Here’s everything you need for a breezy, all-inclusive beach getaway—and nothing you don’t.

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Travel + Leisure

There’s a vacation … and then there’s a vacation where you don’t have to think about or plan anything, besides what to pack, of course. As a travel writer and photographer, I’m usually on the go, exploring destinations with a can’t-stop-won’t-stop attitude, maximizing my time on the ground. However, in the last few years, I’ve embraced all-inclusive resorts as an ideal pick when I want to truly relax and unwind. You can’t beat having chicken tenders and a mojito delivered poolside with the flip of a flag on your lounge chair.

With numerous trips like this under my belt, I’ve honed in on essential items that come in handy specifically for all-inclusive resorts in beachy destinations. Read on for the ultimate packing list that’ll prep you for days full of fun in the sun and evenings brimming with dining and entertainment.

Packing Checklist for All-Inclusive Resorts

• Prioritize resort-ready style: Versatile sandals, lightweight mix-and-match separates, and swimwear fit any resort vibe.
• Bring poolside essentials: Insulated cups, towel clips, and sun-protective accessories keep you comfy and cool.
• Don’t forget entertainment: Playing cards, snorkel gear, portable speakers, and compact pool floats can amp up a trip.

Clothing and Shoes

Accessories and Bags

Gear and Other Essentials

Clothing and Shoes

Although all-inclusive resort vacations conjure images of frolicking around in a swimsuit about 99 percent of the time, in reality, packing some versatile clothing pieces is a necessity. I usually pack a small selection of shorts, shirts, and skirts that can easily be mixed and matched. Most resorts also require fancier options like collared button down shirts and pants for men in the restaurants at dinner time. Nicer shoes, such as a strappy sandal or men’s loafer are typically required as well. For poolside and beach ventures, water shoes or waterproof sandals are key.

Best Swimsuit

Billabong Tanlines Reese Bikini

Credit: Amazon View on Amazon View on Billabong.com

I’m a big fan of the fit, value, and versatility of Billabong swimwear. I have multiple bikinis and one-pieces by this brand and find that they’re a great balance of stylish design and functionality (for men, too), whether I’m laying by the pool or engaging in more active pursuits like kayaking or bike riding around on a beach cruiser. The Tanlines Reese bikini top paired with the Tanlines Hike bikini bottoms are my favorite. I love the ribbed material that stays in place while snorkeling in the ocean or grabbing a daiquiri from the swim-up pool. I also love the sporty but cute Left on Friday Sunday one-piece when I want a little more coverage. I especially appreciate that this comes in regular and tall since I have a longer torso.

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  Credit: Travel + Leisure / Lauren Breedlove

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Best Cover-up

Melissa Odabash Kelly Dress

Credit: Melissa Odabash View on Odabash.com View on Neiman Marcus $199 at Saks Fifth Avenue

A good cover-up is a key piece for both all-inclusive and standard beach resort vacations so you can go straight to lunch from the pool, without having to go back to your room.This version is a classic white dress style (that also comes in green and pink), with subtle embroidery details that makes it perfect for everything. It’s easy to throw on and the lightweight cotton fabric makes it breathable, too. Although it is pricier than other models, I’ve had the same cover-up for more than eight years, and mine has clearly gone the distance as a worthwhile investment for nearly a decade of beach vacations.

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Resa Mackenzie Dress

Credit: Amazon $176 at Amazon $192 at Shopbop.com View on Shop-resa.com

This strapless midi length dress has a unique drop waist and I love that it works for everything from a casual beachside dinner to the fanciest restaurant at your all-inclusive resort. I’ve worn it for occasions at both ends of the spectrum and can vouch for its versatility and comfort. I also appreciate that it’s supportive enough that I’m able to wear it without a bra and even has pockets. The style comes in a handful of colors and patterns too, so I may even order another one for my next trip. As an additional dressy option, I also have the LSpace Nico Dress as a regular in my all-inclusive clothing line-up.

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Best Versatile Sandals

Steve Madden Agree Sandal

Credit: Amazon $42 at Amazon $75 $63 at Zappos

I love that these sandals are flat which is ideal for any beach vacation, but also strappy to dress up any outfit for dinner. They can easily go from day to night and have proven to be comfortable to walk around in, or dance to live music performances at the Excellence Oyster Bay resort in Jamaica. (I may or may not be speaking from experience.) They’ve held up on multiple trips and I like that they come in a variety of colors so you can choose based on your usual fashion color scheme.

