Carry on Only Tips?

mrscherry2000 · Post by **mrscherry2000** » Fri Jan 25, 2013 2:09 pm

I really want to be able to jump off the plane in St. Thomas and straight to a cab to Red Hook. Anyone have tips for carry on only? We'll have a washer/dryer so that's a big plus, I'm planning on renting our fins and just bringing our snorkels/masks though I may even just leave them behind and rent as well. I figure I can find some sunscreen on the island somewhere

guess it's our other liquids etc.

This is big for me, I'm an overpacker and always seem to have a ton of clothes I never wear.

KTinTX · Post by **KTinTX** » Fri Jan 25, 2013 3:14 pm

mrscherry:

First...you CAN do it. My wife is a classic overpacker and she was able to do carryon only for our first STJ trip a few years ago.

Others will tell you WHAT to pack, but the keys for me are:
1. Invest in a quality bag. Style Is personal but I have an Osprey brand backpack type of bag. Awesome and very durable. My wife prefers wheeled so she has an ultra lightweight roller from L. L. Bean. also a great bag.

2. Roll your clothes very tightly. Don't fold or stuff. It will make a difference and very minimal wrinkles if that kinda thing bothers you on STJ!

3. Use a fixed rate Priority Mail box to ship any larger liquids you'll want like sunscreen, contact lens solution, etc. to Connections. If you aren't brand choosy you can probably buy on island for less than the postage unless you have a lot of different liquids.

Good luck

mrscherry2000 · Post by **mrscherry2000** » Fri Jan 25, 2013 3:27 pm

If I send the package tomorrow, do you think it would get there by the time I arrive next Saturday? I'm in Maryland. I know the mail is awfully slow down there.

mrscherry2000 · Post by **mrscherry2000** » Fri Jan 25, 2013 3:28 pm

Great suggestions btw. Thanks!

toni · Post by **toni** » Fri Jan 25, 2013 4:05 pm

We usually do carry on only, though its easier in the summer because we aren't bundled up with coats etc.

My carry on is a back back style piece of luggage, then my personal item is a lightweight backpack/book bag type of thing.

We don't bring fins/mask because we don't snorkel.

Liquids-I'm pretty sure you can bring contact lens solution in a big bottle, I believe that the tsa site allows that. Other liquids-I buy the small empty 3oz plastic travel bottles and fill them up with with suntan fluids, shampoos, aloe, moisturizer whatever. You can fit as many of those into your qt Baggie as you can. Just mark what they are - don't want to wash your hair with suntan lotion

The little tubes of toothpaste you get at the dentists are good for traveling too.

And as long as you have laundry you're good to go. You don't need too many clothes unless you want to eat out "dressy" all the time, and even that's relative for the islands.

I think one year we used one of those space saver bags in the luggage, not the kind you need a vacuum for, but the kind you just roll tight to remove the air. We didn't have laundry facilities that time. They make things wrinkle if I remember is all.

Have fun!

KTinTX · Post by **KTinTX** » Fri Jan 25, 2013 4:52 pm

Hmmmm...I'd say mailing today for next Saturday is possible, but a little risky for anything you would HAVE to have. I always have allowed 10 business days even for priority mail. It's never taken that long but it sometimes can. Instructions on Connections website give addressing instructions for best results.

Caw954s · Post by **Caw954s** » Fri Jan 25, 2013 5:08 pm

Hello mrscherry! We just got back from a week in STJ and my family of 5 all did the carry on only. We each had a backpack and a small piece of rolling luggage. Both were stuffed full, but we did it. The washer and dryer saved us because we had wet clothing everyday, but we could wash and dry everything at night and wear it again the next day. Are you staying in a villa? If so check and see if they have important items. Our villa had hair dryers, beach towels, beach chairs, noodles, sunscreen, bug spray, coolers, beach bags, it was awesome! Plus, there was shampoo and soap in each bathroom. We also brought coffee, trail mix, chocolate, and we were glad we did.
Happy packing and enjoy!

mindehankins · Post by **mindehankins** » Fri Jan 25, 2013 6:42 pm

MrsCherry, if you decide to mail a box to Connections, make sure you'll be arriving in time to pick it up. They close early-ish on Saturdays and are closed on Sundays, if memory serves me. You'll have to get that box mailed out tomorrow. Use the one-price priority mail box only (any size you want, but it should be a one price "if-it-fits-it-ships" box, and follow the mailing instructions (address) on the Connections site to the T. You should call Connections, too, and "ask" if you can send it there. It's no more of a long distance call than any out of state call.
And if you do a search here, you might come up with some ideas of what to put in the box.
Happy vacation!

brenda · Post by **brenda** » Fri Jan 25, 2013 8:32 pm

If you are staying at a villa, you may be able to mail it directly to the villa company. I would definitely get it in the mail tomorrow! We stayed at Grande Bay who used St John Villa Company. I mailed it to them, and it was at our condo when we arrived.

Dome526 · Post by **Dome526** » Sat Jan 26, 2013 7:28 pm

We did a 15 day trip in Nov. with Carry-On only. You will buy t-shirts and other momentos. Our next trip will also be carry-on only, and we will send things ahead to where we are staying. Sunscreen, DEET spray (yes, the no-see-ums are going to eat you!), extra food items, etc. Connections is a great option. They have locations in Cruz Bay and Coral Bay. I loved Carry-on. It took A LOT of convincing to get my wife to try it. After packing, I took a look at what I packed, and cut out HALF! Then, I eliminated a little more! I had 2 or 3 things STILL, that I never used! You will spend most of you time in shorts, and t-shirts. Long sleeve anything was a waste of space. Carry-on RULES! The airlines cannot lose your carry on item! I had plenty of space, even after I packed my CPAP machine!

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