usvi-on-line
Shipping things down verses checked luggage?
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northerngal
- Posts: 420
- Joined: Mon Aug 07, 2006 4:32 pm
- Location: Michigan
Shipping things down verses checked luggage?
I heard about people shipping things down there, is this worth it? We just figured out how much it's going to cost us to check our leggage and ouch! Has anyone done this? Thanks!
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northerngal
- Posts: 420
- Joined: Mon Aug 07, 2006 4:32 pm
- Location: Michigan
you literally have to weigh the cost vs. convenience.
Even if you have to pay to check a bag, that can sometimes be cheaper than mailing something. Not always though.
Ratehr than trying to dissect your packing habits and doign acost/benefit analysis I will offer up what many folks (inlcuding myself) do as food for thought.
Hubby and I check one bag each and carry on one bag each.
Occasionally, we will ship a box down to COnnections or someplace else with items that we'd prefer not to check or carry on. The box may include some foodstuffs, sunscreen, neat sheets. Stuff like that.
You have to be careful though because the cost of the box can add up. So you really need to gauge the cost vs. benefits of doing this IMHO.
Some folks would say that we bring too much, some pack more than we do. It just depends on what ytou want to have with you on vacay.
That's what works for us.
On trips to Europe I have been known to actually ship my luggage to my destination, thus minimizing the hassle of juggling bags for international travel. But I do not recommend doing this to the VI. While the mailing/delivery systems are improving I do not feel that they are as reliable as other parts of the US or Europe. That's just my opinion of course.
I have had very good luck shipping boxes to Connections on STJ in the past. Sometimes boxes got there in a matter of days, sometimes it took weeks. I always plan ahead!
Even if you have to pay to check a bag, that can sometimes be cheaper than mailing something. Not always though.
Ratehr than trying to dissect your packing habits and doign acost/benefit analysis I will offer up what many folks (inlcuding myself) do as food for thought.
Hubby and I check one bag each and carry on one bag each.
Occasionally, we will ship a box down to COnnections or someplace else with items that we'd prefer not to check or carry on. The box may include some foodstuffs, sunscreen, neat sheets. Stuff like that.
You have to be careful though because the cost of the box can add up. So you really need to gauge the cost vs. benefits of doing this IMHO.
Some folks would say that we bring too much, some pack more than we do. It just depends on what ytou want to have with you on vacay.
That's what works for us.
On trips to Europe I have been known to actually ship my luggage to my destination, thus minimizing the hassle of juggling bags for international travel. But I do not recommend doing this to the VI. While the mailing/delivery systems are improving I do not feel that they are as reliable as other parts of the US or Europe. That's just my opinion of course.
I have had very good luck shipping boxes to Connections on STJ in the past. Sometimes boxes got there in a matter of days, sometimes it took weeks. I always plan ahead!
*Another fine scatterbrained production
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Xislandgirl
- Posts: 4163
- Joined: Tue Aug 08, 2006 4:03 pm
- Location: Slightly left of center
I can do a week in a carry on so it is not really an option for me. I send down toiletries that I can't get through TSA.
My parents did this when they went to CA last year because they did not want to check bags but my dad has a disability and carry on is not an option for them. They checked in at the airport because my dad needed a ride to the gate and they were grilled about why they were flying with no baggage.
My parents did this when they went to CA last year because they did not want to check bags but my dad has a disability and carry on is not an option for them. They checked in at the airport because my dad needed a ride to the gate and they were grilled about why they were flying with no baggage.
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sailorgirl
- Posts: 1644
- Joined: Mon Oct 30, 2006 3:03 pm
I heard that Fed Ex has a service where they will ship the actual bag. They pick it up and attach a special label. It will be deliverd to your door. Now whether this would be avaiable on St. John I don't know. But the cost is about the same as check bag fees.
On my return from Hawaii last month I used one of those flat rate boxes from the USPS. It was $14 and its whatever fits. I sent home my hair dryer and a bunch of clothes and some books my hubby bought to lighten my checked bag since I was perilously close to the 50lb limit after the trip. I shipped it the day before we left and the box was waiting at our door when we got home.