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Best Flip-flops

Havaianas Women’s Slim Season Flip Flop

Credit: Amazon $26 $11 at Amazon $30 at Nordstrom $30 at Zappos

You can’t go wrong with Havaianas. These are my second pair and they’re always in my luggage, but especially for all-inclusive trips. They can get wet and easily match all my beachy outfits. I prefer the slim version as I found them to be the most comfortable style. While no flip-flops are made for trekking long distances, these don’t hurt my feet and have a bit of a grippy bottom for walking on wet surfaces.

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Best Tank Top

Free People Last Time Cami

Credit: Free People View on Freepeople.com

With a built-in shelf bra and a wide range of colors available, this tank is casual and versatile. I like to pair it with linen pants, denim shorts, or a skirt. The straps don’t dig in and offer ample support for most body types, with soft material for all-day wear. I also think the price point gives it great value.

Travel + Leisure / Lauren Breedlove

Best Pants

Abercrombie & Fitch Linen-Blend Pull-On Pant

Credit: Abercrombie & Fitch View on Abercrombie.com View on Abercrombie.com

These have easily become my go-to outfit for breakfast, lunch, or as a cover-up over a swimsuit because they are so lightweight and flowy. I love the drawstring waist, and I found that they run a bit large, so I sized down. I’m also jumping for joy that despite ordering them in white, they are not see-through, which is hard to come by.

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Best Sun Shirt

Free Fly Women’s Ribbed Bamboo Long Sleeve

Credit: Free Fly $58 at Backcountry View on Dicks Sporting Goods View on Freeflyapparel.com

Whether it’s a windier day at the beach, an afternoon on a boat excursion, or a cool evening, a lightweight long sleeve shirt is a must in my luggage. I love the Free Fly line for their UPF sun protection, and this ribbed, very soft, bamboo long sleeve in a cropped style is ideal. I’ve worn it with shorts over my bikini and also for longer travel days and it’s comfortable for everything.

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Accessories and Bags

There are certain accessories that are ideal for an all-inclusive trip, from a small clutch to a nice wide-brim sun hat. I’ve hand-picked my favorites that I always bring to enhance my vacation. I prioritize versatile and portable items as well as sun protection.

Best Pouch

Masien Rauder Luxury Straw Wristlet Pouch

Credit: Amazon $26 at Amazon

Not only does this wristlet pouch tick all the boxes for a functional small purse, but it also fits with the beachy style I like to embrace at an all-inclusive resort, thanks to the straw material and adorable decorative poms. This pouch is perfect for throwing in a larger beach bag or forgoing a bigger bag completely for the freedom of having something small for your room key, chapstick, and other essentials to transport to the beach, pool, or meals.

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Best Sunglasses

Knockaround Paso Robles Sunglasses

Credit: Knockaround $35 at Amazon $35 at Backcountry View on Knockaround.com

Sunglasses are paramount for this type of trip, but I have a habit of losing or breaking my sunglasses, so I’ve searched high and low for quality, polarized sunglasses that aren’t super pricey. Enter Knockarounds. These have been on boat rides, glass-bottom kayaking, floating in a pool, reading on the beach, and so much more. I love that they reduce glare while remaining comfortable to wear, and come in a vast array of colors so you can match your sunnies to your personality or wardrobe.

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Best Sun Hat

Lack of Color Palma Wide Fedora

Credit: Lack of Color View on Amazon $149 at Nordstrom View on Lackofcolor.com

A hat for sun protection and keeping cool while on your tropical vacation is essential. I love the wide brim of my Lack of Color hat, for keeping the sun off my face and shoulders, as well as the cute aesthetic. These hats are handmade by local artisans in Mexico, and are very high quality. I’ve had mine for several years and brought it along on a lot of trips and it’s held up well.

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Best Waterproof Phone Pouch

Case-Mate Pelican Marine IP68 Waterproof Phone Pouch

Credit: Amazon $25 at Amazon View on Walmart View on Pelican.com

A trustworthy waterproof phone case or pouch is an excellent accessory for any and all water-based and water-adjacent activities. I’ve used it to protect my phone but still be able to capture memories while glass-bottom kayaking and floating around in the pool, too. This particular phone case also provides light padding to protect against drops and help it float.

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Gear and Other Essentials

Make sure to leave some room in your luggage for some other gear and essentials, some of which are practical and others that are purely for fun. Certain tropical destinations might require bug spray, so I usually pack a small, travel-sized spray or lotion to avoid bites. I’m a big snacker throughout the day, so I always pack my favorite travel snacks to have in between the set meals at an all-inclusive resort. From a reusable straw to my go-to underwater camera, these items are always in my bag when visiting an all-inclusive resort.

