Hi All,

I guess I am the expert on what can go wrong when traveling, (lost wallet, sleep in park and get laptop and all trip photos taken.) If anyone needs help making grilled cheese sandwiches on your hotel iron, I have some expertise. I have learned to be very cautious about traveling, but preparation can make everything go so much more smoothly.  Be sure to watch out for your stuff and each others’ no matter where you are headed.

Be sure to check currency exchange rates before departure. You may want to withdrawal the money at home due to International rates at ATMs, but it is all up to your comfort level on the amount of cash you are carrying and the availability to use certain credit in certain places.

Check the weather ahead of time, but remember it doesn’t hurt to bring an umbrella or raincoat if you can tuck it in the corner of your carry-on or suitcase.

I also recommend your carry-on should be able to completely close and be tightly secured, you don't want to lose your tickets/wallets in the airport/shuttle/cab. (I have had both of these happen on two separate trips. Both are a big pain.) I usually keep my most important things in a carry on or in the hotel safe. 

Have Fun!

Liz

What to bring?

Large and Small Scale Maps (Hotel should provide)
Motion sickness tablets (You never know.)
Sun block
First aid kit w/ Bottle of headache or pain medicine
2 Cameras/Batteries

Things to do before you leave:

Check the expiration date of your passport
Call credit card company/bank and let them know 
you will be traveling out of town so your card 
doesn't get declined.
Get travel insurance for the unexpected
Recharge batteries

Below is a copy of a universal packing I like packing 
as light as possible, but still look great.

Clothes (enough for each daysof travel)
Underwear
Shirts
T-shirts
Socks
Pants, Jeans, shorts
Sweater
Belt
Cap ( Hat )
Skirt
Sarong
Sandals ( Flip-flops are great for airport security) 
Maybe Tennis shoes just in case you do some walking
Swimsuit
PJ
Raincoat/Umbrella (especially if scattered thunderstorms is the forecast)
Sunglasses
Beach Towel
Basic documents
Passport
Health Insurance card
Cash
Credit/ATM cards
ID card
Emergency Address list (with phone numbers and email addresses)
Optional documents
Photocopies of passport and other important documents, 
I’ve seen it recommended that you bring extra passport photos. 
I would just leave a photocopy of your passport with a loved 
one just in case you need them to fax it.

For carrying:

Money and documents
Airline tickets
Boat tickets
Hygiene
Makeup
Hygiene products
Razor
Shaving gel ( Shaving foam )
Toothbrush
Toothpaste
Shampoo
Deodorant
Contact lenses ( Contacts )
Container for contact lenses
Lens cleaning liquid
Extra glasses
Comb/Hairbrush
Qtips
Prescription medicine
General electrical items
Cell Phone ( Mobile Phone, Cellular Phone )
Charger to Cell Phone
Computer (Most resorts have Wifi – then again… 
consider leaving work and “life” behind for a few days!)
Extra batteries