There are all types of sprays that you can find once you get here. The mosquitoes are out in force right now because we had a few weeks of rain and there are more ponds with water available for them to breed! I doubt the sitation will be the same in July. You Danes have some repellant that I see my guests using here all the time that they bring from Denmark. It is very powerful. Don't remember the name.

RL

Linne,
You may want to try websites of Walmart, Avon, and/or drugstore.com to find bug sprays (and those with sunscreen in them) for you to take down. It may be a little more expensive to buy them on island, but it will save room (and weight) in your luggage if you do. Traveling that far with enough luggage for a long trip, I would just buy it when I get there. The only exception would be the Avon stuff which isn't sold in stores, but other stuff will work just as well. Actually the Avon Bug Guard didn't work so good for me.

I am sooooo jealous! 🙂

Rod, thank you for your tip. I was convinced that the best bug repellent has to be found, where the bugs were the biggest problem. But perhaps I can find something here in Denmark too. I hope you will be right about that July perhaps will be better concerning bugs. I am really worried. Mosquitoes just love me, and I have read all the proposals in this forums about gin and vitamins and so on.

Mountaineer girl, also thank you for your information. I will try to find something of this bug repellent with sunscreen on STT. I can see you understand the problem with the luggage, so perhaps you can help me with the other question what I have to bring with me. Will it help if I take thin pants and shirts with long sleeves on, or do the bugs bite through the clothes? Will it be to hot to wear pants. When I look at the pictures which is available in this forum
it seems as if everybody wear shorts.

Also I have to say that I like your trip report. It make me laugh!

Linne

Linne,
Definitely you will NOT want to wear long pants or long sleeve shirts! Maybe you'll be protected a little more from the bugs, but you'll be sweating up a storm. Wear shorts, short-sleeved or sleeveless shirts (tank tops, we call them) and it saves on space in your luggage. I think it will not only be hot in July, but more humid as well.

I packed 90% of my clothes in my carryon, and the big suitcase was used for larger sized bottles of sunscreen etc, the neat sheet, beach towels, snorkle equipment etc.

Mountaineergirl, thank you again for your help! It’s really difficult to pack, when you
do not really know how it is on USVI. Now I will concentrate me about shorts, tank tops etc.
Were you really able to have most of your clothes in your carryon? I cannot understand that.
But I have seen in the forums that it often happens that people miss their suitcase when they arrive, so perhaps I should pack some cloth in my carryon instead of packing books.
Could you help me with another question? I do not know what a “neat sheet” is. I can find the words “neat” and “sheet” in my dictionary, but it does not give any sense.

Linne

Linne,

Back to one of your original questions: what is DEET? It's just the abbreviation for the long chemical name for a common repellant. Don't look for it as a brand name, but as (usually) the first ingredient on various brands of repellent. "Off!" is one common brand. DEET concentrations vary from the wimpy 5-7% in "family" sprays (think less concentration for the kids) up to 100% DEET for serious back-woods types (I think this is recommended to spray on clothes, not skin, since is so concentrated).

"Neat Sheet" is a brand name for a very cool water repellant sheet/blanket that is weighted on the edges a bit, is fantastic for beaches because the sand and water just pop right off when you shake it out. It travels beautifully since it is very light weight and rolls up small.

C_CMom

Yes, Linne, you should pack clothes (at LEAST a change or 2 and a swimsuit) in your carry-on in case your luggage is lost for a day or 2. You are allowed a carry-on for above your head and another smaller one for under the seat, so you can pack a book or 2 in that one. In my larger carry-on I had 4-5 shorts, 3-4 tank tops, 2-3 nicer tops, underwear, pajamas and 3 swimsuits! I did put some extra nicer tops and skirt in the larger suitcase that was checked - but never wore them! My smaller bag that was under my seat had my camera and snacks and all the important documents. I'm sure that where ever you're staying has laundry facilities, so do not over pack! several things can be worn more than once.

Here is a link to the neat sheets. http://www.theneatsheet.com

Happy packing!

C Cmom and Mountaineergirl. I am really glad for your information. I definitely have to buy a neat sheet. I am not sure that I can buy it here and I also think that it will be more expensive here than in USA. So my next question is.
Is it common in USA, so I can buy it in NY or on STT or STJ??

