The ultimate island vacation packing list

There are vacations, and then there are island vacations. White sandy beaches combined with crystal blue waters, palm trees swaying in the breeze and nonstop piña coladas are truly the stuff dreams are made of. But things can go awry pretty quickly when you’re on a tropical trip, which is why you need to be prepared for anything. Unlike travel to the next state over, staying on an island often brings with it hefty upcharges on necessities like sunscreen and water, and occasionally scarcity in products you might be used to finding readily available at home.

I recently vacationed with my family in Turks and Caicos. The trip was a 10 out of 10 when it came to stunning scenery, delicious food and fun adventures, but it was a four out of 10 when it came to sunburns, heat rashes, stomachaches and more. The locale’s blistering sun, coral reefs and diverse menu options wreaked havoc on my kiddos’ overall health, and had I not packed a huge Ziploc bag with supplies, we would have been searching the island for basics like aloe vera, Neosporin and first aid instead of hanging by the pool.

We go to the islands for a reason — it’s a total escape from our day-to-day reality. In order to truly savor that experience, you want to pack the necessities so that you’re not overspending on basic items you likely already have at home. Below is a recap of some of the necessities I brought on our trip, plus all the things I forgot…