I am a die-hard believer in long underwear, and never travel anywhere without it. It's a lightweight warm layer and it can double as pajamas. No matter where I go, no matter what time of year I travel, it will always have a spot in my suitcase.

I have worn my long underwear in the middle of summer in Phoenix, Arizona when the air conditioning thermostat was jammed. I have worn it when I traveled somewhere that was supposed to be warm, and it wasn't. I have worn it in the tropics after getting chilled in the rain on the way back to my room.

While I will pack my long underwear for a tropical vacation, I won't pack much else. A couple of pairs of shorts, two swimsuits, and enough underwear so I won't have to do laundry. I will pack a shirt for each day plus a few extras; with the tropical humidity and warmth, it can be nice to change into a fresh shirt before dinner. A pair of water sandals and a pair for dress, sneakers or hiking boots and a couple of pairs of socks, a pair of sturdy pants and a sweatshirt, and a skirt or dress for dinner pretty much rounds out the clothing.

In addition to items such as soap, deodorant, shampoo, and any medications I am taking, I bring a few items with the tropical environment in mind. Baby powder, an antifungal cream, and oral Benadryl and Benadryl cream are tops on this list. If I am going somewhere with jellyfish, I bring meat tenderizer to treat any stings. Sunblock, a sunburn remedy and cortisone cream are also important. A few well-chosen books are essential for any trip. If I am traveling overseas, I check a list of recommended items, and see which of these will be useful for my trip.

This leaves quite a long list of items I do not take with me. My mink coat definitely stays at home. So does my valuable jewelry and designer shoes. And, sadly enough, so does Avi, my Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. He's much too fastidious to enjoy roughing it at the beach.

In fact, everything I can imagine surviving without stays at home. There is nothing worse than having to lug around a heavy suitcase in a tropical climate that is filled with things you don't really need.

Learn more about this author, Frances Simon.
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