I was very inspired to write this post after some extremely uncomfortable circumstances two weekends ago when my boyfriend was hired to photograph a wedding in Catalina Island and I went along as his “assistant” (more like, his support… by carrying photography equipment & trying hard not to complain too much about my feet dying after walking probably a total of 20+ miles in 5 inch heels… or so it seemed).

To be most comfortable and relaxed (as you should be) on your next trip to any island, consider these must-have items to pack before you head out!

FLIP-FLOPS.

YES! I forgot FLIP-FLOPS!!! TO AN ISLAND! How could I, right?! I wasn’t the only one; my boyfriend also didn’t bring any form of sandals. Luckily for him though, he just had to walk around in his tennis shoes… while I got to wear heels not only the whole day of the wedding, but also on the other “off” days. A free vacation didn’t feel so free anymore… on the last day, my poor pinky toes were swelling up and in dire pain, so I gave in to purchasing a pair of what I like to call “luxury flip-flops” by Roxy for TWENTY FREAKING BUCKS. While I did feel ripped off and dumb, it did feel oddly satisfying… as if it were the best $20 I had spent on that trip. After getting those flip-flops, my happy feet survived a 4-mile hike to and from the Wrigley Monument (by the time we got there, the monument was closed, but let’s not get into this now). I swear, I would have died without them! TL;DR? BRING YOUR FLIP-FLOPS. Trust me. Your feet will thank you. My feet were ultra jealous of other feet in flip-flops before I gave in and purchased a $20 pair for them. >___<

SUNSCREEN.

I don’t burn easily; luckily, I’m the type to tan right away in extreme sunlight (or prolonged sun exposure). My boyfriend on the other hand, doesn’t tan as easily and burns very easily, instead. We were probably out laying on the beach for an hour and he got red all over his back. Regardless of the circumstance, sunscreen is definitely a must when traveling a beach city or an island. In addition to sunscreen, I like to be sure to pack a good moisturizer for after-sun hours to keep my skin soft & supple.

SWIMWEAR.

I swear, I would have kicked myself hard core if I forgot to bring my swimsuit like I did flip flops. Luckily, I didn’t fail in this department 😉 If you’ll be staying an extended period of time, I’d recommend bringing several pairs just for variety and options.

CHEAP SUNGLASSES. 2 OF THEM.

Sunglasses come in very handy when it’s super sunny out… and well, if you’re traveling an island, I’d hope that it’s nice and sunny. Just don’t forget to protect your eyes from the harsh UV rays! I mention bringing 2 because unfortunately, I lost one at the wedding. I don’t know how, or where… they just seemed to disappear. I’m just relieved it wasn’t an expensive pair! Having an extra on hand would have certainly been nice.

BEACHY ATTIRE.

Duh. Cute shorts, loose tanks, tube tops, sundresses, swim trunks if you’re a guy… you catch my drift. Again, super common sense, but hey, I never even thought of writing on this topic until I massively failed myself…

BATTERY PACK FOR YOUR PHONE.

From my experience, my phone’s battery tends to drain a lot quicker on an island… and the only thing I can think of causing this is likely the weak (or lack of) signal in island areas which prompts the phone to drain battery by constantly searching for signal. Having a portable battery pack on hand is always helpful if you know you will be out for most of the day and your phone may need an energy boost.

A LIGHTWEIGHT BACKPACK.

Carry your water bottle, battery pack, phone, wallet, sunscreen, and other day-to-day essentials in a lightweight backpack so that you can have everything you need easily accessible, without breaking your shoulders carrying it around all day.

Are there any other items you feel are necessary to pack when traveling an island? Please share with me so I don’t mess up again the next time I travel one!

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