Practical Tips for Planning a Tropical Trip

There’s sun, there’s sand, and there’s surf… what else do you need? Most travelers believe there is precious little to plan when heading someplace tropical; after all, you’ll be spending most of your time on the beach, sipping some fruity drink and enjoying a lack of responsibility. While beach vacations do tend to be less involved than others, you should still take some time beforehand to plan — otherwise your tropical getaway might never leave the temperate zone.

Where in the Tropical World?

Not all tropical destinations are the same, so you should spend some time considering your options and choosing your vacation spot wisely. First, it is important to understand what you want most out of your tropical trip: Luxury? Adventure? History and culture? Isolation? Wild parties? Next, you should determine where you are willing to go. There are tropical destinations around the world, from the Caribbean to Southeast Asia, and travel times, costs, and more vary from place to place. Every destination is unique, so identifying your vacation needs and goals is imperative.

While it’s impossible to provide an exhaustive list in one blog, here are a few trendy tropical vacation spots you might consider this year:

• Thailand. Thailand has a bit of everything: exotic culture, amazing food, extensive adventure, and gorgeous tropical scenery. You can even find superior luxury if you are willing to pay a bit more for high-dollar resorts, many of which are located right on the beach.
• The Bahamas. The Bahamas remain a jewel of the tropics, with sprawling white sand beaches and surging nightlife. Plus, a recent tourism mishap has caused prices to drop dramatically, so you can visit Exuma, the most renowned Bahamian district, for relatively cheap and crowds will be minimal.
• The Great Barrier Reef. Queensland offers gorgeous beaches and outstanding opportunities for adventure. However, more pressingly, the Great Barrier Reef is disappearing at an alarming rate, losing more than two-thirds in just two years, so you might not have much time left to see it at all.

CC:  lyonora

When and Why

It’s natural to want to plan a trip to the tropics during the summer: That’s when kids are out of school, when work slows down, and when local temperatures become unbearable. However, you should remember that summertime is the tropical wet season, and June to November is hurricane and typhoon season in most tropical regions. Yet, because the weather isn’t ideal, prices can be as much as 60 percent lower during this time.

Conversely, mid-December to mid-April is the tropical high season, as that’s when the weather is perfect. You can find good deals if you plan ahead, but you will be fighting high prices and big crowds on your trip. You can have fun in either situation, but you should know what to expect before you book.

What You Need for What You’re Doing

No matter where you’re going, what you’re doing, or when, there are a few essentials you will need to bring with you. First, you should have at least one comfortable and confidence-boosting swimsuit. To skip the disappointment of the changing room, you can order your options online; you can even find suits from trendy brands like Radio Fiji. It might even be wise to have two or three suits, especially if you plan to spend most of your time at the beach.

Next, regardless of how much time you’ll be lounging on the sand, you need to pack some regular clothing. Before you shop for your vacation-wear, you should remember your research. If you are heading to the tropics in the off-season, you might need extra rain gear; if you expect to do plenty of hiking, you’ll need suitable shoes and durable clothing. No matter what, you should be sensible with your outerwear.

How to Handle It All

Even tropical vacations can be stressful if you and your loved ones aren’t getting along. To soothe tempers and keep everyone content, you should remember the following relationship management tips:

• Talk travel behavior. If this is your first time traveling with a significant other, you should try to understand how they like to travel before you set off. Do they like to shop in airports? Do they talk on planes? Do they plan everything or wing it?
• Keep clean and keep calm. Whenever you share a new space, you should try to keep it orderly, which means your belongings should stay in your suitcase and wet towels should stay off the floor.
• Be affectionate. Because stress levels can increase dramatically in new places, you shouldn’t hold back from positive touches, like hugs and holding hands.
• Plan alone time. You shouldn’t spend every waking minute with your travel buddies. You should plan for at least a few hours of separate activity, even if it’s just sitting farther apart on the beach.