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I have packed for a Dominican Republic all-inclusive three times now, and the experiences taught me more about overpacking than any minimalism challenge I have ever done. The first time I went in 2023, I planned obsessively then 2024, less so. I tried on every dress, cross-referenced every product, and still managed to bring things I never touched. By the third time, in 2025, I brought a makeup bag and did a full reality check on camera: what I packed versus what I actually used.
What follows is the honest version of both. Not a theoretical packing list, but what actually gets worn, what actually gets used, and what you can leave at home.
The mindset before you pack
An all-inclusive beach trip has one of the narrowest wardrobes of any vacation you will take. You are rotating between a bathing suit, a cover-up, and an evening outfit. That is the whole formula, repeated for however many days you are there. Everything else is logistics.
The mistake most people make, myself included, is packing for a version of the trip that does not exist. The version where you wear four different swimsuits in a day, where you need options for every mood, where you bring a palette for a smokey eye you will absolutely not do in 30-degree heat after a full day at the swim-up bar.
Pack for the trip you are actually going on.
Clothing: what the formula actually looks like
For a week-long trip I brought a checked bag and a personal item bag for the flight.
Swimwear: Two to three swimsuits is enough. I brought a Maaji bikini that was genuinely expensive (alternative top and bottom). The top was $101 and the bottom was $84, but it was reversible, the crochet detail was worth it, and I wore it constantly. I also brought a one-piece from Aerie as a backup (alternative). That is it. Dark bottoms are practical if your period is a wildcard. More on that shortly.
Cover-ups: Two flowy dresses that double as cover-ups. This is one of the most useful categories you can pack because the same piece works at the pool, at lunch, and walking around the resort.
Evening outfits: Two to three casual dresses. I brought a Le Chateau dress with slits on both sides that was perfect for dinner but made eating complicated, which is a real consideration when the food is that good. One nicer option is enough. You are not going to a gala.
Shoes: Three pairs. Sneakers worn to the airport, flip-flops or slides for the beach and pool, comfortable wedges or dressy sandals for the evening. That is the complete shoe situation for any all-inclusive trip. You might consider water shoes or excursions or snorkling depending on where you go.
Everything else: Lightweight pajamas, a few tank tops, linen shorts if you plan on leaving the resort. A light cardigan for the flight home if you run cold on planes.
Makeup: the honest edit
I am a beauty person who travels with a fraction of what I own at home, and even then I brought things I never touched.
What actually got used every day:
A concealer I was using softly as a foundation. I had the IT Cosmetics one that was almost finished and I used it with a Real Techniques brush rather than the built-in applicator. A cream blush, specifically the Pixi Sheer Cheek Gel in a brighter shade than my usual. A brow pencil. I always recommend the Annabelle in Universal Ebony if you have dark hair, it is the most reliable one I have used. A clear brow gel to set it. Lip liner in a neutral shade from Milani paired with either the Laneige Glowy Lip Balm or a Clarins one I had from PR. Mascara for the evenings. I skip waterproof because I am not wearing it in the pool anyway.
What I brought but barely touched:
A second eyeshadow palette. I brought two and should have brought one. The Clarins cream eyeshadow that looked incredible when I finally tried it on camera and which I never reached for once during the actual trip. If you are not going to be that girl at home, you are not going to be that girl on vacation.
The tools that mattered:
A compact mirror with magnification, non-negotiable. The essence brow kit with the mini spoolie and tweezers saved me more than once. Synthetic brushes only, they travel better and clean more easily. Everything fit into a see-through Caudalie bag from a gift kit, and I recommend it specifically because security can see directly into it.
Setting powder: The essence All About Matte fixing powder with a Real Techniques multipurpose brush. You need this if you are going anywhere hot. Non-negotiable.
Skincare and SPF: keep it simple
I brought La Roche-Posay Anthelios SPF 60 in the extra large size which came in a promotional set with an after-sun gel and the Toleriane cream. For a beach trip that is essentially your entire skincare routine. Cleansing wipes for the morning and evenings because I was not doing a full routine in a hotel bathroom. Clarins tan drops for a bit of warmth on the face without actually tanning. Dry shampoo decanted rather than the full bottle.
The simpler your skincare routine on a trip like this, the better. Your skin is going to be salt water, sunscreen, and humidity. It does not need twelve steps.
The period situation
I always bring my Nixit menstrual disc regardless of whether my period is expected because you just never know, and the Dominican Republic is not a great place to be caught without your preferred product. I have been using discs since 2014 and the Nixit specifically since 2018, and it is the most practical option I have found for a beach trip. You can swim, you do not have to think about it for hours, and it takes up almost no space in your bag.
A few backup liners, intimate wipes, and pain relief are worth packing even if you are not expecting it. Period-friendly swimsuit bottoms in a dark colour are a practical choice if timing is uncertain.
The carry-on strategy
I only brought a personal item bag, not a full carry-on. In it I kept one bathing suit and a pair of underwear in case my checked bag was delayed. I have worked at an airport and seen what happens when bags go missing, so this is non-negotiable for me. Electronics, chargers, passport, currency, a small perfume sample, deodorant, lip liner, a tide stick, mints, and a toothbrush. Everything in small pouches so it all comes out cleanly at security.
An address tag with your phone number and email on your checked bag. Always. Lock it if you want. TSA will cut it if they need to, but the tag is what gets your bag back to you.
The resort, briefly
We stayed at the Dream Onyx all-inclusive through Sunwing. Clean rooms, a gold sand beach, à la carte dinners, and access to the adults-only Breathless property next door in the evenings. Worth it.
My second trip in 2024 was at Secrets Royal Beach, which was a little more upscale for couples. If you book through expedia, use my Rakuten referral for a $30 cash bonus in addition to cash-back on your booking.
What I would change
One eyeshadow palette, not two. Leave anything you have never actually reached for at home. The vacation version of you is not discovering new products, she is using the ones she already loves in a more relaxed setting. Bring one fewer dress than you think you need. You will wear your swimsuit and cover-up more than anything else you pack.
The trip that exists is simpler and better than the trip you imagine when you are packing. Pack for the real one.
Check out my posts on Project Pan for Beginners, I Used AI to Declutter My Makeup Collection. And if you need help auditing your collection, get your FREE beauty audit here.
