A Week in the Caribbean in a Carry-On? Here's what to Pack

When a friend asked my husband and I to spend a week on a boat in the Caribbean docking at a different island every day to  beaches only accessible by boat, our quick answer was yes! When the offer came with the request to just bring a single small carry-on? Pause….longer pause….the answer? "Emmm sure." Packing for a week in a small bag takes a little more thought, but is 100% doable and eliminates the stress of lost luggage upon arrival. (I'm sure you or someone you know started the first 3 days of their vacation having to wear what they wore on the plane because their bag wasn't there upon arriving at the destination - worst start to a vacation ever!) 

So can you pack for the beach in a backpack without looking like a hot mess every day? Yes, you can. Here’s how…

1.  Start with the sandals. Nothing is worse than having a blister or aching feet on the second day of vacation because you didn’t take care of them on your first day of vacation.  These will be your one and only pair of shoes, so they must be…

• Comfortable
• Water-friendly
• Versatile enough to wear with a sundress in the evening or swimsuit during the day

2.  Plan 5-10 pieces that coordinate with your sandals of choice. Here are a few suggestions

• 3 swimsuits
• 2 sundresses
• 2 pairs of shorts and 3 tops that all work with the shorts. I will have a t-shirt, a lightweight sweater and button up shirt that can double as a swimsuit cover-up.
• Wrap skirt that works with one or more of the tops above and one of the swimsuits above.
• A single pair of socks in case your feet get cold on the plane.
• Packable sun hat and/or baseball cap.

3.  Add minimal make-up, sunscreen, and hair products.

• Make-up go-to’s include waterproof mascara.
• Elf’s charming stick of color for lips, cheeks, and eyelids.
• Sun bum’s tinted sunscreen.
• Shampoo and conditioner. I will often leave in the conditioner - because some of us have Donna Summer-esc hair when graced by humidity.
• Not you mother’s mousse for said humidity and to bring out every ounce of mermaidy curl.
• Itty bitty hair ties for braiding.

​Pro stylist tip: zip-lock bags are your friend for any liquids or items that are wet once traveling. A friend of mine showed up at the hotel on the first night of vacation, and opened her bag only to find her bottle of lotion had exploded inside the suitcase and had gotten on everything. What a mess! And what an easy way to ruin your first night of vacation. This could have been avoided by putting the lotion in a zip-lock bag to contain a potential spill. Be sure to put your sunscreen in a zip-lock bag! Packing cubes are also great to contain dirty clothes.  

4.  Add a sand-free towel and light-weight beach bag.

• This is light-weight, not bulky and can double as a blanket in the airport.
• A bag that can fold into your suitcase is super handy.

5.  I even had space for a snorkel and travel water colors - because it's fun to feel like a mermaid and capture those magical moments with paint.  And also, the water is so lovely you tend to float without the need of swim fins. 

​Enjoy your beachy vacay in an itty bitty bag without sacrificing style or comfort! If you're looking for a little assistance on how to maximize your style with minimal space, I'm just a click away. ​

help me pack!