...WHAT TO PACK...2
I've come up with the following
list
(and if you need something else... you can always "go shopping"!)
We have been taking 2 carry-on bags &1 small suitcase with the snorkeling
equipment in it, but just recently on the forum we're on, we'd learned
from others that the airlines will allow each of us to carry our own
snorkeling equipment on the plane as "carry-on" luggage too, calling it
a "courtesy bag", so that's what we plan to do on our next trip. This
will mean we will have NO luggage to check at the counter or to pick up
at baggage claim
(and less likelihood that any of it will go missing or arrive later than
we do).
So -
this means we will be taking 2 carry-on bags and 2 courtesy bags
and
I will also carry my beach bag (in place of my purse) on the plane.
Here's my list:
 (I've
found that I can pack all of these items, plus my toiletries, make-up &
medicines in my carry-on bag.) |
||
| 4 plain t-shirts (short-sleeveless) or other pull-over cotton tops - any colour (to wear during the day or to breakfast with my shorts) | 1 alarm clock (battery
operated) and don't forget new batteries |
|
| 1 plain button-down the front long-sleeved blouse - white (to wear when walking - to keep the sun off me) | 1 writing pad, 2 pens | |
| 1 spaghetti strap dress - any colour - OR 1 cotton skirt & 1 spaghetti top (or wear one of the t-shirts set aside specifically for this outfit) - (to wear to supper &/or the evening entertainment &/or dancing - & don't forget your dancing shoes). I prefer cotton dresses/skirts/tops because they are cool & they dry quickly without too many wrinkles, if they get wet.) | 2 paper back books (put one in your carry-on bag) | |
| 1 t-shirt that you can wear in the water (for swimming or snorkeling) | 1 digital camera or regular still camera (optional) | |
| 1 spaghetti strip top | 1 underwater camera (optional) | |
| 1 pair capri pants | small flash light and extra set of batteries | |
| 1 blue-jeans skirt | contact lenses (if you wear them) & contact lenses cleaner | |
| 1 or 2 pairs of slip-on shorts | 1 pair sunglasses | |
| 1 swimsuit/bikini | reading glasses (if you use them) | |
| 1 shawl or other wrap (in case the evening turns chilly) | small sewing kit and extra spool of thread | |
| 1 pair pjs or nightgown | 2 or 3 large safety pins & 4 or 5 small safety pins | |
| 1 hat and/or sun visor hat (for walking) [OR BOTH] | small length of rope and 8 clothes pins | |
| 2 handkerchiefs (to tie on my head under my sun visor) | 2 large zip-lock bags (to carry home wet clothes) | |
| 1 pair socks & 3 panties | 2 thin wash clothes | |
| 1 pair of shoes you can dance in | 1 small laundry bag or pillow case (to carry home dirty clothes) | |
| 1 pair velcro sandals or flip flops | 1 beach bag | |
| 1 coin purse and 1 wallet | Toiletries & Make-up & Medicine | |
| 1 watch | Snorkelling Equipment (optional) (see below) | |
| emery board | shampoo | razor | toothbrush |
| small comb | conditioner | deodorant | toothpaste |
| small mirror | body soap | bath powder and powder puff | mouth wash |
| hair ties/clips | body lotion | tampons | dental floss |
| contact lenses cleaner | eye drops |
| lipstick | eye shadow pencil (waterproof) |
| mascara (waterproof) | eye make-up remover |
| eyeliner | cologne |
 |
ibuprophin (a must take) | antihistamine tablets (like benedryl) |
| aspirin (a must take) | insect repellent | |
| imodium (a must take) | iodine | |
| gravol [or Dramamine] (motion sickness pills) (a must take) | aloe vera gel (a must take) | |
| Alka Seltzer or other antacid (Pepto Bismol) (a must take) | bandaids | |
| sunscreen or sunblock (a must take) - purchase "biodegradable" lotion only | solarcaine |
SOMETHING TO LEAVE AT HOME with a
friend or neighbour you can call if you need the info or documents: Make sure you photocopy BOTH SIDES
of the documents. You will need the phone numbers for the credit card
companies - to call them to report your lost credit cards. If your purse gets stolen, you will
be able to call home and get this info faxed to you. Because: "No
traveling ID, NO LEAVE the country". You will be able to get this stuff
faxed to you, and with the police report that you will make when your purse
is stolen, you will be allowed to leave the country to come back home.
(I always take a copy of these documents with me too, and leave them in
my suitcase).
A COPY OF YOUR
BIRTH CERTIFICATE, PASSPORT, CREDIT CARDS (& handwritten credit card
NUMBERS), COPY OF YOUR DRIVERS LICENSE, YOUR OHIP CARD and/or any other
medical insurance cards you have. I also leave a copy of our travel
itinerary that I got from our travel agent and a copy of our plane tickets.
Another option -
Scan the documents into your
computer and email them to yourself before you go on your trip. Just
leave them in your "in-box". Then if you need them, all you will have
to do is check your email and print them out. No long distance phone
call or fax machine required.
What I will wear on the plane:
(if you decide to wear something else, put these items in your suitcase as you
may want them while on vacation):
|
blue jeans or capri pants |
bra and panties |
| tank top with a button-down blouse over top | running shoes and socks |
| sweater or sweatshirt over that | my "Canada flag" pin |
| windbreaker or jeans jacket over that | |
| I will carry my beach bag (instead of taking my purse) with the following items inside: sun visor hat, sunglasses, contact lenses & contact lenses cleaner, coin purse, wallet, digital camera, 1 paper-back book, our airline tickets, passports, other id (and medical cards), one pen & a small pad of paper. 2 bottles of water, 2 protein food bars and a pack of gum. | |
 |
3 t-shirts (any colour) | 5 pairs of undies |
fanny pack |
| 2 tank tops (any colour) | 2 pairs of socks | velcro sandals | |
| 2 button-down the front shirts (to wear to eat supper or go dancing) | 1 swimsuit | shoes to dance in | |
| 1 pair of long pants (for evening wear) | eye glasses (for reading) | coin purse and small wallet | |
| 2 pairs of shorts | 1 hat | pipe, pipe tobacco & bic lighter | |
| 2 handkerchiefs | 1 swimmer's necklace | 1 pair pjs |
| shaving cream | shampoo | body soap | toothbrush |
| razor | conditioner | deodorant | toothpaste |
| cologne/after shave | nail clippers | bath powder | mouth wash |
| small comb | dental floss |
What Tom will wear on the plane:
(if you decide to wear something else, put these items in your suitcase as
you may want them while on vacation):
| zipper pants (that will turn into shorts) | undies |
| tank top with a button down shirt over top | running shoes and socks |
| sweater or sweatshirt over top of that | "Canada flag" pin |
| windbreaker or jeans jacket over that | belt |
| He will carry his fanny pack, wallet, coin purse, sunglasses and hat. | |
|
(You can see me with a friend of mine here in this photo. I'm wearing my vest and water shoes here and my girlfriend is holding my fins and mask.) |
Snorkeling equipment for both of us (in a small suitcase with wheels), including water shoes, vests, masks & snorkels, and flippers.
|
| We take our snorkeling equipment down in a suitcase by itself, along with a couple of cheap thin beach towels layed on the bottom of the suitcase for padding. | |
If we are going to fly on "Air Transat" or on "SkyService" Airlines, we ALWAYS take with us:
| The 2 sets of headphones (that we bought on our first trips) so that we can listen to the movie - in flight, rather than having to buy another set of headphones from the air attendants on the plane. (They cost $5 U.S. each). |