In this week’s post we’re headed south to San Juan, Puerto Rico! This sizzling and steamy island is where Ted and I spent our honeymoon. In Puerto Rico we were blasted with Caribbean heat so I’m sharing my hot weather honeymoon essentials from the trip.
This is an extra special post because I’m also teaming up with Kelly from Passports & Cappuccinos. Kelly just recently came back from her honeymoon in Iceland and she’s sharing her cold weather honeymoon essentials. Head on over to her blog to see how she kept things cozy! No matter where you’re thinking of taking your honeymoon (warm beaches or snowy mountains) we’ve got your packing list covered!
Before my trip to San Juan, Puerto Rico I had never been to the Caribbean. I knew it was beautiful and had heavenly weather. What I did not realize was how humid Puerto Rico was at the time of year that we went (November, just a few days after our fall wedding).
Despite the heat we enjoyed ourselves immensely and grew used to the weather. My favorite part was going into the ocean for the first time. I’d always been told that the Caribbean waters were warm and comfortable (much different to the cold ocean waters I’m used to) but I was still shocked when I went in and it felt like a warm bathtub! It so pleasant to swim through and enjoy!
Alrighty I’ve gushed enough, below are the packing items I found to be the most useful!
Hot weather honeymoon essentials
Maxi Dress
When its hot and sticky that last thing you want to be wearing is pants. Ha ! I lived in this black lace maxi dress that I found at Marshalls it was light and breezy!
Comfortable flat sandals
San Juan was settled by the Spanish in 16th century so it has very old, cobbled streets. Comfortable flat sandals were the way to go when navigating the old town’s cute, but winding streets. I bought my brown leather pair in a small shop in Athens the year before.
Multiple bathing suits
I wanted to spend most of my time in the water after I learned how warm it was, so bringing multiple suits for cute photos is a must. Also, bring a suit that you feel comfortable doing any water sports in.
Fancy shorts
I found this pair of high waist lace shorts at Express (this is a similar pair that I would buy) and loved how comfortable, but fancy they made my outfit look. I don’t like wearing short skirts but these gave me the comfort of shorts while still letting me show off some leg.
Hat
This is fairly self explanatory. It’s hot and sunny and if you’re a skincare freak like me, you better bring a hat.
Mousse
I brought a straighter on the trip and never took it out. With how humid it was I knew the smooth hair battle was over before I even tried. Instead I embraced my curls and smothered them in mousse to keep the frizz down!
Peppermint Oil
This is my little secret. In a small spray vial (I got mine at Whole Foods) I mix water with a few drops of peppermint oil. The menthol in the peppermint oil gives a cooling sensation when misted over the skin. It’s was a life saver in the hot afternoons. Be careful with your face and don’t spray by your nose or eyes – it will sting!
Water shoes
If you get adventurous or do any water sports you will love having these shoes! Ted and I did a nighttime kayak tour in Puerto Rico’s famous Bioluminescent Bay and we wore these shoes. They were awesome because we didn’t have to worry about what ourfeet were touching in the nighttime ocean waters.
As a side note, the Bio Bay is one of the coolest natural phenomena I’ve ever seen and is a must “do” in any Puerto Rico trip itinerary. The phenomena is caused by the presence of little organisms called dinoflagellates in the water. When the water is disturbed (like by a boat or paddle) the let off a ghostly blue light and create this magical effect.
So that’s that – thanks for reading! Now head on over to Kelly’s post which features travel essentials for a cold weather honeymoon. Let us know in the comments below if you’d prefer what your dream honeymoon locations are !
