Feb 14 2025 - Feb 17 2025
Puerto Rico: Climbing, Slacklining, AcroYoga and Surfing Retreat
Puerto Rico
Traveling comes with surprises—some pleasant, and others… less so. Over the years, we’ve stayed in our fair share of questionable hotels. Sometimes it was a choice, driven by our desire to stretch our travel budget. Other times, even $200-a-night hotels turned out to be far from what we expected. The reality? This could be heaven or this could be hell.
Our travel style isn’t about glamour or luxury—though we definitely appreciate those when we can get them! Instead, we’ve learned that with a bit of preparation, and a few smart hotel room hacks, we can transform almost any room into a comfortable, cozy space that feels luxurious enough for us, all while keeping our travel budget in check.
We achieve this by bringing along a carefully curated list of items that turn even the simplest accommodations into what we fondly call our ‘Tuscany Retreat’—a phrase Raquel often uses to describe a perfect blend of comfort, warmth, and a touch of luxury.
These items have helped us create our own version of luxury everywhere—from rustic guest houses while trekking in Nepal, to unexpected hotel layovers during airport delays, and even in high-end hotel rooms where we wanted to add a personal touch of home.
We never, ever board a plane or set off on a trip without packing our Cocoon Insect Shield® sleeping bag liner. It’s a staple on our travel packing list, and for good reason. Lightweight, compact, and incredibly versatile, it provides comfort and peace of mind in a wide range of situations—whether we’re on an outdoor adventure, waiting out long layovers at an airport, or checking into a hotel that’s… less than ideal.
The primary reason we always carry it? Protection. This liner offers reliable protection against bed bugs and insects, which can be a real concern in unfamiliar or less-than-clean accommodations.
Using the Cocoon liner is a simple, satisfying ritual that instantly transforms any bed into your personal sanctuary. Here’s how we use it:
Once tucked in, you’ll find yourself wrapped in a clean, comforting cocoon—ready to drift off to sleep in peace, no matter where your travels take you.
Honestly, we’re not huge fans of inflatable pillows, but the Ultralight AirCore Hood PillowX one has earned its place on our packing list. Why? It’s incredibly lightweight, packs down small enough that we never question bringing it along, and—most importantly—Raquel loves it.
She uses it regularly, not just on airplanes but also as a daily comfort item, placing it between her knees while sleeping. And when we need an actual pillow, it works surprisingly well for both back and side sleepers, offering just the right balance of support and comfort.
If we’re heading to a tropical location, a mosquito net is a non-negotiable part of our packing list. While many hotels in remote areas provide mosquito nets, they’re often missing in more urban or coastal settings where mosquitoes can still be a problem. Even with the air conditioning cranked up, mosquitoes can remain active, making it difficult to sleep and leaving us at risk of both itchy bites and more serious concerns—mosquito-borne diseases like dengue, malaria, or Zika.
The Cocoon Travel Net Ultralight Double mosquito net creates a dependable barrier, keeping us safe from bites and the annoying buzz of insects, while also giving us peace of mind by reducing the risk of disease transmission. It has saved us from countless sleepless nights and potentially from serious health issues, ensuring we stay comfortable and healthy throughout our travels. Lightweight, compact, and easy to set up, it’s an essential item for any tropical adventure.
We’ve covered our method for packing the perfect toiletry bag in this blog. Whether you’re embarking on a weekend getaway or a month-long adventure, our tips will help you create a well-organized and efficient toiletry bag for your future trips.
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We prefer not to rely on hotel towels while traveling, especially since we tend to do more water-based activities than most people. Instead, we opt for lightweight, quick-drying towels that pack small and dry fast. We take at least one per person. Alternatively, you can travel with a versatile yoga towel, which can double as a towel, a makeshift yoga mat, or even a scarf—something Raquel is known to do!
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We use lightweight dry bags to keep our dirty clothes separate. Not only do they help contain unpleasant smells, but they also keep our luggage and hotel room organized.
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Our dry bag isn’t just a place for laundry—it’s equipped with a few extra essentials:
We’ve upgraded our dry bags by clipping in a clothesline. Whether we’re washing a few items by hand or need to hang wet gear after a day of water adventures, the clothesline comes in handy. After years of traveling, one thing we’ve learned is that hotels never have enough hanging space. Never. Ever.
We always pack enough detergent sheets to last for the entire trip. They’re lightweight, easy to pack, and let us control the detergent we use—ensuring a familiar scent and no surprises that might damage our clothes.
Since we often do laundry on the go, we carry a reusable color grabber inside our dry bag. It allows us to wash mixed loads without worrying about colors running or ruining lighter fabrics.
If we’re handing over our laundry to a hotel or local service, we simply give them our dry bag and ask them to use the detergent sheets we’ve packed inside. This not only ensures our clothes are washed with soap we trust but also keeps everything neatly organized—and makes it easy to identify our bag when it’s time to pick it up.
Travel often brings surprises—both good and bad. Whether it’s unexpected noise, safety concerns, or unpleasant smells, being prepared can make all the difference in turning a potentially challenging situation into a manageable one.
Here’s how we do it:
When it comes to safety, we understand that most of our measures are deterrents—nothing can guarantee that our belongings won’t go missing. That’s why we always start by investing in really good travel insurance. Once that’s in place, our focus shifts to discouraging anyone from tampering with or taking our stuff. This site allows us to purchase travel insurance based on where we are going, for how long and what activities we have in mind, including high risk activities like climbing and kite surfing.