On my return from Hawaii last month I used one of those flat rate boxes from the USPS. It was $14 and its whatever fits. I sent home my hair dryer and a bunch of clothes and some books my hubby bought to lighten my checked bag since I was perilously close to the 50lb limit after the trip. I shipped it the day before we left and the box was waiting at our door when we got home.
I looked into getting our luggage shipped ahead. Now, this was months and months ago, maybe even a year and the FedEx service was not available to STJ. Certainly, that could have changed by now.sailorgirl wrote:I heard that Fed Ex has a service where they will ship the actual bag. They pick it up and attach a special label. It will be deliverd to your door. Now whether this would be avaiable on St. John I don't know. But the cost is about the same as check bag fees.
The luggage shipping service I contacted wanted hundreds, more than the cost of a plane ticket to get one bag to STJ.
Our trip in July was our first attempt at carry on only.
We sent a flat rate priority mail package down, careful to use the instructions on the Connections web site exactly as posted.
In that box we mostly had toiletries, sunscreen, and some other liquids that were larger than carry on would allow.
The box got to Connections in five days. It cost less than $20 to send and they charged me $5 to hold it for me.
By the time everyone else's luggage was starting to arrive in the terminal we had already been picked up by Dependable, filled out the paperwork at their office, and were on our way to Red Hook.
We either used up or left everything that we sent down, so we only had to pay one way and never had to wait at a luggage carousel.
I'm a convert!
We sent a flat rate priority mail package down, careful to use the instructions on the Connections web site exactly as posted.
In that box we mostly had toiletries, sunscreen, and some other liquids that were larger than carry on would allow.
The box got to Connections in five days. It cost less than $20 to send and they charged me $5 to hold it for me.
By the time everyone else's luggage was starting to arrive in the terminal we had already been picked up by Dependable, filled out the paperwork at their office, and were on our way to Red Hook.
We either used up or left everything that we sent down, so we only had to pay one way and never had to wait at a luggage carousel.
I'm a convert!
Come see us!
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California Girl
For me $23 for a checked bag isn't going to make or break me plus I know my "stuff" will be there. We've never had our luggage lost and the longest wait at the STT airport for our luggage 10 minutes. My wife & check 1 bag for the both us. If we didn't bring our snorkel gear we wouldn't need to check a bag at all.
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California Girl
I never mind waiting for my bags all that much. I'm with Pulley, I like to know where my "stuff" is and if I have to wait 10 min. for it at the luggage carousel, I don't consider it that much of an inconvenience. I've had my luggage lost twice, once on the way to STJ, and once on my way home from Grand Cayman. I got it the next day in both cases... which I know isn't always the case, but it doesn't deter me from checking bags. But, again, like Pulley said, if it wasn't for the snorkel gear.... 
"we are thinking of jsut sending our clothes and gear down and just carrying a small bag on the plane with essentials."
Your clothes are you "essentials"
Just remember, if it does not fit in a carry on you will not need it here on STJ unless you are getting married or are in a wedding (and maybe have babies travelling with you)
Personally I don't see the need to ship sunblock etc, I mean it is probably $15.00 per can/bottle and shampoo (cheap shampoo) is probably not much more than you pay at home, so sending a $15 flat rate box plus $5 per day holding fee probably works out the same if you just pay slightly more per bottle of sunblock and buy it here. Now a flat rate box with protein bars, granola etc thats a different story
Pia
Your clothes are you "essentials"
Just remember, if it does not fit in a carry on you will not need it here on STJ unless you are getting married or are in a wedding (and maybe have babies travelling with you) Personally I don't see the need to ship sunblock etc, I mean it is probably $15.00 per can/bottle and shampoo (cheap shampoo) is probably not much more than you pay at home, so sending a $15 flat rate box plus $5 per day holding fee probably works out the same if you just pay slightly more per bottle of sunblock and buy it here. Now a flat rate box with protein bars, granola etc thats a different story
Pia
Realtor - St John Properties