Best Pool Float and Portable Pump

Joyin 2-pack Flamingo Unicorn Pool Float

Credit: Amazon $40 $20 at Amazon

Hot tip: bring your own pool float to an all-inclusive and become known as the “fun float people.” I know I’ve preached about packing light, but these floats can fold up fairly small and it’s worth it. You don’t have to make yourself dizzy blowing it up either, thanks to this uber portable pump. I ordered this pair of floats for a girls’ getaway weekend at an all-inclusive with my best friend and they were worth every penny. Not only did we use them in our suite’s plunge pool, but we pool hopped around the resort, floated up to the swim-up bar, took them into the ocean, and got some really fun photos.

Travel + Leisure / Lauren Breedlove

Best Reusable Straw

Joie Straw On The Go

Credit: Amazon $15 at Amazon

With the environment front of mind, packing a reusable straw or two to use during your stay is a small and easy thing you can do. All-inclusives are notorious for slinging drinks on the regular, and you can spare those plastic straws by bringing your own. I like that this set comes packed in a convenient silicone case to easily slip in a pocket or travel pouch. The metal and silicone portions can be easily cleaned with the included bristle brush while you’re on the go, too.

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Best Sunscreen

Babo Botanicals Sheer Mineral Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50

Credit: Amazon $19 at Amazon View on Beautifiedyou.com $17 at Thrive Market

Sunscreen is an obvious must for any vacation, but especially one where you’ll be spending most of your time between the beach and the pool. This sunscreen doesn’t feel greasy or have a strong scent which is much-appreciated. It also does a great job protecting from harmful UV rays with its spf 50 rating.

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Best Power Bank

myCharge Fast Charging Portable Charger

Credit: Amazon $80 at Amazon

A portable power bank is something that’s always in my personal bag when traveling and I’ve been thankful to have it at an all-inclusive on several occasions. A lot of times, I’m out of my room all day and the heat/sun combo drains my battery quicker. Having a portable charger allows me to stay at the pool or beach and top off my phone at the same time. This charger has a slim profile and can charge multiple devices at once, and it’s compatible with iPhone and Android models.

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Best Camera

DJI Osmo Action 4

Credit: DJI $299 at Amazon View on Dji.com $300 at Best Buy

Tiny but fierce, the DJI Osmo Action 4 is the perfect camera for an all-inclusive vacation for capturing both photo and video memories without worrying that it’ll get wet or dropped. I’ve used this little camera while snorkeling, kayaking, boating, swimming, and lounging on my pool float. The clarity and color is impressive, and I really appreciate the front screen for taking selfies. An underwater camera is a must in my opinion and this one gets the job done.

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Best Portable Speaker

Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3

Credit: Amazon $129 at Amazon $100 at Target $259 at Newegg.com

A portable speaker is the perfect gear addition for morning coffee on your patio or balcony, getting ready tunes before dinner, or maybe an impromptu dance party in your air-conditioned room. This speaker offers excellent portability and sound, and has pairing capabilities with other Wonderboom speakers.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is included at an all-inclusive resort?

One of the main draws of an all-inclusive resort is the unlimited aspect of meals and drinks. Although it depends on the resort, the price includes lodging, all meals and drinks, and basic water sports (usually the use of stand-up paddle boards, kayaks, sunfish boats). The only things that aren’t included are usually off-site excursions like a full-day snorkeling trip or tour through town, certain meal upgrades (like a lobster tail), and higher-end wines or champagne, or top shelf liquors.

Do all-inclusive resorts have a dress code?

Yes, most all-inclusive resorts have some sort of dress code. That being said, it’s typically just applied to dining in the resort restaurants. I’d recommend always having a cover-up to slip on over your bathing suit at lunch, and noting which dinner restaurants require nicer clothing choices and shoes. This varies from hotel to hotel so always check the resort website to find out what the dress code details are before you pack.

Should I pack a beach towel?

All-inclusive resorts provide towels, usually at stations by the pool or beach, so it’s really not necessary to pack one unless you have a specific preference for beach towels, such as a quick-dry option like a Turkish towel or a larger beach blanket for your full group.

Why Trust Travel + Leisure

Lauren Breedlove is a travel writer and T+L contributor who has visited multiple all-inclusive resorts. Some of her favorite properties that she’s stayed at recently include Anse Chastanet and Jade Mountain in St. Lucia, Excellence Oyster Bay in Jamaica, and Blue Haven Resort in the Turks and Caicos. Using her first-hand experience, she created this packing list for all-inclusive resorts.

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