About the luggage, I was a little surprised about what you told Montaneergirl - having 2 pieces of carry-on luggage. Normally we are only allowed to have one piece (although my husband always have an extra bag with his photo equipment). When we travel each of us have a suitcase, which we check in and a backpack with books, papers and other personal items, which we have as carry-on baggage. This year we are for the first time flying with Continental Airlines, and I have now studied their policy and can see that you are right. It’s allowed to have 2 pieces, and it seems as if your allowed to have 18 kg in your carry-on baggage (normally it’s 5 kg) and 23 kg in your checked baggage (normally it’s 20 kg). I am really surprised if that is true. Do you think that you may have totally 41 kg per person or have I misunderstood something??

Linne

Linne,

By my calculation, you could actually have 64kg + a "personal item". The typical "within US" limits for most carriers are 2 checked (50 lbs or 23 kg each) AND one carryon (40 lbs or 18 kg each) AND "one personal item". Carriers may define this a bit differently, and some don't seem to define it well at all. It is usually a smaller bag than a rolling carryon, such as a camera, computer, or diaper bag size. You can usually also take a coat, umbrella, and "reading material" for the duration of the flight. International flights often allow a bit more, but a quick scan of the Continental rules looks like this applies to you, too. (Of course, best to go by your own assessment of the rules, rather than by me, a stranger!)

A bigger question for me and my family of four who could end up with 16 bags if we max out, is how much stuff do we want to lug around?! We do need a couple of checked bags for larger gear, like snorkel stuff, beach towels, etc., as well as a healthy supply of certain liquids, like sunscreen and bug spray.

Neat Sheets are fairly commen and found (at least in Tennessee) at discount/department stores like Target, Kmart, WalMart, as well as drugstore chains like RiteAId and Walgreens. I have seen some in grocery stores. This may be regionally different. Are you just connecting in NY? NY city?

C CMom.

I am so amazed over what you tell me. 64 kg? Not to believe! The rules from Continental
say that you are allowed to have 2 checked bags with you, maximum 23 kg. Is it 23 kg each?
It’s a new world for me. We have always trouble about the luggage weight because we normally only can take 20 kg + 5 kg with us. Totally 25 kg or about 63 lbs (sorry I forgot that you do not use kg). And if you are travelling for 3 weeks, it can be difficult to keep, so we have always a little overweight. I can tell you that for 2 month ago we were in Spain, and I had to take a plain home before time (a sad occasion – a funeral), and on this plain (Ryan Air) it was only allowed to have 15 kg/33 lbs luggage, so I was really in trouble.

About NY. We are arriving 11.45 AM in Newark. My husband has been there before, and he says that it can take very long time before you get out from the airport, but we intend to take a train to New York City and find a hotel there, and I hope there will be time both to see a few things in the city and to do a little shopping. We are leaving for San Juan the next day at 3.10 PM.

Linne

Yes, the baggage limits are typically PER bag.

Manhattan is great to see if you have never been, even if for only that short time. I hope you have, or will have, reservations for the overnight hotel there. If you had the overnight in Midtown somewhere, you could very easily see many sights in a very short time. You might find a Neat Sheet there, but I personally wouldn't waste my "See NY quick!" time looking for one. But then again, I'd rather see sights rather than shop. Perhaps the VI folks can comment on whether the local KMart has a good supply of the Neat Sheets, so you won't have to worry about it.

Thank you again C CMom for your information. But I have to say that I cannot imagine that we will bring 64 kg each with us. But I am glad to know that I do not need to worry about the weight, and perhaps can take some food with too. Perhaps if we shop a lot in NY, we can need the possibility. I am normally not a “shopping freak”, but I like to save money, and I know that many things are much cheaper in USA. Too example, I would like to buy some CROCS. They cost about 82 dollars here, and I have seen on Internet that they are much cheaper in USA, and you also can find some models, which you cannot find here. I have tried to order them via Internet, but it seems as if they will not send them to Denmark. Also I will like to buy more than one Neat Sheet, because I will use the sheets as presents when we come home (too example to people taking care of our house).

