islands you plan to visit, you might need to travel with your passport instead of your ID and/or even get visas.
2. Caribbean Travel Insurance: Travel insurance is a must for any trip. But Caribbean travel insurance plans differ from others because they have to include policies specific to the area, like hurricane-dependent cancellation coverage, cruise connection issues, and medical emergencies that you might only deal with in tropical weather.
3. Driver’s License (this might not apply to you if you’re not renting a car): So many people forget to bring it along with their international driving license that we thought we’d offer a friendly reminder.
4. Cash: Cash isn’t king in every country as more and more businesses gravitate towards credit cards. But if you’re planning on using ferries and taxis in the Caribbean, you will need physical cash.
5. High-SPF and water-resistant Sunscreen, after-Sun Gel, and Aloe Vera: To ensure that your vacation won’t get ruined by an awful sunburn.
6. UV Sunglasses: Your skin isn’t the only part of your body that needs to be protected from the Caribbean sun!
7. Bug spray: The Caribbean rhymes with mosquitoes (except in Montserrat), so make sure to pack a spray that will save you from ending up as their lunch.
8. Sea-Sickness Medicine: The Caribbean is synonymous with a turquoise sea. If you’re planning on sailing on it or taking a cruise, then sea-sickness medicine might save you from having a terrible experience.
9. Appropriate clothing: Many all-inclusive resorts and entertainment venues in the Caribbean host events that require more formal attire.
10. Wet wipes: These serve as an excellent hack for quickly cleaning away any residual sand or sunscreen stuck to your body. We recommend these biodegradable ones that are alcohol and fragrance-free, flushable, and retain moisture even when taken out of their container.

15 Must-Have Travel Essentials for a Trip to the Caribbean

1.  Packable Backpack

While the design of the bag(s) you take with you to the Caribbean depends on your personal style, one bag item that we recommend is this backpack. It will come in tremendously handy, especially if you’re planning a trip filled with activities and adventure. It can hold up to 25litres in volume and is made of textured and layered nylon that is water-resistant and well-padded. The best part is that it is fully compressible into a tiny zippable pouch attached to it. Alternatively, if you’re planning on spending a lot of time crossing bodies of water, a Waterproof Dry Bag could also be a good and inexpensive investment

2.  Wet Bag

You’re in the Caribbean and need to switch hotels, islands, or fly back home, but you want to take a last dip in the beach or the pool. Unfortunately, this means you’ll get your swimsuit wet which might make your suitcase damp (and smelly). This is where a wet bag comes in to save the day: throw your water-filled swimsuits, damp workout clothes, or anything else that hasn’t dried up in it, and carry on with your itinerary.

3.  Cooling Towel

Whether hiking, trekking, walking or attending a concert, you’re guaranteed to have fun in the Caribbean, but you’re also guaranteed to sweat. To keep yourself comfortable and lower your body temperature, we recommend investing in cooling towel technology: these ones by Hero can lower heated skin by 20 to 30 degrees Fahrenheit. You’ll need to submerge the towel in water (it doesn’t need to be cold), snap it a few times, and lay it on your skin (try the neck area).

You’ll enjoy the cooling sensation it provides for extended periods and the added protection against the sun.

4.  Universal Waterproof Phone Case

While getting a Gopro is probably a good idea, splurging on a separate piece of equipment for the sake of a vacation might not be everyone’s cup of tea. This is why we’re suggesting a universal waterproof phone case instead, perfect for protecting your phone against the sand and water (and for taking underwater pictures!).

5.  Water shoes

While the postcard picture of the Caribbean you have in mind is probably composed of soft and inviting golden sand, some beaches contain rocky shores (like in Saba) or even rocks mixed in with black sand (like in Montserrat). This is why we’re recommending water shoes to keep your feet comfortable as they walk on the many beautiful and unique beaches in this part of the world. They will also come in handy if you plan on visiting waterfalls.

