Cheap-o's Unite

[Capn Dan and Ruby]

I hate my computer I need a new one. I have tryed to reply twice and my computer starts acting up and it is gone! Any way... this has been a really fun thread already! Yall are too funny! Love the ideas. ERL you and Augie helped us with our cooler last year. Except for the fact that the TSA people unrapped every thing to check it out, and that we had a long lay over in San Juan , and we had some thaw, it all was good in the end. Our fav. savers last time was making gourmet dogs with the Hebrew National dogs that we packed plus great bakery buns from the bakery at the Lumher Yard bakery. Also, we made a nice meal with left over meats, onions, and peppers , rice and cream of mushroom soup . Best deal the rum at Captains corner. I think it was between 8 & 9$. Keep them coming. This is fun and informative. Oh, and I too am looking for a villa friend!

[JJShaw]

We usually check a bag and toss in it ,snacks..along with other non perishable items. I also throw in sunscreen and shampoo and conditioner..I bag them each seperately and that way if something leaks...its doesnt get everywhere..saves me from buying the items once we are there and I have more than saved enough by doing this to pay for the checked bag....and I have room to pack things coming back that we have bought... and then of course we do the cooler thing, that helps save as well.

[Capn Dan and Ruby]

Ok, JJ y'all really do a thing to save money... you stay at the camp ground and lime on the beach all day! Now that is the way we should all relax... no driving... no hassle... just beach! Of course for us with back issues... we are still looking for a friend with a villa !

[EagleRayLover]

That's interesting that they took everything out of your cooler- we often get it inspected and joke with the guy! Last year the guy said "is that cookie dough?" We said "yep, want some?" We laughed. He swiped inside the rest and we were off! Year before guy pulled out a steak, and said "I might have to keep one for quality control," we said "if you must!" -done
Ours is always frozen for over twenty four hours.
Rum at Cost U Less is $8.09 and Pine Peace $8.39 (unless it has gone up) - maybe I shouldn't know that fact!!! ( it was funny -our first trip down, I did t drink anything but margaritas, now I don't drink anything but rum - even at home!).

Having friends in general on island is just nice!!

[waterguy]

Cruzan flavors were 7.99 at starfish gourmet cheapest I saw on island last week

[Capn Dan and Ruby]

That's interesting that they took everything out of your cooler- we often get it inspected and joke with the guy! Last year the guy said "is that cookie dough?" We said "yep, want some?" We laughed. He swiped inside the rest and we were off! Year before guy pulled out a steak, and said "I might have to keep one for quality control," we said "if you must!" -done
Ours is always frozen for over twenty four hours.
Rum at Cost U Less is $8.09 and Pine Peace $8.39 (unless it has gone up) - maybe I shouldn't know that fact!!! ( it was funny -our first trip down, I did t drink anything but margaritas, now I don't drink anything but rum - even at home!).

Having friends in general on island is just nice!!

It was crazy, she was nice enough, but had never seen some one cary on a cooler and went through every single piece! We had not planned our extended lay-over in San Juan (4 hrs.! ) so that increased the problem. This next trip we will: leave from Atlanta where they see every thing, not double wrap the food so it is really obvious what it is, and leave some space for dry ice and ditch that just before we go to the airport. (we will have a couple of days travel time dropping my mom off with family etc., before we leave)
Nice to know that rum is still cheap! I only drink rum now too! And Cruzan is my favorite!

[lorijo068]

I bought a Polar Bear cooler this year and had it jammed packed with steaks, pork chops, bacon, hash browns, shredded cheese, snacky cheese, burgers, lunchmeat, and sausage. We flew out of st louis on delta so we checked it free at the gate but no one even looked twice at it in security. No thaw and we had it out for about 30 hours! Filled it full of t-shirts on the way home and checked it again!! Put all the crackers, pringles, plates, cereal, snack bars, and stuff like that in another checked bag and it was GREAT. A short cheap stop at Starfish for milk, water, soda and the like and we were home!! Will definitely pack more food etc and less clothes next time!! We learn something every year!
Lori

[JJShaw]

Ok, JJ y'all really do a thing to save money... you stay at the camp ground and lime on the beach all day! Now that is the way we should all relax... no driving... no hassle... just beach! Of course for us with back issues... we are still looking for a friend with a villa !

