Nickelodeon Resort Packing List

The gift shop at this Riviera Maya hotel is straight-up highway robbery. The kind of place where a child’s plastic sunglasses cost what you’d pay for an actual eye exam back home. And because the Nickelodeon resort sits on a fairly remote stretch of beach in Puerto Morelos, there’s no pharmacy you can walk to when you realize you forgot the sunscreen. Forget the right thing here and you’re stuck buying it at resort prices or going without. So let’s not. What actually needs to be on your Nickelodeon Resort packing list?

What Needs to Be on Your Nickelodeon Resort Packing List?

1. Clothing

2. Accessories

3. Documentation

4. Methods of Payment

5. Toiletries

6. Baby Items

7. Medications and First Aid

8. Miscellaneous

9. Water Park Bag

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The Short Version: What’s Actually Worth Packing?

This is an all-inclusive resort where you’ll spend roughly 90% of your waking hours soaking wet at the Aqua Nick water park, so pack like a water-park trip, not a fashion shoot. The non-negotiables:

Two swimsuits per person — one is always still wet from yesterday.
Reef-safe sunscreen and a refillable water-park bag — the sun here does not negotiate.
A passport for every traveler, including the baby — Mexico requires it for entry.
A credit card with no foreign transaction fees — for tips and the tourist tax (more on that below).
Your own toiletries and meds, condensed — there’s no pharmacy you can stroll to.

Everything else is detailed by category below, including the long list of stuff people lug down here and never touch. Skip ahead to whatever section is stressing you out.

1. Clothing

Weather

The Riviera Maya has gorgeous weather most of the year, but it’s also humid and gets a real rainy season, so what you pack shifts with your travel dates. Check the forecast before your trip. September is the rainiest month by a wide margin, and the wettest part of the year roughly runs from summer into fall — go then and a packable poncho earns its spot in the bag.

The averages are as follows:

Winter

Average high: Mid-80s

Average low: Mid-60s

Monthly rainfall: About one inch

Spring

Average high: Mid-90s

Average low: Low 70s

Monthly rainfall: About 1.7 inches

Summer

Average high: Low 90s

Average low: Low 70s

Monthly rainfall: About 4.7 inches

Fall

Average high: High 80s

Average low: Low 70s

Monthly rainfall: About 4 inches

What Should I Pack for a Week in Mexico?

Pro tip: The resort has a dress code that says you can’t wear tank tops. Everyone wears tank tops. In our experience, the staff wasn’t enforcing it anywhere — not even at Piazza, the Italian spot where you eat dinner across the table from a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle. Bring a light jacket or a collared shirt if it’ll let you relax, but don’t pack a whole formal wardrobe for a place where the dress code is theoretical.

Bonus pro tip: You don’t need a bunch of extra clothing. Bring only what you need for the length of your trip. The vast majority of your time will be spent at the water park.

A. Shorts

B. Pants

C. T-shirts

D. Nice shirts – Only if you want them for the restaurants.

E. Pajamas

F. Bras

G. Underwear

H. Socks

I. Walking shoes

J. Sandals or flip flops

K. Swimwear – Two per person. Hang wet suits in the bathroom and alternate.

L. Nicer shoes – Only if want them for the restaurants.

M. Workout gear – Only if you will actually use it.

N. Rain jacket – If needed.

O. Water shoes – Optional, but you might want them at the beach.

What Not to Add to Your Nickelodeon Resort Packing List

A. Wrinkle release spray– Steam from the shower has the same effect.

B. An iron

C. A sewing kit

2. Accessories

Pro tip: When the afternoon rain rolled in, the resort handed out umbrellas for us to use, so there’s no need to wedge your own into a carry-on. If you’re traveling in the rainy stretch around September, though, don’t count on it — a packable poncho weighs nothing and saves the gamble.

