I spent a week in the Caribbean. There are 5 items I'm glad I brought, and 3 I wish I'd packed.

There were some things I wish I had packed for my Caribbean trip.Amanda ShammasWhen I traveled to Aruba, there were some items I'm glad I brought and others I wish I'd packed.I'm glad I took my sandbag anchors, which prevented my pool float from drifting in the ocean.After a painful sea urchin sting, I wish I had packed a pair of water shoes.When preparing to travel to Aruba for the first time this year, packing quickly became overwhelming.I wanted to bring the essentials, avoid overpacking, and steer clear of paying inflated tourist prices for items I may have forgotten.Some items in my suitcase made my life easier, and I ended up using them every day. However, there were also some things I quickly regretted not packing. After spending seven days on the island, I have a better idea of what was really useful.Here are five items I'm glad I packed in my suitcase, and three things I wish I had brought with me.Nothing beats relaxing on a pool float.RUBEN BONILLA GONZALO/Getty ImagesWhenever I go on a beach vacation, my main goal is to relax. For me, there's nothing better than floating in the water while listening to the crashing waves and the singing seagulls. The simple pool floats I brought with me made that possible.Since I packed them deflated, they were easy to fit in my suitcase. Luckily, my hotel had an inflator, so I didn't have to waste my breath.Sandbag anchors are a game changer.Amanda ShammasSandbag anchors are empty bags that can be filled with sand on the beach. They're perfect for securing tents and beach umbrellas, especially in places with strong winds.They were especially helpful for anchoring our pool floats in the ocean. We filled the bags with sand, tied them to the floats, and dropped them down to the ocean floor. This kept us from drifting while we soaked up the sun.Even better, we could leave the floats in the water unattended without worrying they'd float away.A waterproof phone pouch made it easy to capture photos and videos.Amanda ShammasI don't care how silly I looked walking around with my phone in this waterproof pouch — it was so worth it.I had my phone out on our snorkeling excursion, captured some awesome kayaking shots, and even snapped some beautiful photos during a sunset swim.The pouch kept my phone safe from water and sand while letting me capture some of my favorite memories from the trip.A Bluetooth speaker can change the vibe of any environment.Castling Short/ShutterstockSitting on the beach is relaxing, but whenever I've forgotten to bring a speaker, boredom tends to creep in. A Bluetooth speaker can instantly elevate the mood during those quiet lulls.We used ours while sunbathing, floating in the ocean, paddling around in kayaks, and even while getting ready at the hotel for a post-beach dinner.However, one lesson we learned the hard way is that there's a difference between water-resistant and waterproof. Although our speaker was water-resistant, it ended up submerged in the water at the end of our trip and unfortunately broke.To avoid this, I recommend buying a waterproof pouch specifically made for speakers.My reusable water bottle kept me hydrated.Amanda ShammasStaying hydrated is important, and I didn't want to have to juggle an open plastic cup every time I needed a drink.That's why I highly recommend bringing a reusable water bottle on any beach vacation. It doesn't have to be fancy — just something that holds a good amount of water.However, I wish I had brought water shoes to protect myself from ocean creatures.Maridav/ShutterstockI didn't think water shoes were necessary for my trip, especially because I planned to do most of my swimming right in front of the resort. To save a few bucks, I decided to skip them.However, I quickly regretted my packing decision when I stepped on a sea urchin. The sting was sharp, and the soreness lasted for two days. After some ice and a dose of pain reliever, I made a mental note to never travel without water shoes again.Towel clips would've made our beach time more enjoyable.Christian Ouellet/ShutterstockAs we set ourselves up on the beach each morning, we draped our towels over the lounge chairs.Every time we got up, though, the wind sent the towels flying. After a few frustrating chases, we placed rocks on them to keep them in place. Towel clips would've been the perfect solution to hold everything in place, saving us the time and hassle.Next time, I'll be sure to pack a shirt to wear in the water.Maridav/ShutterstockThe sun in the Caribbean can be intense, so I packed plenty of sunscreen. Still, by the end of the trip, I got a nasty sunburn, and sunscreen was no longer cutting it.It was the kind of burn where you really need to stay covered, but I didn't want to hide under an umbrella and miss out on the fun. So, I bought a water shirt at the resort's convenience store. The only problem? It cost three times as much as it would have on Amazon.Read the original article on Business Insider

Comments

Business News

China’s Control Of Supply And Demand Gives Lithium A 20% Boosts

Forbes

Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol says price changes are a last resort in coffee chain turnaround — but they are 'absolutely' coming

about 4 hours ago

‘Fantastic Four’—Galactus, Franklin And The Twist Ending, Explained

Forbes

Comments

Business News

China’s Control Of Supply And Demand Gives Lithium A 20% Boosts

NFC Training Camp Preview: New Coaches, New QBs In The Spotlight

Summer Rosés: The Heat Dome Edition

NFL Temporarily Closes New York Office After Shooting Targeted League

Why Bigger Isn’t Better When It Comes To HVAC Systems

Dolores brings a Mexico City-inspired Cantina to Brooklyn

Idol Psychology

When Will ‘South Park’ Season 27 Return With Episode 2 After Hiatus?

