Passport: check. Portable phone charger: check. Eye mask and hand sanitizer: check and check. Savvy travelers wouldn’t dream of jetting off without these essentials in their carry-on, wherever they’re headed. But I’ve found that when I’m flying south, there are some Caribbean- specific items I simply must have.
For example, I never leave for a Caribbean trip without insect repellent. Because there’s nothing that makes me more irritable than getting all dressed up for sunset cocktails or an al fresco dinner and subsequently being eaten alive by sandflies or mosquitoes. My preference is for Off’s individually wrapped repellent towelettes, because they don’t count against my carry-on liquids allowance. Otherwise I buy their .05-ounce spray “pens,” which fit neatly into my toiletry bag.
And I’m not the only one who does island-specific packing. I polled some of my fellow Caribbean-covering colleagues to discover their must-haves for island trips. Take note for your own travel, and share them with your clients.
“I NEVER leave for a tropical trip without my ‘alien friend,’ a full-face snorkel mask that’s my best traveling buddy. It was gifted to me by a good friend in Aruba (actually she lent it to me, but soon realized she was never getting it back as I had fallen so in love with it). I highly recommend paying a little more for the Tribord brand [because] cheaper brands have much smaller face spaces and can give you a bit of claustrophobia. Though I only take carry-on as a rule, he goes in my suitcase first, and everything else just has to fit around it!” — Sue Campbell
“Gotta have a baseball cap! But not a trucker-type cap with the mesh and plastic snap at the back. I prefer a full-fabric fitted cap with an absorbent interior sweatband to shield my eyes, to mop sweat and – because I proudly wear my caps backward – that looks good from the front, too.” — Bob Curley
“This summer I started traveling with a handheld mini-fan and it’s been life-changing. It’s only about six inches long, so I can tuck into a small crossbody bag. It charges via USB, so you never have to worry about bringing extra batteries. And the fold-over design allows me either to hold it in my hand when I’m moving around or to prop it in front of me on a table if I’m seated. As a bonus, it can also be used as a portable phone charger, so if I run out of juice, I can just plug in and carry on.” – Heather Greenwood Davis
When I’m working in the Caribbean, there’s a lot of hopscotching between outdoor heat and frigid indoor air-conditioning, and the temperature swings can really aggravate my asthma. So I always pack a long-sleeved linen hoody with me. It’s much less bulky to carry around (or tuck) than a sweater. And because it’s made of linen, it’s more elevated and sophisticated style-wise than a regular cotton sweatshirt. And if it gets a little wrinkled: No problem; it’s just part of the “look.” — Brian Major
“Whenever I travel to the Caribbean, I always take my water shoes. I went through countless pairs before stumbling on these sneaker-style ones, which are lightweight and can also be worn for horseback riding and hiking waterfalls. I usually wear them on the plane, so I can save room in my suitcase.” — Mariette Williams
Sarah’s tips for those traveling to the Caribbean during the hurricane season
