Dear Reader

I hope you had a wonderful Christmas and a calm start to the New Year.

☀️ We were soaking up some sunshine in Guadeloupe, which is why my newsletter went a little quiet for the past two weeks.

I’m freshly back now, and this trip ended up being a real gear test.

We connected through Montreal, dealt with snow and ice, then landed straight into tropical heat and humidity. That contrast made it very obvious what worked and what didn’t once we arrived.

Here’s what actually earned its spot in my bag.

Traveling to Guadeloupe meant long flights, epic car rides, grocery runs, and plenty of beach hopping. The heat and humidity quickly exposed anything that was heavy, uncomfortable, or unnecessary.

It also confirmed something I already suspected. I pack very differently for the Caribbean than I do for Europe or shoulder season trips.

⭐ If you’re heading somewhere hot this winter, this should help you decide what’s actually worth bringing.

I used my LOJEL carry on, and my husband brought Level8. We swapped regularly so I could get a real feel for both.

👉One thing I genuinely appreciated with the LOJEL case was the telescopic handle.

It opened and closed smoothly the entire trip, even when overstuffed. That mattered more than I expected after testing the Monos suitcase last Christmas.

I’ll share deeper thoughts and small drawbacks in my full reviews, but both handled carry on only tropical travel (and snowy Montreal) very well.

For clothing, I brought my Unbound Merino pocket tee and travel pants.

The pants ended up being too hot for Guadeloupe, but they took up almost no space. The pocket tee surprised me. I wore it sightseeing and on travel days.

It stayed soft, wicked away sweat, and never smelled, even in humidity. I genuinely plan on buying it in more colors.

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Our cooler backpack once again earned its place. We used it as a personal item on flights and for beach days.

We’ve been using the same one consistently since our 2020 Disney trip, and it still shows up on every warm weather vacation.

For sun protection, I packed Sun Bum Mineral SPF 50 from home. The bottle is 88 mL, so it works for carry on travel.

Guadeloupe has abundant marine life and coral reefs, and using reef friendly sunscreen matters when swimming or snorkeling near sensitive ecosystems.

One more must pack item for Guadeloupe specifically is a beach blanket. Many beaches are walk up beaches. There are restaurants or food trucks nearby, but lounge chairs are often not available. A blanket makes spontaneous beach stops easy.

Product Links:

• ​LOJEL Carry-On​
• ​Level8 Carry-On​
• ​Unbound Merino Pocket Tee​
• ​Cooler Backpack​
• ​Sun Bum Mineral SPF 50
• ​Beach Blanket​

If you’re heading somewhere tropical this winter, this should help you decide what’s worth bringing and what isn’t.

I’ll be sharing full reviews and more Guadeloupe content soon. It’s a destination that doesn’t get talked about much, and I found it incredibly interesting to experience firsthand. More to come!

Have a great weekend,
Tanya

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