Most likely security will want to have you open it. Just bring more tape to close it when they are done. And here's another novel idea...we actually have stores here that sell food! Maybe buy some when you get here and leave your cooler at home? Just a suggestion.

Marty,
Thanks for your obvious suggestion, but we cannot afford to spend the extra cash it would cost to buy a week's worth of food there. The way it is, we will probably only eat out one evening. There will be five of us there, and footing the bill for those groceries away from home, especially in a resort area, is too much. Thanks for the heads up on the extra tape idea!
Rick

IMHO I don't thinkl the food is that much more here. Maybe 5-10% on avg.?

Support the local economy and buy your food there. As has been written the cost is not that much more and you won't have the inconvenience of lugging a heavy cooler with you.

Marty,
Thanks for the info. We are primarily concerned with prices on things like cold cuts, milk, OJ, bread, cereal, and other staples. We also have a question about the quality of some of the groceries such as chicken, meats, and cold cuts. Can you tell me anything about that? Thank you very much!
Rick

Maggiwun,
We intend to support the local economy to a great extent. We will be shopping for souvenirs, possibly some local artists' prints, and also indulging in some of the nightlife. We are only going to be there for a week, and we also don't like the idea of taking any time out of that to do the necessary grocery shopping. We want to enjoy every second of that short stay on beautiful SJ.
Rick

The quality is the same as what you will find back home. Milk, I suggest Souiza brand, from Puerto Rico. It can be found in all of the Pueblo supermarkets. (Or Island Dairies, MacAurthur, Parmelat) It actually comes out of cows (as opposed to St. Thomas Dairies, which is powdered and recombined), and tastes just like milk back home. $3.89/gal. vs. almost $6/gal for STT Dairies. Cold cuts, staples, etc. will be just as fresh as you are used to and approx. 5-10% more in cost. Not too bad, when you think about it. I mean, a bottle of Cruzan rum is only $3 vs. $18 back home, so you actually come out ahead!!

Hello Richard,

How about getting an inexpensive Clip or Locking Strap to fasten the cooler shut ? That would be easier for the inspectors to just unsnap and open and close it back. They run around $8-$12. Perhaps some tape and the strap rather then mass amounts of tape.

--Islander

Islander,
Thank you very much! Great suggestion.
Rick

Meat and chicken tends to be more expensive so I would bring that. Cold cuts are available in Sunrise Market (?) just past Westin heading out from Cruz. They are more than Oscar Myer but comprable to Boars Head.and have a tremendous selection of cheeses as well. Cereal is definitely more expensive. Things like milk, juice (canned), and fresh vegetables are better purchased in Cruz.

You will be fine with what is down there. Just save yourself the trouble. If you really want to bring stuff, bring prime cuts of meat that you enjoy. You won't be saving that much by bringing your stuff in and goin gthrough the hassles. There are places for stuff there.

We are a family of five and we go down whenever we can. We do not bring a cooler down. We get stuff locally and are yet to be disapointe.

We went to the grocery store & bought alot of food to eat in while on St. Thomas.
I even brought the unopened package of coldcuts home cu we didn't use it.
I had to declare it when going home thru customs.
When the lady at customs asked what else I was bringing home, I told her my bottle of Arbor Mist wine that I bought. She says to me..."Hun...you came all the way to St. Thomas to bring home a bottle of Arbor Mist wine!!!"
Sorry...that's my favorite!!