I have to say, it feels so wonderful to be back sharing packing list posts with you! Travel style is easily one of my favorite subjects – what you place in your suitcase sets the tone for your trip and thus requires careful consideration. Packing is interwoven with the trip-planning process: you have to figure out what your itinerary holds, look ahead at the weather forecast, and anticipate any challenges (or surprises!) you may face.
This all begins with your current wardrobe, of course. As fun as it may be to purchase new clothing for a specific trip, it can be costly and there can be unexpected mishaps along the way. Personally, I enjoy owning an adaptable wardrobe that makes me feel confident in my skin and that is filled with tried-and-true pieces.
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When considering what to pack for this trip, I took a look back at my Cartagena packing list (you’ll see a fair amount of overlap here!). The weather* at the two destinations is pretty similar, and I knew I’d want a lot of easy linen pieces for St. Croix.
During my trip to Cartagena, I found myself needing to switch from sweaty daytime clothes to a clean, fresh outfit for the evening. I anticipated doing that in St. Croix, and I was glad I packed a few extra pieces in my carry-on bag. I also knew I’d need warm clothing to wear on the plane, as the cabin can sometimes be an ice box. A simple cape scarf (linked below) is thin enough to store in my carry-on bag year-round, yet warm enough to fight the chill on the plane.
Linen pants are another perfect option to wear on a flight to a warm-weather destination, as they’ll help keep you a bit warmer on the plane but also keep you from feeling too sticky after landing – and I had just the pair.
Looking for more packing list inspiration? Discover what's in my suitcase each season: Spring | Summer | Fall | Winter
With my flight outfits covered, my formula for my time on island was simple: thin pieces that can be mixed and matched and garments that are one-piece-wonders. This packing list doesn’t feature any complicated styling tips – it is as easy as grab-and-go.
That’s really what travel packing should be like, anyway. Who wants to spend time putting together complicated outfits when you could be out enjoying the beach?
Without further ado, here’s everything I packed for four days in St. Croix:
ST. CROIX PACKING LIST
While I’m sure we always stood out as tourists on this trip, I can confidently say that I never felt uncomfortable in what I was wearing. Before leaving, I’d read online that the Crucians prefer a slightly more modest dressing style, and I found that to largely be the case. I saw lots of leggings under tunics and dresses, but I also saw locals wearing shorts and sleeveless tops.
As in much of the world, it’s frowned upon to wear a bathing suit when not on the beach in St. Croix. Many of the island’s beaches lack restrooms or changing facilities; since we rented a car, it acted like a mini closet during the trip. I kept my water sneakers in the trunk the entire time, along with my Panama Hat for sun coverage. The only time I skipped my Panama Hat was the boat trip (or anytime we were in the water) – instead, I reached for my baseball cap.
Spending the bulk of one of our days on a boat resulted in quite a sunburn; having options with sleeves and long inseams helped protect my tender skin on the days that followed (along with a tube of aloe, of course). Another delicate item that needed to survive the Crucian sun was my jewelry; I stuck to inexpensive gold-fill or gold-plated earrings.
It’s generally not recommended to swim in gold-plated jewelry (or gold-fill, for that matter – although plenty of people wear it around the clock, including showers and swimming), but as I don’t do it often, I swam in both with no adverse effects. I purposely selected earrings that felt secure, but that I wouldn’t be heartbroken over if they were lost.
Some more unusual accessories on this trip were face masks and, well, unusual for me, this headband. I mentioned in my St. Croix itinerary post that the locals wear their face masks without fail – this is honestly such a feat at the hottest part of the day. I’ve been wearing these Caraa face masks in the summer as they are pretty quick to dry if they get a bit sweaty, and I pretty much packed every mask I own to stay sanitary.
A headband was a bulky, awkward thing to pack, but I’m glad I had it. The wind can be fierce, and at times I was afraid my hat would blow away. Having a headband allowed me to wear my hair down while still keeping it out of my eyes.
*Even though the season has changed we visited St. Croix in August, the weather hasn't grown significantly cooler. In fact, this packing list will always be relevant, as the average high and low temperatures only vary by about 5ºF. Hooray for evergreen content! ℅ denotes gifted product
ST. CROIX OUTFITS
FINAL THOUGHTS ON PACKING FOR ST. CROIX
If we were to return to St. Croix tomorrow, I can gladly say I would utilize this same packing list (in fact, that sounds so wonderful – I can’t wait to return!).
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Questions for you
What are your favorite pieces to bring when traveling to warm destinations?
Do you have a favorite swimsuit cover-up?
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