The Ultimate Honeymoon Packing List For A Romantic Getaway

A honeymoon isn’t just any trip, so your standard vacation packing procedures may not be as effective. Since you’ll be packing for your first-ever vacation as husband and wife, everything you put into your suitcase should be centered around creating the best experience for you both and enjoying your time away together. Unfortunately, limited luggage space can make honeymoon packing a challenge.

Don’t worry! We know packing for a honeymoon is no walk in the park, so we’ve created a honeymoon packing list for a 1 - 2 week getaway to help you track and simplify things. You’ll take most of the stress out of packing for your romantic honeymoon getaway by following this ultimate honeymoon packing checklist.

Vacations are meant to be relaxing, and honeymoons should be even more so. Here are some helpful tips for honeymoon packing that can help ensure your romantic vacation goes as smoothly and wonderfully as it should:

Avoid delays or extra fees at the airport by weighing your bags beforehand. The last thing you want to do on your honeymoon getaway is to repack an overweight bag in a crowded airport. That’s why it’s a great idea to weigh your bags before you leave for your trip. Knowing before you get to the airport that your bag is overweight gives you the opportunity to redistribute items between bags or leave less important items behind. The more accurate the luggage scale, the better.

It may come in handy to have both paper and digital copies of all your essential travel documents, including your identification, immunization records, visas, flight confirmations, and hotel reservations. This can be useful as a backup just in case you misplace any of your information or run into technical problems retrieving your digital copies. Keep in mind that you should still travel with your original passport and other documents required by your destination.

Some travel protection plans include a convenient contact number for emergency assistance. You never know when you’ll actually need emergency contact information, so ensure that you keep this information somewhere safe and easy to find. Consider keeping this information somewhere close by, like your wallet, pocket, or backpack.

Letting your bank know that you will be traveling internationally is critical to avoid financial headaches when you’d rather be enjoying your honeymoon to the fullest. If your banking institution is unaware that you will be out of the country, they may block international transactions to protect you. It’s quite frustrating and time-consuming to get your cards unblocked once you’re already abroad, so avoid this hiccup by advising your bank about your travel plans.

Don’t wait until the last minute to refill and pack all your important prescriptions. This should be done ahead of your trip and as early as possible so that you’re not scrambling around trying to get things together at the last minute.

You can make the most out of your honeymoon destination by knowing as much as possible about it before you get there. Read and bring along some guidebooks so you have a convenient source of information handy on your trip. Destination guides can help you plan what to see, where to go and how to get there from the airport or your resort.

A VPN will help you have more private and secure access to the internet while abroad. This comes in handy when traveling internationally as all your online data will be encrypted. This protects your usernames, passwords, credit card numbers, browser cookies, and other identifying information from being stolen should you access the internet in an unfamiliar setting. Streaming services may also work differently outside of the U.S. A VPN will allow you to use these services as though you were still back at home.

While there are some items you can leave behind without too much thought, there are others that can cause a serious inconvenience or force you to reschedule your trip if left behind. Here’s a list of everything you will absolutely need to safely travel to and from your honeymoon destination.

• Driver’s license/ passport - Remember that passports are required for international travel

• Credit cards, debit cards, and/or cash

• Paper and digital copies of all essential travel documents

• Blue or black pen for immigration forms

• The local currency of your destination

• Booking confirmations (hotel & flight)

• Prescription medications

• Phone charger

• Electrical converters/adapters - You can check with your resort to find out if these are needed

• Shampoo/conditioner (often provided by resort/hotel)

• Soap/shower gel (often provided by resort/hotel)

• Comb/brush

• Toothbrush/toothpaste

• Floss

• Sunscreen

• Lotion/oil

• Aloe Vera gel

• Band-aids

• Lip balm

• Razors/shaving cream

• Aftershave solution

• Clippers

• Deodorant

• Makeup remover

• Mosquito repellent

• Tweezers

• Pain reliever

• Earplugs

• Sleep mask

Here are some of the key things you’ll need to bring:

• 1 pair of dress shoes

• 1 suit jacket

• 1-3 button-down shirts

• 3-5 t-shirts

• 1-2 pairs of dress pants

• 1 pair of jeans and/or 1 pair of denim shorts

• 1 tie

• 2-4 bras

• 3-5 t-shirts and/or tank tops

• 1-2 pairs of leggings

• 1 cardigan

• 1 sundress

• 1 formal dress

• 1 pair of heels

• Lingerie

• 8-10 pairs of underwear

• 5-8 pairs of socks

• 2-3 pairs of shorts

• 1-2 pairs of jeans

• 1-3 long-sleeve shirts

• 1 light jacket

• 1 sweatshirt

• 1 pair of comfortable walking shoes

• 1 pair of hiking boots

• Pajamas/loungewear

• Sunglasses

Warm weather destinations certainly help you pack a bit lighter, but there are still some essential items you won’t want to leave behind. Here are a few of the basics:

