what should i take on trip to abaco

For some time, I've been meaning to write nigh what to bring (and not bring) when headed to Abaco or the other Bahamian out islands.

Recently, I noticed that Amanda Walkins, from Women Who Live on Rocks, covered off the latter role quite well with "What Non to Pack for Your Caribbean Vacation." The only thing I might add to her list — at least when travelling to the Bahamian out islands — is your American Express carte du jour. Very few establishments accept it.

Munjack Cay, Abaco, Bahamas

And so, what should you bring?

Forth with the requisite swimsuit, shorts and flip flops, hither are some suggestions from Tom and me and a few of our fellow Abaco lovers. Some of these are items y'all might not automatically remember to pack, simply you'll be glad you did.

• Gallon-sized Ziploc bags. They come in handy for packing liquids in your baggage, stashing moisture bathing suits, storing the day's catch in the refrigerator, protecting cameras, phones and iPads at the beach, roofing sandy shoes for the flying home, and more.

• A folding nylon bag. Information technology tin can serve as a grocery back, laundry sack, beach tote or handbag. Plus, if yous terminate up having to gate check your carry-on luggage (almost roll aboards are as well big for the tiny overhead bins on American Eagle driver planes, for instance) you can stash your laptop, medications and other valuables in the nylon bag and bring it with you into the cabin.

• A small, disposable flashlight. Without a large city nearby, nights in the Bahamian out islands tin can be incredibly night. Though this makes for spectacular stargazing, information technology can be difficult to find your golf cart ignition or the path to your cottage. Plus, electricity in the islands isn't ever as reliable as back home, and in that location may not be a lantern or candles and matches in your hotel room or vacation rental.

• Special dietary needs. In terms of basic groceries, Abaco'due south small markets can supply everything yous need — non to mention Marsh Harbour'southward Maxwell's, which is besides-stocked as whatsoever American grocery. If you lot've got special dietary requirements, however, you may want to bring forth supplies. Alternatively, before your trip, contact the grocery shop closest to where you'll be staying. They may be able to special order items for you. I sometimes do this with caffeine-costless diet soda, for example, since information technology'south not ever easy to observe in Abaco.

• An extra pair of spectacles. If, like me, you've reached the phase where spectacles are no longer optional, bring along an extra pair. I plant these folding reading glasses at our local Walgreen's. Not sure they'd exist suitable for everyday use, but they're great as an emergency back-upward. And Tom recently discovered ThinOptics which, though they remind me of something Ben Franklin might have worn, volition spare you the embarrassment of having to infringe glasses from a stranger to read a menu — which Tom and I once had to practice.

• Actress prescription medication. Though small grocery stores carry basic over-the-counter meds, there'southward no pharmacy on many Bahamian out islands. In Green Turtle Cay, for example, the closest drug shop post-Dorian is in Marsh Harbour. Though they're happy to make full a faxed prescription from your doctor dorsum habitation, picking up your medication will likely become a production involving a ferry, a taxi ride and the improve part of a day.

• Cash. Though nigh restaurants and shops accept Visa and Mastercard, there are no ATMs on many Bahamian out islands. Estimate how much greenbacks you remember you lot'll need. Bring twice that much.

• A couple of pouches of laundry detergent and a few dryer sheets. Over the years, to my husband's please, I've learned to pack a flake lighter. However, this often necessitates doing laundry at the local marina. Detergent and softeners are bachelor on the cay, but they're expensive and often only bachelor in much greater quantities than we need.

• Long pants and a waterproof windbreaker. During the wintertime and early spring, nights can be quite cool and damp. And tropical storms are a possibility at whatever time of year.

This men's fishing shirt from Orvis protects from the sun and dries in minutes.

• A lightweight, long-sleeved shirt. The island sun is incredibly intense, particularly if yous're in, on or near the water. And — though it seems counterintuitive — cloudy days are specially dangerous. (Take it from someone who once suffered 2nd-caste burns after two overcast hours at the embankment.) I love oversized men'due south fishing shirts similar the ane higher up, which I purchased from Orvis years ago. It's thin, vented and dries in minutes. Plus, information technology has lots of pockets for cell telephone, lip balm and sunscreen.

• A swimsuit coverup. Especially on the out islands, some residents consider it disrespectful when visitors parade through the settlement in barely-in that location bikinis or trunks. If you wouldn't walk through town that way dorsum abode, best non do information technology here.

• A minor chef'due south pocketknife. Though vacation rentals are generally well-stocked, we've sometimes found the knives too ho-hum to properly cut bait, clean fish, dice veggies, etc.

• A floating, handheld VHF radio. Granted, it'south a splurge, but it's great for keeping upwardly with what's going on around the cays. Most island businesses use and monitor VHF channel sixteen and many broadcast daily specials, weather updates and other announcements. Plus, since a lot of hotel rooms and holiday rentals don't have phones, you lot'll save a ton on prison cell telephone roaming charges past using the VHF to brand reservations, guild takeout, book solar day trips, arrange ferry pickups, etc.

• A healthy sense of sense of humour. Yeah. I know. Back in (insert your hometown here), life runs like clockwork. Only in the islands? Stuff happens. Or it doesn't. The power will go out at the well-nigh inopportune time. Frogs, lizards and assorted creepy crawlies find their way indoors. The people in the golf cart in front of you stop in the middle of the narrow street to chat leisurely with a passing pedestrian. The phones don't work if information technology rains. Nobody knows why. Information technology'southward only all part of the craziness that is life on a stone.

Here are some boosted "must-brings" from our friends at the Abaco Forum.

And what about y'all? Tell us in the comments section below what items you lot bring or exit behind when you travel to the islands.

Cherokee Sound, Abaco, Bahamas

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Source: https://abacosun.com/2016/01/25/what-to-bring-on-your-island-holiday/

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