USVI-On-Line

So I'm interested in the fact that some of you just pack the night before... HUH??!?!

I'm a little under 60 days out and I've ALREADY started the "hunting and gathering" phase.

Over the years I've collected products that just work for me and I think are ideal for the environment on STJ.

Occasionally I like to post those items in case someone else is lookng for items and gear that has been Gromit tested and approved. And believe me I am rough on things so they have to be good quality, multifunctional and tough.

Disclaimer: I provided links below that are intended for reference purposes only and do not endorse the individual sites just the products that I mention.
I am also not affiliated in any way with any of these products other than the fact that I own them and use them on a regular basis.

So... here goes!

-I placed an order with Key West Aloe http://www.keywestaloe.com/items.asp?cc=004 for sunscreen and aloe products (these products work, smell great, keep me from getting burned and help me recover if I am stupid and forget to reapply-- I also use Banana Boat waterproof sweatproof SPF 15-- I use a 15 constantly on STJ and get a really dark tan;

-I'm surveying how many Bens Bug spray bottles http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/Product___82161 we have- deciding if we need to get more;

-I pulled out and tried on bathing suits last night to see what fits, what's comfortable and what needs to be trashed-- ladies I truly recommend wearing tankinis. They are comfortable and make it easier to change out of a suit in a towel on the beach;

-And I bought a new hat from H&M -- it's actually a men's hat but it looks super cute with the braids I am usually sporting on island (think a 5'10" blonde Heidi/Pirate- scary I know, but i make GREAT Jell-O shots);

-I'll be hunting down snorkel equipment and checking the condition of that this week-end or next;

-I pulled out the Akona snorkel bag http://www.scuba.com/scuba-gear-76/0180 ... Defog.html (my Akona bag is actually a convertible backpack and cooler than the one at the link but this version is perfactly great). They make really durable gear that lasts forever. Colors are boring but hey, they hold up. And my pink Kipling backpack http://www.kipling-usa.com/product/inde ... id=1076860 (I picked up this back pack at one of the shops in Skinny Legs Wall Street Complex in Coral Bay for 1/2 price in December-- LOVE it!-- btw I usually find some GREAT deals there!; and

-locating the Buffs
http://planetbuff.com/blog/?page_id=69

and the Keen Venice H2's
http://www.rei.com/product/732896 which are buried in drawers and closets. The Buffs are great for keeping hair out of the face and there are tons of great uses for these. As for the Keens, hands down if I could only take one pair of shoes (oh the horror!) to STJ it would be my Keen Venice H2's. They are comfy, durable and provide the ever important toe protection while hiking on the trails on island.

-Now I need to find the all important hat clip
http://www.latsandatts.net/store/produc ... bestseller
(I Do NOT leave home without one)!!!

We usually clean and pack STJ related stuff and snorkel gear into one big giant plastic bin when we get home from STJ, but for whatever reason we keep getting sloppier about this each year.

I guess these little activities help the time go by a little faster and I start thinking abot what to pack and what not to pack.

Knowing me I'll actually BE packed about a week before we leave. Somehow the idea of waiting til the night before just seems too late for me.

What about you? When do you start packing? Do you have any tried and tru products that you won't leave home without?

I wait until the last second to pack. We leave Sunday morning and we will probably pack Saturday night. I know what I am bringing, but wont do the actual packing until later. We are planning on packing in just carry ons and using our snorkel gear as personal item. My problem is I need my purse. We are trying to figure out how to fit both of our snorkel gear in one bag so my husband can just have it as his personal item and I can still have my purse. Wish me luck, hubby does not understand why I need my purse. I did send a box ahead with all our sun screen and snacks and stuff, I should have sent the snorkel gear too.

BTW, I ditched the Tevas that I bought a month ago for this trip and found a pair of naturalizer hiking sandals that are way more comfortable. I did a mile and half walk last night in them and they are great. The Tevas hurt the bottoms of my feet to the point of not being able to wear them for more than a few hours at a time. If anyone is interested in the naturalizers they are called coolidge and are on the naturalizer web site. I got them at the outlet store for 49.00.

Nancy

I start to gather about two to three months out and use the spare bedroom as a staging area.

When I think of something I need to pack, like beer coozies, I put them right in the bag rather than adding to a paper list that I will misplace 10x before the trip.

Since our last few trips were in opposite seasons as at home, I will go thru the summer stuff of each family member, see what we need to discard or replace. The summer stuff then goes straight into the bag.

I developed this habit over the years because all the work and house stuff (animals, housesitter, etc.) that needs to be dealt with prior to vacation don't leave me time to worry about packing immediately before the trip.

I start just before I leave for the airport but then I keep a bag packed at all times so I just grab and go. I guess its because I worked on a road service team for a paper mill for 20 yr's never knew when I'd be flying some where.

Food is purchased several days in advance, packed in ziplock bags, and frozen. At the same time I go downstairs and pull the bag with snorkel gear. This also includes sunblock and bug spray. Packing is done the night before we leave. The soft-sided cooler and sandals/crocs/keens go in the gear bag. All my "stuff" including the laptop, crackberry, camera and housing fits in my day pack. Mrs. Random has a bigger bag and has been packing for days...

