I’m headed back to Aruba this week for my niece’s milestone birthday. Since I’ve been several times, I skipped my usual pre-trip research and focused instead on the woman I’m dressing for: The Unbothered Regular, but in color.
THE BAGS
I’m taking my Lo & Sons Catalina Deluxe Tote as my personal item because of its separate shoe compartment. All my sandals fit nicely in there.
I’m also using my yellow suitcase, the B|Y by Bric’s Expandable Carry-On in Mango, for the first time. B|Y stands for Be Young, and I almost returned it because of that. “Am I too old for this suitcase?” But I love it. It’s roomy, and the laptop pocket is large enough to hold my laptop and smaller electronics.
One of my sisters bought a beautiful light pink Away luggage set for our sisters’ beach trip to the Bahamas. I’ll never forget the look of despair on her face when that suitcase came tumbling down the baggage carousel.
So my yellow suitcase is carry-on only.
HOW I PACK
I roll my clothes very tightly and fill every bit of space in my carry-on. I only use packing cubes for delicates. Despite what people say, regular packing cubes don’t save space; they help with organization. Don’t take my word for it. Pack the same bag with and without them and see the difference.
My basic packing formula is one top per day and one bottom for every two days. If I pack a sundress, I remove a top.
For my seven days in Aruba, I’m packing white T-shirts and racerback tank tops, denim cutoffs, and three swimsuits in similar shades of blue and green. Two are from S3 Apparel. Their shaping swimsuits are amazing for keeping gravity in check, but size up, because whew, chile! The hold they have on you.
I’m also packing this lime green crochet skirt cover-up as a colorful “ingredient,” à la Tibi, and this Lahaina Cotton Beach Sarong, although I’m still on the fence about the sarong. I may swap it for this Zara scarf. The blue in the scarf is actually darker and closer to denim than it appears on the website, so it works nicely with other pieces I’m packing in similar shades.
For my niece’s birthday dinner, I’d originally bought this BCBG dress. Then she texted that the dress code for guests is white or champagne, so I’m taking this one with the weird sharkfin skirt, which is actually closer to ivory.
I’m also bringing three pairs of sandals (gold, black, and white), flip-flops, and my metallic Adidas Sambas.
THE BEACH BAG & ESSENTIALS
I recently bought this viral Amazon mesh beach bag to replace my old Junes Grande Tote. I just wanted a change, and this one was less than $14. I prefer a net bag in Aruba because the trade winds blow sand everywhere, and it’s easier to shake the sand out.
I also bought a tan-and-white cabana-striped towel to replace my old fouta. I always pack my own towel for days when I visit beaches away from the resort. I don’t want a hotel towel advertising where I’m staying.
Inside the bag is an insulated makeup pouch for my phone and anything else I want to protect from sand, water, and heat. If you spend a lot of time on the beach, I recommend WELLinsulated. If not, there are plenty of similar pouches on Amazon for less.
And I never go to the beach anymore without sunshields and goggles. Wearing goggles in the ocean once kept me from stepping into a lobster trap that had drifted close to shore in Jamaica.
SKINCARE & IN-FLIGHT
I abandon my usual skincare routine on vacation. My toiletries bag is mostly samples from Target and Nordstrom Rack, with a few non-negotiables.
Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen is one. For years, I thought it was influencer hype until my sister suggested I try it. Now it’s my favorite. I also pack reef-safe sunscreen, a miniature Tatcha Luminous Dewy Skin Mist, and Vaseline Illuminate Me Shimmering Body Oil so, après sun, I can shine like a diamond.
On the plane, I’ll wear one of my Varley fleeces with my Lands’ End Serious Sweats fleece-lined leggings. I love the Varley fleeces because they’re warm, structured, and polished. And I like to dress warmly for the plane, even when I’m headed to the Caribbean.
My plane bag holds my noise-cancelling headphones, eye mask, electronics, and a small first-aid kit stocked with electrolytes and Ponaris Nasal Emollient. I have non-allergic rhinitis, so I coat my nostrils with Ponaris when I travel to help protect my sinuses from irritants like strong perfumes.
ON LEAVING HOME WELL
Several years ago, someone recommended The Checklist Manifesto by Atul Gawande, a book about how simple checklists can help even highly skilled, experienced people avoid mistakes.
I now have a travel checklist, and it’s not just a packing list. It covers everything I need to do before leaving home and while I’m traveling.
Back when we had bedside alarm clocks, I left for a weeklong work trip and forgot to turn off my alarm. The walls in my building were so thin that I worried all week about disturbing my neighbors.
When I got home, all the clocks in my unit were blinking. It looked as though we’d lost power while I was away. I felt relieved.
About a week later, I ran into a neighbor who told me he’d shut off the power to the entire building because my alarm clock was driving him bonkers.
So now I have a checklist. I don’t have to worry about forgetting my passport or leaving something running at home. I don’t need to remember anything. I just need to check things off my list.
Your turn: What’s on your travel checklist that isn’t on your packing list? Tell me in the comments.