What to Pack for a Week at an All Inclusive Resort

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If you’re anything like me then your vacation packing routine usually goes something like this:

• Step One: Pack an adorable outfit for every single night- and one for every day too!
• Step Two: Wear one of the adorable outfits… and then wear the same outfit again multiple times because the other ones “just don’t look right” now that you’re here.
• Step Three: Spend the entire rest of vacation slumping around in the one bathing suit and cover up that flatters your alcohol drinking, buffet surfing, bloated belly.
• Step Four: Complain on your way to the airport that your significant other has no room in their suitcase for all the souvenirs you bought (it’s totally not my fault that my suitcase is weighed down with all of these unworn clothes!)

Ok, so I might have once been (and sometimes currently am) an over-packer. An over-achieving packer some (me) might call it. I’ve really worked hard over the years to reign in my packing. It wasn’t easy. It still sometimes gives me anxiety that I’m not going to have enough to wear. However, it is more than worth it when I’m able to pack any purchases in my luggage without being overweight or stuffing 30 pounds of belongings into my carry on.

All inclusive resorts are actually pretty simple when it comes to packing clothes. The key is to bring less than you think you’ll actually need. Recently we’ve been to both Sandals Antigua and Barcelo Maya Palace (both are heavenly by the way) and this was pretty much my packing list that got me through both trips.

I base my packing list on what my typical trip to an all inclusive resort looks like. For a one week trip, we normally stay at the resort most days with maybe one or two excursions. You may need to adjust the list based on your own trip plans. If you’re planning on spending the whole time at the resort, save space with less shorts and t-shirts. Planning on more excursions? Take one less bathing suit and cover up.

3 Bathing Suits

You may be able to get away with only 2 bathing suits, but if you plan to spend most of your time at the resort you’re going to want to have a dry suit handy. I don’t know about you but I cringe the second I have to put on a cold, wet bathing suit. I’m actually shuddering at the thought. If you’re planning on doing an adventurous excursion, you might want to consider a suit with more coverage so there’s no wardrobe malfunctions. I love the suit below because it provides great coverage while still looking stylish. The suit does run a bit small- I recommend you size up one!

2 Cover Ups

Cover ups are an all-inclusive staple. When I’m on the resort, I would estimate I spend at least 75% of my waking hours in my bathing suit or cover up. Packing two ensures that you will always have one to wear while the other is back at the room drying from the previous day. Cover ups are great to throw on to grab some lunch or for a quick run back to your room. They also come in handy on excursions where you’ll be wearing your bathing suit.

I love these cover ups so much that I bought a few just to have on hand. I love that they come in such fun colors. They do run true to size as well. Just a heads up, they are more sheer in real life than they are in the pictures.

4 Dresses

I love dresses for when I’m at all inclusives. They’re easy to throw on while still looking put together enough to comply with any resort’s dinner dress code. When I’m at the resort, I wear a dress every night to dinner. Obviously, I wear them multiple times which I’m perfectly fine with. Sometimes I go crazy and only pack 3 dresses to save more space. Honestly, when it comes down to it you’re only in the dress for a couple of hours max so it seems like a waste to me to pack one for every single night. I personally love these dresses. They’re pretty and light weight and also run true to size. These dresses are also awesome and come in so many colors.

1 Pair of Sandals

My advice is to try to limit yourself to one pair of sandals that you can wear with all of your dinner dresses . Like I said with the dresses, you’re really not in them all that long and shoes can actually take up quit a bit of luggage space sometimes. I like these cute wedge sandals which are perfect to wear with any type of dress and are dressy enough to wear to dinner.

1 Pair of Every Day Sandals

I always like to pack a pair of every day sandals that I can comfortably wear to my excursions. If you’re going on something more adventurous, you may want to substitute a good pair of sneakers instead.

I really like these sandals for every day wear. They have nice traction and it won’t be a problem if you get them wet. They’re also SO comfortable. Runs true to size but a little on the narrow side!

1 Pair of Flip Flops

I’m not talking about your every day flip flops. These are your classic rubbery flip flops that you can wear to the pool or the beach. One pair should do it. I personally love Old Navy Flip Flops. They come in any color you can think of and their prices can’t be beat. You can also get some from Amazon here.

1 Pair of Shorts

In my experience, I’ve brought several pairs of shorts with me and then have only worn one pair the entire time. As much as you think you will wear all the clothes you bring, you’re probably going to spend most of your week in your bathing suit. I try to limit myself to one pair of shorts per two days of excursions. If you’re planning to be a busy bee on vacation throw in another pair.

3 Shirts/ Tank Tops

I like to bring a few shirts and tanks with me that are light and airy to help offset the inevitable humidity. My rule is to pack one shirt for every excursion plus one. Like I said before, you probably won’t be wearing anything other than your bathing suit and cover up at the resort during the daytime so you really should need a top for every day

I really like how light and airy these tanks are and they come in a lot of cute colors. For me, it ran pretty true to size but I did read a couple of reviews that thought it ran big- if you’re in between sizes I would probably size down.

Non- Clothing Items

Even though this post is mostly meant to highlight my clothing packing list, I think it’s worth it to mention some other non-clothing items that have really been great to have over the years.

I would first and foremost recommend a high quality beach bag. I love this one because it folds flat and does not become a sand trap. This is really important to me when I’m packing because there is nothing worse than bringing home a suitcase full of sand.

Another game changer for me was when Sam and I started bringing our own insulated cups to the beach. Even though they can add some weight and take up some space, it was so nice to be able to enjoy our drinks in the heat and keep them cold. Bringing my own cup has particularly worked out well for me because I love frozen daiquiris at the beach but they melt and get warm super fast in the heat. I love these insulated tumblers in particular because they keep my drink cold forever and I’m a sucker for the flamingo print they offer. Pro tip: The 30 oz tumbler fits 2 drinks great 😉

So there you have it, my essentials for packing light for a week at an all inclusive. Add these in addition to your pjs, bras and underwear and you will be all set for a great trip! Any thing else you want to add? Please add to the list in the comments below!