Aruba Bound!
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Packing for Aruba

Aruba Bound!  Packing For Aruba

Flying Over Oranjestad, Aruba While On Final Approach to  Aruba's Queen Beatrix International Aiport
When you book your trip make sure that you have the proper identification that you will need for travel to Aruba. You will find the information that you need here. The airlines will not allow you on the plane if you do not have the required documents. Begin gathering island information. If you are reading this you have already begun! Besides cyber information on tours, restaurants & such, off line there are guidebooks, maps & coupons.

Orrins's Aruba Trip Notes: Airport Notes


Organizing & Getting Ready

  • What will you wear each day? What will be your footwear?
  • What will you wear each evening? Line up the outfits with matching shoes.
  • When packing, mix outfits suitcases with your travel companion. Hopefully it will never happen to you, but if the luggage is lost, chances are one of the bags will show up & you will have something to wear.
  • Try to assemble travel sized toiletries. Sometimes hard to find, give yourself time to find them. I usually find them at Walgreens or the Dollar Store
  • To prevent accidents & save weight in your luggage, carry liquids in plastic bottles. If you want to go all the way, also package those bottles in zip lock bags.
  • Try to keep it so that all your clothes can be mixed & matched in different combinations.
  • Make sure all luggage is clearly marked identification information.
  • Copy your passport or birth certificate & driver's license & pack & keep those copies separate from the originals or if you have email access, email to yourself storing the info in your in box. Upon arrival in Aruba always keep the originals in a safe deposit box (except drivers license)- makes things easier if you should you misplace or loose one of your documents.
  • AT&T Calling Cards are the only US calling card that will work in Aruba so plan accordingly. To dial you will need a Setar (Aruba's telephone company) operator. They can be reached by dialing 121 or having your hotel operator connect you. Tell the Setar that you would like to make an AT&T credit card call to the US. You will then be asked for the international calling number on the back of your card, the number you are dialing & your name.
  • An even cheaper way of calling the states is to purchase a Setar card. You can then dial from a phone booth. Ask your hotel for the nearest place to purchase a card. Thanks Linda C. for helping with this info.

Bundle & Roll

The more folds, the more wrinkles you will have. Rolling does save space! Dh & I had a "pack off" to prove the point. Some people wrap with tissue paper. The fold is pressing the crease on the paper instead of the clothing. Use nooks crannies of the suitcase to your advantage. Bras, socks & underwear can be stowed in any corner or gap or even inside of shoes. Use all available space. No wonder my husband can't find his socks & boxers when he unpacks?

Carry-On Bag &/or On Your Person

Pack non-liquid, personal care items, toiletries & prescriptions along with a change of clothes in carry-on luggage. Carry a few extra days worth of medication in case of any unforeseen delays. Personally, although it takes up space, I take each medication in it's original container. If there are ever any questions you will have the name of your physician, type of medication & dosage. Here are loads of other carry-on ideas.
Jewelry & watch
Money, Traveler's Checks, ATM Card
Credit Cards
Passport & Drivers License
Keys for luggage, car & house
Individually wrapped hand wipes
Prescriptions/Tylenol/Motrin
Ear plugs
Kleenex
Moisturizing eye drops
Mp3 player & Noise cancelling headphones
Book or a couple of magazines

Evening Wear

For Her
Skirt, sundresses, skort, shorts, capris or slacks & light sweater for chilly air conditioning
For Him
Slacks, Dockers or Khakis/Chinos with a golf/polo shirt or twill shorts depending on the restaurant

Day Wear

Touring & Shopping
Shorts & a T-shirt or polo
Beach
Swimsuit & cover-up or top
*I take at least 3 suits, with the humidity they do take time to dry.

Footwear

Sandals, flip flops or beach shoes, walking shoes (low heels) or sneakers, dressy shoes-- Any kind of footwear is acceptable.*I invariably end up with 3 pairs of shoes: sneakers on the airplane, beach sandals & dressier sandals for night time.

