USVI-On-Line

Greetings!

So, it looks like I will be on another adventure in the VI in December,2009 with two of our notable forumites and their respective spouses. I'll let them out themselves on this one in case they don't want to admit to their travels with the infamous Gromit

Anyway, it looks like we'll be gone for a week and I'm not sure how to pack for being on a boat for a week.

I know my fellow travelers can give me some advice but I was interested in hearing from some of you.

Anyone out there done a week long charter before?

If so, what did you pack?

What worked and what didn't work?

Your thoughts and advice are much appreciated.

Hi Gromit,

Check out Travel Talk On Line BVI Message Board. Often people post packing lists and checklists which are helpful. Biggest difference of course is that space is at a premium. Soft luggage like a duffle works best. Anything rolling or with a frame is harder to stow.

Pack some cloths pins, good for pinning towels and clothes to the life lines to dry.

I found that I really lived in a bathing suit so I would do err on the side of more bathing suits and cover ups.

You will have a great time, careful of the sun, everything refelcts, the water the white decks.

you need to ask yourself whether you will beable to do laundry or WANT to do lanudry. it;s all fall out r=from there--I have found that 3-4 t's 2 shorts 1 (or if iam packing heavy 2) swim suits and a nice pair of pants and /or somethign loungey(thin sweats) and a sweater and a long sleeve nicer shirt and a short sleeve nicer shirt (incase you want to go ashore to dinner, etc) I usually wear the pants down (along with a nicer shirt or the sweater) --Things do tend to get salty, so if you need to bring an extra of shorts and t's - rain gear also and good boat shoes.--

Because you are exposed to the sun a lot more on a boat than on a shoreside vacation some very lightweight long sleeve shirts and pants are well worth packing. Some specialty ones with a high SPF factor rating are available- try railriders.com - also a light goretex type rain jacket can be very useful.

Here's the really essential information

http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/ ... Post947970

It is going to be so much harder for me to stow away this time. Thwarted again! (Shaking my fist)

For our honeymoon, we spent a week on St John and a week on a charter....as little as you need on St John, you need even less on a charter.

You basically wake up, put a bathing suit on, and, if you want, you can stay in that suit until dinner. You will be barefoot the whole time except when you go on land, so you don't really need to worry about packing more than flip flops and sneakers (although you don't need much more than that on St John) A sweatshirt is advisable as you are on the water and it gets breezy.

The one thing that I found was that being that more than half the time I was just in a bathing suit, I didn't sweat through t-shirts as I do on land. I can easily go through 2-3 shirts a day on St John. I could have easily subsided on 3 t-shirts the whole time. I didn't (chronic overpacker here), but I could have.

The one essential for packing for a charter is soft sided luggage as their is no place to stow traditional luggage.

Gromit and CaGirl: I can't wait to hear about your trips. My sister-in-law always tells me to charter a boat for a week instead of staying on island. She just loves it. I haven't done it and can't wait to hear about it.

Gina

Half the stuff and twice the money is the advice that I usually give. The basics, three bathing suits one to wear one to wash out in the sink and dry on the rail, and one for a spare in case on gets blown off of the rail. A pair of shorts and simple shirts per day with the necessary undergarments. There will be days when you never change from the bathing suit to the shorts. Use soft luggage, duffell bags work best. You need to be able to put your stuff away in the boat and store the luggage big roller bags are very hard to hide on the boat. I agree that a light jacket and a pair of sweat pants for cool evenings. A good sun hat, and spare sunglasses. Sunblock, sunblock, sunblock. You won't need a ton of makeup or hairdryers.
So which boat did Sydney decide on, the 45 or the 49? You won't be disapointed either way it will be a great trip.
Jay

From Sailorgirl--- http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/ ... Post947970

Liked your link of what was essential!

It would be inappropriate for me to start every post with I hate you - but two trips in 6 months - I do a little. When I see you in person I will call you bad names.

Now, for the list. JELLO. Please don't forget the jello. If you remember the jello little else will matter.

FF-- Don't be hater.. be a luvah!!
After all I'm making TWINKIE SUSHI for you. I'm even bringing chopsticks!

You guys are awesome!! All of your packing suggestions will be a great start.

As you all know I am a charter member of OPA (Over Packers Anonymous) so this will be a challenge. But I already own several of the LLBEAN duffle bags (in fact I have the SAME color bags as one of my co-pirates) "sisters separated at birth I tell ya!!"

And I don't think nekkid is an option with two other couples on the boat!!

I think we all need to bring a copy of the Alan Alda flick "The Four Seasons" to watch though!!

Again, all thanks for the tips and please keep em coming...