1- my cell phone charger
2- my cell phone
Gonna try walkie talkies next trip!
Smiles-
MJ

Well, my daughter pulled her bathing suit out of her bag last-minuted and left it on her bed. We had to find her a new one when we arrived! The biggest thing was losing one of our checked bags for two days - never again, we at least carryon a change of clothes and a bathing suit.

I just print out the packing list and work from there - http://www.garvin.us/STJ/New_Visitors_Guide/STJ_New_Visitor_Guide.html#Packing

Cheers, RickG

Great packing list and ideas!

Question about carryons - Are you allowed to bring food in cooler on plane (carryon)?

Thanx!

BFP

we checked with American about bringing food/cooler. They said yes, as long as there were not any liquids. We are bringing a cooler full of frozen meats. Heard food could get a little costly on the island.

My sister visited last year, brought her digital camera with the memory card in it but no extra memory card. The camera wasn't that old but when her memory card filled up. We could not find another memory card compatible with her camera anywhere on St. Thomas. Bring extra memory card.

Regarding meat, we bring our frozen meat in a soft sided cooler inside a duffel bag checked as luggage every trip. Now....the reason we do this is not necessarily because of local price of meat in the islands. You can get very good meat at reasonable price from Cost-U-Less on St. Thomas for example. We bring our meat with us because of convenience. We have a home on Water Island. We are not happy/satisfied with the price or quality of meat at Pueblo or Gourmet Gallery (our closest grocery stores in proximity to Water Island). It's an TRIP (time and expense) for us to get to Cost-U-Less (which has comparable quality meats like we find in the States). So, we do some 'meal planning' before the trip and store the meat in the freezer. The night before our flight we do a "trial run" and pack the meat in the cooler, weigh it and start making hard choices until we've got a bag that meets the 50LB weight limit. (we usually stay for long periods of time on Water Island) Put the meat back in the freezer. Then, on the morning of our flight, the last thing we do before leaving the house is pack the meet in the soft sided cooler, drop it in a duffel bag, and head to the airport. Check it as luggage. Then, when we get to our home on Water Island, the first thing we do is unload the cooler into the chest freezer. The meat has always been still frozen. We've never had a problem. (Knock on wood that we've been lucky that our luggage has not "gone missing" or been misplaced by the airlines. I fully admit that is a risk. I suppose you could also do 'carry-on' for your soft side cooler. It's all frozen meat....no liquid. If you do this and it's not a direct flight, I would consider putting the soft side cooler in a rolling bag that you put in the overhead....to avoid having to CARRY the bag to your connecting flight/gate.)

Bring half the clothes you think you are going to need and twice the money.LOL

I second that Waterguy!!

Bring LOTS of sunscreen! Our traveling partners have always run out around Day 3.
I always bring too many clothes. No matter how I try - i still seem to have unworn clothes at the end of the week.
Over the Counter medicine - as you need. My wife forgot to bring Tylenol or Tums first couple of years - now she has a portable bag with bandaids, asprin, antacids, etc..

When we are traveling with a group, we bring some frozen foods in a medium polar bear cooler as carryon, with no techni-ice or refrigerants. Everything's frozen when we arrive. If its just the two of us its not worth the hassle.

I know waterguy is bring that good Wisconsin pork when he travels!

Cheers, RickG

I had to laugh when you asked what should have been left at home and I couldn't help but think " my husband"..lol.....Now that would be a very quiet and peaceful vacation. All to myself.

RickG wrote:
never again, we at least carryon a change of clothes and a bathing suit.

Cheers, RickG

Smart Man 😉

#1 Reading materials or something for the plane ride... the way down we got a nice STT magazine... the way home ... 4 hours of turbulance 🙁
#2 My wife.... just kidding

For making a plan on such short notice last year we did a dang good job not forgetting anything. I have a nack at forgetting the freakin camera when I go places, but yeah, that was the first thing on my sholder when I left at 5 AM from the house to leave. Underwater case included 😉

I only travel with carry-on luggage, it makes traveling effortless. I bought the best ever High Sierra carry on set and it can fit just about everything that you need. I usually stop by K-mart once I'm on island to buy the sunscreen and insect repellent. A sun dress can go a long way on the island. I'll throw it on over my swim suit if it's a combo beach and shopping day and wear it out at night with my flipflops and a wrap.

Have a great trip!

Molly