So you’ve finally booked your Roatan vacation!  Congratulations!  You can’t be blamed if you already have visions of warm breezes, stunning sunsets and world class beaches.  Whether you’ve booked yourself a cozy bed and breakfast on the eastern coast or are searching for luxury West Bay Roatan vacation rentals, before you get there, you’ll need to pack your suitcases.  In this post we’ll go over some of the items you should be remembering when packing for your Roatan vacation.

Passport

You will need your passport to enter the Honduras.  Upon arrival you will receive a tourist visa (a stamp in your passport) that will allow you to stay in the country for up to three months.  Make sure your passport hasn’t expired and has at least six months before its expiry date.

Sunscreen

Even during Roatan’s “cold season” from November to February, the average low is 25C with a high of about 30C.  The chances that you’ll be exposed to the sun are very good indeed!  Don’t be left without protection by making sure to bring sunscreen with you.  Of course, you’ll be able to buy sunscreen in Roatan, but as with any tourist destination you’ll likely pay a premium for it.  And if you’re buying sunscreen back home during the colder months, the likelihood of finding discounted sunscreen is relatively high.  Take advantage of the off-season purchase and pack some in your suitcase!

Hat

In the immortal words of one intrepid traveller, “I didn’t realize I had a bald spot until I got a sunburn on my head!”  That said, even a full head of hair isn’t protection enough from the strong rays of the sun.  Protect your scalp from power of our brightest star by bringing along a hat.  Even if you don’t plan on spending any time sunbathing, a hat can also protect you from the odd annoying mosquito when walking through the lush jungle.

Sunglasses

Following along with the previous two entries, you’ll also want to keep your eyes protected from the sun.  Once again, it will be easy enough to purchase sunglasses on the island, but if you have a favourite pair, make sure to pack them and bring them along.

Bathing Suit(s)

Roatan is known for its cheap and plentiful diving opportunities as well as beautiful, white sand beaches.  Make sure you’re appropriately attired for the occasion and pack a bathing suit or a few.  Putting on a damp bathing suit isn’t the most appealing feeling, so bringing along a second or third bathing suit means that you’ll always have a dry one waiting to be used.

Bug Repellant

Different people react to bugs such as mosquitos and sandflies in different ways.  Some people swear that mosquito bites don’t affect them while others can end up with permanent scarring.  To be sure your vacation isn’t spoiled by pesky insects, make sure to bring along some bug repellant.  Different body types have different needs, so take what works well for you and you should be able to survive your trip unscathed.

Medications And Prescriptions

If you are on any type of prescription medication, make sure to bring along a supply that will last your entire vacation and then some.  Bringing with you the corresponding prescription will ensure you don’t run into any problems at the border and will come in handy if, for some reason, you lose or run out of your medication.

Electric Adapters

If you’re from North America, China or Japan you won’t have to worry about bringing electric adapters as Roatan’s standard voltage is 110V with a frequency of 60Hz and sockets taking 2 flat prongs.  However, if you’re travelling from Europe or elsewhere, you’ll need to bring the same type of electric adapters you’d need as if you were visiting Canada or the United States.

Once you have decided what to pack, now the difficult part comes of waiting for the day to finally leave for your long-awaited Roatan vacation. Even if you have a busy or stressful few weeks before your plane takes off, don’t worry, once you land you will soon be relaxed, surrounded by beautiful nature and enjoying ‘island time.’