Very funny. I am one of the cooler people and had those exact same thoughts about now having to pay a premiem for my maryland crabs.l

I laughed when I read that one. The villas we have been staying at recently have a couple of extra coolers, some with the luggage tags still on them. We bring things down that we can't get on island and a couple of things for the first night or so. The only thing we really want to bring down is our dry-cured Virginia bacon, but that does not need refrigeration.

Bringing a cooler down seems to save about 10% on those grocery items, but is a bigger saving for shopping time. I think the cost savings evaporates with the baggage fee.

Cheers, RickG

I am a Gold Card Advantage Member with AA. I usually fly on miles I have accumulated. As a Gold Card member I am not subject to the baggage fees (if I correctly understand their web site).

So, I pay nothing to fly and pay nothing for checking my bags. I can continue to be a cooler person.

Anyone wonder why the airlines are in trouble!

I admit it....I was a cooler person this past week. I'm almost embarrassed now 🙁

As well you should be, Connie! Haha! J/K! We have stores HERE and you might just experience new things if you don't bring things from home....isn't that what a vacation is all about? Experiencing new things? JMHO....(and supporting the local economy by purchasing items here ain't such a bad idea, either...)

No need to feel shame..We live here full time and purchase chicken and beef to bring back in our checked luggage. Trust me when we have our friends over for dinner they know it's not island bought meat!

Coolers rule!

Tippi

Mary, believe me, we put ALOT into the economy. We still shopped every day for ice, beer, soda, things for salad, etc. We still stopped at a store 2 or 3 times a day. With 12 people, you need alot of "extras".

Cooler Person here, too! Been coolering it since the late 90's. We're always willing to try to new things but prefer the new things to be cooked by someone else and put in front of us - lol.l Tried Harvey's this past trip and loved it. We feel we do support the local economy but we like what we like, I guess, and we hate grocery shopping. Between coolering and on-island provisioning we can often get away with one trip to the grocery stores in ten days and that works for us. Much rather be on the beach or at a beach bar than in the grocery stores.

I think the coolers made a lot more sense 10-20 years ago when meat and even fish were much scarcer. Now there is so much. Slightly costly, but generally more abundant and reasonable than in the past. And I agree that it is fun to try new things.