Packing Favorites
THIS LIST ONLY INCLUDES ITEMS WE’VE USED AND LOVE
This page contains affiliate links — if you buy through them, we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. But here’s the deal: everything on this list earned its spot because we actually used it, packed it again, or wished we’d brought it. If we wouldn’t hand it to a good friend before a trip, it’s not here.
BAHAMAS | ST. KITTS
MAGNETIC HAT CLIP FOR TOTE
In Antigua, I found a great shade hat in the gift shop — but it was awkward to bring home. This magnetic clip solved the whole problem. It was perfect for getting my new hat to St. Kitts and the Bahamas without checking a bag or smashing the brim. Highly recommend.
BAHAMAS
dressy Blouse Cover Up
My mother actually brought this cover up to the Atlantis and I stole it more than once. I wore it over my swimsuit and she wore it with some loose flowy white pants and got more than one compliment in it. I had to order myself one upon our return home.
ST. KITTS | BAHAMAS
INFLATABLE POOL NOODLES
Great for floating around the pool or beach, these noodles take up little to no space in your bags because you inflate them upon arrival.
BAHAMAS
THINKSPORT REEF SAFE SUNSCREEN
This is a GAME CHANGER. After reading on Instagram recently how toxic sunscreens are, Moma found this on Amazon and it was a HUGE hit on our trip to the Bahamas – especially when you put a bunch of fair-skinned ladies on a boat for hours! Since, the 14 year old voluntarily uses it so you know it’s a win!
BAHAMAS
INEXPENSIVE VOLLEYBALL WITH PUMP
With two volleyball players in the house and after the pool volleyball fun Aine and I had in St. Kitts, we grabbed this deflated volleyball with pump for our trip to the Bahamas. Was great to blow up enjoy and then deflate for the trIp home. We’ll never leave home without it.
EVERYWHERE
ARCHIES FLIP FLOPS
Believe the hype! I bought these the summer of 2025 before our trip to Europe and put more miles on these things than you can imagine. They carried me through Greece and Italy and on all of my trips since then. The arch support is fantastic and the little crystal dresses them up enough.
everywhere
travel DUFFLE BAG
If you want something a bit dressier, this is the bag. It isn’t the exact bag I have (I grabbed mine in TJ Maxx), but it’s almost identical. Great exterior pockets for sliding your phone or passport in while moving through the airport. Plus, it slides right over your carry-on roller bag handle, holds a multitude and makes a great beach/pool bag too. Comes in lots of colors.
anywhere
large travel backpack
This backpack was perfect for my European trip the summer of 2025 when I didn’t want to check bags, but needed more than just my carry-on roller bag. The back strap slides perfectly over your luggage handle and under the seat in front of you.
everywhere
compression packing cubes
I don’t have these myself but my mother swears by them. She takes them on every trip. Super easy to use, she organizes her outfits or clothing type and is able to zip these down to push the air out and get even more space in her suitcase. Clearly, I need to invest in a set myself!
everywhere
insulated grocery shopping bags
Colleen brought one of these to St. Kitts which was super smart for our trip to the grocery story AND to bring some of our own beverages/snacks to the pool. They lay flat in her suitcase and took up no room.
EVERYWHERE
DECK OF CARDS
The one thing that’s in every bag for every trip. No batteries, no wifi, no learning curve — just Kings in the Corner at the pool bar or a slow round of Progressive Rummy on a rainy afternoon. Cheap insurance against a dead phone and an empty evening.
everywhere
skip bo
This one’s become a family fave since Al introduced it to us. Nobody’s on their phone when Skip-Bo’s on the table — that’s the whole appeal. It’s simple enough for kids to pick up in one round and sharp enough that grandma will still beat everyone at it. Good for up to 6 and one of the few games that actually gets three generations arguing over the same deck instead of three separate screens.
EVERYWHERE
SKY JO
Low-stakes, fast, and somehow the great equalizer — doesn’t matter if you’re 8 or 88, everyone’s terrible at math under pressure. Small box, easy pack, and the kind of game that turns “we should hang out” into an actual hour of everyone at the same table, phones face-down. What more could you want?
anywhere
INEXPENSIVE VOLLEYBALL WITH PUMP
With two volleyball players in the house and after the pool volleyball fun Aine and I had in St. Kitts, we grabbed this deflated volleyball with pump for our trip to the Bahamas. Was great to blow up enjoy and then deflate for the trIp home. We’ll never leave home without it.