Traveling with kids means that there are always a million things that you are thinking about that you need to bring. But the beauty with traveling to a resort is that the resort already has a lot of items to make your stay comfortable and if you forget something, there is usually a market where you can pick it up. But even with all of the amenities of resorts, there are still items that I bring that make our stay feel more comfortable and I will outline those here. These are in addition to your core items like shoes, clothes, etc.
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Sleeping
Ensuring that the kids get the sleep they need is very important to everyone enjoying the trip. And as the kids get older, no problem, they sleep in the bed in the room just like you. But when they are younger, there are items that helped us. We used the pack ‘n play when they were babies/toddlers. This allowed them to have their own space to sleep that they were comfortable in and I could keep it right next to me. Some resorts offer pack ‘n plays or cribs with your stay so be sure to look into that. One less thing to pack!
Eventually they moved to the bed but I was nervous about them rolling off in the middle of the night. So I have been using the Hiccapop inflatable bed rails. This is a set of 2 bedrails that folds up very compact and I bring it everywhere with me (including when we fly). I still use these today.
If an inflatable bed is needed for your stay, I love the Hiccapop inflatable toddler bed (and yes, I love everything hiccapop). It has guardrails, which is nice if you are still worried about them falling off of the mattress plus it is low to the ground. It also uses crib size sheets so if you still have a child in a crib or just transitioned from a crib, you would already have the sheets needed on hand. As your kids get older and you don’t need the guardrails, Funboy has some really fun options. A race car? A castle? Your child will love these!
For infants and toddlers, another popular option right now is the Slumberpod. Parents love this because it keeps it dark for the child while they are sleeping but the parents can still have a light on in their room if needed. We never used this because by the time it came out, my youngest was close to outgrowing it (for our needs). But it is a great concept and if you’re interested, there are a lot of reviews you can check out.
Sound Machine
I bring a portable sound machine with us to resorts. The kids like a little white noise (the fan is usually on in their room at home) plus with 5 people sleeping in one room together, it is nice to have it. We have been using this one since my oldest was born and it is simple and perfect.
General Essentials
These are my items that are not exciting but are essential.
- Arm & Hammer bags for diapers
- Travel size toiletries
- Kids toothbrush (I always throw it away when we check out)
- This travel set is a good option for toothbrush and toothpaste
- Sanitizing wipes
- Sunscreen in a lotion or spray
- Mesh Pouches: These can be used for anything and everything you need. Sunscreen, wet clothes, changes of clothes, snacks, etc.
Pool
Goggles. My kids will absolutely want goggles and if yours are like mine, make sure you don’t forget them! For pool toys, I try to keep them simple and inexpensive so if they don’t make it home with us, it’s not a big deal. Diving toys are a great option:
My kids love the Waboba glove and ball. But they are not cheap so I would want to make sure that comes home with me. Also, if you will be at a crowded resort pool, this could be disruptive to other guests. So it all depends.
The poolside edition of Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza is a fun game to play by the pool.
If your child is not yet able to swim, you may want to bring a life jacket as well. I know if you’re flying this may be hard to pack but some resorts offer life jackets, so be sure to look into that.
Beach
What you will need here will depend on whether the resort has everything you need for chairs and umbrellas or whether you need to bring your own set up (like we did at South Seas Resort). I will list everything out below but keep in mind if you are going to a resort that has a full beach set up, some of this is not necessary.
- Sand toys
- Shell bags
- Inflatable boogie boards
- Floats (these were essential in Captiva but check out my other post that talks about where you can find a float on the island once you’re there)
- Scooper/sand sifter
- Beach wagon (we use a fishing cart for ours but just make sure what you choose has big wheels like the one I linked)
- Shade (We use either our Shibumi Shade or our tent)
- Chairs that fold up
- Collapsible Cooler option
- Large cooler option with wheels
- Beach puddle
- Snack tray (if we have a kitchen, I fill this each day with snacks and bring it down to the beach with us)
- Kids towel hoodie (so nice if you need to be able to get them out of a wet swimsuit while you’re out on the beach)
- Snorkel gear: One piece option or two piece set option
A Bag to Carry It All
When going to a resort, I always have a large bag that can carry all of the things and then a small bag that holds my personal essentials (phone, room key, cash, etc.). The small bag goes inside the bigger one and I just grab it when I need it. For my big bag, if I’m doing a tote style, I either use my bogg bag or a straw bag. Sometimes I prefer a backpack and then I use my Beis backpack. If I have to get on a flight to get to the resort, I’m bringing my Beis backpack so then that makes my mind up for me. For my small bag, I have a crossbody. Below are some options:
- Large tote bags: Bogg bag, SCOUT Deano tote, Simple Modern beach bag, mesh beach bag, straw beach bag
- Backpack bag: Beis expandable backpack
Nice to Haves
If you are driving and able to pack more than you would when you’re flying, these are some other items I have brought to resorts with us that made us a little more comfortable. Or maybe you are spending a week at your resort and want to make it feel like home so you bring those extra items. When we do a one night stay at a local resort, I bring as little as possible but if we are staying at the resort for a week, it may be worth packing extra items.
- Folding bouncer: I brought this to Hawks Cay with us and it was nice to have somewhere to set my son when he was an infant. I ended up using it all the time at home too.
- Scooters: If you’re going to a large resort like Hawks Cay or South Seas, having a scooter is fun for the kids. We use the mini Micro scooter when they are younger and then the regular when they get older
- Toddler toilet seat
- Changing pad
- Folding pack ’n play mattress
- Folding step stool: Yes, if we are driving and we are doing a long stay, I like to bring this so the boys can wash their hands and brush their teeth like they would at home.
- Football or soccer ball: I linked the glow in the dark ones because it would be fun to also be able to play at night with the kids
- Bubbles: If you have a toddler and your vacation set up allows for this, grab some small/inexpensive bubbles and let them entertain themselves for hours (or even 10 minutes feels like a lifetime when you have toddlers)
- Quillow from Staykation: I love bringing our own blankets to a resort and the Quillow from Staykation is such a great way to do so. They make them with a handle that can fit on your carry on handle or a backpack version for kids.