Packing Tips For an All-Inclusive Vacation
Wondering what you should pack for your all-inclusive vacation with kids? Below you will find tips and products to help make your all-inclusive vacation an amazing experience.
Packing for an all-inclusive vacation is a bit different than a domestic beach vacation. The term all-inclusive encompasses a lot of things beyond just food and drink; many other items are provided as well. For instance, every all-inclusive resort provides towels for the beach and pool, so there is no need to bring your own. Additionally, these resorts also usually provide umbrellas or palapas on the beach, so you won't have to worry about cramming a pesky beach tent into your luggage. However, there are some items that are considered must-haves for traveling to an all-inclusive beach resort. Please note that I may receive a small monetary payment for any purchases made from the links provided.
Insulated Tumblers
Because most all-inclusive destinations are in tropical locations, it can be difficult to keep your iced drinks cold. Insulated tumblers are fantastic for keeping those daiquiris frozen and delicious. It's also great to use for ice water for the kids for those long days at the beach.
This tumbler from Amazon comes in a variety of really cute patterns and is guaranteed to keep your drinks cold.
Towel Clips
All-inclusive resorts provide guests with towels, which is a great service. However, that means every beach lounger will be covered with the same exact towel, making it difficult to figure out which chair belongs to you. Towel clips are a great way to not only help you identify your chair, but they also help keep your towel securely in place in case of a breezy day.
These towel clips come in fun and funky designs. There are 8 of them in a set, so everyone in the family can use them!
Pool Floats
Many all-inclusive resorts boast sprawling pools. Take full advantage of them by bringing along your own pool floats. Your kids will thank you for the added fun, and you will be glad to have something to relax in while you float around in paradise.
These fun and colorful inflatable pool floats come in a set of 4. They fold flat when deflated to make for easy packing, and they are affordable enough that you can simply pass them on to another guest when your vacation comes to an end.
A Way to Hide Your Valuables
The last thing you want is your vacation to be spoiled by theft. While the likelihood of that occurring at an all-inclusive resort is slim, it's always better to be safe than sorry. Since you will need to have cash on you (more on that below), and you will not want to be tied to your chair the entire day, you will need something to hide your money while you take a dip in the pool or ocean.
A scrunchie with a hidden zipper is the perfect unsuspecting object in which to hide your valuables. This one comes in a pack of 3!
Reef-Safe Sunscreen
Many all-inclusive resorts have incredible coral reefs just off the coastline. Unfortunately, many chemicals that are found in normal sunscreen can do permanent DNA damage to coral. In order to protect this beautiful but delicate part of the ocean, it's imperative that you use a reef-safe sunscreen that avoids using damaging chemicals.
This reef-safe sunscreen protects well while containing no reef-damaging chemicals. It's a favorite and very highly rated.
First Aid Kit
Any parent knows that kids can get injured almost anywhere! Resorts typically have small stores where you can buy nearly anything in case of emergency; however, the prices are usually sky-high. This is why I always recommend traveling with a small first aid kit that contains anything you might need should your kids get a few scrapes while having fun.
This first-aid kit contains plenty of bandages and other items you might need while traveling. It fits easily in your suitcase and can be purchased at a great price
Cash for Tipping
Last but not least, you should bring cash for tipping at an all-inclusive resort. Resort workers work very hard, often 7 days a week, and a small tip can go a long way. People usually tip, at minimum, the bellhops, the restaurant servers, the bartenders, the housekeeping staff, and the concierge. Some people even tip the groundskeepers! Use your own judgement, but know that the resort employees genuinely appreciate it. I recommend bringing $50-$100 per day in $1 and $5 bills.