How To: Tropical Travel Essentials

Travel to remote tropical islands is all about pristine beaches, colorful reefs, exotic island culture, meeting fascinating people and relaxing in hammocks for days on end. But packing for a tropical trip comes with its own set of challenges: You may be traveling in tiny planes and boats, staying in cramped quarters without power or running water, and enduring days of torrential downpours. And your luggage will be up against sand, saltwater, heat, humidity, insects and rough handling. Luckily, with the right gear, you can be prepared for all of that, and focus your energy entirely on making the most of your time away from civilization. Here are some of the tropical travel accessories I wouldn't leave home without.

Duffel Bag
Traditional bags are no good on tropical islands: Suitcases are heavy, and those dinky little wheels don't work on the beach. Backpacks are tedious to pack and cumbersome to handle on ferries and small planes. The solution is a duffel bag: Simple, compact and sturdy, they are ideal for tropical travel. My personal favorite is The North Face's Base Camp Duffel. It's incredibly rugged, it's mostly sand- and waterproof, it's a breeze to pack, and if it falls out of a boat, it floats (for a while!).

Microfiber Towel
Arthur C. Clarke wrote that "any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic." And so it is with microfiber towels: I studied physics for years, but to me it's still incomprehensible how even during the most persistent tropical storm, these things dry out in ten minutes flat. Absolutely indispensable.

Torch
With no ambient light other than the moon and stars, tropical islands can get very, very dark at night. So when the island's generator cuts out and you find yourself separated from your bungalow by a vast gulf of blackness, teeming with coconut crabs and other creepy-crawlies, you'll want to have a torch handy. The Maglites are perennial favorites, but get a small one: You can do without the extra weight, and in the tropical night, you don't need much power to light your way.

Business Cards
Not much business gets done on tropical islands, but bring a pack of personalized Moo MiniCards anyway: They act as a combined photo album and contact cards for all the interesting people that you'll meet along the way. Also, they are universally treasured mementos for island kids everywhere.

Antiseptic Wipes
Boring and hopefully redundant, antiseptic wipes are nevertheless an essential tropical travel accessory. The reason is coral: Coral is sharp and cuts deep - and in the hot, humid climate, the resulting wounds usually get infected. Applying antiseptic wipes early and often can save your vacation.

Snorkel, Mask and Fins
Most tropical resorts have snorkels, masks and fins on loan to guests - but they are always in a sorry state: The masks leak, the snorkels have you gulping saltwater and the fins come only in unmatched pairs with missing heels. Bring your own and feel like you belong with all the other marine life on the reef.

Padlock
Bungalows on tropical islands don't come with magnetic key cards. In fact, in many remote locations, they don't even come with walls. A padlock is the simplest and most effective way to secure your expensive gear while you're out exploring.

Sarong
Beach towel, headgear, sunshade, palm climbing accessory, daypack, sheet, skirt, sling and, if things go awry, tourniquet. Sarongs are the utility players of any tropical island kit. Never let yourself be caught without one.