You have gotten this far: taking time off work, finding a great deal on a beach resort, booking flights to Mexico, even arranging transportation to the airport. However, your suitcase still sits empty, waiting for you to take this final step for your beach vacation – packing.

For many people, packing for a trip is the hardest part. And even though packing for a beach vacation resort may seem simple enough - here are some tips to make packing go smoothly, so you can stop thinking and get started relaxing on your vacation!

Our tips for easy packing include:

• Check the weather: While this may seem obvious, you never can be certain about the weather. Beaches are generally warm and sunny; however it never hurt to double check. Make sure you have a poncho, a sweatshirt, or extra sunscreen if necessary.
• Bring your hand sanitizer: It is always a good idea to wash your hands frequently when in public places such as an airport or airplane. However, what many people do not realize is that building sand castles and searching for seashells can bring your body into contact with many unfamiliar bacteria. Don’t spend your vacation feeling sick; use the sanitizer regularly and stay healthy so you can make the most out of your vacation!
• Pack nail polish and/or a manicure kit: While many people get their nails done before leaving for vacation, they do not consider the havoc that salt water and sand from the beach can wreck on their hands and feet. Bring the tools that you will need to trim a hangnail, file a broken nail, or touch up your manicure while you are away.
• Don’t plan to do too much: This may seem counter-intuitive, but if you try to plan an outfit for every possible activity that you might, possibly, maybe do, you will make your suitcase to heavy and drive yourself crazy. If you absolutely need something while on vacation, you can buy it there.

Think about when you may need things while on your vacation:

• Put your valuables in your carry-on: Passports, reservation information, credit cards, and jewelry should never go in checked baggage. You will need the travel documents as soon as you arrive, so keep them easily accessible in your carry-on bags.
• Know what is insured: Jewelry and other valuables, such as a portable reading or gaming device, are generally not included in the baggage insurance offered by the airlines, so if your bags are lost permanently, you will not be reimbursed for those items.
• Remember chargers: If you plan on taking lots of pictures of the family’s golf outing, your beautiful resort accommodations, or the great tan you got on Mexico’s beaches, you will need to recharge your camera’s battery.

So be reasonable, pack what you will use and don’t worry about imagining every possible scenario. Your vacation should be a time for fun and relaxation, and the sooner you finish packing, the sooner you can get to the beach!