Hair & Cosmetics

  • Facial cleanser, astringent & moisturizer
  • Eye makeup & remover
  • Eye shadow, eye liner, mascara & concealer
  • Blush & powder
  • Lipstick, lip conditioner & lip liner
  • Tweezers
  • Cotton balls/q-tips- *If you cannot live without them, otherwise use tissues
  • Shaver, razor, blades & cream
  • Bar soap & container- *Need to bring your own due to allergies?
  • Toothbrush, toothpaste, mouthwash & dental floss
  • Hair clips, scrunchies & tie backs- * With the wind, save the space in the suitcase & go without the hair spray. It will save you the heartbreak of having spent all that time on your hair only to have it fly wild in the wind
  • Shampoo, conditioner, mouse/gel, brush
  • Blow dryer & curling iron
  • Moisturizer/After sun lotion
  • Perfume
  • Deodorant/talcum powder
  • Sunscreen- *Twice the amount you think you will need in different SPF's, reapply frequently, remember hands, ears, tops of ears & feet
  • Lip protection with SPF
  • Contact lenses- *I always carry a spare pair or two for emergency tears &/or loss
  • Contact lens cleaner & solution
  • Prescription eyeglasses & eyeglass repair kit
  • Sewing Kit- small scissor, thread, needles & safety pins
  • Woolite- buy the powder individual travel packs
  • Nail clippers & cuticle scissors, Nail polish, file & remover- *If you travel often, purchase single use pads in foil pouches
  • Sunglasses- *I always travel with more than one pair in case I lose one pair or they break
  • Mini First Aid Kit & OTC Remedies
  • Band-aids
  • Antiseptic/anti-bacterial wipes
  • Antibiotic cream
  • Cortisone cream
  • Cold/flu remedies
  • Anti-diarrheal
  • Antihistamines (works well for itchy skin or sun poisoning from too much sun
  • Aspirin/Tylenol
  • Heartburn remedy
  • Vitamins

What Else?

  • Denim Jeans- if you plan on horseback riding
  • Exercise/Work Out Clothing
  • Belt- check to make sure it fits through the loops of the pants & shorts
  • Panties, bras & slips OR boxers & briefs
  • Pajamas/robe- does your resort provide complimentary robes?
  • Socks
  • Pantyhose/knee-high stockings- vacation, in the tropics, why not just skip it?
  • Hat- with adjustable band so it will not fly off with the wind
  • Plastic Ziploc bag, for carrying wet clothes
  • Folding tote bag, beach bag, backpack or fanny pack
  • Purses for day & evening- *I only take one tiny purse, & use my beach bag as a pocketbook on the plane
  • Sanitary, contraceptive or prophylactic items
  • Travel alarm clock- *feel free to leave it at home, most of the hotels have wake up service or clock radios in the room
  • Nightlight
  • Books & Magazines
  • MP3 Player
  • Journal & pen
  • Address Book- *For postcards, you'll probably arrive home before the cards do, print address labels on your computer before you leave
  • Clothes steamer & lint brush
  • Camera, Underwater Camera & Camcorder
  • Film, binoculars & extra batteries- *An expensive lesson I learned floating on a cruise ship in the middle of the Caribbean…change all of your batteries before your trip, don't forget watches, dive equipment, MP3 player, Game Boy…& while you are at it, don't forget to have your dive regulator in for maintenance & replace the batteries in your home smoke alarms
  • Chargers as necessary for cell phone & other electronics you are traveling with
  • Sports gear such as snorkel & mask
  • Insect repellent- *we packed repellent on one trip, used it once in 10 days- we knew Aruba had been rainy, usually NOT the case

Ready?

As my friend Suzi says, "Now take out everything from your suitcase that you will never use."

Leaving for the Airport? . . . Not Yet

Do you have?
Airline Tickets & hotel confirmation
Rental car confirmation with coupons if you have them or airport transfer vouchers
Passport with a copy in a separate spot in case they are lost or stolen

Did You?

  • Take care of the newspaper & mail deliveries
  • Set the thermostat
  • Set any timers on lights for home security while you are away
  • Water the plants
  • Take out the garbage
  • Winter- Turn off the water to prevent frozen pipes
  • Summer- timers on lawn sprinklers
  • Feed the fish
  • Who is taking care of the dog & cat, taking in the mail & the newspapers?

Carry-On Baggage Limits


Travel with Your Children

  • Traveling Internationally with Your Kids
  • Favorite blanket & stuffed animal
  • Bottles & formula
  • Sippie cups
  • Pacifiers
  • Bibs
  • Diapers- all supermarkets in Aruba do sell them
  • Baby wipes
  • Waterproof pads
  • Car seat
  • Stroller
  • Baby aspirin or Tylenol
  • Child thermometer
  • Baby sunscreen & lots of it
  • Antibiotics for eye or ear infections
  • Baby shampoo
  • Lotion
  • Juice boxes
  • Game Boy, Etch-a-Sketch™, small set of Legos™ or Duplo™ blocks  & other travel games
  • Books
  • Disposable camera

What Was Left Off the List?

My Nana, the world traveler, reviewed & approved this list of travel items. But she said to tell you that it is only for warm weather climates If you can think of something that needs to be added to the list, just contact us.

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