8 Travel Essentials I Never Go to Abaco Without

August 3, 2026 Abaco Sun (Amanda)

This article may contain affiliate links. Learn more.

After years of travelling back and forth to Abaco, I’ve realized there are a handful of items that always make the trip with me.

Some protect our electronics from salt water. Some make travelling easier. Others solve little problems that are unique to island life. Every item on this list is something I’ve bought, used and would happily buy again.

The Abaco Travel Essentials I Always Pack

Short on time? Here’s the quick list.

The Full List

Travel Cable Organizer

I bought one of these thinking it would simply keep my chargers tidy. Then I bought a second.

Today they carry charging cords, USB drives, spare memory cards for my camera, portable hard drives, adapters, my smart pen and a handful of other small items that used to disappear into the bottom of my purse or rollaboard.

Instead of wondering where I’ve tucked away an SD card or phone charger, I know exactly where to find it.

Waterproof Phone Pouch

Whether you’re spending the day on the beach, snorkelling from a boat or exploring one of Abaco’s beautiful cays, protecting your phone and valuables from salt water and sand is a must.

I started carrying a waterproof pouch years ago, partly because our dog, Wrigley, had an uncanny ability to sniff out treats hidden in my beach bag. More than once I’d come back from a swim to find my belongings scattered across the sand while he searched for snacks! A waterproof pouch kept everything together and protected.

These days, it holds my phone, keys and cash. It’s one less thing to worry about while I’m enjoying the water. And if it accidentally goes overboard, it floats!

Surge-Protecting USB Charger

Power outages happen from time to time, and while they’re usually just part of island life, I like knowing my electronics have a little extra protection.

Virtually everything at Fish Hooks is plugged into a surge protector. HVAC system, refrigerator, laptop, camera batteries, phone chargers — you name it.

This compact charger gives me several USB ports for charging multiple devices while also providing surge protection. It gives me peace of mind, especially when we’re away from the cottage.

Amazon Kindle

When e-readers first appeared, I was convinced I’d never own one. How could a screen possibly replace the feel of a real book?

Then came the trip where I packed ten paperbacks. Between the weight in my suitcase and the space they took up (and the grumbling from poor Tom who was gracious enough to carry the suitcase for me) I finally admitted there had to be a better way.

I bought a Kindle and I’ve never looked back.

Today I carry hundreds of books everywhere, in something that’s small enough to slip into my purse. It’s perfect for long airport layovers, relaxing on the porch at Fish Hooks, or even ferry rides back and forth to the Abaco mainland.

Will my Kindle ever replace the pleasure of opening a brand-new, real-life book? Not for me. But would I travel without it? Absolutely not.

Cooling Bucket Hat

When we were preparing to go to Abaco in the aftermath of Hurricane Dorian, we knew there was no electricity, and therefore, no air conditioning or fans. And it was the hottest and muggiest time of the year.

Knowing I don’t do well in extreme heat, I bought one of these hats to bring with me, and it worked really well. Just wet it, wring it out and it cools you down for a few hours. And it folds easily for packing.

Safe Sea Sunscreen

Safe Sea has been a favourite among Abaco lovers for years, because it does more than provide sun protection.

It also helps protect against sea lice, those tiny, nearly invisible creatures that occasionally make an appearance in Bahamian waters. One tip I’ve learned over the years is to apply Safe Sea under your swimsuit (where these little critters can get caught) as well as on exposed skin. It offers much better protection than simply applying it to your arms and legs.

P.S. In pulling up the links for this article, I discovered that Safe Sea offers a reef-safe version. I haven’t tried it yet, but it’s in my shopping list.

Mini Flashlight

Away from city lights, the night sky in Abaco is incredibly dark and absolutely spectacular. On a clear evening, it really does look like the proverbial blanket of stars. Of course, that same darkness can make the walk from your golf cart to your cottage a little more interesting. Tom and I always carry one of these flashlights whenever we’re out after dark. They’re perfect for finding a keyhole, navigating unfamiliar paths and dealing with the odd power outage. (The latter being why we choose battery-operated models rather than rechargeable.)

These lights are incredibly bright for their size, and small enough to tuck into a pocket or purse.

Ziploc Freezer Bags

This is probably the most unglamorous item on the list, but also one of the most useful.

We’ve used them for everything. Toiletries packed for the flight. Wet swimsuits. Sandy flip-flops. Dinner leftovers. Fresh-caught fish and bait. Laundry detergent and dryer sheets. Shells and seaglass. And so much more.

Final Thoughts

While these are the travel essentials I pack for Abaco, they’re equally useful for almost any island or beach vacation. Perhaps none of these items is essential in the dramatic sense of the word. But they’ve consistently made travelling lighter, easier and more enjoyable.

What would you add?

I’d love to know what you never travel without when heading to Abaco — or anywhere else with sand, sun and salt water.

Feel free to share in the comments. I’m always curious to hear what other travellers wouldn’t leave home without.

A Note About Affiliate Links: One of the ways we support the work of Abaco Sun is through carefully selected affiliate partnerships. When you purchase through an affiliate link in one of our articles, we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. These commissions help us continue sharing the stories, travel guides and resources that connect our readers with Abaco and The Bahamas. We only share products and services that we believe may genuinely benefit our readers. In this case, we are sharing resources that we have purchased and personally use. Learn more about our partnerships.