In 2021, when the world was just starting to open up after months of COVID lockdowns, my husband Mike and I decided we needed an adventure. But true to his style, he didn’t just plan a trip, he turned it into a game.

One evening at home, Mike scrambled the name of our destination on the kitchen blackboard and said that if I spelled the destination correctly (I’m terrible at spelling), he would let me know if I was correct, and I had to promise not to use Google.

The countdown began, and I stared at the letters every day, trying to crack the code. However, no matter how I rearranged the letters in my head, I remained stumped. I also assumed it was one word, not two, so that didn’t help.

Packing Chaos and the Runway

Before the big reveal, there was the packing. Imagine being told you’re going on an international trip with only this clue: “Bring a bathing suit and a toothbrush.” That’s it.

Naturally, my brain went into overdrive. Step one: bathing suits. I bought…way too many. Our living room became a runway, with Mike (and the dogs) as my captive audience. After multiple fashion shows and plenty of clapping, I finally picked a few favorites.

Then came sundresses, piles of sandals, “just in case” outfits…and before I knew it, my bedroom looked like a tornado had hit it, and I had two checked bags and two carry-ons for a seven-day trip.

Mike, calm as ever, just smiled and let me have my fun. Watching him keep the secret while I wrestled with “flats or heels?” was honestly part of the adventure before we even left the house.

Eventually, I pared it down to one checked bag and two carry-ons, which felt like a small victory at the time.

🌴 The Wanderlist: Packing Essentials

Because every adventure comes with lessons (and usually overpacking), here are a few things I packed and packed with.

[Luggage set & underseat carry-on] – lightweight, easy to spot on the conveyor belt, and perfect for stress-free travel. [Vacuum bags] – saved suitcase space and let me squeeze in a few extra outfits.

[Bathing suit] – a great fit makes all the difference; this style was my favorite. [Beach cover-up] – perfect for sand-to-lunch transitions.

[Reef-safe sunscreen] – essential for Caribbean days in the sun.

After all the packing drama, the next part of the adventure was fairly light and breezy. There were layover adventures, in-flight surprises, and a few essential items that truly saved the day.