There is nothing like waking up at already being at the beach..Ruby, you should check out the cottages..we stayed in 10-D last year..just wake up..you are there..no loading the jeep, no waking everyone up to get ready...and as you say...no hassle...and the beach is so peaceful in the early AM and PM...not to mention you can really save a ton...and get a jeep part of the time..

[Bonny in CA]

I pack a carry-on size suitcase full of food... Coffee, tea, sugar, oatmeal, granola bars, any and all snack food that won't crumble! On the way home that suitcase is full of all the island goodies I've bought. The first time we left the extra food at the villa, this last year we gave it to friends who live on the island. Both times there was no room for it on the way home!

On STJ, we have coffee/tea at the house, eat a big breakfast at donkey diner, and then pack some drinks and snacks for the beach. Usually in the evening we just have appetizers & drinks. In 10 days I think we ate "dinner" three times. This year we also stayed in a studio cottage, no pool, no hot tub, no A/C. That brought down the price quite a bit too!

Staying at the campgrounds sounds awesome!!
I am another who didn't drink rum before St. John, now it's all I drink, at home or away. But I find myself not having a drink at all because most bars here don't have Cruzan...

[PaminMaine]

This year we are opting to alter our flights a bit to save some extra money. This will be our first over night flight, leaving Boston at 11:55 pm, arriving San Juan at 3:30 a.m. Quick flight at 7:00 am has us arriving on STJ at 7:30 a.m. Our flight home is also an over night with 11 hour layover in Atlanta, we rented a room for $75 at Hampton Inn. Fly next morning at 630 am. This alone saved us the cost of an entire ticket, total $760 for 2.

I also choose to bring on a cooler with meat, cheese, etc. I will be checking a bag this year ( free with Jet Blue) with snacks, condiments, shampoo, lotions, bug spray. I am an avid coupon shopper and collect most of this throughout the year for very cheap or free.

We spent most nights having a few drinks out. I think this year I may buy more alcohol to make at the villa.. or maybe just have one prior to hitting the beach bar.. hehe

[Coconuts]

"where are your favorite "cheep" places to get the have-to-haves?"

No such list would be replete without a call-out to the $1 beer and well drinks at Woody's! The notion of a $1 gin and tonic, or rum and whatever, is just too good to pass up, and our flight arrivals usually wind up with us passing Woody's within their magic 3 - 6 PM window, which makes for a great and "cheep" welcome to island time.

Oh, and should the ship's bell have already rung when you arrive, you can always head across the street to the Iguana Grill, whose Happy Hour runs until 7 PM.

All the best,

Kevin

[Capn Dan and Ruby]

This year we are opting to alter our flights a bit to save some extra money. This will be our first over night flight, leaving Boston at 11:55 pm, arriving San Juan at 3:30 a.m. Quick flight at 7:00 am has us arriving on STJ at 7:30 a.m. Our flight home is also an over night with 11 hour layover in Atlanta, we rented a room for $75 at Hampton Inn. Fly next morning at 630 am. This alone saved us the cost of an entire ticket, total $760 for 2.

I also choose to bring on a cooler with meat, cheese, etc. I will be checking a bag this year ( free with Jet Blue) with snacks, condiments, shampoo, lotions, bug spray. I am an avid coupon shopper and collect most of this throughout the year for very cheap or free.

We spent most nights having a few drinks out. I think this year I may buy more alcohol to make at the villa.. or maybe just have one prior to hitting the beach bar.. hehe

Oooooo I hope that flight works out for you guys. We had a bad situation last year with our lay over in PR! We are driving 2 hrs. extra and paying a little extra to fly non-stop out of Atlanta. We swore off PR for good!

Good for you couponing! I have never been good at that. Too ADD. I have learned how to make LIme in the Coconuts and Dark and Stormy's so that we can keep the bar tab to a minimum as well. It was nice having our drinks by the pool overlooking Coral Bay! Ahhhhh!