The Ultimate Trinidad Carnival: Ultimate Crop Over packing list

Ultimate Crop Over packing list

We appreciate you stopping by our blog! It's almost here - Crop Over that is. AND we're so excited! You on the other hand...ummm not so much because you're not sure where to start with your packing.

Packing for any Carnival can be a little overwhelming because you need so much stuff. There's your travel outfit, then there's your Foreday morning clothes, not to mention the party outfits. Don't even get us started on footwear - from your Kadooment Parade footwear to cute fete sandals, how do you fit it all in?

Have no fear - that's where our Ultimate Crop Over packing list comes in! Just like our Ultimate Trinidad Carnival packing list, it's an easy checklist of EVERYTHING that you need to put in your suitcase and carry-on.

Here we go!

Traveling tips:

As Nina Garcia of Marie Claire magazine says, “You want to be the perfect combination of cozy and classy: cozy enough to endure the chilly AC in the airport and on the airplane and classy enough to look pulled together after an eight-hour flight. Choose clothing that is spill proof, wrinkle proof and relaxed enough to sit in for long stretches of time. Think dark colors and soft, natural, knit fabrics that move with you and feel good against your skin.” We couldn’t agree more!
Don’t forget stockings or socks to wear with your slip-on shoes when you go through security. If you’re located in the US and you have Pre-check, then you don’t need to remove your shoes. Be sure to carry a pair of sandals in your carry-on to put on when you land in Barbados. It will be hot!
Travel clothing essentials:

o Pants: loose-fitting, great looking pants or your comfiest jeans (boyfriend jeans or really nice leggings work great for the ladies).

o Top: layers are key. A very light jacket, especially if where you’re traveling from where it’s cold, will do. Wear a tank or t-shirt under a roomy button-down shirt or for the ladies a tunic with a light sweater. When you get to Barbados, you can just remove your layers as needed!

o Shoes: travel in flats – think loafers or stylish, lightweight sneakers. Choose a comfortable shoe that can do double duty while you’re in Barbados.

o Accessories: For the ladies, a large scarf, shawl or pashmina is necessary to wrap up as you settle in for your plane ride. This can also double as a beach sarong! If you wear a watch, then that’s all you really need. If you really need jewelry, then wear very light non-metallic jewelry.

Keep in mind once you arrive in Barbados that it’ll be hot and you’ll be fetein’ up storm! If you’re planning to bring a few tops and some bottoms that you can wear to multiple parties, we strongly recommend bringing alternates in case the one you planned to wear gets soaked in sweat from the night before.
Pack things that you love to wear: if you don’t wear it at home, you most likely won’t wear it away from home. It’ll just take up room in your suitcase. Bring your favorite clothes and you won’t mind having less with you.
All of the separates in your suitcase should combine well with each other – another argument for packing the things that you wear most often.

Carry-on essentials:

	Travel sized moisturizer
	Lip balm
	Eye drops
	Travel water bottle that you can fill after you go through security
	Passport wallet
	Magazines or a book
	Tablet or Kindle
	Cell phone
	iPod or mP3 player (if you're old school)
	Laptop (if bringing one)
	House keys (don’t pack these in your checked luggage in case it gets lost)
	Medicines (prescriptions and over the counter drugs)
	Extra pair of eyeglasses or contacts
	All and any important travel documents
	Receipts for everything that you bought (for the return trip back home)
	Anything breakable, such as a camera or a fragile souvenir
	Breakable or valuable jewelry (see our note about what type of jewelry to bring with you)
	Address book with a copy of any local numbers that you need (in case your phone dies)
	A set of underwear and night clothes
	Your daily toiletries
	At least 1 party/fete outfit, in case you don’t get your luggage right away
	Travel pillow
	Flip flops or sandals for when you touch down in Barbados
	A snack (or 2!)
	Ziploc bags
	Ear plugs or noise canceling headphones

Personal identification and proof of reservations (these items should be in your carry-on)

	Passport
	Driver’s license (to use as ID at fetes if needed)
	Copies of passport and other identification cards
	Airline tickets (have a backup copy in case you can’t get to it on your phone)
	Copy of personalized itinerary (this will have your hotel information)
	Copies of car reservation/booking
	Fete ticket print outs and receipts of payments
	Print out of costume receipt
	Costume transfer letter (if buying a costume that someone sold to you) plus a copy of the person’s photo ID
	A list of all of the items that you packed in your suitcase plus a photo of everything that you packed (in case it’s lost by the airline)

In your suitcase:

Toiletries

	Sun block with high SPF
	Aloe vera gel in case you get sunburned
	Chap stick/ lip-gloss with SPF
	Peppermint foot cream
	Foot soak products
	Shaving cream
	Razors
	Hair remover/depilatory
	Deodorant
	Contact lenses (bring multiple pairs in case they get torn or lost)
	Contact lens solution
	Contact lens cases (bring at least 2)
	Re-wetting drops (if your eyes get dry)
	Anti-Frizz Hair Serum
	Your favorite shampoo and conditioner
	Skin lotion
	Toothbrush and toothpaste
	Mouthwash
	Dental floss
	Facial moisturizer
	Loc twisting gel/cream (if you have locs or twists and need to touch them up)
	Hair and scalp oil
	Feminine wipes
	Wet wipes
	Braid and weave spray
	Breath mints and/or gum
	Stain remover pen

Medication

	Pepto Bismol or Alka seltzer (for an upset stomach)
	Tums
	Imodium AD
	Birth control
	Condoms
	Elastoplast and moleskins (in case of any fetein’ blisters)
	Mini first aid kit
	Chafing powder
	Gel insoles or orthopedic inserts
	Insect repellent
	Hand sanitizer

