How I Shop for a Week In Costa Rica

We are so excited to go on another adventure out of the country!! Jay is turning 30 in October, and I already knew I had to pull out all of the stops to celebrate his big milestone. At first I wanted to throw a party, but he mentioned going out of the country…so I said if the price is right- letzdoit! Originally we were going to go to Dominican Republic…you already know what happened to that idea (LOL), but Jay & I agreed to go to Costa Rica instead. For some reason, I’ve never thought of going to Costa Rica, and I have no clue why. This place is beautiful!!

We started by deciding to do an all-inclusive resort instead of renting an AirBnb. Now I’ve heard multiple reviews about doing this. I heard from our travel agent that you don’t receive the full Costa Rican experience by staying in an all-inclusive. But we also have a rather large group with us, so I had no choice but to pick an all-inclusive. After playing around with many options, Riu suckered us again, and booked our stay at the Riu Costa Rica Palace. You guys already know the second I get back I’m writing a review about this hotel, so fingers crossed we won’t have any major issues.

This blog post is literally just a mini snap shot of the process I go through when figuring out not only what I will pack for clothes, but also what little add-ons I should pack to make my life easier. Some things that are “must-haves” in my suitcase are:

Shea Butter– I make my own whipped Shea Butter, but if you would like to purchase raw undefined shea butter by the pound, click here! I don’t go anywhere with out it. It makes my life SO much easier. My skin tends to react wonky when I travel, this keeps everything smooth.
Portable iPhone Charger– Long layovers happen, and sometimes everyone, and their mama are hogging the outlets in the airport. OR you are by the pool all day (like myself), and you just need something to carry around so your friends can reach you at the resort. Here is something that I would recommend.
Disposable Cameras– Ok, so this is something new that I am trying out. I love the look and feel of developed photos. I have this huge fear that when I have children, they won’t have any photo albums of their parents looking fiesty in their 20s (or in Jay’s case…his thirties). So, I am starting to actually take photos on film cameras, and going to my local CVS to print them. To purchase these in bulk, I decided to go with this disposable camera! Wish me luck!
Meds- I always pack the Excedrin Migraine and Benedryl. It never fails that I end up one day with either a blistering headache, or bug bites all over me.
Mini Lysol Wipes & Spray- I don’t leave home without this now. Whenever I go to a hotel, I now always spray my bed with mini travel Lysol spray bottles, and the wipes are just in case. You can purchase it in bulk here.

Normally when I travel internationally, I try to have a theme or a vibe that I want to carry throughout the trip. For Costa Rica, I’m super intrigued by animal print, flared outfits, and loose fitting clothing. Below are some of the vibes I am considering in regards to bathing suits for Costa Rica (all swim suits are on Pretty Little Things):

In regards to clothes that I am thinking of wearing in Costa Rica…I learned my lesson in Cabo Mexico. I purchased all of these clothes, and didn’t wear one thing. I’m going easy this time with shopping for daytime wear. Once again, these items are from PrettyLittleThing, but I’m sure you can find these simple items anywhere!