Packing for Curaçao is actually pretty simple, but a few things made a huge difference once I got there. I used almost everything I brought, and the stuff I didn’t use was pretty obvious by the end. This is exactly what I packed, what I kept reaching for, and what I’d bring again.
I started packing knowing I was checking a bag, and I didn’t even try to keep it light. I added extra outfits, multiple swimsuits, and a few dinner options because I like having choices. For me, that worked out because I actually rotated through it all instead of wearing the same thing on repeat.
If you pack lighter, you can absolutely cut this down, but I liked having options, especially at night when I wanted to switch it up a little.
I used swimsuits and coverups every single day, and this is my default as I knew I'd be beach hopping or swimming every day.
I changed into light dresses at night and still got a little dressed up for dinner. It’s not overly fancy, but I didn’t feel right showing up in a beach coverup either, so having a few easy outfits made it feel put together without trying too hard.
I threw water shoes in my suitcase just incase, and glad I did because I used them almost every day. I walked up to a few beaches, saw the rocks getting in, and immediately knew I would’ve been struggling without them.
Once you’re in the water, it’s incredible, but getting in without them would’ve been a whole situation. If you’re packing anything, make it those (seriously).
I used my Nano Bag as a beach bag every day because it folds up small, doesn’t weigh anything, dries quickly, and somehow holds everything I kept adding to it.
Inside, I kept my water shoes or beach sandals, snorkel gear, a Sand Cloud towel, chair rubber bands, a Ballast beach pillow, my GoPro, and sunscreen. I also kept my phone and essentials in my dry bag while swimming so I didn’t have to keep running back to my chair, which made longer water days way easier.
I packed two floats and ended up using both. I used one at the pool just to lay there and do nothing, and I brought the other into the ocean when I wanted to relax without constantly treading water.
I also liked having it because I get a little in my head about what’s in the water (fish, sharks, anything really), so being able to tuck my arms and legs up made me feel way more comfortable. The water is so clear you can see straight down, which is cool until you realize how deep it is, and then you’re like… okay. Having the float made it a lot easier to actually relax instead of thinking about it the whole time.
I kept my routine simple, but a few things really did their job. I used Supergoop face sunscreen every day and didn’t burn, and kept me from breakouts.
I used Magic Molecule after getting a little too much sun, and it calmed everything down fast. Also, I use it everyday to keep from breakouts. I also used Burt’s Bees after sun lotion at night after longer beach days, and my skin was less dry and healed quicker.
I wear light makeup every day even at the beach, and everything from SeneGence stayed on through heat, water, and a full beach day, which is always impressive.
I left most of my stuff in the room on resort days because I knew I could just go back if I needed something. That made those days feel a lot more relaxed since I didn’t have to carry everything around.
I packed everything into my nano bag before heading out on exploring days because I wasn’t going back and forth. That’s when having a solid beach setup actually mattered, because once I left, I was out for the day.
I never limit myself on this stuff (clearly), but I know that’s not everyone’s preference. If I had to narrow it down to five things, these are the ones that actually mattered the most: my Nano Bag, snorkel gear, water shoes, sunscreen, and my GoPro.
That pretty much covered everything I did, whether I was in the water or heading to the next beach.
If you’re planning your trip, you can check out my guide on Curaçao Travel Guide for First-Time Visitors to map out where you’ll actually use all of this.
Save this for later on Pinterest so you don’t forget it.
I pulled out my workout clothes once, looked at them, and put them right back in my suitcase. Between swimming, walking, and carrying my beach bag around, I didn’t need anything extra. I’m sure most of you are more ambitious on vacation and might actually use yours, but for me it was a waste.
I packed for the flight the same way I always do and didn’t try anything new. I already know what works for me, so I stuck to it and didn’t mess with it mid-trip.
I break that all down in my Flight Essentials I Never Fly Without post, which is exactly what I use every time I travel.
I repacked at the end of the trip and didn’t feel like I brought anything unnecessary besides the workout clothes. Everything else actually got used, which rarely happens.
