12 or 24 can carry on?

[PaminMaine]

I am using the polar bear as a carry on and I am unsure which one to purchase.. the 12 or the 24 can size? Has anyone had any issues with the size of the 24 at the airport?

[TrvlJohn]

I have the 24 can size and have traveled with it. I have always been able to fit it under the seat so I use that as my personal item and still take a duffel or small suitcase as my carry on.

Looks like we will be on the island at the same time. Maybe we will run into each other. I will be the one with the hat and the sunglasses...

-John

[PaminMaine]

Thank for the reply..
I'll be the one trying to keep up with my two 20- something daughters! LOL Cannot wait to have my feet in the sand.

[RickG]

We bought both 24-can and 48-can versions. The 24-can version works well and is a reasonable carry-on. The 48-can cooler is too big to be practical - if you need the space then just use two coolers. We stopped bringing frozen food down because the grocery situation on St. John has improved so much. We still bring our polar bear cool and use it as luggage because we love it on the beach!

Cheers, RickG

[verjoy]

We are looking into buying a Polar bear cooler for our trip in June, so this is good info for us.

Rick~
We haven't been on island since 2008, and I was wondering how the grocery situation on STJ has changed? Right now we are planning on bringing some non-perishable food, then picking up our cars on STT and doing some grocery shopping there before taking the car ferry over to STJ.

[RickG]

Rick~
We haven't been on island since 2008, and I was wondering how the grocery situation on STJ has changed? Right now we are planning on bringing some non-perishable food, then picking up our cars on STT and doing some grocery shopping there before taking the car ferry over to STJ.

Well, compared to 1991? Since you've been on island in 2008 another grocery store has opened and Starfish has renovated. There are more STT barges running (I think?) and we tend to do some grocery shopping on STT on the way over, if we're in the mood.

Up through our last visit in November 2009, grocery shopping had gotten non-dramatic on STJ. Quality was good, things were slightly more expensive for staples, but packaged prepared foods are still quite expensive (we don't eat that). Round about 2008 bringing food became more trouble than it was worth.

I'll update my opinion after our trip in May. There are likely better informed opinions out there, but what has really changed is how I feel about groceries on STJ.

Cheers, RickG

[PaminMaine]

Thanks for the info! I ordered the 24 can cooler from Amazon, and some techni ice. Plan to also get some things at the grocery store.. water, etc.