When we booked our family trip to Beaches Resorts Turks & Caicos last year we were at an advantage on knowing what to expect and pack due to this being our second trip to this amazing resort. However, our second experience was way different than our first due to us deciding to bring the kiddos along with us. Traveling with kids can really change the way you pack so today I am sharing our Packing Tips For Families who are traveling to Beaches Resorts Turks & Caicos.
Packing Tips For Families – Beaches Resorts Turks & Caicos
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. Due to this being an all-inclusive resort it is possible to pack only a carry-on bag for easy travel – so keep that in mind. Find the best carry-on luggage to make traveling with family easier.
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, the kids and 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! Make sure to bring enough sun cream tubes for babies on your vacation.
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! The addition here for kids is to add some kid friendly shampoo and body wash. Also, for Teagan’s long hair we needed detangler.
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.” For the kids we made sure they had a few “church clothing” options.
Swimwear: Beaches is all about the water! We brought 3 swimsuits for each person 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. In addition we made sure to add rash guards for some extra sun protection.
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! For the kids we wanted to make sure they were comfortable when out of their swim suits so we packed their favorite shorts and dresses.
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 and candy 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! We always get such fun photos when using the GoPro!
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!! Think about those little kiddo feet – have the kids break in their sandals before heading to the beach!
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!
Sunglasses: The sun is up and the glare off the water is serious business! Pack a pair of sunglasses for everyone, even the kiddos.
Pool Toys: Pack a float, beach toys, goggles and fun water balls for the pool. When we are at the beach we love to lounge around, kids have other ideas! Time to play! Make sure you bring items that the kids will love to play with to enhance the stay at the pool or beach!
Kids Camp Prepared: Pack a little bag for your kids to take to Kids Camp. Include the following items: Diapers & swim diapers (if necessary), Baby wipes (if necessary), Rash cream (if necessary), Formula & Bottles (if necessary), Baby food (if necessary), Comfy toy (if necessary), Change of clothes, Sunscreen, Towel and Swimsuit.
Well there you have it. Our Packing Tips For Families heading to Beaches Resorts Turks & Caicos! While it seems like a lot of THINGS, they are all items that we really feel like make our family experiences even better and more enjoyable. As I sit here and look at these fun photos of the pure joy the kids are experiencing I am itching to head out on our next family vacation! Just a few weeks!!
