USVI-On-Line

On the way home from our last trip, the airline lost our checked luggage for a couple days. We got it back so it was no biggie. And I don't blame them really, I know it happens sometimes. But I'd like make sure it doesn't happen again by avoiding the problem entirely. Can someone to explain to me how in the world you can go to STJ for a week or longer with only carry-on luggage. Cameras, snorkel gear, clothes... I just don't see it happening. Where do you guys put everything?

BRY1105 wrote:On the way home from our last trip, the airline lost our checked luggage for a couple days. We got it back so it was no biggie. And I don't blame them really, I know it happens sometimes. But I'd like make sure it doesn't happen again by avoiding the problem entirely. Can someone to explain to me how in the world you can go to STJ for a week or longer with only carry-on luggage. Cameras, snorkel gear, clothes... I just don't see it happening. Where do you guys put everything?

We always stay somewhere that has laundry facilities so we can do a mif week load if needed, but I usually never end up wearing everything I bring. I rent fins and pack my mask and snorkel. My cameras fit easily into my carry on.
We send down a box with toiletries, so I never worry about that stuff.

On our last trip (for twelve days) my wife and I did carry on only.

We packed all of the snorkel gear in one backpack style dive bag that I have - it went in the over head bin, as did the one carry on size suitcase that had our clothes.

My personal item was a backpack that had my camera and housing, the laptop, and all of the battery chargers, cables, etc. as well as a book.

My wife's personal item was our 24 can size Polar Bear cooler full of frozen meat.

We sent a box to connections with spices, toiletries, and various other items.

As long as you have access to a washer so that you don't have to bring different clothes for everyday of your trip, it's quite doable.

I've never done it, but I can see how it would work.
We pack unbelievably light, and still don't wear everything we bring with us. Plus you're most likely going to buy a t-shirt or two, so pack even lighter!!!
I'm definately interested in sending stuff to Connections in Coral Bay this trip, though. Never done that before either...
Smiles-
MJ

Carry-ons are defined by their size, but I have been quite confused about what exactly is and isn't a "personal item." So backpacks are considered a personal item?

BRY1105 wrote:Carry-ons are defined by their size, but I have been quite confused about what exactly is and isn't a "personal item." So backpacks are considered a personal item?

I carry my carry on and my beach bag as my personal item. Chip usually has his carry on and the backpack cooler or his regualar backpack

BRY1105 wrote:Carry-ons are defined by their size, but I have been quite confused about what exactly is and isn't a "personal item." So backpacks are considered a personal item?

I know what you're saying. I sort of work like this:
• My carry-on needs to be overhead bin compliant
• My personal item should fit under the seat in front of me.

We stay for two weeks and for the last three years we've been carry-oners. This is the first year we are not shipping a box down. What got shipped was books, snacks and ipod speakers. This year we've switched to e-readers except for a text book. (Don't ask) I'm sure most carry-oners do laundry and we support the local economy as far as buying food.

In the past I've packed in a Bean Bigelow pack my fins, mask, snorkel, 3 swim trunks, 3 shorts, 6 quick dry polo & t-shirts, 6 pair undershorts, a button shirt, a quick dry towel, 2 pair of socks, small toilet kit, a spare hat and a pair of sandals. In my personal bag that goes under the seat in front of me is an old Jansport book bag/back pack that will hold my camera (Canon D10) & little tripod, ipod, Kindle, that damned text book, some snacks. I wear my water shoes/sneakers on the plane with a pair of light slacks, long sleeve button shirt and light blazer that I can cram all sorts of stuff into. Of course I'm a guy and a slob to boot so this might not help some.

My wife is a big fan of skirts, dresses in the evenings and those wrap around things that you can get on island. To show you I'm listening she has said she will pack 3 swim suits and when we hike she wears skorts that she got from Sahalie. (Hope she reads this and I can restore some points after the Super Bowl) She also wears her water shoes/sneakers on the plane and she may bring 1 or 2 pair of sandals. She has a 20x 14x 9 rolling carry-on and she will bring the laptop as her personal bag.

I've ordered a 22x14x9 rolling carry-on and if my fins are too long (26") I'll cut 'em. So that's how we do it. The ipod speakers? We'll see.

Good listening, Bill!
I take my carryon, and my beach bag is my personal item. Hubby takes his carryon, and his dive bag (with our 2 masks, 2 snorkels, and 2 sets of fins)as his personal item.
We keep our clothing casual. Swimsuits, shorts, tank tops, and tee shirts don't take up much space. We still have plenty of room for cameras, flip flops, ball caps, speakers, and sometimes a small cooler stuffed in somewhere.
When the kids went with us, it was even easier, lots of helpers!

Great advise. Hoosiermommy and I are planning on carryons only next trip.

We did "carry on" last year for that first time and it was easier than we thought. Been going down to STT since 1999 and always checked our luggage. We, like many of you, don't wear everything we bring either and with a washer/dryer in our unit, I wash clothes mid-week and maybe one more time if necessary. If my husband doesn't mind seeing me in the same thing a couple of times - who will know the difference? I plan to bring a back pack as my personal item also and that seems to work ok because it fits under the seat. After you do it once, you'll wonder why you packed so much in the past!!

We always do carry on only...we stayed for 10 days last time and had plenty of room...we're shorts/tank top/flip flop people...and if I'm not wearing the above we're in swim suits...I learned years ago that I pack too much and wear not even half of what I bring...also the villa have washers and dryers...I, personally, will never check another bag...

Last time we stayed for 11 days, brought our snorkle gear and only did carry-on. Here is how we managed:
- Shipped our liquids and snorkle weights in the USPS fixed rate box,
- Used the maximum or near-maximum sized carry-on luggage, and
- Used backpack as our "personal" size carry-on.

Okay, i don't get it. We've never checked baggage in. We've gone for 3 weeks, brought snorkel gear, gifts for friends, CD's [before iPod], etc. Last year we did, because of TSA bullstuff, mail a minimum USPS priority box [with Swiss Army knife, peanut butter, sunscreen,Deet, and what ever elsethat would fit] and we still didn't use a lot of the stuff. A couple of teeshirts, shorts, camera, Tevas, binoculars, cash. No laptop, cell phone, or tiaras. You'd be surprised how easy it is!

When you lay out your clothes for the trip...take away half of them b4 you pack...go commando the whole week...
As a joke last year I wore the same shirt nightly(see my avatar)...yes it was washed mid-week. 1 pair or shorts...snorkely gear and fins in a back-pack style back pak and a few backpacks on each of us for personal items..chargers cameras...etc And thats for 2 adults and 2 kids