At the end of the month, we are headed back to Nevis for the boys’ spring break.  We haven’t been to the Four Seasons Nevis since 2017 when the boys were only two and four and I’m so excited to return! I know that packing for an island vacation can be tricky and the addition of kids makes it even trickier. Since we have a couple of weeks until our trip, I’m trying to be mindful about packing now so I’m not scrambling at the last minute. Today I’m going to share my spring break packing list for our Nevis trip in hopes that it might help others prepare for vacation. I’m going to cover not only what I’m packing for myself, but also for the boys and my husband – a spring break packing guide for the entire family!

Traveling to Nevis

Ever since we went to Nevis in 2017, I have been shouting from the rooftops about how great the island is. If you’re not familiar with Nevis, it is a small island in the Caribbean neighboring Saint Kitts. While Saint Kitts is fully developed, Nevis is calmer, quieter, and equally as beautiful, but with a small-town feel.

We previously stayed at the Four Seasons Nevis and I really loved the resort, so that’s where we will be staying again this spring break. I’m excited to see the renovated areas, but I’m even more excited to revisit the people and the colonial architecture, which make it unlike any other Caribbean country we’ve traveled to.  

 

Tips for Packing for Spring Break

Before diving into my spring break packing list, I wanted to touch on two helpful tips. First, I recommend checking if your accommodations have a washer and dryer on site. If these appliances are available, they can significantly cut down on your packing needs. At the Four Seasons Nevis, every block of rooms has a shared washer and dryer with detergent. This was so helpful during our last visit and I’m glad it’s still an option. For the boys, I generally pack a daytime outfit, a nighttime outfit, and swim trunks for each day.  But since we will have the washer and dryer, I am going to cut down on this a bit.

My second tip is to try planning out your daily activities before your spring break trip as much as possible. Knowing what activities are planned can help prevent overpacking or being unprepared while on vacation. We have a mix of activities planned for this trip- a catamaran ride, the Hamilton Tour (Alexander Hamilton was born in Nevis!), a dune buggy tour of the island, water sports, a monkey tour, and a spa day for JB & I (:  I’ve been keeping these plans in mind while packing.

Spring Break Packing List: For the Kids

My boys are elementary-aged, which actually makes packing for an island vacation much easier compared to when they were babies or toddlers. Here’s what I’ll be packing the boys for our spring break trip.

• Packing Cubes: I actually use packing cubes for the whole family, everyone gets a different color.  I think they make unpacking so much easier! This set of 8 packing cubes is only $18 and has tons of options.
• Travel Outfit: The boys’ travel outfit is always something comfortable. I also include an extra layer in case it gets cold in the air.
• Travel Bag & Entertainment: The kids bring their backpacks and I always fill them with items to stay busy during a drive or flight. I pack their travel bags with books, UNO cards, snacks, and an empty water bottle. We also let them use JB’s iPad during trips.
• AirTags: I also loop a little AirTag through their travel bags using this system. Doing this gives me peace of mind while inside the airport. I place the other two AirTags in our checked luggage.
• Dopp Kitt: I use this toiletry bag from TRVL for the boys and I have it monogrammed, so they know whose is whose. Inside I pack their toothbrushes, toothpaste, sunscreen, a tangle teezer, and conditioning hair spray.
• OTC Medications: I also pack a small bag with OTC medications, just in case someone gets sick.  I feel like if you bring it, they won’t get sick. But if you don’t, they are bound to get sick. I’m kidding – but that seems to be how it’s worked for us. It’s better to be safe than sorry and stressed. Or have to pay a ton for Tylenol!
• Shoes: The boys wear their tennis shoes on the plane. Then I pack their sandals (these are so cute and only $20), and their floafers.  Even for nice dinners, floafers will do just fine for an island vacation!
• Shirts: For dinners out, I pack a mix of button-downs, mandarin collars, Lacoste, and the Beaufort Bonnet Company polos. For the daytime, I pack t-shirts and rash guards.
• Bottoms: Shorts and swim trunks are the only bottoms I plan on packing for the boys.
• Belts: I pack one belt each for evenings we go out to dinner.
• Sweater: I am also packing one sweater each for cooler nights. The breeze can get chilly and it’s always nice to have something to cover up a bit.
• Underwear
• Pajamas
• Goggles
• Sunglasses: Even though my kids don’t really ever wear sunglasses, I pack them just in case!

