What I Wish I Packed for Belize & What I Should’ve Left at Home-Learn from my Belize Packing Mistakes

This isn’t another packing list full of swimsuits and toothpaste. It’s your guide to learning from my Belize packing mistakes—the things I wished I had, and the things I regretted packing. Perfect for anyone planning a tropical-adventure or beach‑island trip (especially Belize!) and wanting real travel wisdom.

🌞 What I Wish I Packed

• A Bluetooth speaker The locals cruise around blasting music on their golf carts. It was such a fun part of the island vibe and we wished that we had our JBL!

• A luggage scale Our early-morning return flight + last-minute packing + dirty laundry = total chaos. We came close to overweight fees, and having a simple travel scale would’ve saved the stress. I'd recommend this one

• Extra sunscreen The Belizean sun is no joke. I assumed we’d get a cloudy or rainy day, but we had full sun every day. Sunscreen is pricey locally, so pack more than you think you’ll need.

• Bug spray I miraculously avoided bites, but my husband got eaten alive, especially at beach restaurants in the evenings. Don’t skip it.

• Small U.S. dollar bills While U.S. dollars are widely accepted, no one wants to break a $50. You’ll need $1s and $5s for bathrooms, produce stands, tips, and snacks. (And yes, public restrooms sometimes charge $1 to enter.)

• A wind-friendly hat or ball cap Sun hats are cute by the pool, but useless on boats or golf carts. My hair was a hot mess on every ferry ride.

• Goggles for the kids The water was crystal clear and calm..perfect for spotting shells, fish, and coral close to shore.

• Anti-frizz hair products I brought my straightener instead. A humidity-friendly hair product would’ve gone much further.

🧳 What I Packed but Didn’t Use

• Dressy resort wear and wedges I expected dinners with resort wear- statement earrings and heels. Reality? San Pedro is super casual. Sundresses and flat sandals were perfect even at the nicer places. My wedges stayed in the suitcase.

• Hair tools The humidity wrecked my straightener’s plans on day one. Don’t bother.

• Melatonin Didn’t need this at all! Between the time change and sun exhaustion, I was completely most nights.

• Refillable water bottle Tap water isn’t safe to drink, and there were no refill stations. Bottled water was everywhere and even provided by our hotel.

🚙 Travel Lessons Learned

• Golf cart rentals are cheaper in town I almost booked one through our hotel—so glad I didn’t. There were tons of rental options steps off the ferry, and they were much cheaper.

• Book excursions locally Snorkeling tours to the reef were easy to find in town (and more affordable than booking through the resort). Belize is safe and walkable, which makes exploring easy.

• Groceries are pricey and limited Most goods are imported, so expect higher prices and a smaller selection. That said, we still cooked in our kitchenette, and shopped especially to keep snacks on hand for the kids.

• Dining is relaxed and outdoors From beach shacks to street food, there are tons of great options. Even the “nicer” places were open-air, breezy, and casual, so no need to overthink it.

  
  

✅ Bottom Line

Every trip teaches you something. This one taught me to pack lighter and smarter. If you're planning a beachy island getawa, especially with kids or excursions, hopefully these tips help you avoid the same Belize packing mistakes.

Want more travel info? Read more about the benefits of traveling with kids here and my 5 must do travel tips, and how to get kids to (mostly) pack themselves!

Have you been to Belize or planning a trip soon? Let me know your go-to travel essential in the comments!

✨ Stay Connected

Love this post? You can find more everyday life tips, routines, and home inspiration here:

📘 Facebook 📌 Pinterest 

Let’s stay in touch — follow along for more real-life ideas from Handley Place Living!