USVI-On-Line

VickiH wrote:Pete, for me it was when my bag ended up mysteriously leaving the airport and ending up in a field about 10 miles from the airport where a farmer found it. Let your skivvies be found by a pig farmer just once and you'll buy in to carry-on too....

LOL! And here I was just thinking that it's nice to be able to just get off the plane and go.

I LOVE carryon only but when we finally got to the point where we were getting good at it, that was when they changed the regulations and "liquid" rules.

I don't mind checking luggage but how on God's green earth can you go with just 2 or 3 oz of stuff? I mean with my mop 2 oz of shampoo is going to last me 1 day maybe 2 if I stretch it. That doesn't even count Honey or the kids. I know you can buy all this stuff on island but I tend to take whatever we may need and it adds up.

OK, so maybe I'm kind of a princess but there is a lot of crap going into that toiletry bag that I use to carryon and now have to check. So even if I give up the full size spray, lotion, face cleanser, body wash, etc, a 2 0z tube of paste isn't going to cut it for 4 sets of teeth for a week or two. Wouldn't even cut it for one peep.

So does everyone just go and buy full size things when they get to the island or am I just high maintenance or what???

Carry on forces me to pack light and I still take twice as much as I need. I buy shampoo, sunscreen, etc. when I get there. I wear the same thing coming home as I do going (it's usually a little nicer than my STJ attire). I have my own mask and snorkel and rent flippers. My carry on tote bag is also my beach bag and I pack a very small purse for dinners out and bar hopping. No problemo!

I am a princess at home but not on vacation. For one week I bring:
(all carry on approved)
2 small tubes toothpaste
3 shampoos
3 conditioners
3 body wash
Travel q-tips
2 facial moisturizers
2 body moisturizers
1 contact solution
3 sunscreen
Face powder

Why carry on only?

The only times my luggage has NOT been lost were the times I did carry-on only.

Every time I have checked luggage, something has gotten delayed/lost on either the to or from part of the trip. I have a luggage jinx. If I can't carry it with me, it doesn't go.

I guess I can understand the upside of carry-on only. In my world, though, it's not even an option...you should see how many pairs of sandals Marcia packs!

Rob:

You have the new Canon TX? What do you think of it? I purchased a Sanyo Xacti for this year's trip and it worked like a harm, but the TX-1 looks like a big step up in quality and features.

I love this thread. I keep going back and forth with the carry-on vs checked bag and always end up checking mine. Have been through the "lost in Puerto Rico" thing - no fun. Y'all make this sound easy. For the trip in November I may just have to give this a try.

Vagirl, you'll be amazed at how easy it is once you've done it. The only down side is hoisting the wheeled carry on up to the overhead storage and then getting it down without taking off someones head.

Steve S wrote:Rob:

You have the new Canon TX? What do you think of it? I purchased a Sanyo Xacti for this year's trip and it worked like a harm, but the TX-1 looks like a big step up in quality and features.

Steve, it is the best camera I have owned...granted it is a little pricey but having a pocket camera that will do anything from full high definition video, to JPEG's that you can email, was something I wanted.

The TX had just come out,and was going back and forth with the Sanyo trying to decide which one to buy.
While both cameras are excellent, in the end, for me at least, the variety of shooting modes and the awesome picture quality won me over to the Canon.
It truly is one fantastic camera, and being able to put it in my pocket and go, is a real plus....and of course...helps when you are traveling with just one carry-on bag

Vicky
I bet you made that farmers day.

cypressgirl wrote:Vagirl, you'll be amazed at how easy it is once you've done it. The only down side is hoisting the wheeled carry on up to the overhead storage and then getting it down without taking off someones head.

I agree but if you wear a low cut shirt, someone will usually help you!

We went to St John and Cooper Island for 12 days with carryon only in April. It was our first venture just doing carryon and I will definitely do it again. We each had one 22" expandable rolling suitcase - we got everything we needed inside including a beach towel, snorkel gear and our clothing we needed. We also had some dry foodstuffs and 8 books tucked in as well! We will never check our luggage again - it was so nice to walk off that plane and bypass that baggage carousel. We solved the whole liquid dilemma by packing one box of stuff (we used the flat rate box from USPO) which included 3 bottles of sunscreen, aloe, shampoo, conditioner, bath and body gel and lotion, first aid kit, toothpaste and other misc toiletries. Everything packed in there great and we shipped it priority mail right to Connections - it cost $8 dollars and change - that worked perfectly - for us carrying on was the way to go!

Xislandgirl wrote:

cypressgirl wrote:Vagirl, you'll be amazed at how easy it is once you've done it. The only down side is hoisting the wheeled carry on up to the overhead storage and then getting it down without taking off someones head.

I agree but if you wear a low cut shirt, someone will usually help you!

I wonder why that is. I usually end up sitting by old people and I'm a pretty strong girl, so I'm the one handing out luggage.

Xislandgirl wrote:

cypressgirl wrote:Vagirl, you'll be amazed at how easy it is once you've done it. The only down side is hoisting the wheeled carry on up to the overhead storage and then getting it down without taking off someones head.

I agree but if you wear a low cut shirt, someone will usually help you!

I've tried that but it never seems to help. What am I doing wrong? It must be a GIRL thing!

JIM