• 2-5 swimsuits (for women: a mix of bikinis & one-pieces)

• 1 pair of flip flops

• 1 - 3 beach cover-ups

• 1 sun hat or baseball cap

• 1 beach towel (many resorts supply these)

• 1 tote or beach bag

When heading to a cold destination, you’ll need clothing that will keep you warm and toasty throughout your trip. Here are some of the items you should have on hand:

• 1 heavy jacket

• 1 pair of mittens

• 1 scarf

• 1 warm hat

• Waterproof shoes, pants, and socks

• Hand and foot warmers

A carry-on bag is probably the most important item you’ll have with you during your trip. Use this bag to carry honeymoon vacation essentials like passports, other travel documents, and any items that you want close by. Ahead of your honeymoon, be sure to invest in a good carry-on bag, and create a packing list to ensure you don’t forget anything important. Of all the essential items we’ve mentioned, it’s best to pack the below in your carry-on bag:

• 1 swimsuit each (especially useful when you get to your destination before check-in time!)

While it is important to know what to bring with you on your honeymoon, it is equally important to recognize some of the things that are best left at home. Resist temptation. There are a few things that you probably won’t need to bring:

It’s unlikely that you are going to need every single one of your favorite shorts, even though you’re going to a sunny destination. You also won’t need an excessive amount of bathing suits either. Be critical and avoid overpacking, especially if you’ll only be traveling for a short time. Pack, and then unpack half of it.

It is best to leave some of your more expensive gadgets behind when heading to a foreign destination. This is especially true if you’ll be getting into quite a bit of activity or going on tours. Expensive items can get lost, stolen, or damaged along the way. Those aren’t the kind of memories you want to make on your honeymoon.

Thank you cards are definitely an appreciated token, but if they are taking up more room in your luggage than you have to spare, you should consider leaving them behind.

The last thing you want when going on your honeymoon is for a mishap, like losing expensive or sentimental jewelry, to suck the fun out of your time together. Leave your valuable jewelry at home, and consider traveling with low-cost replacement jewelry instead. Wedding rings often get lost during snorkeling trips due to a combination of slippery sunscreen and ocean water.

Bringing work on a vacation is a bad idea, and there’s definitely no place for it on a honeymoon! Honeymoons are made for love, so you should disconnect from everyday life and savor romantic moments with your new life partner.

Lastly, check the validity of passports and other items needed for international travel early as possible. Passports with less than six months of validity will usually need to be renewed before travel and renewals can take weeks or months to be processed.

Your honeymoon will already be one of the most important vacations in your lifetime, but there are lots of ways to make it more memorable. Add some magic to your honeymoon and surprise your new spouse, or make planning a romantic itinerary something you can do together ahead of your trip.

Nothing says romance like a private, candlelit dinner, especially if this special dinner is a surprise and the ambiance is just right for love. Underneath the stars, you two will be able to connect even more deeply as you enjoy every bit of your pre-arranged, romantic meal together.

Settle down for a couple’s massage and transcend into serenity together. Make sure to book your spa treatments early on in your honeymoon, so you immediately slip into the right state of mind and leave the stress of the wedding behind.

Picture: Enjoy a romantic couple's massage at Sandal's Saint Vincent.

A honeymoon suite at a luxurious all-inclusive resort will be just the vacation upgrade you need to fully enjoy your honeymoon experience. The best honeymoon suites will make it possible to enjoy things like red rose petals in bed, complimentary drinks, chocolate-covered fruits, and any other indulgences you desire.

Traveling to a new destination certainly calls for being open to adventure or at least trying something new. Some of the best all-inclusive resorts in the Caribbean offer day and night entertainment, land and water sports, and even help you arrange tours so you can explore the island beyond the resort. Trying a new activity with the love of your life will help you two to bond.

Feel free to brag about your newlywed status. You never know, it just might earn you a free honeymoon package. Some honeymoon packages include things like a bottle of chilled sparkling wine in the room, a special turndown service that includes flower petals, and a decadent breakfast in bed.

There you have it — everything you need to know to make packing for your honeymoon vacation a breeze. We hope this ultimate honeymoon packing checklist will come in handy for your romantic getaway, and that you’ll be ready to enjoy an amazing destination in no time.