On a recent trek to Caye Caulker Belize and Cozumel, Mexico, my first time out of my native U.S. and my first trip where the only thing I could bring was one backpack and one bag, I completely over-packed. Despite unpacking and re-packing three times, I still took a backpack across three countries that weighed over 60lbs! I only weight 138lbs! In my defense, I was not the only woman who over-packed but that doesn't mean we all couldn't use a little guidance when it comes to packing. Here are my tips.

After you have done research on your destination, most importantly, you have checked the weather, then, you can begin to pack accordingly.

When going to a warm weather destination it is not necessary to bring more than you will wear because the only things you will actually wear regularly are your bathing suit, a t-shirt or tank top, a pair of shorts and flip flops or sandals. That being said, you will also wear these things repeatedly and really, only need to supplement them with another pair or two of shorts, a dress or skirt and a couple of extra tops, tanks or t-shirts.

Of course, if you are traveling during the winter months you already have a pair of jeans and a long sleeve shirt or sweater just in case the weather gets cooler. Therefore, you do not need to bring an extra dress, an extra skirt, four additional pairs of shorts, two spare t-shirts and two extra pairs of flip flops. As much as you want to believe that your appearance and stock of clean clothes is essential, once you get to your destination you will swiftly realize it is not important, and no one cares about your appearance.

Also unnecessary, is two bathing suits in addition to the one you plan to wear. One is OK, but most likely, you won't even pull it out of your bag so leave it at home.

Toiletries are woman's true cross to bear. Don't make the same mistake I did. I brought a make-up bag full of two eye shadow palettes, mascara, blush, three lip-glosses including chap stick, eye liner, cover-up stick and powder. I only wore the powder on the first and last days of my 11-day vacation. In tropical locations like Belize, you sweat strolling, plus you are swimming in salt water. Make-up is a joke, you do not need it and will not have a reason to wear it, but if you insist, powder, lip-gloss, blush and mascara should do it.

As for jewelry, less is definitely more. You will want pieces that are versatile and that can withstand any activity, like snorkeling, that you might be doing

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