In order to minimize going from store to store to find everything we want, we bring a cooler of frozen meats - more for convenience than anything and, since STX has great restaurants we find ourselves bringing less and less each trip. Grocery shopping takes away from beaach time. We also bring our favorite coffee and preferred snacks (like pretzels - Hubs is a pretzel-holic and particular, has to have Rolled Gold, lots of salt, have never found those "perfect" pretzels anywhere in the VI - lol - easier to just bring a couple packs in carry-on). We try to keep our marketing to twice in a ten day stay. We make a stop at Cost U Less (just east of Sunny Isle) for liquor, soda, bottled water, fresh veggies and fruit, some bakery. Then we make a stop at Plaza Extra (practically right next door to Cost U Less) for whatever we still need. (Sometimes we get our liquor at K-mart if we are making a first stop there for pool noodles or some type of cosmetic item we forgot to pack. K-Mart is right at Sunny Isle. Here's the weekly ad from Plaza Extra so you can compare. http://www.plazaextra.com/stcroixad.htm Not sure where you are staying but Schooner Market in Gallows Bay is good for some gourmet stuff and quick pick-ups. Further east, there is Lori's (she also has a deli there with excellent breakfast, pizza, daily lunch and dinner specials - well worth a stop.) Lori also has a water machine where you can refill your gallon bottles for about 60 cents.

Yes, food is more expensive on STX than in the states(shipping costs). If you there's something you can't live without, you might want to bring with you. You have to weigh airline restrictions, hassle of extra bag. I live here and can't get everything at one store. Chill, Come, you won't starve 😎

I have a list of light-weight items that either I can't get on STX or are way more expensive. I go back to the states every 3-4 months and I always get the same items on my list.