If you’re currently planning your vacation, packing might be a big issue. And especially the fear of forgetting things at home – particularly some tools or gadgets that might not be so important at first sight – is always present. That’s why I have created this article for you, which lists those things other travelers usually forget – based on a list of answers more than 100 recent travelers gave in a survey in my own Facebook group about Punta Cana. That’s what is called first-hand experience – and of course, I also add my opinion for each item (if really needed or not) after traveling to over 50 all-inclusive resorts in Punta Cana.
The best packing hacks for Punta Cana
This article definitely won’t be a full packing list, hence I won’t tell you to pack your passport, phone, chargers, clothes and money. I’d rather want to focus
– on the things people tend to forget
AND/OR
– things people only realize during their holiday that it would have been smart to bring them.
Especially to help you with the latter category, I have analyzed a question one of the members asked recently in my Punta Cana Facebook Group, which received more than 100 comments. The question was:
What are the things you wish you would have brought to Punta Cana?
Of course, not all where genuinely answering the question, but I used all those comments from recent Punta Cana travelers to create this shortlist of things you shouldn’t forget when traveling to Punta Cana.
Before we start with this list, let me outline some more packing hacks which are super important when you’re preparing your trip to Punta Cana:
- Think before you’re booking if you need a carry-on or if you have to buy extra checked baggage (which is usually not included with most airlines) (read further saving tips for your all-inclusive holiday here)
- Make copies of important documents, as there is always a minor chance that something gets lost
- If you’re traveling with checked luggage, pack a few important clothes (1 set + swimsuits) into your carry-on to have a backup just in case your checked luggage arrives delayed
- Think about snacks and food for the way between leaving home and arriving at the resort. Airport food is expensive and airline food is hardly included anymore.
- Weight your luggage before leaving (both carry-on and checked luggage) and compare it with the baggage allowance of your airline to avoid extra charges.
Packing for Punta Cana: those items people usually forget – and regret it (part 1)
Let’s dive straight into the things other people – AFTER their holiday – would have found helpful to have packed for their Punta Cana vacation. Among the more than 100 comments, there were 44 different items which were mentioned – let’s start with the 30 things that received less mentions.
The following items recent travelers to Punta Cana forgot at home but would have loved to have it packed for their Punta Cana holiday – all of those received either 1 or 2 mentions, so much less than the things you will find further below. But still, you can see some smart ideas among those tips (you can find my opinion about some of those packing items behind in brackets):
- Adapters for big headphones
- Allergy Pills
- Aloe Vera (my opinion: Aloe Vera is a great natural option to relieve sunburnt)
- Baby Powder (my opinion: not sure for what to be honest … )
- Benadryl/Hydrocortisone cream (for allergic reactions and to help after mosquito bites)
- Book (my opinion: good idea if you love to read – maybe even take 2 or 3)
- Clothes that can get dirty (my opinion: great idea if you plan to do buggy excursions or hike in Punta Cana)
- Coconut Oil (my opinion: can help to nourish your hair)
- Cotton Buds
- Day Pack (for excursions in Punta Cana in case you don’t want to take your carry-on)
- External Battery Pack (my opinion: this is in general a great travel gadget if you use your phone a lot)
- Extra Phone Charger (my opinion: one per person should be sufficient)
- Feminine Products
- Firestick (to watch your favorite movies or series in your room after dinner)
- Hydration Packs
- More Underwear
- Night Light (in my opinion not necessary as long as you don’t close the curtains entirely)
- Noise canceling ear plugs (my opinion: good option for the plane and in case you’d like to sleep early in your resort)
- Pool Toys (my opinion: very recommendable if you’re traveling as a family to Punta Cana – sand toys are also a must for kids)
- Rash Vest
- Salt Packets
- Snorkeling Gear (my opinion: only necessary if you want to snorkel right from the beach, all snorkeling excursions in Punta Cana provide snorkeling equipment)
- Tea Bags
- Tooth Picks
- Towel Clips (my opinion: a common packing hack)
- Turkish towels (my opinion: also known as travel towel)
- Water Shoes (my opinion: not necessary in Punta Cana in most places)
- Waterproof Phone Case (my opinion: great for the pool, the ocean and any water-based excursion)
- Wipes
- Ziplock Bags
Packing for Punta Cana: important things you should not forget – according to travelers (part 2)
Let’s continue with part 2 of this list with the best packing ideas for Punta Cana.
