If the hectic day-to-day tasks of work and home are getting to you, start dreaming of a romantic, couples-only getaway. These types of vacations are the ideal way to relax, reconnect with each other, and put away stress for a while. Whether you’re planning to discover the beauty of an exotic island or simply relax at a tropical beach resort, packing the right combination of essentials will make your vacation easier. Instead of scrambling to throw everything in your suitcase at the last minute, I’ve compiled some of the most important must-haves for your packing checklist. Keep reading for details, so you’re prepared for your memorable trip.

Documents
Your first step in the packing process should be to ensure you have all necessary travel documentation prepared and accessible. This includes passports, drivers license, flight tickets and boarding passes, hotel/resort confirmation details, and travel insurance information. Also, make sure you have your credit cards and a small amount of cash with you. Last, write out a list of emergency contact information to take with you, and make sure a trusted family, friend, or neighbor has your travel itinerary to access in case they need it.

On-The-Go Essentials
Pack your phone charging cord and portable charger or power bank, headphones or earbuds, and an empty reusable water bottle. Make sure your luggage tag is up to date and consider packing some protein bars or other snacks, travel-sized hand sanitizer, mints or gum, and a travel pillow.

Resort Clothing
Most couples planning a getaway to a couples resort like to have a mix of casual and elegant clothing. Be sure to pack a swimsuit, plenty of clothes that can get dirty if you plan any excursions off-site, and enough evening clothing for finer dining experiences. And while you’ll probably be wearing flip-flops or sandals a lot, don’t forget to pack comfortable close-toed walking shoes so you can take longer walks through town or plan a hike or other outside adventure. Some couples visiting a couples resort like to coordinate their outfits or wear complementary colors for special photoshoots at the resort or for a sunset dinner. Before you leave, be sure to check if the resort has dress codes for specialty restaurants or events.

Health and Wellness Items
If you take regular medications, those should be at the top of your packing list. Also consider taking a small first aid kit and pain relievers, in addition to motion sickness medicine, insect repellent spray, or allergy medication. It’s also a great idea to pack electrolyte packets to ensure you stay hydrated in the heat.

Outside Necessities
If you plan on being outside a lot during your vacation – either at the pool or the beach –
be sure you have everything you need to stay comfortable. Pack a beach bag that’s large enough to hold a book or magazine, sunglasses, water bottle, reef-safe sunscreen, lip balm, a waterproof phone pouch, portable phone charger, and a towel.

Extras
These below items aren’t essential, but they can make your couples resort getaway even more fun. Consider packing a travel journal to document your activities and special memories together, a specially wrapped gift that your partner might not expect, a disposable instant camera to capture moments on the go, a fun card game that you enjoy playing together, and a notepad to write encouraging love notes to your partner. These thoughtful gestures can make your vacation together even more special.

As you’re getting your items together, remember that overpacking can be a real pain. Leave space to bring back souvenirs or other items you collect on your trip and consider sharing toiletries or other common items so you don’t pack duplicates. Remember, your couples resort vacation is a time of relaxation and bonding, and with the right packing strategy, you’re stopping your trip off on the right foot!

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Last week marked my sixth time to visit Jamaica. Not a lot has changed over the years. Travel time is around 3:30 minutes from DFW. The island is lush with pristine beaches and mountains in the background. Beautiful flowers, trees, it is very green. The Jamaican people are English speaking and friendly. My stay this time took me to Hyatt Zilara, an adults only resort but connected somewhat to Hyatt Ziva a family friendly resort. This could work for a multigenerational family trip. The grounds were well maintained and beautiful with lush greenery, palm trees, and beautiful flowers. Service was good just remember you are on Jamaica time and everything is laid back and slow. Room service was offered with an iPad in my room to order from. I loved the lobby coffee bar, you need to try Blue Mountain coffee.  Around the property were jerk shacks, outdoor restaurants, as well as indoor with air conditioners. The food was good and lots of options even for picky eaters, be careful with the jerk chicken...it can be spicy, HOT HOT HOT! The beach was well taken care of. Plenty of palm trees for shade with chairs. Cabana rentals are available. Options for pools were many. It was easy to find a quiet place to sit and relax or enjoy the entertainment with the pool staff for a more lively day. Love that they provide staff for pool and beach service. I would love to help you to try out Jamaica!

My first time to Alaska I decided taking a cruise would be the best way to see as many spots as possible. I took a Princess Cruise out of Seattle to explore Alaska. I choose the Discovery Princess, this is Princess newest and biggest ship for Alaska. Three football fields long big! So you can imagine plenty of activities and spaces to enjoy while onboard. I enjoyed the beautiful Alaskan terrain and plenty of wildlife to see. I saw the following; bald eagles, whales, seals, a bear, and mountain goats. I viewed most of these right from my balcony room. Having a balcony makes life very convenient if it's raining or cold. Make sure to take binoculars! Princess has a naturalist speaking over the sound system explaining all the things surrounding you and where to look when you view the glaciers, terrain, animals, etc. My favorite things were to order a latte and and sit on the balcony. Yay for room service that is included with your Princess medallion. What is a medallion? It is a small round object you wear for your cruise that opens your room door,  you order room service from anywhere on the boat, you can even play in the casino with money being charged to your room.  I like the reserved seating times. Discovery has three main dining rooms. You can upgrade to specialty restaurants if you would like. I ate at the Crown Grill one evening for my Anniversary dinner and it was amazing. Princess has formal nights you do not want to miss. It was fun getting all dressed and taking pictures. Of course that was option not mandatory.

What is there to do on the ship you ask? So many activities for you to participate in. Entertainment includes shows in the big theater, movies on the upper deck with popcorn, outdoor activities like a basketball court, mini golf, staff led games like egg toss. If you want to stay inside they have trivia, board games, and card tournaments. They have adult only areas and late night open mic nights and karaoke. Line dancing lessons in the Piazza or how about some Zumba? The entertainment staff does a wonderful job getting the people involved. Something for everyone.  If you want pampered try out the spa. I like how you can book this before you step on the ship by way of your app.

My excursions were a little laid back. First day was Ketchikan and I did a electric bike ride and hiked in the forest with a guide. My husband went halibut fishing where he caught on and it was delivered to the ship and the chef cooked it for us. Yummy!! When in Juneau I explored town by foot, it had many shops, restaurants, and local watering holes. The tram is a good idea. Skagway was a private tour that followed the white pass and went into the Yukon where I went to a dog sledding camp. Very interesting how they prepare in the summer for the winter with the dogs. The scenery was amazing in this part. Waterfalls, rivers, mountains, valleys. It was worth the day trip. The last stop was Victoria, BC I got a ticket and boarded a bus that transferred us to town. Victoria is know for their beautiful gardens and it was a very well manicured town. Really pretty. Back to the ship and woke up in Seattle to travel home.

This cruise brought me up to speed on what Alaska has to offer. I hope you choose to do one soon!