In case you haven’t been following along with our blog long, I hate winter. I hate the cold. I hate the snow. I hate every single thing about the winter month’s except for Christmas morning. That being said, I always plan at least one vacation to a warm environment right around the time I am so sick of the Idaho bitter winds that I become homicidal. (Just kidding about the murderous tendencies!)

I have a few places that I frequent often in the winter months: Southern California, Arizona, and my all-time favorite place to travel any time of year, Cabo San Lucas! Mexico is the ideal location in the winter months for so many reasons! First of all, it is cheap. And I know we are all broke around the holidays. It is the perfect temperature in Mexico when the snow is falling just a few thousand miles north. And it is a great time of year for deep sea fishing!! I highly recommend anyone looking for a beach escape in the dead of winter to hop on over to Cabo.

The one problem I always run into when traveling is not knowing what to pack. Especially when I head somewhere warm in the middle of winter and all my summer clothes have been pushed to the back of my closet. So after many years of trial and error, I think I have complied my ultimate packing list for Mexico in the winter. However, this list pretty much applies to anywhere warm with a beach!

 

Packing List

 

Hair Products

 

Sea Salt Spray

• Beat the ocean to ruining your hair style!

 

Dry Shampoo

• No one wants to shower every day of vacation.

 

Wet Brush

• Ocean water is great for the soul but not for the tangles!

 

Leave in Conditioner

• Again, avoid the pain of tangles!

 

Olive Oil Shampoo and Conditioner

• This is my favorite hydrating product when my hair tries to go from dry and cold to hot and humid!

 

Baby Powder

• This does the job of leave in conditioner and dry shampoo, a life saver in a pinch!

 

Little pony tails

• For Braids!

 

 

Skin Products

 

Sun Screen

• Obvious reasons, no one likes a sunburn on vacation! Just remember to apply often as you are probably closer to the equator from where you live!

 

Lotion

• Going from cold and dry to hot and humid isn’t just bad for your hair, your skin suffers too!

 

Facial Moisturizer

•  There is nothing worse that dry skin on your face. 

 

Baby Oil

• Okay, if you’re not worried about the rays of the sun, baby oil is the best tanning oil and its hydrating for your skin!

 

Soft Feet Gel

• Walking around in the sand does miracles on your feet, but it can get irritated if you don’t keep them hydrated! Some foot cream or soft feet socks will save you!

 

Aquaphor

• I always bring Aquaphor on any trip because it is life saver for blisters or chafing!

 

Makeup w/ SPF

• I really don’t wear makeup on vacation but some foundation with a good SPF does save my face from burning or wrinkles!

 

Tea Tree Oil

• I use this instead of deodorant when I travel to humid places because it works just as well but does leave marks or feel sticky/slimy!

 

Clothes

 

Shorts

Beach Pants

Light Jacket

Romper

Sun Dress

Tanks

Bralettes

Sports Bra

Running Shorts

Swim Suit

Cover up / Sarong

Flip Flops

Sandals

Tennis Shoes

 

For Travel

 

Beach Bag

• You will definitely want something other than a purse or backpack. Something that won’t fill with sand for the next 5 years!

 

Backpack

• Traveling anywhere requires a backpack! You never know what you may need and you don’t want to keep going back to your hotel. And it is much better for your body that and purse/side bag.

Clutch

• Going out for the evening? Make sure you pack a clutch for a quick grab and go!

Waterproof Card Case

• Vacations, especially tropical ones, require something you can take your cards in the ocean/pool with. You don’t want to leave them in a bag on the beach unattended but you also don’t want to take your significant other’s nice wallet into the ocean water!

Everything Else

 

Water Bottle

• Make sure you drink so much water on. your trip! A nice Hydro Flask or Yeti will keep your water cold even in the heat.

Snacks

• If you are in a new city or country, you might not know the food. It is okay to pack some easy snacks like trail mix or crackers on all of your excursions!

Koozie

• Again, it is hot and you are going to want to be drinking. Pack a koozie to keep your beer cold while you lounge on the beach!

Camera

• I love bringing my camera because a phone just doesn’t capture the tropical sunsets quite like my Canon! Have a water proof digital camera? Even better! Those coral reefs will definitely be something you want to show people back at home.

Towel Clips

• We can all hope that the weather is absolutely perfect on every vacation. However, sometimes there is wind and I HATE when my towel doesn’t lay flat on my beach chair.