I’ve always been somewhat of a planner when it comes to traveling. I always make sure there’s an itinerary in place and there’s nothing that’s more last minute. Having said that, it’s not like I always pack my vacations with lots of things to do but I like more organized trips. And that organization also involves planning my outfits so that I don’t have to be running around and pulling my hair at the very last minute. I really enjoy the process of planning and compiling my looks well in advance because that also ensures that I am not over-packing.
I recently visited Cancun and Tulum in Mexico and because it was super hot, I mostly packed all my summer clothes and a few bikinis. There’s not one specific place that I usually buy my outfits from but if I have to give you my top picks then they’re going to be Zara, Asos, Revolve and Saks because I just love the quality and style of their clothes. However, I have also been a fan of Shein for many years. While I know some people around me haven’t had a great experience, somehow I have always bought stuff that comes in great shape and quality. I am also a sucker for jewelry so most of my earrings, rings and necklaces that you’ll see are from Shein because they’re so cheap and trendy.
But, before I share all the affordable outfits I wore in Mexico, I want to address a few important questions that may come to your mind as you plan outfits for the trip,
How should you dress in Mexico as a woman?
Both Cancun and Tulum are pretty laid back towns so you really don’t have to worry much about packing your outfits. However, depending on the weather you go in and the plan, you can decide what to pack. We mostly hung out in the hotel zones in Cancun and Tulum that are very safe for tourists so I didn’t really have to worry about how to dress as a woman. But, if you have plans to head to places outside of these two towns, then I suggest you read more on other blogs and pack accordingly. Below are a few examples of what you can pack based on the different settings,
- Beach/Pool/Cenote – Swim suits, cover ups, water slippers, flip flops, towels, wet wipes, tote bag or a beach bag, beach mat, swim shorts and bikini tops
- Day trips – Sun hats, sunglasses, sunscreen, scarf, maxi dress, rompers, shorts, light jacket, shoes, after sun aloe vera gel, small crossbody bags, linen t-shirts
- Dinners/Drinks/Clubs– Dresses, sandals, jewelry, clutch
- Brunches – Cute floral dresses, maxi dresses, floral skirts, printed pants
How should you dress in an all-inclusive resort?
Most tourists in the resorts come here to relax and have a great time. So, you really won’t see many people dressed up or dressed more formally. The attire for hanging out in a resort is mostly maxi dresses, casual beach and resort wear, swim suit with cover ups and flip flops, t-shirts and shorts. But, if you’re feeling like dressing up its totally up to you. I have an outfit idea listed in this blog for when you want to relax at the resort.
How should you dress for a night club in Mexico?
The nightclubs in Mexico, specifically in places like Cancun and Tulum, are pretty safe. We mostly explored the night life in the hotel zones in Cancun and Tulum and I felt very comfortable in short dresses. In fact, I saw many girls wearing short dresses, crop tops and pants, coord sets or mini skirts. So feel free to dress up for your night out. I have an outfit idea listed in this blog for a night out.
What not to pack?
There’s a few things you may want to avoid packing to save yourself some space in the bag for other more essential things.
- Heels – First thing that you will absolutely not need is a pair of heels. Most of your trip will be about day excursions and water activities. Even if you plan to head to a club in the night, I wouldn’t recommend wearing heels because the clubs are always very crowded so you won’t even have much space to stand. And since you’ll be standing/dancing in the club for hours, its better to wear flats. But again, totally up to you!
- Tight Jeans– I also did not pack any tight jeans or pants. I knew that the weather was going to be really hot and humid so I didn’t really want to wear anything tight. Instead, I carried some high waist loose fit trousers to make the look stylish yet comfortable. I have linked a pair of nice white trousers in this blog below.
- Expensive Jewelry – I didn’t pack a lot of jewelry, specially expensive or branded jewelry. I just took with me a few pair of earrings and rings but that was about it.
- Designer bags – I didn’t pack any of my luxury handbags. I just took a beach bag, a regular tote and a small crossbody bag because I didn’t want to grab too much attention. Always remember that you can leave behind anything that’s fancy because you don’t want to look too flashy.
Now, let me jump straight into all the outfits I wore on the 5 days that we were there. Hoping that this can give you some affordable outfit ideas for your tropical vacation.
DAY AT THE RESORT
Our first day was mostly spent relaxing at our beautiful resort. We took a dip in the pool and then just hung out by the bar for a few drinks. And in the evening, we went out for a stroll around the property so I took this gorgeous neon coord set from Micas. If you haven’t already checked this site out, I urge you to do so. They have such trendy and stylish collections and it’s all so affordable. The blue earrings I am wearing here are from Forever 21.
SHOP THIS NEON CO-ORD SET HERE || $20
CHICHEN ITZA DAY
Day 2 was an exploration day and we headed out to Chichen Itza. It was extremely hot so I packed a beautiful white tiered maxi dress from Myntra. This maxi dress was a perfect way to wear something light and summery. And because of its length, it also gave me complete protection from the scorching heat. Plus, it made for a perfect picture in front of the beautiful Chichen Itza as you can see below. Isn’t it just so beautiful and flowy? Plus, its so affordable at only $10.
SHOP THIS WHITE TIERED MAXI DRESS HERE || $10
COZUMEL ISLAND DAY
On our third day here, we decided to explore the beautiful island of Cozumel. I didn’t really have any water activities planned and it was mostly just about exploring the island on a scooter. So I picked this very cute and affordable co ord set from Amazon.
SHOP THIS SET HERE || $34.99
NIGHT OUT
On the same day, we decided to hit the nightclubs in the evening after dinner so I took with me this very sexy off shoulder ruched dress from Shein. The earrings I paired with this dress are also from Shein.
SHOP THIS RUCHED DRESS HERE || $24.49
EXPLORING TULUM DOWNTOWN
Our fourth day was about driving to the town of Tulum and checking out the downtown. We had plans to eat at a nice restaurant and then hit a few bars for drinks. So I wore this shimmery ruffle off shoulder top from Shein and paired it with high waisted white trousers from Asos. The gold earrings here are from shein as well.
SHOP THIS RUFFLE TOP HERE || $12.75
EXPLORING TULUM
Final day was all about exploring the cute town of Tulum. There’s something known as the hotel zone in Tulum which is a very bustling part of this town. This street is filled with dreamy resorts and cute restaurants. There’s also some very nice architecture in this area. So, I decided to wear this very gorgeous floral maxi dress from Farm Rio. I instantly fell in love with this dress when I saw it for the first time because of its cut, print, fit and colors.
SHOP THIS FLORAL MAXI DRESS HERE || $144.37
I hope you liked my affordable outfits and this post helped you in planning your looks for your next vacation. Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!
P.S. If you’re looking to plan a perfect itinerary for Cancun and Tulum, then read my blog here on an ultimate 5-day itinerary to Cancun and Tulum.
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