Thanks all and the car rental is next. It sounds like we want one that we can rent from the airport. We are carry on luggage people so I doubt the cooler is a go. I do have some refrigerator bags and I will pack them for the beach sandwich and drinks. We are all so excited.

Kwadmanply - I would have to agree with Toes in the Sand on shipping your meats and cheeses ahead of time. You can ship your cooler items to your villa and they will have them already in the fridge/freezer waiting on you. I have never done this before but my friend and I are planning on taking our husbands next trip and kids and this is what we checked into doing. It would definitely be cheaper than buying everything over there. Of course you will have to buy your bread, milk and eggs over there but you could pretty much pack everything else and send it on down. Have a great time on vaca. Wish I was there!!

save the hassle and buy when you get there, the locals need the business. You are enjoying their island, help them out and buy your foods on island.

We visit St John annually and always pack a cooler in dry ice with steaks, chicken and more. Out of DFW we have never had an issue. Then fill in at the local markets!

Agree on buying the food once there. With the cost of luggage on airlines, I would think if not more expensive it would at least be a wash ... and, for me, it just seems like a huge pain to do so ... but then again, since it is my vacation as well as my family's, I'm planning on hitting restaurants instead of cooking as much as possible.

Agree that buying food locally is the way to go. We find going to the local grocery stores and farmers markets are part of the vacation experience. We've found new products, tried different foods and met some wonderful people.