Today’s Wordle #1502 Hints And Answer For Wednesday, July 30th

Britain’s ‘best places to retire’ revealed

Octopus Energy ad banned over heat pump cost claim

Modest growth in new UK home registrations as London sees 59% annual fall – NHBC

NHS set to reveal impact of strike action as doctors return to work

Thousands of people access Nationwide’s service to raise awareness of benefits

YouTube now the second most-watched media service in the UK – Ofcom

Kai Trump teases the president in video promoting Accelerator energy drink: ‘Sorry grandpa’

Massacre at Park Avenue office tower by deranged Shane Tamura casts dark cloud on NYC’s premiere business corridor

US Open to give fans an early taste of new dining options prepared by award-winning chefs

Thousands of people access Nationwide’s service to raise awareness of benefits

Modest growth in new UK home registrations as London sees 59% annual fall – NHBC

Got an electric car? Buyers can now search for homes with an EV charger - and where drivers can plug in locally

Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol says price changes are a last resort in coffee chain turnaround &mdash; but they are 'absolutely' coming

‘Fantastic Four’—Galactus, Franklin And The Twist Ending, Explained

The Good, Bad And Ugly From The Packers’ 6th Training Camp Practice

Trump's Historic EU Trade Deal: Energy Dominance Doctrine In Action

Why Does Sally From Adam Sandler’s ‘Happy Gilmore 2’ Look So Familiar?

PFL World Tournament 8 Fight Card: Welterweight & Featherweight Finals

Ryne Sandberg, Hall Of Fame Second Baseman And Cub Legend, Dead At 65

Cricket’s Olympic Sheen Might Spark Once Mighty West Indies

U.S. and Canada strengthen ties in push for nuclear energy leadership

Plan for 40,000 homes to be built on railway land

What will the new banknotes look like?

Starbucks looks to protein drinks and other new products

Palmer Luckey's Anduril leads second quarter surge for venture capital in greater L.A.

NYC business leaders eye offering active shooter training to rattled workers after Shane Tamura massacre

KPMG shuts office, tells staff to stay home after deadly Midtown shooting

We are very American now, says Astra boss: Soriot fuels fears of switch to New York

BA won't refund £1,840 voucher issued during Covid that didn't work when I tried to use it: SALLY SORTS IT

Britain needs a tax break: Labour's lavish spending hurts jobs, work and commerce, says ALEX BRUMMER

The 37 taxes you already pay that mean an astonishing 57% of your income goes to Government

Grab one of these bank accounts to beat sneaky fees on holiday - and your new card could arrive by this weekend

The man with a £20,621 state pension (that's 72% more than everyone else) - This is how he did it and how you can too

The happiest retirement hotspots revealed: The surprising new places to go and where DOESN'T make the list

Barclays boss is latest to warn Rachel Reeves against hiking taxes for banks in the autumn Budget

Gucci given a kicking: Luxury label's sales plunge amid deepening gloom in the sector

Fat jab wars wipe £70bn off Ozempic maker Novo Nordisk as it feels the heat from rival Eli Lilly

Britain has not reached 'peak Greggs', says bakery chain boss amid fears fat jabs could hit sales

'A new normal': Office life goes on after mass shooting rattles New York City

Park Avenue shooting leaves 4 dead, including NYPD officer and Blackstone executive

Musk v. Altman judge dings both sides for 'gamesmanship' as AI clash drags on

Corporate America is on edge and hiring armed guards after the NYC office shooting

My 17-year-old isn't excited about being able to drive. I get his hesitation.

Does Sydney Sweeney's American Eagle 'great jeans' campaign mark a shift for ads?

BTS Denied Another No. 1 Album By A Surprise Competitor

As Delaware And Missouri State Join The FBS In 2025, How Have Teams Fared With The Transition?

How to Use the Late Round QB Strategy in 2025 Fantasy Football

Rosé’s Biggest Single Returns To An Important Region Months Into Its Life

‘Love Island USA’s’ JaNa Craig Breaks Silence On Kenny Breakup: ‘Terrible, Disgusting’

Kaylee McKeown Wins The 100 Backstroke With A New Record

Katie Lowes Talks About The Once-In-A-Career Role In ‘The Hunting Wives’

Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol says price changes are a last resort in coffee chain turnaround — but they are 'absolutely' coming