USVI-On-Line

Does anyone know if there is a place on STJ that sells Neat Sheets? Does Ruth?

Also, if shipping a box down ahead, how much ahead do you recommend shipping?

Thanks in advance,

We screwed up and mailed a box thinking it would be there. It didn't come until after we left. Send it Priority a few weeks ahead. Follow the instructions on Connections website. All block letters, no periods or commas.

I haven't seen Neat sheets on island. You're better off getting them at home at Target or Walmart or on Drugstore.com wherever you'll get the best price.

FYI I always get the really big one. They are super light. Some have weights in the corners but I just cut those out. That way the neat sheet is really light and doesn't take up much room. That gives us plenty of room to put our towelsand spread out and room to get our stuff out of the sand.

As for shipping. NO lie about the directions from Connections. You have to do EXACTLY as they say on the addressing of the box.

Keep in mind you should do sort of a cost/benefit analysis on what you are choosing to ship down-- factoring in the cost of shipping and the $10-20 that connections will charge to hold the box for you. And comparing those costs to just buying the item on island (even if its less expensive at home).

My rules are:

1) Is it going to put me way over on weight for my bags thus costing me way more to take it on the plane?

- if yes, then ship it.

2) Can I find the item on island at a reasonable price?

If no, then ship it.

3) Am I doing carry-on only and restricted on the liquids I can carry on?

-if yes, then ship it.

Of course there's always the lazy factor that does occasionally kick in.

1) I want the item.
2) I don't wnat to have to carry it.
3) I know I'm probably paying more to ship the dammn thing down when I factor in all the shipping costs, but I don't care cause I want what I want and it's too much to have to think about.

Depending on what day it is and I how logical I'm feeling at that moment will depend on which option I choose!

We mailed a box via priority mail about 3 weeks ago to "Keep Me Posted" in Coral Bay and Ray emailed me a week later to tell me that it had arrived. They're great at Keep Me Posted, BTW! We should get into Coral Bay around 5 p.m., long after they close, but they are going to meet us with our package. I love small towns.
Oh, yeah, regarding the neet sheet, I'm with Gromit, just get it here. It takes up next to no room in your bag.

I googled "neat sheet" to see what you guys are talking about and on amazon, the customer image is that of the neat sheet at Hawksnest Beach!!
How cool

Hmmm, thought I replied to this post this morning but am not seeing it now. Any way:

The 2 questions were really unrelated, sorry for any confusion.

I am having trouble finding a Neat Sheet here. Have been to 3 Walgreens (where I purchased previously), don't see them online at Target or Walmart either. Thought if they were available on-island it would just be as well to pick one up there.

As for the box, I'm struggling to pack 2 snorkel vests for the kids (foam-y not blow up) and 2 snorkel rafts (from iSnorkel), along with snorkel equipment for 4 and all the other stuff into our usual carry-on-only configuration, so thought I'd ship some stuff instead. Given our arrival in just 2 weeks though, and a $23 checked bag fee, it's probably better to take it with us than risk it not being there when we get there.

Thanks to all for the info though and if there are any Madison-ites who know where to find a Neat Sheet, please let me know!

We bought our neat sheets at Toys R Us.

JIM

Just a reminder that you may not have to pay for checked baggage if you are a member of an airline's elite group (American's Aadvantage Gold, for instance). Check with your airline.

When I was evaluating the costs of shipping vs. checking as baggage for a recent trip, I discovered that my wife and I could check four bags on American at no cost.

TM

And just today I got an email from Delta saying that if you have the AMEX skymiles card the first checked bag for you and everyone in your party is free.

If I remember correctly that doesn't go into effect until June 1 though. Check me on that.

look for the neet sheets in the baby dept at walmart is what I was told. Our friends gave one to us for a gift and it's the best.

as for the pkg, mailed down 2 boxes thru priority mailw/confirmation, got to Connections East in 5 days no prob. Cost was $30 but we were planning on eating alot in the house so sent alot of non-perishables down that way saved alot of money. it's up to the ind. family how they want to go.

Good luck and have fun.

Again, my source for Neat Sheets is always Drugstore.com. They are fast too:
http://www.drugstore.com:80/search/sear ... x=0&Go.y=0

Also google "coupon codes" and you can probably save even more $$.

mailed my box thursday (flat rate medium box) the 22nd of April to Connections in cruz bay - it arrived on tuesday the 27th. Priority mail - usps. nice. let them (connections) know the box is coming and YES follow the directions on their website exactly!!!!

Mailed 2 large flat rate boxes on Sat. April 30th and they were recieved today Thurs. May 6th.I mailed them to the owner of the cottage that I am staying at.

My tips for mailing a box (yes I've only done it once round-trip, but worked great):

1. Use a good quality box if shipping larger than the flat-rate boxes.

2. Buy (or borrow from work!) a weatherproof label sheet that can be used in your printer and print the mailing label(S) using Word in a large, clear, block font in all caps. Print the return label for mailing home and put it in the box!

3. Pack a roll of shipping tape in your larger-than-flat-rate box to reseal the box for the trip home!


Our box last summer with 2 sets of snorkel gear, contact solutions, sunscreen, and a collapsible cooler made it to Connections from Houston, TX in 3 business days. We dropped it off the afternoon of our next to last day, and it made it home the day after we did.

After reading about the Neat Sheet on this forum I too went on the hunt for them in the US (no such thing up here). Well no one had them in the months of November to January as apparently they are considered "seasonal" (at least in the Pacific Northwest). I found them on Ebay and ordered a combo pack of a large and a small.