My Fall Vacation Recap: Packing and Dressing for a Week at Rancho La Puerta

One of my favorite destinations for relaxation, fun, and rejuvenation is Rancho La Puerta, a luxury fitness and spa retreat in Tecate, Mexico. Barry and I recently returned from a restorative week of hiking, fun, great food, and some much-appreciated relaxation.

In many ways, packing for a spa retreat is similar to packing for any other vacation. However, there are a few key differences. Because you are likely to spend more time exercising than you would on a typical trip, you may want to pack more activewear, like workout leggings and t-shirts or exercise tops. And if you plan to spend lots of time relaxing, you might plan on bringing extra loungewear. Of course, you will also want to pack some nicer clothing to wear to dinner in the evenings, as you would do on any vacation.

The main principle to remember as you pack for any getaway is this: Keep it simple. Travel is a chance to escape the busyness of everyday life and all the trappings that come along with it. That’s why it’s so important to keep an eye toward minimalism as you pack. You don’t want to have to wrestle with a lot of unnecessary luggage or stress out over what to wear when you should be having fun and relaxing.

 Here is a list of what I packed, along with some photos:

Clothing:

For my various daily outfits, including clothes I wore to dinner each night, I packed five t-shirts, one tank top, two cotton sweaters, two skorts, and two pairs of cotton pants. Notice the neutral color story with cheerful pops of orange. Choosing a theme like this keeps your options open for lots of versatile looks—an important strategy when you’re packing light.

Activewear:

For activewear, I brought three pairs of leggings for working out, four workout tops, and one t-shirt for morning walks. I also included a hooded sweatshirt and a Patagonia waterproof hooded jacket. For bottoms, I brought three pairs of leggings for working out, one hiking short, and one pair of sweatpants. I also packed a swimsuit and cover-up, a baseball hat, and a wide-brim hat, which I wore anytime we sat by the pool.

Footwear:

When you’re packing a suitcase, you have to be strategic about which shoes you’re going to bring. For a weeklong spa retreat, I got away with bringing four pairs. I packed one pair of athletic sneakers for workouts and hikes. I brought one pair of flip-flop sandals and a pair of Naot brand sandals for daily wear. Last but not least, I wore my navy fashion sneakers on the plane.

Jewelry:

I didn’t need a lot of jewelry for this type of travel, so I kept my selection minimal and versatile. It included my favorite long crystal necklace, a new multicolor disc chain I bought in Paris this past June, my Alexis Bittar acrylic bracelet, gold hoop earrings, and white pearl earrings. Finally, I took my crystal fishhook earrings, which I wore each day during the daytime fitness classes and activities.

Bags:

I packed a small gold bag to carry to dinner each night and brought a backpack and my black crossbody Tumi bag with me on the plane. These few bags were all I needed to get me through the entire week.

And now, let’s take a look at some of the highlights from our trip and discover how I wore everything I packed…

I recommend always crafting a “travel uniform” anytime you fly to ensure that you arrive in style. Above you’ll see my typical travel uniform that keeps me comfortable and stylish on chilly airplanes. This time, my uniform consisted of jeans, a white t-shirt, my navy cardigan sweater, my Hermès scarf, and comfy sneakers. I wore a very similar version of this outfit on a recent flight to Europe, and this kind of layered ensemble gets my seal of approval for longer flights.

Stepping onto the grounds of the Ranch—as regulars like to call it—is like entering an oasis of peace and solitude. I can feel my worries and cares slipping from my shoulders from the moment I arrive, and that peace only intensifies as the week goes on. Here I am beside one of the beautiful contemporary sculptures on display at the Ranch. These, along with the Mexican folk art displayed throughout the grounds, make this property feel so special and peaceful.

At dinner on the first night of our stay, I wore my red/white t-shirt with my white jeans and my Naot sandals. I love packing white pants or jeans for travel. When they fit well, they convey a dressy vibe and can be worn with a number of different tops (as long as you manage not to spill on them!). These sandals are another excellent choice for travel, not only because they can be dressed up or down, but because they are incredibly comfortable for walking.

Some of the loveliest parts of our trip were spent hiking over the scenic terrain around the grounds of the retreat. Here are a few photos from the onset of one of our hikes. My walking companion, Mary, was visiting Rancho La Puerta on a girlfriend’s trip with her college classmates. We had a great time chatting while getting our heart rates up.

One of my favorite things to do at the Ranch is taking a cooking class. Barry and I always have a great time practicing our culinary skills and learning new recipes. We are pictured here with the very talented guest chef Kate Sherwood. On this particular evening, I wore my navy pants and a navy/white striped t-shirt. I paired this outfit with my navy sneakers, because covered shoes are recommended when everyone is cooking and using knives. And later in the week, I had the opportunity to wear this outfit a second time.

Rain still happens even when you’re on vacation! I was grateful to have packed my Patagonia hooded jacket when this rain shower began. I just threw it on over my workout clothes and went about my day. I believe a rain jacket is a necessity for any trip, because you never know when anything from a sprinkling to a downpour could occur.

While most of the activities at the Ranch call for casual wear or “athleisure” style attire, guests tend to dress up a little more for dinner. Here, Barry and I are on our way to an evening meal of elegant organic cuisine. I am wearing a beige cotton sweater with my skort, sandals, and gold purse. As you can see, the crystal necklace works well with my neutral tone outfit.

Here, Barry and I are taking a break from hiking to take in the picturesque landscape. Spending most of our time in a densely populated city, we both look forward to exploring the great outdoors and tuning into nature. I am wearing my hiking shorts along with a simple white t-shirt and my workout sneakers. My navy cotton hooded jacket worked well to keep me warm during hikes.

I wore my white jeans again for dinner this evening. Paired with an orange sweater and metallic sandals, they help create a perfect autumn look. My long crystal necklace and gold bag complete the ensemble.

Visiting the Ranch is a great way to meet interesting people and make new friends! In this photo, I am with my terrific new pals Catherine, Jamie, and Kim.

Believe it or not, there were not one, not two, but THREE Marlas at the Ranch the week we visited. Here we all are together at Bingo with Barry night—hosted by yet another Barry! Marla on the left is a fellow guest, while Marla on the right was a guest yoga instructor for the week. In this photo, I am wearing my white jeans, this time with a white tank, sandals, crystal necklace, and the same navy cardigan I wore on the plane. Quite unintentionally, I discovered I had the components for one of my “column dressing” outfits and put together this look. Column dressing means wearing a solid color head to toe and offsetting it with a contrasting pop of color with an outer layer or accessory like a scarf. It’s one of my favorite tricks to help anyone look instantly slimmer and taller, and I recommend it to my clients regularly.

After a blissful week, Barry and I packed up and headed back to the hustle and bustle of New York. But the peace and lightheartedness we gained at the Ranch has remained as a constant reminder to relax, stay centered, and take in the beautiful world around us.

My parting piece of advice is to keep the packing process simple anytime you travel. No matter where you are going, you’ll enjoy the journey and the destination much more when you feel unencumbered by heavy bags. The result? Instead of spending your trip managing “stuff,” you get to fully immerse yourself in the experience at hand. And the best part is, you still get to look great the whole time!

Happy travels!