A week before my trip to Mexico, I still hadn’t started packing. I’m normally the annoyingly prepared traveller (just ask my husband), with lists, spreadsheets, and piles for sorting. I thought I had packing for an all-inclusive vacation down pat, but for this trip I seriously over-packed! Perhaps over the years I’ve gotten better at minimalist travelling. Or maybe we just spent more time at the pool in our bathing suits than actually venturing outside of the resort in real clothes…
Here’s a look at what to pack for a week in Mexico at an all-inclusive resort, and items that you may not need (and I definitely didn’t need) depending on the weather.
These suitcases are in between carry-on and the larger size.
I pack half of my clothes with half of my husband’s clothes in each suitcase.
If one of our suitcases doesn’t make it to our destination, we should be able to survive with one!
* All items below marked with an asterisk were not worn on this vacation!
Clothing
- 4 tank tops
- 3 t-shirts
- 3 light sweaters* (one worn on the plane only)
- 2 pairs of jean shorts
- 2 pairs of cotton shorts*
- 1 long-sleeved shirt*
- 1 pair of jeans* (I wore the same pair on the plane to and from Mexico, so the extra ones were not needed!)
- 6 dresses (one was worn as a beach cover-up after being worn to dinner)
- 2 tankinis*
- 2 bikinis
- 1 bathing suit cover-up
- 1 pair of pyjamas
- enough socks and undergarments to last the week
We had fantastic weather the entire trip, and the evenings weren’t chilly at all. I didn’t need my sweaters, long-sleeved shirt or the extra pair of jeans I brought. If the evenings were cool however, I would have definitely wanted these because the only other option would be to purchase very expensive long-sleeved items in the gift shop. I’d rather come prepared than have to pay for something I don’t really want.
Shoes
- 4 pairs of sandals (black, beige, purple, turquoise)
- 1 pair of black flats
- 1 pair of running shoes (worn on the plane to and from only)
I wore all of my shoes and I don’t regret bringing any of them! I do wish I brought one pair of slip on canvas shoes… but I’ll keep that in mind for next time
Accessories
- white scarf*
- grey scarf (worn on the plane to and from only)
- a variety of necklaces, earrings and bracelets* (I wore my plain diamond studs and my wedding bands each day…occasionally my FitBit and that was it!)
- 3 small purses (black, brown, turquoise)
- straw hat
- baseball hat
- 2 pairs of sunglasses
Normally, I like to accessorize, but on this trip I just wasn’t into it. One night I wore a necklace, but ended up taking it off half-way through the evening which is not normal for me! I don’t regret packing these, because I would have hated to not have them if I felt like dressing up my outfits.
So there it is – my list of what to pack for a trip to Mexico. Below I’ve included a printable list with all of my clothing items, accessories, toiletries and gadgets to help you with your packing. And my motto is, if you have room and you’re in doubt – just bring it!
What do you always bring with you even though you may never need it?
