One week before the flight to the Dominican Republic, everything is ready. The passport, the check-in with the airline, the hotel, the tours. You imagine yourself on a beach with turquoise waters, lying in a hammock with a mojito in your hand and, suddenly, you remember that you have to pack your luggage!
At that moment we get doubts about what we should take to our trip. But don't worry, today we want to give you some tips on the essential things to bring in your suitcase to Punta Cana. Here we go!
If you are going to Punta Cana, it will not normally be a weekend trip. The average stay in this part of the Dominican Republic usually ranges from 10 days to 1 month. That is why we must take into account many factors before choosing which suitcase to take to Punta Cana.
If we are going to be in a luxury resort, we will surely have many more amenities than if we do it in a lower category hotel, so we will not have to fill our suitcase so much.
We must also take into account the type of trip we want to make. If we are going to spend the day at the hotel pool we will not need as many clothes as if we are going to spend our days hiking around the Dominican geography.
The most advisable suitcase to take to Punta Cana is one that is between 60 and 80 liters, with more capacity than one of 40 to put everything you need, but not so big as to fill it with objects that we can do without them during our vacation.
Another recommendation is that, if you go as a couple or group, use as few suitcases as possible to make everything much easier when traveling. Carrying a small backpack as hand luggage for flights and buses is another very good idea.
Now, let's get down to work. It's time to make a checklist with all the things you can't forget when packing your suitcase to go to Punta Cana. Remember that this list is only a recommendation, and although we firmly believe in the advice we are going to give you, each person has their own needs and can adapt the list in their own way.
We start with the main thing for the vacations. And is that many times we do not know how many clothes to pack or what kind of clothes.
You have to remember that Punta Cana has a tropical climate that is usually hot all year round. That is why in our suitcase we will have to pack more short clothes than for other types of vacations:
For footwear we want to dedicate a few paragraphs apart.
As for every trip, we recommend first of all comfortable sports shoes.
You can also wear dress shoes or heels for special occasions.
Sandals or flip-flops are a must, since most of your time in Punta Cana will be spent on the beautiful beaches of the Caribbean.
Finally, we also recommend that you wear comfortable shoes for the excursions, as many of them will require you to walk for quite a long time.
A towel is usually very necessary on any trip. We recommend you to bring one in your suitcase for Punta Cana. However, you should also know that hotels often have shower and beach towels for their guests.
It is best to contact your accommodation to find out if they have this service, so you do not put unnecessary things in your suitcase.
In addition to your suitcase to Punta Cana, we strongly recommend that you also take a small beach backpack on your vacation. This item can help us to carry all the important things with us when we are away from the hotel or resort.
In addition, it will serve as extra storage for our waiting at airports and during flights.
There are plenty of pharmacies in Punta Cana. But when you go shopping, remember that you will pay much more for any medicine or health element.
That is why we urge you to prepare a small basic first aid kit at home: band-aids, gauze, antihistamines, gastric protectors and Betadine.
If you are going on excursions such as, for example, visiting Saona Island, you should take into account that you will spend some hours by boat. If you tend to get seasick, it is a good idea to take biodramine so that you don't have such a hard time when traveling by water.
The toiletry bag is also a mandatory part of any trip. For Punta Cana, we recommend you to bring:
It seems obvious, but you wouldn't be the first or the last person to realize that they don't have their passport with them when they arrive at the airport. To make everything much more secure, we also recommend that you scan all important documents and upload them to the cloud.
The driver's license is another thing to bring in your suitcase to Punta Cana. You might want to rent a car or take a buggy tour someday, so don't forget it.
For our arrival in Punta Cana, we must have some cash. This is essential, since, if we have euros or dollars when we arrive at the airport, we will be able to exchange them right there for Dominican pesos.
One recommendation is that if you have a transfer to the hotel or have private transportation in Punta Cana, wait to exchange the money at a local exchange house, as the exchange rate is usually higher at the airports.
You can also talk to your bank to exchange some Dominican pesos before you travel.
Still, if you are one of those who use credit cards for everything, we have to tell you that this method of payment is becoming more and more widespread in almost all Dominican businesses. But it never hurts to carry some cash with us.
Whether you are passionate about photography or just starting out, we recommend taking a camera set with you to Punta Cana.
The natural sites of the Dominican Republic are breathtaking, so a compact or SLR camera will bring out the best side of this part of the Caribbean.
You can also take a GoPro-style sports camera with you, as many activities are related to the sea. Recording or taking pictures of a snorkel in Punta Cana will be the best souvenir we can keep.
Due to the exceptional situation that we are living these last years because of the COVID-19, it is best to carry a small kit or first aid kit with essential things such as masks or hydroalcoholic gel.
If you do not want to carry it in your suitcase, do not worry, in the Dominican Republic you can buy these products for a very low price.
We are now entering one of the most difficult moments when packing a suitcase. We often don't know which accessories to take and which not to take. This is our short list of the accessories that you can not forget:
It is no secret that there are many mosquitoes in the Dominican Republic. The tropical climate together with the high humidity makes these insects proliferate even in tourist areas.
That is why it is advisable to take an anti-mosquito repellent with you on your trip, as well as an after bite for when the bite has already occurred.
In hotels you can also ask for plug-in repellents to put in your room.
There are many things you can bring that are not on this list. But remember not to fill your suitcase with things that you will not use during your stay in Punta Cana.
Also, not filling your suitcase is perfect to make room for souvenirs that you acquire in Dominican territory in tours and activities.
If you are going to do tourism in the Dominican Republic or any other part of the planet, it is also almost mandatory that you take out a good medical insurance to cover your injuries or illnesses in another country.
We hope that this list has been to your liking, and that what you take with you in your suitcase to Punta Cana is the desire to spend an unforgettable vacation.