I win the award for being the biggest procrastinator when it comes to packing. I am notorious for waiting until the very last minute. It’s one of my least favorite things to do, but the job must get done at the end of the day, am I right?
Recently, I’ve embraced that packing is part of the traveling process, and when I position the task that way, it gets me excited for my adventures ahead. In this post, I am covering the complete packing guide for five days in Saint Lucia, so you don’t have to go through the hassle of figuring out what to bring.
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This is the fourth post in the Saint Lucia travel series. Here’s the complete 7-part series:
Saint Lucia Travel Series
Bucket List: Top 10 Amazing Things To See & Do In Saint Lucia
Travel Itinerary: How To Spend 5 Days in Saint Lucia
Inspiration: 30 Pictures That Will Make You Want To Go To Saint Lucia
Packing Essentials: Packing Guide for 5 Days in Saint Lucia
Travel Guide: St Lucia Travel Guide for First-Time Visitors
Land and Sea Tour Guide: Knotty Girls Speed Boat Tours
For the Culture: The Best Cultural Activities & Tours in Saint Lucia
What to pack for five days in St Lucia
Luggage
I always pack my things in a carry-on for short trips lasting between 5-7 days. My go-to is a smallish suitcase with wheels. Big enough to fit all my belongings but small enough to bring with me on the plane. I also prefer having my belongings with me when I land.
Waiting at baggage claim for your suitcase to come down the conveyor belt just makes me anxious. I’d rather not hear the words, “Sorry, ma’am, but your bag was lost in transit, or your bag never made it on the plane.” I’ll pass and bring my stuff with me!
Aside from my carry-on, I never leave home without my trusty Herschel Little America Backpack. This backpack is perfect for accessories, electronics, toiletries, an overnight/weekend bag, and whatever did not fit in my suitcase.
Clothing
Saint Lucia is warm and relatively humid all year round, except for hurricane season. I mainly packed dresses, bathing suit cover-ups, and workout fits (wishful thinking!). Truth be told, I didn’t end up wearing much of my workout gear, and it ended up taking up space.
So here’s the list:
- 3 dresses – I packed 2 cute casual dresses and 1 dressy number for our fancy dinner. Here’s one of the adorable dresses I brought, and I absolutely love it!
- 2 rompers (long and short) – One day and night, although I didn’t even need the long romper
- 3 pairs of shorts (2 denim and 1 cotton)
- 5 tops (3 tank tops and 2 T-shirts – mostly for transit days)
- 3 sets of workout gear (I could’ve gotten away with 1 set). I can’t lie my new obsession is biker shorts with pockets!
- 5 bathing suits – I like to have a variety. This orange number has been my go-to for several holiday adventures!
- 3 cover-ups – again, options are necessary, especially when coordinating with your swimmies!
- 1 set of packing cubes – Legit is one of the best inventions to help keep everything organized!
- 1 set of Pjs
Insider Tips:
- If you’re planning on visiting the Sulphur Springs in Soufrière, don’t wear anything white. The minerals in the mud have a chemical reaction with clothing or bathing suits. Stick to dark-colored bathing suits.
- Avoid wearing or carrying any kind of army or camouflage print. It’s illegal to wear in the country.
Shoes and accessories
Shoes are usually the first thing I pack for two reasons: one, they take up so much space and let me know how much room I am working with, and second I will forget to pack them all together.
Here’s what I brought:
- 1 pair of sneakers – I usually wear my sneakers on the plane, which frees up space for other items in my suitcase. I also intended to use them for the many hikes I planned but did not take! As I said, wishful thinking.
- 3 pairs of sandals/flip-flops (2 casual sandals perfect for day and night time and 1 pair of flip-flops for the beach)
- 1 pair of water shoes – I knew we’d be visiting the waterfalls, and I usually like to have water shoes with me. I find the rocks to be slimy, and the feeling grosses me out
A few other accessories:
- 2- 3 pairs of sunglasses
- Beach hat or baseball hat – the sun can get pretty intense.