Island Vacation Clothing for Kids

If you find yourself needing new kids’ clothing for your spring break, here are a few of my favorite places to shop for the boys:

1. Zara
2. H&M
3. Shop Bagsy
4. Courtside Kids
5. TBBC
6. Southern Tide
7. Vineyard Vines
8. Dillards
9. Lila and Hayes

Spring Break Packing List: For Myself

I love to use vacation as a time to have fun with my wardrobe.  I tend to reach for brands like Agua Bendita that instantly make it feel like a vacation (you can find more Agua Bendita pieces here). If you’re heading on spring break and looking for style inspiration, be sure to check out my favorite resort outfit ideas! Beyond tropical clothing, here’s everything else I’ll be packing for our upcoming trip.

• Toiletry Bag: I pack my bathroom items in this hanging toiletry bag – it is excellent quality and holds so much! Be sure to check out my previous post on what’s inside my toiletry bag for a complete list of items I pack.
• Makeup Bag: I pack my makeup in a separate TRVL bag.  In tropical weather, I like to go pretty easy on makeup.  For the most part, I stick to my favorite Westman Atelier products (I love this bronzing powder applied with this blending brush), a great concealer with SPF, and a fun lip.
• Shoes:  I’m packing my new Ancient Greek sandals, which will go with almost everything, court shoes (we plan to play pickleball and tennis while we’re there), and these raffia heels.
• Travel Outfit: The trip is a long one – It involves planes, taxis, and a 15-minute boat ride. Additionally, I get cold easily, especially in airports. I always advise keeping the length of travel and fluctuating temps in mind when planning a travel outfit. I plan to wear my Deanne pants, a favorite classic tee, and a lightweight cashmere wrap – all in navy. For shoes, I’ll either wear ballet flats, mules, or Tretorns. I typically like to wear a classic everyday outfit like this while traveling.
• Dresses: This is where I can get in trouble and overpack! I know I want to bring this beautiful new Staud dress. I also might pack a dress or two from my roundup of resort favorites.
• Sarong:  I plan to pack at least one sarong – they are so easy to throw on with bathing suits. This block print sarong is a current fave!
• Swimwear:  No spring break packing list is complete without swimwear! I will definitely be packing my latest loves – this swim cardigan and matching swimsuit (you can see how I styled these swimwear pieces here.) This one-piece swimsuit with adjustable straps will be making its way into my suitcase as well. Check out my roundup of 30 favorite swimsuits for additional inspiration!
• Hats:  My Lorna Murray hat is coming with me, I may even bring two! They pack like a dream and I just love the look of them.
• Activewear: If you plan to do activities during a trip, be sure to add activewear to your spring break packing list. I can’t wait to play pickleball and tennis on the island! Lately, I’ve been loving my activewear sets from Southern Tide, so I plan to bring them along.
• Vitamins: You know you’re getting old when taking your vitamins is an absolute must! I use this pill organizer, keeping my daytime and nighttime vitamins separate.
• Sweater:  It’s always a good idea to pack a sweater and/or a cashmere wrap for chilly ocean breeze evenings during an island vacation.
• Underwear: I’ll be bringing my favorite underwear, of course!
• Pajamas: LAKE pajamas are the perfect pjs to keep you cool and comfy.
• Sunglasses: Sunglasses are a must for your spring break packing list! I love my Chiara sunglasses from J. McLaughlin and my $25 pair from Amazon.
• Accessories: I always pack a mix of accessories. My Hope Coin necklace is my most-worn piece of jewelry right now, next to my wedding ring! I’ll accessorize it with some new Lisi Lerch x Florida Friends collection pieces (a second collection coming soon!)  My dogwood stud earrings from Susan Shaw are getting a lot of wear lately, along with these Gardenia Hoops from Julie Vos.
• Bags: Be sure to pack a few different bags for any spring break trip. This Lorna Murray bag fits everything for a day at the beach. I will also bring a smaller straw bag and a clutch.

Spring Break Packing List: For My Husband

When it comes to packing for vacation, JB always packs for himself. I usually leave out a few things and he fills in the rest. JB is actually color blind, so most of the clothes I buy him pair together. But, if you ever see him out with a really loud shirt, he was unaware of what color it was, and I didn’t have the heart to tell him that it didn’t match great (:  Some of his favorite places to shop for vacation clothing are Stitch, Vineyard Vines, and J.Mclaughlin.  

What to Pack for Spring Break

I know this was quite a long spring break packing list, but I hope that its thoroughness is helpful! If you’re looking for additional vacation style inspiration, be sure to check out my favorite swimsuits and resort outfit ideas. And if you’re ready for a warm vacation, but you’re not sure where to visit, my Florida resort guide and Southeast resort guide might be helpful. Happy travels!