Holidays to Dominican Republic Travel Packing Tips

Holidays to Dominican Republic and other Caribbean winter getaways like Costa Rica, or any hot weather, tropical resort or cruise, I follow my basic travel packing tips,and travel packing tips for clothes with a few modifications.

In the Dominican Republic, I stayed in Puerto Plata, on the north coast, and took day trip excursions to Santo Domingo and Santiago, the waterfalls, Santo Cerro, etc.  But even if I am out all day, I still see basically the same group at meal times, and go on the same tours, and hang out at the same pools and beaches. So I added a few items to my basic travel wardrobe.

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Given that many of the Dominican resorts where I booked (Playa Dorada complex near Puerto Plata, and the beaches at Sosua) are 4-star and higher, I packed a few dressier pieces for the evenings. Here's my travel packing list for clothes to date when I left, and updated after I came back. I hope that my packing list is of some help to you.

What to Pack for Holidays to Dominican Republic

As always, let your itinerary be your guide to planning your travel wardrobe. If your holiday to Dominican resorts or other warm weather getaway destinations, is to golf till you drop, then of cours add a pair of golf shoes to the list. I planned to snorkle, but decided to use the resort's gear, rather than my own.

Beach bums will need more shorts, sundresses, sandals and swimsuits, etc. and maybe only one pair of pants (horseback riding!). I toured around during the main part of the day, so I needed more bus tour wear. Adjust, adapt, amend -- but keep the total number of garments low. Your back (and baggage handlers) will thank you!

• Pants (3 pairs) in lightweight fabric -- one to wear, two for spares -- black, khaki, light grey denim.

• Sundresses (3-4) Ladies, if you look good in lightweight, spaghetti strap sundresses, these can be a staple in your holiday wardrobe! Pack several dresses and fewer pants and tops. Sundresses are perfect bathing suit coverups, and can take you into lunch or dinner in style. If you are staying at one of the 14 or so resorts in Playa Dorada, the Playa Dorada mall has several shops that sell sundresses for about $20 each.

• Capris (2 pairs) in lightweight denim -- one white and one dark blue. (I prefer capris instead of shorts, but shorts take up little suitcase room, so feel free to add several pairs).

• Tops (9) lightweight, mostly long sleeved for the hot sun -- five white, two black, one patterned, one gold. Each top goes with each bottom, as I suggest on the Travel-Packing-clothes page. I'm also taking one sheer silk jacket coverup, much like this one at AbFab Designs that I bought a few years ago -- it folds up into a sandwich size baggie and really dresses up a resort outfit. I estimate I have 3-4 dressier outfits, which should be ample. With 5 bottoms (pants and capris) and 9 tops that all coordinate, that gives me 45 possible combinations. I am only going for one week, so that should be a good basic travel wardrobe, that will fit easily into a smalll suitcase.

• Swimsuits (2) One to wear and one that's dry. Swimsuits generally take very little room in your luggage. Take swimsuits in your carryon bag, in case your checked luggage goes astray. It's so hard to buy a swimsuit at the best of times, let alone in a foreign country.

• Sarong (1) for a swimsuit coverup or additional top, or lounging at night in the room.

• Jammies (1 pair) Tshirt top (can do double duty as outerwear if needed with shorts bottoms. (If you're on a romantic getaway or your honeymoon, go for the lingerie !!!)

• Shoes (2 pairs) One pair sneakers to wear on plane (they are bulky to pack in suitcase), and when walking or on tours, and one pair black leather slides with a medium wedge heel for evening or hotel and beach. I might relent and add a third pair - flipflops -- depending on suitcase space.

• Lightweight jacket (1) as it is winter and cold in Toronto -- my departure city -- I'll wear this to the airport, then hang in the hotel for a week until I need it again in Toronto on the return trip. If you are leaving from a warm country, or during the summer, skip the jacket.

• Rain jacket (1) plus a small fold up rain poncho to keep rolled with an elastic band in my backpack, just in case I need it for sudden downpours, or out on the water in a boat as a windbreaker.
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Packing Travel Meds and Toiletries Dominican Republic

I like to have all my 'comfort' things. I will be at a resort, which is fairly safe when it comes to food and drink, but since it will be different foods and drinks, including the water (use bottled), I have my trusty pepto bismal and a filled presciption for travellers revenge that I never have had to use.

Airline security requirments change all the time, but basically, take what you can with you on the plane, especially your medications! And if regualtions allow a woman to bring on a purse, so should they allow a man. I'm just  saying. See TSA for current guidelines if you are flying via the USA. Here's what I recommend in rational times:

My liquid carryons and prescription meds are packed in a clear plastic ziploc bags (see travel packing meds page) for when I go through airport security, and shampoo, conditioner, sunscreen, and other liquids and gels, including spray mousse, are packed in my checked bag. The prescription meds are in the original pharmacy packaging so security can easily confirm what they are. I packed only 8 meal replacement bars, as the airline will feed us a sandwich about an hour or so into the 4-hour flight from Toronto to Puerto Plata. I shall definitely need a snack during the flight!

I also allowed a few meal replacement bars for day tours to Santiago, Santo Domingo and Samana, as I know I will be on the bus/van for a long drive and likely missing my happy hour and snack time. (See travel packing safety - comfort page)

I also packed my spare AA batteries and a Camera battery in my carryon backpack, per new regulations for U.S. and Canada that require some types of batteries - lithium's name was mentioned - not be included with checked baggage. Apparently, it's easier for the crew to deal with accidental ignitions in the cabin rather than fires in the hold.

I also jettisoned my rain jacket as it's been hot as Hades this week in Puerto Plata, but I have two light plastic ponchos -- one for me and one for my back pack -- in case we get caught in a downpour. (Umbrellas are just too bulky, IMHO). I have one bathing suit in a ziploc bag in my back pack, too, so if they lose my checked bag, I can at least hit the beach!

One thing: Before you pack any item of clothing be SURE to try it on! If it's uncomfortable at home, it wil be misery on the road. I even shortened an especially long pair of pants so that I don't need a third pair of shoes to wear with them! Think I am ready -- will let you know how it goes.

Update: I'm Back!

• It's the rainy season (roughly November-March) on the north coast (the location of Playa Dorada, Puerto Plata, Sosua, Cabarete, etc) and although I was happy to have packed my plastic rain poncho for the regular torrential downpours, I really could have used a proper rain jacket as well.

• I did pack too many clothes after all. I really didn't need those dress pants I had shortened, but changed into them for dinner on two occasions just to make packing them not futile. I also had two tops too many, and they came back unworn. Ah well, live and learn.

• At home, I like to keep my wardrobe ready to go (custom closet organization system) so that I can pack fast. It also lets me see at a glance what items need replacing or updating.

• TIP In your hotel, be sure to leave the doors to the wardrobe / closet open as much as possible so your clothes don't get mildewed. Even with the air conditioning on, it's still pretty damp. Corollary tip: unpack and hang up as much clothing as possible to keep it aired and sweet-smelling.

• On the road, pack a small spritzer bottle (100ml) of fabric freshener, such as Febreeze (in your carryon in a clear ziploc bag with other liquids or in your checked luggage) so you can quickly freshen any garments that don't smell sweet.

See my complete travel tips pages main menu at Snapshot Journeys TravelTips

And should we not pack something we discover we need, well, we can always go shopping! :-)

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