We always carry one rechargeable headlamp per person—not just because we enjoy nighttime activities, but because we’ve learned that reliable lighting isn’t always guaranteed when traveling. Power outages happen, and some hotel rooms have such dim lighting that tasks like reading or small DIY repairs become nearly impossible without one. A good headlamp ensures hands-free illumination, whether you’re hiking after sunset, returning to your hotel at night, dealing with an unexpected blackout, or just trying to fix something in poor lighting conditions. Headlamps are a simple, lightweight tool, that make a huge effect on your trip’s comfort, convenience and safety.
When we’re traveling with valuables like electronics, passports, or extra cash, the Pacsafe Travelsafe portable safe is our go-to. It’s lightweight, easy to pack, and can be secured to a fixed object in the room—making it much harder for anyone to walk off with your important items. While it doesn’t guarantee complete security, it offers peace of mind.
We carry two security cables (a 7-ft and a 2.6-ft cable) to tie our bags together when leaving them unattended. Whether we’re at a hotel’s luggage storage, on a bus, or waiting at an airport, securing our bags with cables makes it difficult for anyone to grab one and run. If someone does try, they’ll have a hard time—and will certainly draw attention while doing so.
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We always travel with a few combination locks. These TSA-approved locks are easy to set and incredibly versatile—they’re perfect for securing our bags while traveling, tying multiple bags together with security cables, and locking hotel lockers. Our favorite use? Locking our room! In some hostels, the doors have lockable latches, so we use our own combination locks instead of relying on provided keys. This way, we don’t have to worry about losing keys, and we gain added peace of mind knowing that even the staff can’t enter without our permission.
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Bathroom smells have been a recurring issue with our travels. A simple but effective hack is covering the drains from the shower and sink with zip-top bags filled with water. These help seal the drains and keep unpleasant odors from spreading around. We travel with 3 for the kitchen sink, bathroom and shower. In a pinch, you can use any plastic bag that you have on hand.
Packing a small, portable oil diffuser not only helps mask unpleasant smells but also creates a calming, familiar environment wherever you go. Plus certain essential oils can even help boost your immune system. We carry a small sample pack with: lavender, tea tree, citronella, palo santo, an immune boosting blend and eucalyptus oil. If you cannot carry a diffuser, you can use a carry-on approved spray bottle with your desired mix for the trip. As a bonus, the scent will help you remember that trip.
Whether it’s blocking out airplane noise, loud hotel neighbors, or street sounds, noise-canceling headphones are a lifesaver. We like to pair them with lofi music for a soothing, distraction-free experience. They’re also great for watching movies or listening to audiobooks without being disturbed—or disturbing others. Of course a pair of regular ear plugs works to cover the noise… but low tech is… low tech! (cringe face).
We travel with both over the ear headphones and airpods.
Imagine traveling for a week without any electronics—yeah, sounds miserable, right? Like it or not, we’re tied to our devices for good. We use them to stay entertained, get work done, and stay connected with friends and family. That’s why having the ability to charge your devices while traveling is essential. Whether you’re in bed, at a coffee shop, or in a hotel room with limited outlets, power is non-negotiable.
Here’s the packing list we’ve developed to keep us working, connected, and ready to Netflix and chill from anywhere!
A universal travel plug adapter is essential for international trips. It ensures compatibility with different outlet types around the world, allowing you to charge your devices without any hassle.
This is one of our favorite travel hacks, especially when staying in hotels or working in coffee shops where outlets can be sparse or inconveniently located. A compact extension cord with multiple plugs allows us to charge several devices from a single outlet—making it easy to stay productive and powered up on the go.
Imagine arriving at a coffee shop, airport, or any public space, only to find someone already using the only available outlet. Instead of waiting, you can simply ask, “Hey, can I plug this in while keeping your device plugged in too?” With a multiplug, everyone wins. This little trick has saved us countless times and even sparked a few fun conversations with fellow travelers!
Carrying a power bank is essential for staying charged while on the go—whether you’re navigating long travel days, exploring remote areas, or simply spending hours away from an outlet. We always pack one per person to ensure we never run out of power, and here are a few options we recommend.
Note: When flying, be aware of airline regulations regarding power banks. Most airlines allow up to two power banks per passenger, and power banks up to 100Wh (Watt-hours) can be carried without special approval. If your power bank is between 100Wh and 160Wh, you may need airline approval, while anything above 160Wh is not permitted on flights. Always carry power banks in your hand luggage, as they are prohibited in checked baggage.
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Standard-length cables often fall short—literally—when hotel room outlets are inconveniently located far from the bed or workspace. That’s why we always pack a few extra-long cables, which give us the flexibility to charge and use our devices comfortably, no matter where the nearest outlet is. Our favorite? Anker USB cables. They’re incredibly soft, durable, and comfortable to handle. Once you try them, you won’t want to use any other cable. They make charging not just functional, but surprisingly pleasant!
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In addition to your multiplug, a multiple USB adapter is a must-have. It saves space by allowing you to charge several devices—smartphones, tablets, headphones, and more—all at once. With so many gadgets in our travel kit, this compact gadget has become a timesaver.
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Sam and Raquel have been traveling together since 2013, exploring the world one adventure at a time. To date, they’ve visited together 46 countries (and counting!), experiencing everything from remote mountain peaks to bustling cities. Their travels have taken them to a wide variety of accommodations—camping on mountain summits, pitching a tent beside luxury hotels, staying in $2 rooms in Nepal, to $1,000-a-night rooms in Easter Island!
Their approach to travel is simple: stay curious, adapt to any situation, and always make room for a great cup of coffee. Whether roughing it in a tent or making a budget room feel luxurious, Sam and Raquel believe that comfort isn’t about price—it’s about mindset, thoughtful preparation, and making the most of every situation.
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