Kadooment parade needs

	Glue gun
	Glue sticks
	Spray paint (in case you want to spray your mas shoes to match your costume)
	Travel sized sewing kit
	Extra pins and Velcro tape for outfit and costume adjustments
	Comfortable shoes, sneakers or boots for playing mas (you get extra points if it matches your costume)
	Mas tights (flesh toned or fishnets in a color that matches your costume)
	Glitter and a small container to put it in (to add glitter to yourself so it won’t get all over your room)
	Money pouch for Kadooment Parade (recommend something with an around the waist or across the body strap that zips closed so you don’t lose your phone while winin’)
	Costume bra, bottom back up and shorts (in case your mas bra and bottom don’t fit)

Fete and Kadooment Parade makeup needs

	Spirit gum (to help the jewels stick and stay on your face)
	Face jewels
	False eyelashes and glue for lashes
	Your favorite foundation
	Foundation primer
	Concealer
	Bronzer
	Glitter lotion
	Makeup remover
	Blotting sheets
	Q tips
	Vaseline
	Makeup brushes
	Matte fluid to wear under your makeup (if you have very oily skin)
	Makeup setting spray

Body and hair

	Pumice stone or foot file
	Exfoliating body gloves
	Nail polish/remover
	Curling iron
	Blow dryer
	Flat iron
	Comb
	Brush
	Decorative hair items - hair clips/bows/cowrie shells
	Hair pieces/extensions
	Hair scarf
	Shower cap
	Inflatable foot spa
	Bobby pins
	Hair bands to pull your hair back if needed

Electronics

	Camera/camera bag (can be waterproof and/or disposable)
	USB cables
	USB drives (in case your camera is full!)
	Video camera
	Portable DVD player
	Laptop
	Cell phone (if using your unlocked cell phone in Barbados)
	Chargers, power cords and/or batteries for all your electronics
	Voltage converter
	Written/printed list of all friends’ contact info (in case your phone dies)
	Back up all of the numbers on your cell phone to a cloud service e.g. Google

Clothing and shoes

	Foreday Morning shoes and outfit (or just a bottom if you’re getting a Foreday Morning t-shirt)
	Bandanna or something to cover your hair/head during Foreday Morning
	Water shoes, if you plan to be walking/swimming where there is coral or sharp rocks
	Bathing suits or swim trunks (you get bonus points for quick drying materials that you can hand wash and hang to dry overnight)
	Some pairs of socks
	LOTS of underwear
	Tops – for party time, button downs and nice tees for the men, sexy/classy tops for the women. For other times – tees and tanks work well
	Bottoms – for party time, jeans, pants and shorts for both men and women, skirts for the women. For other times – lightweight, drawstring pants and shorts
	Dresses or rompers – for party time, think lightweight, breathable materials (cotton and rayon are great). For other times – easy cotton tank dresses and sundresses
	Sneakers and sandals (low wedges and flats strongly recommended for women)
	Beach cover up or sarong (bonus if it can also double as a shawl indoors)
	Flip flops for the beach
	Comfortable walking shoes or sandals for sightseeing
	Light jacket or sweater (the air conditioning can be brutal in some buildings!)
	Lounging clothes (for going to breakfast and just hanging around in between partying)

Accessories and items to wear underneath your clothing

	Dangling earrings and bangle bracelets (costume, nothing too flashy and definitely nothing valuable i.e. gold)
	Extra backs for earrings
	Sunglasses (at least 2 pairs, in case one gets lost while yuh getting on bad!)
	At least 1 sun hat
	Small purse/clutch with a strap for the fetes (could also double as a cosmetics case)
	Daytime purse for sightseeing – strongly recommend a lightweight cross body bag with a substantial strap that will zip to close
	Crushable beach bag
	Watch (waterproof recommended)
	Double sided tape (to ensure you have no wardrobe malfunctions!)
	Bra inserts
	Adhesive bra (for those backless tops)
	Flesh toned nipple covers (these are genius when your mas bra is a little loose around the nipple area, but fits otherwise)

You’ll also need

	Luggage tag (make sure your name and phone number at the very least are on your tag)
	A whistle (or 2 in case 1 gets lost)
	Lanyard for your mas/Foreday Morning cup (to be hands free)
	Key chain bottle opener
	Goodies for friends and family (also on your return home)

Resources

We’ve included below some links to suggested items that we think you’ll love!

Shades of Color Loc Soc

Not only for use by those who have locs (also known as “dread locks” or “dreads”), the Loc Soc is a great hair accessory for any outfit and especially works well to cover up your hair during Foreday Morning. http://www.soclocsoc.com

Satin Lined cAPs (SLAPs) by Grace Eleyae

For use by those who have any texture hair. SLAP’s work well to keep hair moisturized and protected at night. This product is also a great cover up for use during Foreday Morning. http://www.satinlinedcaps.com

Carnivalista

Beautiful, light weight, flesh toned carnival stockings for the Kadooment Parade. Offer options to pick up your order in Barbados or have them shipped to you. http://www.carnivalista.com

Tote-E bags

Custom decorated pouches for use during the Kadooment Parade. Have options for a wristlet, across the body or shoulder strap in many different colours. http://toteebags.blogspot.ca

Bacchanal Footwear

Bacchanal Footwear will purchase footwear options for you or you can provide your own footwear. They will decorate footwear to coordinate with your costume. Different levels of decoration available. http://www.bacchanalfootwear.com

By the way, if you missed Ultimate Crop Over, don't miss Ultimate Trinidad Carnival! We have very limited space left - grab your spot here.

Next up: we'll tell you ALL about our Ultimate Crop Over trip!

Til de next lime,