While all items listed above got only 1 or 2 mentions, the following are already considered more important by travelers and got 3 mentions within the survey:
- Damp Rid Bags (my opinion: some travelers complain about the humidity in the rooms (irrespective of the resort) and feel that this is a great idea – in more than 50 all-inclusive resort visits I never had the feeling I needed this)
- Tipping money/1 USD bills (my opinion: small denominations always come in handy for tips)
- Snacks (note that food is included in all resorts, usually 24/7, but most resorts don’t offer the typical chips, peanuts, chocolate or whatever you’re used to as a little snack in between)
- Travel Fan (in my opinion not necessary as there is mostly a nice ocean breeze as long as you’re not sensitive to heat)
- Washcloth (my opinion: are usually not provided by the resorts as this is not a thing in the Dominican Republic)
As you can see, the items on our mutual smart packing list get more and more important – or at least they’re considered more important by more people. 😉
The following items were mentioned 4 or 5 times in our survey of things people would have loved to bring to Punta Cana for their holiday:
- Bandaid (my opinion: should be part of a first-aid kit, which is mentioned further below)
- Extension Cord (my opinion: not really sure if this is necessary – at least I wouldn’t buy one just for the holiday)
- Floats (my opinion: great packing idea especially for those resorts with a lazy river)
- Hat (my opinion: essential for any Caribbean holiday)
Packing for Punta Cana: the TOP 5 must-have items according to recent travelers
No. 5: Mosquito Repellent
Mosquito Repellent was mentioned 7 times and is very important for any traveler, it doesn’t matter during which time you visit Punta Cana. There is no general rule about when or where there are mosquitos in Punta Cana – you can be lucky and don’t see a single mosquito for the entire week, but they also might be present in certain places. Having mosquito repellent therefore always is a great idea for your packing list!
No. 4: Plastic or Stainless Steel Straw
The reason why this item on our packing list was mentioned 10 times and therefore grabs spot No. 4 is that most resorts are aiming towards more environmentally friendly practices. This means that you most likely won’t get a straw in most resorts in Punta Cana, or just a paper straw which gets wet and unappetizing pretty quickly. Therefore, if you love to sip on your drink all day long, a reusable straw is indeed a great idea to bring to Punta Cana.
No. 3: Medicine / First-aid kit
The podium of our 44 things travelers forgot but would have loved to bring to Punta Cana starts with a first-aid-kit respectively medicine, which was mentioned 12 times. While it is obvious that you bring your personal meds with you you would also need in you daily life, a first-aid kit can come in handy for small scratches, wounds or minor injuries. While pharmacies in Punta Cana and the Dominican Republic are usually cheaper than in the United States, this isn’t valid for the resort pharmacies, where you pay extortionate prices for even just very small plaster, cremes or items such as band aid or subscription-free meds.
No. 2: Insulated Cup / Tumbler
An insulated cup or tumbler, also well known as yeti or travel mug, scores position 2 with 15 mentions. The reason is simple: the oversized tumblers fit more quantity, your drinks stay cold the entire day, you have to go to the bar less often and you don’t use any single-use plastic cups (even though rarely any resorts in Punta Cana are using those anymore). However, note that these tumblers also tend to water down your drinks as they are simply so oversized that it is hard for a barkeeper to fill in the right amount of alcohol as they certainly won’t pour in a quarter bottle. I have never used a tumbler during my Punta Cana resort stays and always had great drinks.
No. 1: Sunscreen (enough!)
The most frequent answer on our question “what things you’d missed in your luggage during your Punta Cana holiday” is a surprising one – mainly because “sunscreen”, which was mentioned 19 times, is just a basic item hardly anyone forgets when traveling to the Caribbean. However, there is a catch: most people replying with “sunscreen” added a very important detail – and that’s the amount. The packing hack here is to definitely take more sunscreen than you think you would need as the sun is extremely intense in the Caribbean and it is not uncommon for travelers to use a whole bottle in just 2 days. Therefore pack 2 extra bottles, especially as buying it in the resort shop is extremely expensive.
What do you think about this very special packing list for Punta Cana? Where there items which surprised you?
Do you have other travel hacks for fellow travelers which they shouldn’t forget.
Feel free to comment with suggestions and ideas.
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CHRIS
Author, Travel Coach & Punta Cana based digital nomadHey, I am Chris, a born and raised German, travel-addictive and Caribbean Soul. Since 2011 I have been living in the Caribbean, among them 5 years in the Dominican Republic. Punta Cana is my home-base here in the country and I’d love to tell you more about how to experience Punta Cana off-the-beaten-track and give you all the advice you want to know for your vacation in Punta Cana.
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