Frequently Overlooked Vacation Items
 

We are going to the Bahamas (Long Island) for the first time later this month. We are trying to anticipate bringing everything that we need to be prepared for our trip-- wide brimmed hat, DEET insect spray, camera with extra film, etc. For those of you who have experience traveling to this part of the world, what frequently overlooked items would you recommend that a new traveller be sure to include? We will be going to Long Island for five days which is fairly remote, so we want to be sure and bring items that would be unavailable or expensive once we get there. Also, any info about your expereinces in travelling to the Out Islands would be appreciated.

If you or your SO get ear problems from swimming pools, then I would bring some swimmers ear. My husband suffered from this a few years ago and we combed the island of Barbados and could find none. He had an earache the entire trip.

Peace

We often go to Cat Island, as well as other remote locations, and I've found it's difficult to find the types of sunscreen I prefer, so we always bring plenty.

Also, I spent days on Grand Turk trying to find Immodium, so now I bring the OTC pharmaceuticals I might need during our vacation: Tylenol in several varieties, Aleve, Immodium, Dramamine II, Benadryl (which, in addition to its advertised uses, can also help you sleep, reduce itching from bites, and help with seasickness). This kind of stuff is very difficult to find, if at all.

We've also found camera BATTERIES are hard to find unless they are basic AA types. Since we've jettisoned our old-style SLR camera and moved to all-digital, this is less of a problem, though we do bring re-chargeable batteries, a charger, and extra memory cards.

Don't know about Long Island, but on Cat Island there is NO BANK whatsoever. Thing about bringing plenty of cash!

You'll have room for all the extras because you don't need much in the way of clothing.

Please post a report when you get back. Long island is on our list to get to. We've been to Eleuthera twice and love it. I strongly agree with the cash recommendation. Most places on eleu do not take credit (few may but there is an extra 5% charge) so lots of cash. We also rent a car and pay the full amount in cash upfront. I am presuming you are staying at one of their two hotels so you don't have to worry about food items. Beach chairs that fit in the luggage may be another suggestion. We don't mind laying on our towels but we often run into people who bring their own chairs.

A must have is Skin-so-soft by Avon, it works wonders at keeping the critters away, and it keeps your skin well hydrated.

I also second the sun screen. Bring a LOT, the sun is very direct and you can get a bad burn rather quickly, spoken from experience.

Have a great trip.

I always take a small flashlight [for a hundred uses],CD's [for either the car or the room] , beer cozies [cause I hate it warm], booklight [in case I'm reading & the partner isn't] and a mesh bag for those stops at a store.

Thanks for the very helpful suggestions from all of you. We are staying at Cape Santa Maria and I will post a trip report when we get back.

We always carry a soft side collapsable cooler so we have cold drinks at our finger tips --we stay at our condo and don't have beach side services there.

Ziploc bags! So many uses, oh so handy to have around!
Enjoy your trip. =)

If you intend to cook there, bring spices. Just bring the basic ones - salt, pepper, chili peppers, garlic salt etc.

one of my friends is going to csm in the fall so she will be excited when i pass along your coming trip report. someone else i know who went recently said you have the best beach.
the above suggestions are all good ones. especially a mini-flashlight. try to get some 'After-Bite'- a topical roll on. or benedryl spray. bugs are bad at dawn and cocktail hour to dark, and right after rain showers. if you plan to snorkel maybe a close fitting tshirt so your back doesn't burn.
unless you are going with a tan take 30 or 45spf. and use it generously!
good sunglasses. prescription if you need them to read. copies of any scrip meds you need.
now about what you should not bring. clothes. pack. then take 1/3 - 1/2 of it out. you will spend most of each day in a bathing suit. have a great first trip to the islands, it will probably not be your last!