To Check-In Luggage, or Not... That is the ?

[Neeners]

We're have a pretty difficult time determining if we should check in luggage or not. The pros of checking it in is that we can take our own bug spray/lotions/etc.. Also, we have a place to put the rum for home The cons of checking in luggage - dealing with it at the airport, waiting for it at STT. Am I missing anything? I'm planning on shopping in STT for essentials before going to STJ anyway, but then how do I get the rum back home without having anything to check it in with?

I swear I'm not an alcoholic.

[Lulu76]

They will box up your rum in a way that you can check it in by itself, but you have to check it.

I checked my luggage and didn't have to wait very long at all at STT. Neither did the other girls in our group.

The plane that I flew on from ATL to STT NEVER would've held a roller bag if I had brought one. The overhead bins and under the seat were very small. People all around me ended up checking them anyhow.

I'm sure others have other experience, but I'll probably just keep checking luggage. I had to have big bottles of lotion and aloe for my sunburn that I knew I was going to have, so there wasn't any way around it for me.

[Ksea]

Lulu, did folks have to go to baggage claim for their roller bags, or did they pick them up outside next to the plane? Sometimes when I fly the tin can United Express to JAX I do the latter, and its great, unless I want something out of the bag during the flight of course!

[Lulu76]

I don't know what they did on that flight, but one time I had a commuter plane from Chicago to Detroit and my bag didn't fit up top. They just took it from me and I picked it up at baggage claim.

[onthelake]

We usually check a bag, cause we bring snacks and our snorkel stuff (and yes a few clothes, too).
We have never had to wait too long at STT airport. Just put ourself on Island time and go with the flow ...

You are going to have a great time !!!



Also ... we have them box our rum for the return trip.
Never any problems.

[Ksea]

We are on large planes so I don't think I need to be concerned, but was curious. Thanks Lulu.

[Gromit]

I ALWAYS check luggage and ALWAYS bring a carry-on that contains extra undies, bathing suit, flip flops and the basics to survive a couple of days while I wait for luggage to show up in case it gets lost.

That being said, I have never not gotten my luggage.

Of course, now that I've said that I'm totally screwed.

[Neeners]

Our flight down is a direct flight, luckily. It's the flight back where we stop in Miami. I think we'll check in one bag.

Thanks for all of the input, everyone!

[flip-flop]

If I had no kids with me, I would ship a box of the stuff that costs way more there, pack only carry-on, and buy the rest there.

Summer stuff is not bulky. I am a recovering packoholic! I took a TON of crap last time that never saw the light of day.

With kids its a little different. I shipped the box. My hubby and I will each check a bag + 1 joint bag for the kids. I will pack a carry-on with everything we need for the first night on STT, so the real luggage can stay closed up until we hit STJ.

This is a lesson learned from our last trip when I didn't do that and we (that's really my hubby) had to bring ALL the bags up to our Maho Studio where we were staying for the first 2 nights. For those unfamiliar with Maho, to say there are a lot of stairs would be an understatement.