Photo by STIL on Unsplash

15 Jul What to Pack for the Honeymoon

Let’s focus on a favorite topic of wedding planning… the honeymoon! The biggest tip I can give you is don’t put off your planning until the last minute. That includes packing for the trip. Make a list of everything you need to bring and double check it before departing. I’ve compiled a list of the items you’ll definitely want to pack — be prepared and save yourself lots of stress when you should be relaxing!

The Essentials

  • Copy of your marriage license — Tell everyone you meet, airline and hotel agents, restaurant servers, etc. that you have just been married. You’ll be surprised how often you are upgraded or gifted amenities, just be prepared to prove it.
  • Passports, drivers licenses, and credit cards
  • Plane tickets or confirmation numbers — Take a look at the airport and know the general setup, as gates are not always in the terminals you think they are. I recently learned this the hard way!
  • Hotel confirmation numbers
  • Local transportation guides, such as subway or bus routes
  • Cell phone and charger — Don’t pack your charger in your checked baggage, put it in your purse or carry on in case you need it in the airport.
  • Electrical converter/adapter if traveling outside the U.S.
  • Luggage tags on the outside and inside of your luggage — Add something to your bag handle to easily spot your bags. I like to use colorful bandanas.
  • Guidebook

On a recent trip, I created an Evernote with all of our travel details — flight and hotel details with confirmations, important addresses, and online links to local transportation maps and help services. This allowed me to easily pull up those sources without searching for papers in our bags.

Clothing

  • Light cardigan for the plane and possible chilly restaurants or evenings
  • Clothing options for the region you are traveling to. Before you pack, check local weather forecasts so you’ll know what to expect.
  • A couple of special outfits for formal dinners
  • A couple of surprise lingerie pieces
  • Bathing suits — These are not cheap to buy on-site if you forget!
  • Small and large Ziplock bags — Use these to compartmentalize items in your luggage or for wet bathing suits and dirty clothing.

For Beach/Poolside

  • Sun hat/baseball hat
  • Sunglasses
  • Canvas tote bag or backpack for your beach/pool items — also good for carrying home souvenirs
  • Reading materials — Once finished, paperback books can always be left behind at hotel libraries.

Medicine/Drug Store Items

  • Birth control and prescription meds, in their original bottles
  • Drug store items — These can be expensive and often hard to locate in other countries: insect repellent, sunscreen, lip balm, aloe vera, bandages, aspirin, antacid, antihistamine, diarrhea medicine, motion sickness medicine, tampons/pads.
  • Toiletries, travel size if possible: toothpaste, toothbrush, deodorant, cosmetics, makeup and remover, cotton balls/swabs, brush/comb, hair gel and/or spray, nail file/clippers/tweezers, shaving cream, razors, contact lenses and solution, hair accessories, Tide pen and/or Shout wipes.

Important information to leave with family or friends

  • Copies of passports and credit cards
  • Your itinerary and hotel phone numbers
  • Pet care instructions and emergency information

Most important of all, don’t forget your sense of adventure and have fun!

Photo credit:  STIL on Unsplash

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