In Cruz Bay we pack the jeep with groceries and grog.

I usually pack at the last minute, but I am going to try and be better this time! Packing at the last minute is stressful, and since I almost always end up having to pack for John too, we end up with too much stuff.

Since we are coming in on a Thursday this time, I am definitely sending a box to Connections with our fins and fish guides, plus whatever books I plan on reading. I NEED those guides and lots to read, but they are just so darned heavy!

One thing we brought down last trip that we really liked was an aqua backpack. It made carrying lots of water effortless, and the pack kept the water reasonably cool.

i start to purchase travel sized toiletries the day i purchase the plane tickets! i'll also pull out the carry-ons & the snorkel gear the same day.

then i put all this stuff aside in the bedroom.

a few months before take-off, i start the bathing suit ritual (try-on, get pissed, ask hubby if i look like an asshole in it, etc) and usually order at least one new one. i also strongly recc tankinis- BIG FAN OF THE TANKINI! i took 3 bathing suits this past trip- didn't wear one at all, wore another a few times, spent most of my time with the tankini and a sundress!

a few days before take-off we start the laundry ritual. we have always gone to stj during the winter so our summer stuff is either in that laundry basket blackhole where things are forgotten or at the bottom of a drawer or hidden underneath a pile of sweaters in the laundry room. we must hunt, gather and launder!

finally, i pack the night before. i usually get to sleep very late, our little dog stresses out and paces and the cat is very persistent about laying on-in-around the luggage.

good times.

When we first started going to the Caribbean, I would start packing like 2 months in advance LOL! I usually start a STJ treasure box about a month or so before and start throwing things in. Last trip though, I started packing 2 days before and ended up running around like a psycho trying to get everything done. NOT doing that again. I'm going to try a happy medium this time...

We pack the night before, since we always have early morning flights. Everyone packs their own carryon, with me doing a last minute check for the kids' toothbrushes and stuff like that.

Like Gromit, I love my Keens and my Kipling backpack. Another must-have for me is my Gorillapod: www.joby.com. I use Repel bug spray because I don't want DEET. It's sort of effective.

We pack our clothes and bathroom stuff the night before. Actually its two nights before since we spend the night before our am flight at a hotel. But still the night before we leave the house. It freaks our dogs out with the suitcase/bags sitting out and it drives my wife nuts to have clothes and such laying around.

As for stuff, like snorkle eqpmt, camera, sunscreen or any snack food we bring along.....that stuff begins accumulating a week or so before. We find thats the only way we remember everything. To lay it out as we think of it and not the night or two before.

Every year we end up bringing too much crap. So we are vowing to not to this year....we will see what happens

I start packing whatever fits, about a week before. I buy my sunscreen and shampoo at Chelses Drugs, I pack our masks and rent fins, I don't pack food, I take too many clothes. I pack my camera and neat sheet (which I donate to the villa), and I have a great Northface backback duffle that will double as a beach bag. I'll pack a wristlet for a small purse. The rest goes in my wheeled carryon that is regulaton size. I still take too many clothes, but the packing has gotten to be a breeze. I always take too many shoes. All I need is a few pairs of flip flops and my new Athleta shoes Liamsaunt told me about. I take shoes that are too fancy for STJ and I don't want sand and dirt in them. After 17 years, some lessons should be learned.

I used to pack a week ot two ahead of time and I'd end up putting more and more unnecessary stuff in the suitcase. For my trip last week to Cozumel, I just packed the day before and I had the perfect amount of clothes. But I had to pack dive equipment so I still had to check a bag.

I always wash the clothes and get them ready a week or so out. I always take the day before we leave off and pack then. I do get various things together as I think of them about the same time. Last time I unexpectedly had to go out of town and got home in the nick of time to go. I found that I can get it together really quick if I have to! I forgot to bring a couple of things but we survived.

Each trip, the MUST TAKE list gets shorter and shorter (for me personally, though the kids NEEDS seem to fill up my dead space...so so look forward to diaper free days)!!

My hubby packs the night before and is in charge of all electronics (camera, walkies, chargers, I am only in charge of my iPHONE) and all snorkel equipment. Hey I pack the kids & paperwork essentials (passports, confirmations, etc) its the least he can do.

Typically my trips are off season - at the end of LAST summer when I knew we were going in November I literally packed at the end of the summer. I wasn't going to use the stuff between September & November and I have plenty of suitcases so it was just easier.

I am having issues since the pool will be open before we go on our trip!

MUST HAVES (for me):

1. my keens (I am a reluctant convert) & my flip-flops
2. 2-3 swimsuits
3. 2-3 beach coverups - I got great hooded ones at old navy last summer, one in black and one in white and they are perfect
4. a couple of light dresses (also can double as coverups) & a few pairs of capris and tank tops
5. a couple of baseball caps
6. Sunscreen
7. iphone
8. a couple of paperbacks
9. extra contacts
10. ZIPLOCK bags --- I use these for everything!

I typically start packing about 1 month out.