7 Travel Essentials For Trips to the Caribbean

Remember the good old days when travelling was exciting and a thrill and you were excited to get on a plane? Times have certainly changed but travelling does not have to be a chore. You can have those happy days again with a few travel essentials that will make your trip to the Caribbean a whole lot easier.

Depending on your port of embarkation, your trip may be upwards of 8 hours. Although the thought of a long flight or several connecting flights may seem to be a hassle, the reward that awaits after you’ve touched down the Caribbean, seems to be worth every minute of tugging stuffed carry-on bags through airports.

These Caribbean travel must-haves will allay some of your fears about travelling and ensure that you are prepared for some of the biggest travel nightmares. Seven travel essentials for trips to the Caribbean are:

Travel luggage scale
Disinfecting wipes
Neck pillow
Passport holder
Travel-sized toiletries
Battery charger/ charging cable
Travel backpack

Booking.com

1. Travel Luggage Scale

The travel luggage scale is a modern travel product that gives you the peace of mind when you are packing your bags. If you’re a shopaholic and you are determined to get authentic Caribbean souvenirs for everyone in your family and your neighbours, a scale like this is a great tool to have. You can test how heavy your bag long before you get to the airport. Unfortunately, all travel scales are not made equal so you should research thoroughly before you purchase.

2. Disinfecting Wipes

I’m an avid follower of a couple Instagram accounts that highlight how disgusting surfaces in a plane truly are. Also, with the onslaught of diseases that are floating around, it makes sense to ensure that those surfaces (which you will come into contact with) are clean. I have been using disinfecting wipes to wipe down tray tables, arm rests and seatbelts for a few years in an effort to protect myself from creepy germs. So far, they have served me well and I have not been diagnosed with any nasty illnesses.

3. Neck Pillow

I feel as though the neck pillow was created specifically for long haul flights where it’s more likely that you will fall asleep. But maybe you’re like me, and fall asleep as soon as you fasten your seat-belt. The best neck pillows are u-shaped; made of memory foam that will provide your neck with the required support as you sleep; and extremely comfortable. It’s not pleasant waking up with a stiff neck, after sitting in an extremely uncomfortable seat. Long haul flights can be especially brutal, so it’s highly recommended that you try to make yourself as comfortable as possible.

[showad block=38]

4. Passport Holder

Did I ever mention that I have a passport holder that has everything related to travelling. It’s big enough to hold my passport, boarding passes, hotel booking confirmations, travel cards and other travel documents. One year I went on a trip to Trinidad to take an exam. I gave my mum my passport instead of putting it into my passport holder. Unfortunately, the passport holder had my money and confirmation and, needless to say, I was pissed. I learnt my lesson and since then I’ve always used my passport holder.

5. Travel Sized Toiletries

People love to stock up on travel sized toiletries because they meet security travel requirements. Another reason why I love travel sized toiletries is because they take up very little space and do not significantly contribute to the weight of the suitcase. It is not very practical to travel with large, regularly sized hair products (namely shampoo, conditioner, leave-in conditioner, moisturiser and gel). Although travel sized toiletries are small and you may need more than one of each; they give you the luxury of looking good on vacation.

6. Battery Charger/ Charging Cable

Seeing that communication and travelling are now best friends that go hand in hand, keeping devices charged is a must. Chargers for your phone, camera, tablet and laptop are absolutely necessary, especially if you want to stay connected. Before your trip to the Caribbean, you should investigate which types of connections are available where you will be staying. This will allow you to determine if you will need to purchase universal options that can be easily modified.

7. Travel Backpack

A good travel backpack will serve you well, especially if it can be used at several points during your trip. My Jansport backpack is one of my favourite travel pieces because it can be crammed for travel on a plane or boat or packed with just enough for a day trip on a Caribbean island. In fact, this bag is such a trusted travel partner, I have loaned it to family. They too have sung its praises and a few have tried to borrow it permanently. I’ve had this bag for many years and I’ve never seen it anywhere in stores. But I’ve found a couple comparative options that look to be about the same shape and size.

Lonely Planet Caribbean Islands 7 (Multi Country Guide)

Now that you have these sweet travel essentials under your belt, it’s time to sit back and relax as the date of your trip draws near. No stress.