Best items to bring from the states

Battery power fans. Generator. Stand fans are also cheaper in the states. Color powered items. A DVD player that can be charged with a car charger.

Really, you can get anything on island or to be shipped.

I would suggest bringing your car though

I was going to suggest the vehicle as well if you can. Even with the shipping cost and possible import tax it's usually more cost effective. Use one of the companies that will take care of the inspection and registration once landed.

Are you planning on sending an entire shipping container, or just whatever you need in a few boxes sent to the freight forwarder, or just what you can carry on the plane? Leave the particle board furniture in the states. As speedy said you can get most anything shipped in but depending on how much you want to ship there may be other suggestions to bring.

Thank you guys for the info. Much appreciated. With the car situation. I am planning on bringing on suv that we have. But I also have a sports car that I am not planning on bringing. As you know the roads are not conducive to that type of vehicle. I was planning on selling it and buying one once on island. Should I do that or buy another car here and have it shipped. For The car I was planning on buying it would really be a “beater” and was only planning on spending a few thousand dollars. I’m guessing the shipping cost would be comparable to what I’m planning on spending on the actual vehicle. I had a quote of shipping the car from my home 2,400 or driving it to Miami and shipping it 1400.
With this info would you still recommend shipping a car or buying one on island.
I am planning on bringing a container. 20” loading most of my furniture ( minus the particle board stuff) tvs, tools, yard equipment, dishes ect.. I have some new beds and dressers, chairs I bought within the last year so it seems like it would make the most sense to ship the container 7k instead of purchasing all new stuff for a family of 5 on island I’m guessing would run me about same if not more.
Since I’m still here and will have the container space i was just wondering if there were anything I should definitely bring ahead of time. Thanks for the recommendations.

I'd buy the car in the states and ship it. It will be in better shape then what you would buy on island for the same cost. Sounds like you've already got most of your stuff on hand to ship. Figure out what you don't have and expect to need on island and ship that as well. Even materials you may already know you need for any home repairs/maintenance/improvements. You already have the container so whatever you can fill it with should be a savings. Re-chargeable lanterns can come in handy for shorter power outages.

Good coffee is super expensive here for some reason. Spices also. Good sheets and towels are hard to find here. Bring a generator or inverter. Oh just thought of something else! Dog and cat crates are really expensive because shipping them costs so much. You could buy a bunch and sell them here - so many people always need them especially the organizations that find homes for animals in the states.

I would buy a car there and ship it. You can spend 3k on a car there and even spend another 3k on shipping it would still make sense. I'd also make sure the cars had new good all-terrain tires. Also recommend the supplies you need for any planned home improvement projects. Sounds like you already have a good plan as it is!

that should be solar not color. spell check at it again

Battery power fans. Generator. Stand fans are also cheaper in the states. Color powered items. A DVD player that can be charged with a car charger.

Really, you can get anything on island or to be shipped.

I would suggest bringing your car though

i have found the best sheets and towels at JC Penney and they always have sales. and they ship here. the last 2 sets of towels i got from them, like 25 for a set of 6 ( 2 of each ) and the towels are generous in size.

also their sheets are great , i finally found NON microfiber sheets at their website. again, great prices.

Good coffee is super expensive here for some reason. Spices also. Good sheets and towels are hard to find here. Bring a generator or inverter. Oh just thought of something else! Dog and cat crates are really expensive because shipping them costs so much. You could buy a bunch and sell them here - so many people always need them especially the organizations that find homes for animals in the states.

A Ryobi rechargeable fan instead of battery fans.

Solar chargers.

Buy curtains for your house if possible. Supplies are limited even in best of times. Consider ones that offer sun protection.

Voltage regulators to protect devices from power surges.

ReduceOne stainless insulated 24 hour mugs with reusable straw. One for each family member. Office Max sells but sell quickly and seldom in stock.

Thanks for the info everyone. A lot of things i just wouldn’t have thought of like the solar chargers. You all have definitely helped add to the list of necessities I will bring along with me. I was really hoping to get a car when I arrived on island and possibly catching someone leaving island to get a decent deal and not have to go through the hassle of shipping but from the sounds of it buying here and shipping there will be the most Cost effective route to go.

Thanks for the input. If anyone thinks of anything els just let me know.

Make sure you have a good portable (preferably rechargeable) radio or 2 that play am and fm. The radio was our only news source after the storm, and decent radios are scarce here (on STT anyway).

Somebody mentioned coffee, but tea can be expensive here, too. Bring some if you drink tea.

Your wife might need to stock up on make up if she wears the better brands.

You are coming from the Midwest just in time for tropical summer. You are going to be miserably hot to start with- it isn't the same because the evenings don't cool down like at home. If your house doesn't have air conditioning, you might throw a portable unit into your container so you can sleep and your spouse can get ready for work.

Also, buy tropical lightweight shirts with sleeves and long pants to avoid sunburn when outside for any length of time - sunscreen is no barrier between the tropical sun and "Kansas" skin. (forgive my assumption here).

Again, just my thought ..... many coming to the VI quickly find they are not equipped for the heat and sun. They buy/rent property that has no breeze (easterly exposure) and no air conditioning.

Plan ahead, you will find strategies that work and eventually adjust if you give it enough time.

Oh yes, bring high thread count cotton sheets, too. Percale are the coolest.

Thanks for the tips. I made sure the house i was purchasing had a good breeze. Visited the home a few times to confirm. There is no a/c unit in the home at the moment but that i am setting aside money to get a system out in once we move. I know that could take some time. So i will bring a portable unit with me. I completely understand that the tropics are a different kind of heat. We spend a couple weeks in the tropics each summer ( i know 2 weeks is nothing compared to all summer or all year) You are correct Kansas haha. It gets hot as hell here. In the summer 90-100 plus is most days temps and then you have the very very high humidity with absolutely no breeze.

Thanks for the sheets tip i will make sure to bring those and the other items you’ve recommended

yes, I know Kansas well :-). Great place to be from. Good luck with your move.

Rock Chalk

Thanks for the tips. I made sure the house i was purchasing had a good breeze. Visited the home a few times to confirm. There is no a/c unit in the home at the moment but that i am setting aside money to get a system out in once we move. I know that could take some time. So i will bring a portable unit with me. I completely understand that the tropics are a different kind of heat. We spend a couple weeks in the tropics each summer ( i know 2 weeks is nothing compared to all summer or all year) You are correct Kansas haha. It gets hot as hell here. In the summer 90-100 plus is most days temps and then you have the very very high humidity with absolutely no breeze.

Thanks for the sheets tip i will make sure to bring those and the other items you’ve recommended

you can get just a split unit for the bedroom. thats the most important room to chill

Thanks for the tips. I made sure the house i was purchasing had a good breeze. Visited the home a few times to confirm. There is no a/c unit in the home at the moment but that i am setting aside money to get a system out in once we move. I know that could take some time. So i will bring a portable unit with me. I completely understand that the tropics are a different kind of heat. We spend a couple weeks in the tropics each summer ( i know 2 weeks is nothing compared to all summer or all year) You are correct Kansas haha. It gets hot as hell here. In the summer 90-100 plus is most days temps and then you have the very very high humidity with absolutely no breeze.

Thanks for the sheets tip i will make sure to bring those and the other items you’ve recommended

you can get just a split unit for the bedroom. thats the most important room to chill

Mini-splits are best for the whole house anyway in the VI. Easiest to install, economical to run, and zone control. Start with the bedroom(s) and then the common areas.

Thank you. I’ll keep this in mind. Any companies you would recommend thy could help me with this?