shipping stuff ahead of your trip

[wontongirl]

Has anyone ever done this before? Do you send it to the villa company or connections or what? Thanks

[Betty]

I was going to send a box and the manager of our house said she would gladly accept it for us, but then I changed my mind and brought what I was going to send. I think there is a shipping store on island that the Bongo Boys used to send packages too before they arrived, you might look up their old blog.

[canucknyc]

We too had planned on shipping a box down ahead of time. Our villa agency (Caribbean Villas) said they were not equipped to accept packages, but referred us to The Mail Center (www.mailcentervi.com). According to CV, the Mail Center will hold the package free of charge for 3 days, then charge $2/day after that. Hope this helps!

[mahobayb]

Wontongirl, I sent a package down last year to Connections. I would call them for their physical address first. The address I used was wrong(I got it off of something on line) but luckily the Ladies at Connections were VERY helpful and they just knew what I was trying to do. They kept it in their building for me. Be sure you know what it will cost you to send it. It cost us a lot ( around $70).

[sunlover]

We sent a box of liquid toiletries for six people (suntan lotion, bug spray, etc.)and some other stuff last November so we could still go "carry on" and it worked out great! Our villa co. (destination st john) accepted the package for us and we simply picked it up when we arrived. It was a pretty big and heavy box (25 lbs. maybe?) but it cost only $30 to send it U.S. priority mail,and that included insurance and delivery confirmation fee. I know it would have cost A LOT more to send it fed ex or UPS. Anyway, it arrived in about 7 days. I also inquired in the past as to whether Connections accepted packages, and they do, for a small fee depending on how long it will be there and how big the package is.

[JC]

We have used Connections in the past and we will be shipping another package for our upcoming March trip. They charge a minimal fee for storage until you pick up your package...depending on the size & how often they trip over it! Make sure to use their physical address (not the PO Box #) when shipping your package. It is also recommended that you email them ahead of your arrival & set up an account in your name. In your email include your name, address, home phone, island address, island phone and arrival date! No worries!

http://www.connectionsstjohn.com

Jen
37 Counting

[Pia]

Just remember to ship everything USPS PRIORITY MAIL (2-3 day guarantee) and it will be here in 7-10 days - welcome to "on island time"

Pia

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[JC]

Ooooo..very good advice Pia! I should have mentioned that!

[mark & susan]

We used the Mail Center last year and it worked well, they are located in the same center as Starfish. We send snorkel stuff etc.

But it is pretty expensive, you can go on the USPS web site, put in a # of pounds and get that price. This year I looked at shipping some stuff, the cost was about $60 and I thought we could wait 15 minutes in STT for checked luggage instead.

We using a private taxi from STT to Red Hook, would rather spend the money on that. An individual choice, but the Mail Center was great. They charge $5 or $10 a box, depending on size, for receiving it and holding it until you get there.

We're off Sunday to ATL, overnight there then to STT/STJ on Monday. We're ready!

[PA Girl]

I believe Connections quoted me $5 for a small box and $10 for a large box. They recommended FedEx.

Twice in the past three months, 2-3 day USPS did indeed take 7-10 days!

[promoguy]

I ship to my clients in VI's by USPS Priority and as Pia says gets there within a week. Last time was six boxes and although arrived at different times, it did all arrive in good condition and in good time.

From an expense point of view, both fedex and UPS are very expensive.

[chrisn]

We also shipped a box of essentials ahead of us. I sent it to The Mail Center. Frank and Nakira were very helpful. It was expensive to ship though. Priority mail was around $50 if I remember correctly. Next time I think I'm going to check an extra suitcase instead. Wait a minute; what is the lesser of two evils. Paying an extra $50-60 or listening to Honey b**ch cause he has to schlep it? Hmmm, I better rethink.

[grafecks]

We just got back from a wonderful 17 days on STJ. We always ship our stuff down. If you take the cost of mailing the packages against the cost of the per bag fee for the taxi and the ferry, plus the inconvenience of dragging extra luggage around, I think shipping is the way to go.

We send our stuff to Keep Me Posted at the Cocoloba Complex in Coral Bay, next to Aqua Bistro. Ray charges $3 per package.

There's nothing quite like NOT having to go to the baggage area at the airport!

[Kentuckygirl]

Those of you that ship your things down, how far ahead do you ship it? Do you allow a week or more? less? Thanks!