Every week a host carries a suitcase down the jetty that weighs more than its owner needed. Seaplanes allow 20 kg in the hold and 5 kg in the cabin, and they do weigh bags. Here is what we would put in ours.
For the water
- Rash vest: an hour of snorkelling will burn your back through any sunscreen.
- Mineral sunscreen: zinc-based formulas are kinder to coral. Chemical ones are banned on some of our islands.
- Your own mask, if you have one: we supply good gear, but a mask you know fits is worth the space.
- Dry bag: boats are wet places for phones and cameras.
For the island
- Two or three loose outfits: linen or cotton. Nobody dresses for dinner, and laundry comes back the same day.
- A long-sleeved layer: for boat rides after dark and air-conditioned seaplane terminals.
- Something modest: shoulders and knees covered if you would like to visit an inhabited island.
- Sandals you can rinse: you will spend most of the week barefoot anyway.
Leave at home
Beach towels, snorkel fins, hairdryers and mosquito repellent are already in the villa. Hard-shell suitcases are awkward on small boats, so a soft bag is better. Drones need a permit, which we can arrange if you ask a few weeks ahead.
One last thing
Pack any medication in your cabin bag, along with a swimsuit. Hold luggage sometimes follows on the next seaplane, and nobody wants to spend their first afternoon waiting for it.
