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I somehow overpacked for four days Tulum and yet still — miracle of miracles — fit it all in a carry-on roll-a-board. I’ll share a few of the photos I snapped of myself in some of these outfits later this week once I get around to editing them, but my full packing list below…
ZIMMERMANN DRESS (FAVORITE THING I WORE)
ANCIENT GREEK ELEFTHERIA SANDALS
CLARE VIVIER LIBEREZ LES SARDINES HAT
JULIA AMORY HUSBAND SHIRT (WORN AS COVER-UP)
CELIAB LENA DRESS (MY EXACT PATTERN WAS DIFFERENT)
GUCCI DAD SANDALS — ACTUALLY ENDED UP REMOVING THESE FROM THE SUITCASE AT THE LAST MINUTE IN FAVOR OF MY SILVER BIRKS, WHICH I THOUGHT MIGHT BE MORE VERSATILE FOR LONGER WALKS / ADVENTURES
TORY BURCH UNDERWIRE SWIMSUIT (EXACT PATTERN SOLD OUT, SIMILAR HERE OR IN BLACK HERE)
This probably sounds like a lot of dresses and outfit changes, but this was a celebratory birthday trip for my best friend’s 40th, so we’d be out and about during the day, then go home to shower and change and get dolled up for dinner, sometimes with different trips to the pool in between. I actually wore nearly all of the dresses I packed!
I am so bummed because Minnow generously sent me this suit but it arrived the day after we left! I would have excitedly worn it…
My two big oversights: 1) I wish I’d packed a larger beachy daytime tote for some of our excursions. I went the practical route by traveling with my enormous MZ Wallace Medium Metro tote, which I needed to do because my suitcase was JAMMED to the brim and I therefore needed a shoulder bag that could carry a shipping ton, but I wish I’d been able to sneak my Naghedi tote in there, laid flat on top, or at least this inexpensive Amazon one, which definitely would have fit with minimal adjustments, but I didn’t think about it. The MZ Wallace is too cavernous / feels like luggage and therefore didn’t feel right for daytime wear. I managed to make do with my small crossbody but it was not ideal. In a dream world, I would have been able to carry my favorite seagrass Birkin bag from Dans La Main — that would have been my preference for daytime wear. 2) I wish I’d traveled wearing a straw hat! I regretted not having one for beach while we were there. My ball cap was fine, but it would have been better with a sunhat — I own and love both this Sarah Bray Bermuda and this Sunshine Tienda.
For traveling there, I wore this enormous sweater, white jeans, my Margo tee, and my Sambas. For traveling back, I wore the jeans, another Margo tee, my VB Ferazia blazer (on super sale!), and Birks. I ended up swapping out the blazer for my sweatshirt and wishing I’d worn my Sambas because I was freezing on board. I didn’t do the best job at layering for this trip! I broke several of my own rules…
I do think I will upgrade my suitcase game for my next trip. I am planning on buying one of these from Paravel. I also saw a chic pea carrying one of these Dagne Dover totes (and another wearing the Dagne Dover backpack) and they just seem like the greatest and most thoughtfully designed travel day pieces.
Finally, mentioned earlier today, but I loved this plastic cosmetics case! I used this for liquids (which I’ve since learned you no longer need to keep in a separate clear bag…?) along with my medium Julia Amory toiletry bag for all else, and a separate pouch with medicines/bandaids/etc. I used this big Stoney Clover bag (truly enormous) for swimsuits, socks, underwear.
P.S. All the Magpie reader travel recs here. Such great intel.
P.P.S. I followed a hodge podge of your advice on how to handle skincare/beauty while traveling. (Thank you again!) I specifically leaned on your suggestions to stick with my regular skincare routine by just buying products in travel sizes or decanting into these; using a contact lens case to meter out small portions of my favorite serums (truly genius – these will not leak!); and scaling down my beauty routine to just the basics.
P.P.P.S. My A.M./P.M. skincare routines.
Highly, highly recommend the Dagne dover landon carry-all! My in-laws got me one for Christmas and I was so obsessed I immediately got my (new!) husband one in olive in the shopbop sale – we’ve both used ours a good bit and love them! They also wipe clean easily and look so chic.
Agree – super chic! This chic pea had the periwinkle one, which appears to be sold out. Love the olive option though!
xx
Also forgot to say this! We both have the large and it fits under the seat as a carry-on if you so desire. I have the mauve and looove it. Has a great built-in to fit over your suitcase handle too. Treat yourself!
I am going to do just that! Thanks for intel on sizing! So important that you can slide it under the seat!!
Heading to Tulum for a girls trip in March — would love any and all tips/must sees/fine to skips, if you get a chance (or even would love another post about the trip, haha!)
I always forget to pack a beach bag for trips that are a plane ride away! Adding it to my permanent “beach trip packing list” note now.
Hi! So fun! The major attractions are the Mayan ruins and the cenotes — if we’d been there longer, I would have done the cenotes, but we were there for two full days, so we did Mayan ruins one day and a beach club the next (Bagatelle)! Would recommend!!
xx
I once did the same with the MZ Wallace tote for travel and regretted not having brought another bag for daily use. Love MZ Wallace totes, but wish the brand would address the issue with the strap slippage. I recently purchased a shoulder bag and it was constantly falling off my shoulder. It was so annoying and ended up giving it away.
Hi Anne! I love my MZW totes too but agree that the slippage is annoying — but one workaround that has helped me is to cross one strap over the other on my shoulder.
Thank you for this great suggestion!
Agree – it’s the only way!
Yes, the straps are a nuisance — agree with Mia on crossing them over one another!
This sounds like such a fun trip!! I’m always so curious on how people manage to fit it all in a carry-on…any suggestions on cloth durable luggage? And how to pack for 3-4+ weeks? Without bringing too much? Any travel umbrella recs? The past 2 years we’ve been back to Australia and I always bring a wee bit much lol.
I think celebrating one’s 40th with a trip with friends sounds so fab. Gives me ideas for 4ish years from now. Glad it was a fun time! Also did you pack any books or an electronic reading device and/or games for adults on the plane? My partner and I love playing MadLibs and I introduced them to him. And we love trivia and table topics too.
Packed for our 3 week honeymoon in a carry on last year! My two biggest tips are 1) Bringing things that pack well/wont need steaming etc/can be mixed and matched to create multiple “looks” with few pieces and 2) Planning on doing laundry! This gives you a complete redo on everything you brought mid way through the trip.
I think if you really want to do the carry on life (the stress of checking a bag and it having issues does not override carry on ease for me), you just have to be willing to take less and not have every ideal thing you may have in your day to day life with you. You will still look fabulous and have an amazing trip if you pack pieces that make you feel great!
Great tips – thanks Sofia!
xx
Hi Michelle! You might take a look at some of the detailed comments in response to this post: https://magpiebyjenshoop.com/what-are-your-secrets-for-good-travel/. I know one Magpie had really great, detailed thoughts on packing ultra-light. I am not that packer, though!
For travel umbrella, you must check out Davek Mini (https://go.shopmy.us/p-3459836). THE BEST. They also have and honor a lifetime warranty that I’ve used and they repair the umbrella and send it back. These are tiny, lightweight, but mighty — they do not invert!
For travel, I packed my Kindle with a few books, but I was COMPLETELY ABSORBED by Demon Copperhead the entire time and am nearly done. So many Magpies have recommended it and it is BEYOND EXCELLENT. Cannot wait to share all my thoughts soon. We also packed our Travel Azul but didn’t end up playing it! I was too absorbed in my book!
xx