TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums British Virgin Islands What to do you wish you brought with you?

Heading back next week for our second trip after a few years away (just the wife and me on a 38' mono). Our first trip we learned what everyone does - we brought too much! So this time we're packing far fewer clothes and will provision very differently for food/beverages. Well, at least food...

Just wondering, what small things do you wish you had brought with you to make the trip a little better? Luxury sort of things, not normal staples like sun lotion, music, sunglases, etc.

As an example, this time we're bringing a couple of sharp paring knives (everything on the boat was dull last time, ended up using my leatherman), a small juicer for drinks (about the size of a hand) and a compact ice crusher (about the size of a shoe). They'll all pack inside each other so it's not a big footprint but they're definitely not must-haves, just nice to have.

We realized that some portable rechargeable camping lanterns for the evenings are handy due to the small house batteries.

Here is my list....

ISLAND ITEMS TO BRING
PASSPORTS-pic of passport to phone
Baggies-Waterproof Bags
Waterproof Camera
Portable Battery (with Laptop)
Masks/Snorkels (full face masks?)
JBL Speaker and cord
Flags
Wire Ties for Flags
Pain Pill Box
Walkabouts
VHF Radio
Sunglasses
Hat
Flashlights-Boat with mini USB charge port
Blue Tooth Headset
Captains Log
IPAD (with laptop)
Portable Surge Protectors
Water Shoes
Post It Notes
BVI Cruising Map
Playing Cards
Waterproof Watch
Burgee (college)
Yellow small trash bags for Heads and dinghy
Collapsible cooler
Hammocks
Rubber Gloves
Black Magic marker
Water Bottles - empty
Beach Towel

Binoculars

Turkish towels (beach size) instead of regular one.

That would be awesome...unfortunately would kill my only carry on rule for the crew...:)

so the blue shower towels at Moorings base will have to do

Not a luxury item at all, but procure and bring a dozen ( or so) butterfly wound closures to elevate your group's own first-aid capability.

If fishing is on the entertainment agenda, be sure to have a "leatherman" type tool or a pair of wire-cutters stout enough to deal with your worst possible hook/ human accident.

Sorry to harsh the mellow anticipation, but it takes only moments for stuff to happen, and the more easily you can deal on your own terms, the better the days go.

We bring spices and marinades for cooking. We also bring some wine that we like. Agree with binoculars. We bring our own lures for fishing and the last time our own reel to replace the lame one that comes with the rod we rent. Next time we will bring our own dry bag backpack.

Small LED flashlights and a LED headlamp
a small drybag for shore excursion
package of wet wipes
lip balm
clothespins - good ones
sunglass keepers

With our first bare boat coming up in July, I appreciate this post. Thank you.

Butane lighter. Matches got wet!

TSA requires this to be Carry on... NOT in checked baggage.

Here is another page of my Island List if it helps...note "home" items that we bring down in our carry on

Provisioning
Ice (Cooler and freezer) – 5 bags (fill boat freezer with 3)
Water – 5 Cases of Bottled and 8 Gallon Jugs
Soda – Coke, Diet Coke, Ginger Ale (1 case each)
Juice – Orange (1 plastic and 4 boxes), Cranberry (2 plastic), Guava (2 boxes), Pineapple (1 plastic and 3 boxes)
Beer (cases of cans) - Light Beer, IPA
Liquor- Vodka, Spiced Rum, Gin, Bourbon
Red & White Wine
_________________
Coffee
Coffee Filters (HOME)
Milk (fridge and non perishable)
Potato Chips
Eggs
Butter
Bagged frozen vegetables
Potatoes (hashed/sliced)
Sausage
Bacon
Chips & Salsa
BBQ Sauce
Lettuce
Tomato
Salad Dressing
Fajitas

Pretzels
Ketchup
Mustard
Mayonaise
Salt & Pepper (HOME)
Sugar (HOME)
Spices (HOME)
Aluminum Foil (HOME)
Plasticware (HOME)
Paper Towels (C&C)
Paper Napkins
Paper Plates
Gallon Ziploc Bags
Trash Bags - Kitchen
Snacks
Hand Sanitizer
Cereal
Tortillas

Red Solo Cups (Big)
English Muffins
Eggs
Butter
Fruit
Bug Spray
Chlorox Wipes (3 pack)
Chlorox Bleach (Small)
Cleaning Pads (HOME)
Bread
Deli Meats & Cheeses
Cheese & Crackers
Hamburger
Chicken
Red & White Wine
Olive Oil
Spaghetti

-Dry bag is a must.
-Also, a headlamp is really nice to have. Especially to use as a light for operating your dinghy at night.
-"Luci lights" inflatable, solar powered lights are great to set the mood on the boat at night.
-A yeti or similar cup that can retain ice and keep drinks cold. Preferably with a closeable lid

Oh, and poopourri. Definitely bring poopourri.

Parts for my 73 VW Thing!

a fresh bunch of Spotify downloads and some audiobooks.

For Spotify my son did a playlist called Island Time

Also listen to BVI Upbeat, BVI CHILL and BVI Sailing

Deet

We are land based and bring spices/herbs in a 7 day prescription organizer. Just make sure to label and to put a length of masking tape over the top. The little lids can easily pop open

ETA - and since it is only 2 of us we bring a Melitta pour over coffee cone. Takes up no space, weighs next to nothing, and is great for 2 cups in the AM

chip clips and wash rags.

We are here now and it’s raining, which is why I am online here is what we brought:
Water bottles-buy lots of gallon jogs and have them delivered to the base
Tray for apps and small spreader knives
Trash bags and ziplocks- stack up and they take virtually no space in luggage
Spices in ziplocks
Binoculars
Scissors

Our list of odd things to take includes:
Citrus zester
Microfiber sheets (they take up little space/weight in the bag and are much more comfy to sleep on than damp cotton sheets)
Cornstarch baby powder
One of the foil & foam dollar store windshield sun shades (cut to fit the ports and secure in place with painters tape to help keep the interior of the boat cool)
Small,inexpensive floating flashlight
Coffee filter packs
1 large tervis tumbler per person

6 fewer people!

Def pack a microfiber cloth to wipe down dewy seats in the morning

Clothes Pins, duct tape, had a suit case issue and a length of duct tape would have been great - not in my toiletry bag I carry some wrapped around a pencil (also handy)