Accessories Worth Bringing

A. Goggles

B. Sunglasses – In addition to or instead of hats.

C. Hats – In addition to or instead of sunglasses.

D. Masks – Only if you want them.

E. Hair ties

F. Jewelry – Think minimal and cheap.

G. Belt – If needed.

What Not to Pack

A. Umbrella – The resort passes them out.

B. Floaties – Lifejackets are available.

C. A large selection of expensive jewelry

3. Documentation

What to Pack (or Ensure You Can Access on Your Phone)

A. Passports – One for every single traveler, infants included. There’s no “the baby doesn’t need one” loophole for international travel, and a passport that expires next month can get you turned away at the gate, so check the dates now and not the night before.

B. Priority Pass card – If you have it, for airport lounge access.

C. Global Entry Card

D. Health insurance card

E. Airline reservation confirmations and boarding passes

F. Hotel reservation confirmations

G. Ground transportation reservation confirmations – Complimentary round-trip airport transfers are included as a package benefit, which is a genuinely nice perk given the resort sits in Puerto Morelos, a short drive south of Cancun airport. Just confirm the pickup with the resort ahead of time so a driver is actually waiting for you, and keep that confirmation handy on your phone.

What Not to Pack

A. Any unnecessary or duplicate documentation with your personal information

4. Methods of Payment

What Payment to Bring

A. Credit cards – The resort is all-inclusive, so once you’ve paid you’re not handing over cash at every turn. But Mexico’s Riviera Maya does charge a tourist tax called VISITAX — and it trips people up because it’s a Quintana Roo state tax, not the “federal tax” a lot of older travel posts (this one included, once upon a time) describe. As of early 2025 it runs about $15 to $16 USD per person, it’s card-only, and there’s no age exemption, so yes, you owe it for the baby too. You can pay it online in advance or at a kiosk on your way out of Cancun airport, where they now scan a QR code at departure. Check the current rate before you go. Either way, bring a credit card with no foreign transaction fees.

B. Cash – Small bills for tips.

What Not to Pack

A. A lot of cash

5. Bathroom Essentials

Pro tip: Purchase travel bottles to bring your favorite products in smaller quantities.

Toiletries Worth Bringing

A. Contact solution and extra contacts

B. Glasses

C. Toothpaste

D. Toothbrush

E. Mouthwash

F. Floss

G. Chapstick

H. Hand sanitizer

I. Tissue

J. Cotton swabs

K. Tweezers

L. Face wash

M. Deodorant

N. Sunscreen

O. Lotion – Only bring it if you need a special kind.

P. Shampoo – Only if you need a particular kind, like tear-free.

Q. Conditioner – Only if you want or need a specific kind.

R. Body wash – Only if you need a specific kind.

S. Loofah

T. Razor

U. Feminine hygiene products

V. Makeup

W. Makeup remover

X. Hairbrush

Y. Hair styling products

Z. Bug spray

AA. Nail file

What Not to Add to Your Nickelodeon Resort Packing List

A. Nail clippers – Clip your nails before you leave or use a file.

B. Nail polish – Paint from the comfort of your home.

C. Hair dryer – They’re in the rooms.

6. Baby Items

Baby Gear Worth Bringing

A. Stroller – Instead of a baby sling.

B. Formula and baby food

C. Sippy cups

D. Baby sling – Instead of a stroller.

E. Bibs

F. Car seat – You will need to ride in vans frequently to get around the resort.

G. Breast pump and accessories

H. Bottles

I. Diapers – Both regular and swim.

J. Wipes

K. Pacifiers

L. Bottle cleaner

M. Dish soap to clean bottles

What Not to Add to Your Nickelodeon Resort Packing List

A. Baby monitor

B. Pack and Play – The hotel provides them.

C. High chair – This seems like a lot of work for not much payoff.

7. Medications and First Aid

You need your medications, but you don’t need a three-month supply. Condense to what the trip requires plus a small buffer. This is the one category where the remote location actually bites: there’s no pharmacy you can walk to, so the over-the-counter stuff you’d normally grab in a pinch — pain reliever, antibacterial cream, the kid version of everything — has to come with you. Pack the basics now so you’re not negotiating with the front desk at midnight.