If I did this trip again, I’d pack almost exactly the same way, just with even more confidence in the water shoes and the float. Those two made a bigger difference than I expected.
If you want to see how this all fits into your trip, you can also learn more in my Curaçao 7 Day Itinerary: How to Spend One Week in Curaçao, because this packing setup matched how I spent my days perfectly.
A hotel that’s also a free 24-hour contemporary art museum penguins included. We booked a Corner Suite at 21c and it was massive: separate bedroom, living room, dining area, 699 square feet to spread out in. The bathroom alone had a double vanity and custom Rookwood Pottery tile that made getting ready weirdly entertaining.
The location is downtown, two minutes from Fountain Square, walkable to Boca for dinner, and close enough to hop the free streetcar into Over-the-Rhine. If OTR is where most of your plans are, you might want to stay closer to that neighborhood instead downtown worked for us, but we spent more time in OTR than we expected to.
And yes, there’s a recycled-plastic penguin sculpture that will absolutely scare you the first time you open your door and forget it’s there. Link in bio for the full review rooms, parking, walkability, and everything else before you book 🎨
Three neighborhoods, one streetcar, and more Cincinnati specialties than I could finish in one afternoon.
We hit a goetta breakfast sandwich, chocolate chip ice cream from a shop that’s been at it since 1870, a Liège waffle that earned its Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives spot, and Cincinnati chili the way it’s actually meant to be eaten... over a hot dog, buried in shredded cheddar.
$75 got us three and a half hours, a local guide, free streetcar rides, and a genuinely full stomach. Don’t eat breakfast before this one, the portions add up fast.
My third Secret Food Tour in my third city, and it’s still undefeated.
Link in bio for the full review cost, route, parking, and every stop we hit 🥟🌶️
13 creek crossings, a canyon that keeps closing in around you, and a hike I’d genuinely put back on my itinerary, West Fork Trail was the one.
We got to Call of the Canyon at 7:15am and the lot was barely a quarter full. By 12:30 it was 85% full, so if there’s one tip that matters most, it’s this: go early.
The maintained trail is 6.6 miles round trip, mostly flat, mostly shaded, but I kept my regular tennis shoes dry the whole way by hopping across the rocks at each crossing. It’s rated moderate, and honestly that’s about the distance, not the terrain.
Here’s what nobody tells you though ✨ the maintained trail isn’t the end. We changed into water shoes at the official endpoint and kept going another mile straight through the creek, canyon walls narrowing around us the whole time. That extra mile ended up being my favorite part of the entire hike.
5/5 for me. I’d bring the water shoes again in a heartbeat.
Link in bio for the full guide parking, timing, what to pack, and everything I wish I knew before I went 🥾
Two hours, zero regrets. The Pink Jeep Broken Arrow Tour is hands down one of the most fun things we did in Sedona.
Open-air Jeeps crawling over slickrock, backcountry views you can’t reach on your own, and the famous Road of No Return, steep, thrilling, and somehow completely safe the whole way down.
If you’re picking one paid activity in Sedona, make it this one.
You have to do @pinkjeeptours 🌵🚙 Link in bio for the full review.
Dinner beside Oak Creek at Cress, and yes, it’s a splurge, but I’d do it again in a heartbeat.🤍
Candlelit tables under the trees, the creek running right beside us, a menu that mixes Arizona ingredients with French technique. We ordered a little of everything: the squash and beet salad, milk rolls with three different butters, sweet potato gnocchi that somehow felt light instead of heavy. Then two desserts because we couldn’t decide. The Vanilla Crème Caramel with Manchego cheese completely stole the show, salty and sweet in a way that sounds strange until you taste it.
Plan on $100–250 for two depending on what you order, and this isn’t the spot for a quick casual dinner, it’s slow, intentional, and worth every minute. Book ahead and ask for a creekside table if you can.
If you’re looking for one unforgettable meal in Sedona, this is it. Link in bio for the full review 🍽️
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