After cancelling our annual trip to Hawaii last May, I am so freaking excited to be heading there this month! So of course, I’m packing ALL THE THINGS! I’m probably totally overpacking, but hey, a girl’s got to make up for lost travel time.

I thought I’d break down everything that’s going in my suitcase for y’all.

Swimsuits

Obvi, it’s Hawaii! I’ll be packing several of my favorite bikinis, as well as a new one piece that I recently grabbed at Target. I’m not usually a “one piece” girl, but I’ve been kind of feeling them lately.

Cover Ups

I did an Amazon haul recently and shared a ton of great cover up options. I kept most of them and only returned a few because they were THAT GOOD. Cover ups are so essential for poolside or at the beach. I love being able to throw on a cover up if I want to grab a drink at the bar or if I need to go back to the room. It’s just nice to be able to throw something over your swimsuit, rather than putting on actual clothes. And it’s even better when your cover up can double as a dress, (like the black one that’s linked) so you can even wear it to dinner!

Shorts and Tank Tops

As much as I love a good sundress or skirt option, shorts are just practical. You never know when you might decide to go on a hike or go exploring. You can also dress up a pair of shorts for dinner, too.

Nightlife

Sundresses and maxi dresses are my favorite for a tropical vacation! There’s nothing like a flowy dress to make you feel pulled together, while keeping you cool. Pair with a cute pair of sandals and you’re good to go.

Shoes

Speaking of sandals, can you ever have too many? My Tory Burch Miller’s are always at the top of my list no matter where I’m traveling. They one hundred percent go with everything! I’ll also be bringing along the new Steve Madden studded sandals I ordered, as well as some espadrille wedges. And I can’t forget a good pair of sneakers for any walking we might do. I’ll probably do most of my walking from the pool to the beach, but hey, you never know!

Accessories

An outfit is never complete with accessories. Shop my favorite belts, hats, sunglasses and more!

Self Tanner

Is there really anything more important to bring on a tropical vacation than a good tan? I always make sure to tan the night before we leave and then bring my bottle with me for an extra application during our trip. Pink Lily completely nailed it with their new self tanner and has become my new go to. It gives you the most beautiful bronze glow and seems to last a bit longer than others I’ve used. Smells like Hawaii, too!

SPF

Just because you’re feeling tan doesn’t mean you can skip the sunscreen. I wear Tula SPF every single day under my makeup and you all already know how much I love it. It’s also my go to without makeup when I’m at the pool or the beach. There’s an SPF from Coola that’s a water mist that I LOVE to use to reapply throughout the day. For my body, I also love Coola sunscreen and Sun Bum.

Makeup

Since tropical usually means humid, I have to change up my makeup routine quite a bit. For me, the goal of Hawaii makeup is to look sunkissed and fresh. I don’t wear makeup there during the day, but I love to get dressed up and put makeup on for dinner. I start with my favorite Tula primer over my sunscreen because it’s tinted and gives me a little bit of a bronzy glow. Over my primer, I’ll add some rose glow balm, followed by a lightweight foundation. Nothing too heavy that’s going to crease or cake. Next, I’ll add some cream bronzer and highlighter, followed by a cream blush. Then, I set it all with setting spray, add some mascara and lip tint and I’m good to go.

Travel Essentials

There are a few things I love to travel with that just make traveling seem a little easier and little more comfortable. They may also make me feel a little extra ;)

If you’re like me and have the major travel bug after being on lockdown for so long, I sincerely hope you get the chance to get out there and travel again soon! I also hope that this post helped give you some inspiration on what to pack for that next vacation. Please always feel free to reach out with any questions or comments. I love to hear from you!

Summer Vacation Packing List