If you’re planning on doing a lot of adventuring, consider investing in a small and portable first aid kit.

6.   Portable Charger

We think a power bank is a travel essential for any vacation, especially so for the Caribbean. Chances are you will be hopping from place to place throughout your day, and many of these places will be tropical, wild, and sandy. This means that your phone’s battery will deplete, and you might not have access to nearby power outlets. Most of us use our phones to take videos and pictures of our trip or access maps to know where we’re going, so keeping a good portable charger on hand can be a life savior. We recommend this one, which can provide between 5 and 8 full device charges. Its sturdiness guarantees it won’t break, even if you drop it.

7.   Towel Clips/Boca Clips

With all the surfing, kiteboarding, and sailing in the Caribbean, one thing is for sure: there’s plenty of wind. This is great news for watersports lovers but less so for your towels. Investing in towel clips or bands is an easy solution to counteract the oddly prevalent phenomenon of flying towels.

8.   A Beach Bag

While we’re not mentioning any obvious items like sun hats, beach cover-ups, or swimsuits, you’d be surprised by the number of visitors who forget to pack in a good beach bag. So we decided to include this item in this travel essential list when traveling to the Caribbean: save yourself the hassle of buying an overpriced one in your hotel lobby. Our favorite is this sturdy, lightweight, water- and sand-proof beach bag.

9.  Water Bottle

You’d be surprised by the number of visitors whose holiday gets ruined by a mix of high humidity and temperatures combined with a low water intake (or too many cocktails!) which leads to heat exhaustion. Bring a water bottle with you to avoid this. It will limit plastic use, keep you hydrated, and cool you down if you opt for an insulated one like the YETI. Alternatively, if you want to save on space, consider a collapsible water bottle.

10.   Adapter

Depending on where you’re coming from, especially if you’re planning to visit at least one non-U.S. island, you will need an adapter for all your electronics. Our favorite is this Universal adaptor which has two USB charging ports.

11.   Something To Hide Your Money and Valuables In

If you’re always carrying cash or you’re just worried about your valuables, we recommend buying a wallet that will blend in with the surroundings and not draw the intention of any potential pickpockets. We love this scrunchie with a hidden zipper, but there are plenty of ‘diversion stash’ options you can pick from.

12.   Kindle

Dreaming of the Caribbean usually consists of seeing yourself casually relaxing next to soft rolling turquoise waves surrounded by palm trees as you sip on a fruity drink and read a book.

The problem with books is that they can get damaged when wet, and they are an added weight to your bag – especially if you’re an avid reader or like to have options. This is why we think a kindle is an excellent investment for a Caribbean trip: the Kindle paperwhite is waterproof (you can read in the pool), lightweight, and has different luminosity options to make reading comfortable in different light environments.

*Note that you will get three months off their subscription service (Kindle Unlimited) which will give you access to 1.4 million books.

13.   Facial hydration mist

You probably get it by now: the Caribbean is hot and humid. We’ve already dedicated two points to keep you cool and hydrated, and here’s another one: Facial hydration mists will save you from overheating.

14.   Windproof Travel Umbrella

One thing many visitors forget about is the fact that the Caribbean is subject to tropical rain showers. While we’ve included many waterproof items in our list to make your trip to the Caribbean as comfortable and hassle-free as possible, there’s an obvious one we haven’t mentioned: the umbrella. You could alternatively buy it when you arrive on your island of choice, but we personally prefer investing in a compact and sturdy one that will withstand both the rain and wind of our islands.

15.   Activated Charcoal & Electrolytes

Caribbean cuisine will make you taste various wonderful tropical flavors, but you might not be used to specific ingredients, spice levels, or potential germs. No vacations should be linked to a bad case of indigestion or food poisoning, so we’d like to present you with two gut-saviors: activated charcoal (which quickly absorbs and expels toxins) and electrolytes (which will improve your hydration, fatigue, brain fog, and potential hangovers)