But it is my first visit to USA, and I would also like to see some sights. Manhattan is one of the options for us finding a hotel, so I am glad you recommend that. But perhaps you are right, I should make a reservation in advance. And perhaps I should ask people living in STT if we can but the stuff (Crocs and Neat sheet there).

Linne

Linne,
Please make a reservation ASAP for hotel in NYC. Our favorite is the Belvedere. Close to theaters & subway. Now the problem will be spending so much time going back and forth to the airport. The marriott Courtyard at Newark Airport was great. You can check in there leave your stuff and they will take you back to the airport to catch a train to NYC. Sight see & take the train back at night. If you stay in the city, you will have to allow at least an hour the next day to get there and arrive 2 hours before, cuts into any sightseeing time anyway. The newark Marriott Courtyard will be a lot cheaper than any good NYC hotel. Also we have spent an hour waiting for a taxi even outside of the Waldorf! Don't want to miss your flight to USVI. Have a good trip

Cocosmom! I really appreciate your advice. My husband and I have had a discussion about where to stay – my husband prefer a hotel near the airport for the same reasons as you mention, but I prefer a hotel in the city, because I want to experience “the spirit of NY” in the evening and also think that it perhaps is not safely to take a train late in the evening, probably with a lot of packages?? I would be glad, if you will use some more time at me and tell me your opinion about that. Then I will reserve a hotelroom ASAP.

I have now seen the description about Marriott Courtyard and it looks good. Do you know if there are any shores nearby the hotel, where we perhaps can buy the stuff, we want?

Linne

Linne,
Sent you an e-mail with info, since this is a USVI not NYC board 🙂

So it looks like you will be coming in through Newark airport. What airport will you be flying out of the next day? JFK or Newark?

And yes, there is a train that can take you from Newark airport to New York city. It is called the air train. You will see the signs for it in Newark airport. Am not sure if it is $10 or $15 a person.

Good luck!

I am aware that this topic has developed to be about NYC. It’s just so easy to ask people, you “know”.

Cocosmom, if I understand you right you have sent me a separate mail? I cannot find it, but will be very glad to see your reply. I do not really know how this "private messages" works, but I have nothing in the Inbox. Is it necessary to do something special?

Yes, Patrick we are flying out from Newark too at 3.10 PM, so we do not need to get up very early.
And I think we will take the air train.

Linne

Linne,
Check your private messages again.

Linne,
Sent 2 emails to the address I got when I clicked on your name. I assume that is your normal e-mail. I will post the second e-mail here also.

We were in NYC for 3 days (Belvedere) for my husbands business & flew
out of Newark to STX. ( We are from MD). Our friend in NJ said to stay
the night at the Marriott Courtyard because we would have trouble
getting to the airport since we had an early flight. This is not your
issue. I think you would be ok staying in the city. Now if money is not
an issue,here is what I would do. Take a cab from the airport to your
hotel in the city. ($50 plus tip I think). Getting a cab to the airport
is easier because they like the big fare. We have run into problems
twice now getting a cab to the train station. Had to hire a limo and
that was at the Waldorf. Another $50 back to the airport. Your flight is
later in the day so if you start 4 hours before you should be safe. You
may be at the airport 3 hours before but with traffic etc. I would play
it safe. I agree that staying in the city at night is half the fun. No
stores by the Marriott as I recall. If money is not an issue, stay at
the Marriot Marquis & you will be right in Times Square. It is a big,
busy hotel but we had a lovely room there. The belvedere is on a side
street, small quiet, older. Each room has 2 double beds & a microwave.
We have stayed there at least 6 times with a good experience each time.
It is centrally located in my opinion. Can walk to everything. Burn off
those calories before you put that bathing suit on :). It is not a big
fancy hotel, but I do have my standards in my older years.If you prefer
to stay down by ground zero, we have stayed at th Marriott in the
Financial district. Nice rooms, around the corner from Century 21 & DSW
Shoes (shopping seems to be your focus). Then you can walk to SOHO
and/or Canal street. SOHO has great little shops & Canal street is the
knock-off meca.
Hope this helps.