Once my place at the Social Media on the Sand was confirmed I started my list, some of you may not know this but I am a crazy list maker. No, seriously, I have lists on top of lists. It is a sickness but hey I am never without an idea of what I need to get done! One of the biggest lists I started making was my Turks & Caicos packing list. This list grew and grew and then it shrunk and then it grew again. It was my ever evolving list but now that this trip has happened I feel like I would totally redo my packing list so now I am sharing my tips with you!
This list not only includes the obvious and the necessities but also items that we wished we had left at home, packed more of or brought with us.
Packing Tips for Beaches Turks & Caicos
Passport: this is an obvious. In order to travel to Turks & Caicos you must have a valid passport. If you are planning a trip in the near future it is time to check that expiration date on your passport or start the process of obtaining a passport. Do not wait until the last moment for this – you will end up stressed and paying extra fees and costs.
Sunscreen: Look, I have the type of skin that burns quick and bad. I honestly thought I over packed the sunscreen by bringing 2 bottles for us to use. Guess what? We ended up having to purchase another bottle on our last full day at the resort! Now, keep in mind that you are on an island, that means everything is more expensive due to the importing cost – so as you can imagine that sunscreen was not cheap!
Zip-Lock Bags (Gallon Size): I am totally used to the dry weather in Colorado so I never thought about the possibility of our swim suits not completely drying before having to pack them into our suitcases. I highly recommend you bringing zip-locks so you can head to the pool or beach the day you leave without any worries about wet suits!
Toiletries: I admit it, for the most part I am always an over packer which means the anxiety of our bags being too heavy always hits on every trip. Guess what? Beaches Resorts makes packing super easy! They provide the best Red Lane Spa Shampoo, Conditioner, Body Wash and Soap in your room and they restock it as needed! Bonus! So, lesson learned. No Toiletries needed when traveling to Beaches!
Resort Evening Wear: For the most part you can wear casual clothing but there are a few restaurants that require you to wear resort evening wear so be prepared. What is the meaning of resort evening wear? “Dress pants or jeans for men, long or short sleeve dress shirts (with or without collar). Dress shoes or sandals. No shorts, t-shirts, sleeveless shirts, sneakers, flip flops or slippers. No hats nor caps.”
Swimwear: Beaches is all about the water! I brought 3 swimsuits and that was the perfect number. No one enjoys putting on a cold wet suit! Yuck! Also, if you have never played in the sand on the beach you will find that the sand sticks – I made sure I had one suit for the pool so the sand wasn’t obnoxious for me.
Clothing In General: Like I said, I am normally an over packer. For this trip I feel like I could have used another sundress or outfit. The weather is HOT and HUMID. I sweat a lot and so when we came to the room to reboot, shower, change or rest I found myself wanting to put on a fresh outfit. Women – invest in some sundresses. Great way to feel dressed up and cool at the same time!
Cash: The official currency of the Turks and Caicos islands is the United States Dollar. Due to Beaches being an All-Inclusive resort you do not need cash! No tipping is allowed! Seriously! Everything is taken care of on a pre-designated credit card. There is literally no reason to carry cash on the resort. Now, I will say that in the airport there are credit/debit card minimums ($25-$30) that you will have to meet. Meaning that is a lot of diet coke at the airport! Ha! Carry some cash for the transportation to and from the airport and also for your travel days at the airport.
GoPro: Seriously, GoPros are so fun! You need one. We had a great time being silly in the pool and ocean with the GoPro. Plus, when we went snorkeling we took some great underwater video of some pretty fish! Very cool and a great way to remember the fun in the water!
Flip Flop Fun: We literally wore flip flops all the time. For sensitive feet like Jeremy’s he was feeling the pain! Invest in some great flip flops – more than the dollar ones at Old Navy. You will not be putting on real shoes while on the resort so be nice to those feet!!
Hat: I bought my first floppy hat while at the resort. It was something I should have bought before the trip but didn’t realize how much I really needed it until I sat in the sun for the first day on the resort. That sun is HOT and in your face. Finding a great sun hat to keep the sun off your head, neck and face is great!
If you have visited Beaches Turks & Caicos Resort what tips would you like to add to this list?
I am a list maker too. I totally get that illness!
And speaking of illness, one thing I always pack when going abroad is benadryl. I never know when I'm going to have an allergy attack from a tropical bloom and sometimes its difficult to know what you're buying at a pharmacy abroad – or it can be difficult to find one.
It's also useful for other things too like bee stings, etc. It's always on my packing list!
Smart to bring extra swimsuits. You're right, they're no fun to upt on wet.
That is such a beautiful place. It is important to pack correctly for a trip because it is the difference between havinf what you need and spending a fortune at your destination.
Turks & Caicos is on my bucket list! I'm pinning this for later!
I'm so jealous! I've always wanted to visit T&C! I did go to Beaches in Jamaica once, but they there beaches can't compare!
One of the best things about Hotels in the Caribbean is that no Cash is needed. Comfortable Resort clothing is great to have as the weather is warmer