USVI-On-Line

Just a little tip from me to you -- especially those travelling during the winter months when it gets dark early and you're likely arriving at your villa around dusk or after dark: BRING A DECENT FLASHLIGHT!!

Many villas already have a flashlight on hand however you have to find them and they aren't always in the best condition, batteries may be dead or non-existent.

If you travel during the months when the daylight hours are shorter this is the best tip I can give you.

Last December we arrived at our villa just as the sun was going down.

The villa rep dropped us off and left without even noticing or telling us that the power was out.

We quickly realized that we needed to find a light source pretty quick since we'd only been there for all of 10 minutes and had no clue where anything was. Like I said-- she was a sucky villa greeter!

Well every flashlight we found either didn't work or had no batteries. They had some oil lamps around, but wouldn't ya know they didn't work either.

Fortunately we'd brought a couple of small mag lights down with us and we made do until the power came back on a couple of hours later.

Power outages are a regular thing on island so we learned early that this was the way to go.

We also travel with a couple of power bars/snack bars as well.

Even from DC it's a long travel day and we get to STJ around 5pm and we are hungry. It's nice to have a little something to tie you over until you can get to dinner.

Just a couple of ideas to help folks out.

Anyone else have good tips?

Hi Gromit!

I hope you have a better stay this year! Sorry we are not on the Island at the same time. We had such a great time with you. Have fun! I bought Mel is own underwater camera this year and we are having a little contest between us this year for best photo. Happy Birthday!

Sandy

Sandy!

Flip Flop and I both keep saying that we need to get together with you guys!!

I'm so sad to miss you. Can't wait to see the photo contest results.

You should post them on the forum when you get back and add the poll feature so that forumites can vote for best photo!!

Good tip! We discovered the lack of light and batteries hours before Omar. There were plenty of flashlights that did not work. The windup dynamo ones have to be frequently charged and cranked or they go dark. Check the villa for a Boombox. Radio news about WAPA was helpful, and for playing CD's if they are around. I was going to bring our Petzel headlamps but forgot.

We brought down a water proof one with us this past trip, just in case. Boater's World has a few to choose from.
Smiles-
MJ

I've had to travel a lot this month, I was in MS for 4 days for a corporate job. Been so busy! I have jobs booked for the day after I return from my trip. My little business is growing. I promise when all this travel is out of the way, we need a girls night out!
Mel said he up for the challenge! I might have the forum vote on this, good idea. What is cool, I'm leaving all my high end gear at home, just using point and shoot cameras this trip, so it will be fair. (His idea) Again, have a great vacation, don't let bed bugs bite like last time.

This is the handiest little light ever. You can clip in on to your visor/hat bill and see great. It makes a great stocking stuffer - small and easy to take along. Lasts a long, long time as well.
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templ ... ISO-8859-1

agree, another reason-extended power outages.

if I ever have time I will post a trip report-who knows-but we were out of power for well over 24 hours last week. We were lucky our villa had lots of flashlights.

If I had to do it over again, (which I will!) I will bring candles too. There weren't alot at the villa and not knowing how long the outage would last, we were afraid to use more than a few. It was dark and the kids could have easily gotten spooked.

a good tip for all- when you arrive-note the location of all flashlights and matches, candles, etc...if power goes out-can't assume it will come back on shortly. It was VERY dark as St. Thomas was out too and there was not a lot of "light pollution". (the stars were gorgeous though!)

the water didn't even work-I think because of cistern pumps. So no power OR water for a day and a half. It got pretty grubby. We made the best of it and luckily all in our group were VERY good sports-even our newbie friends. It helped that we had already eaten most of our food for the week! We might not have been so easy going about it if we had lost a lot of food....

Great tip Gromit Boy the stars were awesome when the power went out, fell asleep staring at them in awe. Ended up getting a sheet and slept by the pool that night. Pine Peace has cheap glass candles if ya need a couple $1.29

Yeah, I thought our travel mates were crazy when they bought a candle at the food center last week. Between that and the flashlight & glowsticks in our villa they sure came in handy last week with the power outage. And you sure are right about the stars captn! They were shining bright with everyones lights off!

I never travel without a small flashlight. On StJ I always bring at least one waterproof one. They are especially handy if caught on a trail or at the beach after watching the sunset.

Good advice. Feeling your way up the 100 stairs to your Maho studio in the pitch black with a toddler may lead to marital counseling. Just sayin'.