- Costume jewelry – My motto when it comes to jewelry is if I would be upset if it got lost or damaged, then leave it at home.
- 1 small purse or fanny pack big enough to carry my phone, portable charger, mints, lip gloss, sanitizer, and tissues. I bring tissues everywhere I go in case toilet paper isn’t available. Don’t get caught slippin’.
- Reusable bags – Come in handy for the beach or other items. I’m a big fan of using more sustainable items to help reduce the usage of plastic bags. Our wildlife friends suffer the most from all the plastic we humans overuse.
- Umbrella – Just in case, although it only rained in the morning.
- 1 washcloth – I always bring one just in case there aren’t any available.
- 1 satin pillowcase – If my bonnet falls off in the middle of the night, my tresses are still protected.
- 1 satin bonnet
- 1 bandana – I use it mainly to pat my face whenever I feel sweaty.
- A waterproof phone case – This one is perfect for snorkeling, diving, or any water activity!
- Diving or snorkeling equipment (If you decide to check your luggage as renting equipment on the island is on the pricier side)
- Laundry bag – plastic bags also work, but cloth bags are more sustainable.
Insider Tip: Leave your towels at home. Your Airbnb or hotel will likely have towels as part of their service.
Toiletries
Aside from packing essentials like your toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, makeup, and prescriptions, here are a few other items to consider.
- Sunscreen
- Insect repellent
- After bite – to help soothe mosquito or bug bites
- Citronella bracelets – especially come in handy when you’re out and about.
- Permethrin- insect repellent for your clothing
- Motion sickness medicine
- First aid kit – safety first!
Electronics and entertainment
I tend to leave the majority of my electronics at home. Vacations are meant to be relaxing, not sitting in front of a screen. At least, that’s my take on it. However, there are some things I couldn’t go without:
- Phone – Take pictures, use offline maps, and listen to music.
- Universal charger/adaptor – Bring a type G plug adapter to Saint Lucia. My go-to adaptor worked out perfectly. This nifty adaptor works in over 100 countries!
- Portable charger – I never leave home without my portable charger! Having multiple ports is perfect for charging multiple devices.
- Charging cable
- Headphones – Perfect for in-flight entertainment, on-the-go, and day trips. Get noise-canceling headphones here.
- Speakers – I don’t leave home without my JBL 4 speakers. These speakers are small enough to travel with and loud enough to keep the party going! The speakers are waterproof, making them perfect for bringing to the beach!
- Camera and memory card – I use my phone to take pictures. I plan to get a camera next year, so let me know if you have any recommendations!
- Tripod – great for capturing your own pictures
- Kindle + books (I prefer having physical copies with me)
Important travel documents
My passport is the first thing I usually pack. Call me paranoid, but I like to double no triple-check to make sure my passport isn’t close to its expiration date. A good rule of thumb is to ensure your passport doesn’t expire within the next six to eight months.
Here are a few other things I make sure to bring:
- Copies of my passport – I will bring 1 or 2 copies with me and leave documents with my friends and family
- Proof of return ticket – visa is not required
- My driver’s license – I also make a copy and leave it with friends and family in case of an emergency.
- Address of the U.S. embassy or consulate
- Lodging reservations
- Health insurance card – again, leave a copy at home
- Hospitals or clinics (including emergency services) – To be prepared, it’s best to know where the closest hospital or clinic is, but I don’t always check beforehand.
Conclusion – Lady Chin’s Two Cents
Packing doesn’t have to be a grueling experience, but you want to bring everything you need. Luckily in St Lucia, you can pick up whatever you need for reasonable prices if you forget something. Given the tropical weather all year round, you should have no problem packing lots of lightweight, breathable clothing. I found packing for this trip to be pretty straightforward.
What did I forget? What are your must-have items when visiting a Caribbean island?
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