Medications and First Aid Worth Bringing

A. Thermometer

B. Any necessary medical equipment

C. Vitamins

D. Pain relievers – For both children and adults.

E. Medications

F. BAND-AIDs

G. Antibacterial cream

What Not to Add to Your Nickelodeon Resort Packing List

A. Full bottles of anything

8. Miscellaneous

What to Add to Your All-Inclusive Resort Packing Checklist

A. Hotel and airplane entertainment

B. Snacks – Only what you need for travel. The resort is all-inclusive.

C. Gum

D. Cell phones and chargers

E. Portable cell phone charger

F. Waterproof cell phone case – If you want to take pictures in the water.

What Not to Add to Your Nickelodeon Resort Packing List

A. Night light – Leave the bathroom light on and the door cracked.

B. Shoe organizer – You shouldn’t have enough shoes to require organization.

C. Cameras – Phones have cameras now.

D. Hamper – An empty suitcase is a rolling laundry basket.

E. Pool toys

F. Extra towels – The Beach House and pools have them.

G. Travel clothesline and clips – People bring these to hang their swimsuits. The shower curtain rod does the same job.

H. Expensive electronics

I. Selfie sticks and extension poles

9. Waterpark Packing List

Aqua Nick, the resort’s roughly six-acre water park, is where this trip actually happens — slides, lazy rivers, the works, and access is included for guests. The catch for packing: you’ll have to walk away from your bag every time you climb a slide tower, and the lockers aren’t free. So pack a small, cheap, hard-to-tempt-a-thief bag and don’t bring anything you’d be heartbroken to lose. For the full rundown of the park itself, see our Aqua Nick guide.

What to Include When Packing for Resort Vacations

A. Cell phone and portable cell phone charger

B. Sunscreen

C. Masks – Only if you want them.

D. Hats

E. Sunglasses

F. Hand Sanitizer

G. Tissue

H. Feminine hygiene products

I. Gum

J. Chapstick

K. Pain relievers

L. BAND-AIDs

M. Waterproof cell phone case – If necessary.

N. Baby stuff you need on a typical day

Nickelodeon Resort Packing FAQ

Do I really need a passport for the Nickelodeon Riviera Maya resort?

Yes. The resort is in Mexico, which means a valid passport for every traveler, kids and infants included. Build in a few weeks of buffer before any expiration date — a passport that’s close to expiring can get you bounced at check-in. If you’re hammering out the rest of the logistics, our tips for traveling with kids cover the documentation chaos in more detail.

Is there a tourist tax, and how much is it?

There is. It’s called VISITAX, it’s a Quintana Roo state tax (not the “federal tax” you may see in older write-ups), and as of early 2025 it runs roughly $15 to $16 USD per person, all ages. It’s card-only, and you can pay it online before you travel or at a kiosk at Cancun airport on your way home. Confirm the going rate before your trip, since it gets adjusted.

How much sunscreen should I pack?

More than you think. You’re outdoors and in the water nearly all day, sweating and rinsing it off constantly, and buying it at the gift shop will hurt. Bring a reef-safe formula and reapply like it’s your job. If water parks are your family’s whole vacation personality, our guide to what to bring to a water park has the rest of the must-haves and skip-its.

Should I pack pool floats and towels?

Leave them home. In our experience the pools and Beach House had towels, and life jackets were available at the water park, so dragging your own floaties through an airport is wasted effort. When in doubt, pack light — the same minimalist logic we preach in our minimalist packing approach applies here too.

Is the Nickelodeon resort actually worth it?

That’s a bigger question than a packing list can answer, and the honest take depends on how much your kids love slime and slides. We dig into the verdict in our full review of whether the Nickelodeon resort is worth it.

Final Thoughts – Nickelodeon Resort Packing List

You don’t want to overpack, but you also don’t want to forget anything. The bitterness you’ll feel after a forced gift-shop purchase has a way of clouding the rest of the trip. Pack for the water — swimsuits, sunscreen, a no-foreign-fee card — leave the iron and the floaties at home, and bring just enough of everything else to get through the week. Do that and you’ll spend your vacation watching your kids get slimed instead of mentally tallying what you forgot. If you’re still mapping out the trip, our Aqua Nick water park guide is the natural next read.