AmbergrisCaye.com Home Forums The Cayes Ambergris Caye Liquid toiletries

Ok, one last question for this helpful forum audience and then I will wait impatiently to simply arrive.

This question may be best directed at the women (or long haired men I suppose) that frequent the area. We like to travel light and fast - no checked baggage. With the TSA being ever so suspicious, this eliminates bringing the massive volumes of hair care products normally used to tame the beast. As much as I like the au naturel look, I can't always convince her...

So for those with experience - I'm looking for comments on selection for local stores (such as the one nearest PVs). Will there be brand names on the shelf that will be easily recognised, or will it turn into an all day affair label reading until decisions are made? I assume sun tan lotion and bug repellant will be easy available.

To save some people's time, I'll mention now that I'm not really concerned with the price. Hometown prices are not pretty, so we're more likely to feel right at home there....

Thanks in advance!

There are plenty of hair salons and barber shops. Plus, there's a pharmacy that always seems to have what I'm needing/looking for. (I'll have to look at the name of it next time I'm in town.) SuperBuy plus numerous others have just about any/everything I've ever looked for. I think you'll be just fine. Last but not least, just go buy a bunch of 3.3oz carry on containers, and a couple of clear zippered cases from somewhere like The Container Store. Even if I'm traveling alone, if I put 2 of those zippered containers through security at TSA, they never say a word. You can even put them in different trays with other stuff. They just assume you're traveling with someone else. Those 3.3oz containers come in spray, pump, pour, whatever you need. (Also available at The Container Store, or something along those lines.) Just pull out ANYTHING that might be questionable, put it in a tray, and you should be fine. I carry a bunch of vitamin powders with me, and even though they are powders and not subject to the 3.3oz minimum, they like it when I pull them out, so they don't have to wonder. Same thing with empty containers. You can bring them in whatever size you want, as long as they are EMPTY! I still pull them out and put them in the tray, and that way they don't have to pull me out of line to check. The easier you make it on them, smile, say hello, etc. and don't give them any grief whatsoever, the smoother it goes. (I travel 45 weeks a year, so they can be pretty used to folks being jerks, questioning everything they do (and they can do the same for sure), but just go a little bit early so you're not stressed, and it will make the trip MUCH more easy and enjoyable for everyone.)

This isn't the exact one I use, but it's something along these lines - http://www.amazon.com/Clear-Zippered-Cosmetic-Travel-Makeup/dp/B00161607O

I got mine at the container store, and they have held up extremely well. Haven't had to replace either of them yet, and that's saying a lot (as I don't check bags either!).

Mine is more like this, without the strap - http://fergusonsafety.com/product-detail.php?product=Clear_Bags_2&category=_2

Going to offer one tidbit of advice that helped me when I visited several years ago. I am extremely yummy when it comes to mosquitoes and sand flees, I brought very strong Deet/bug spray and it did absolutely nothing to repel the sand flees, I was eaten up head toe to head and in tears when I finally called a local doctor and they recommended baby oil. I found some JJ brand baby oil skin so soft type of product (green bottle haven't seen in the states before). I never got another bite the rest of my trip. I only mention this because it almost completely ruined my trip and the solution was so very simple. Just thought might want to add this to your list of supply's to look for once you set foot on paradise!

That' a great idea and so true. There is no one matching up plastic bags with luggage numbers! So smart!

We may just travel empty and buy when we get there. I really don't mind buying there, even if a little more expensive, especially if the vendor is locally owned.

Ifonly - Thanks for your post! The wife seemed immune to those little buggers when we spent two weeks on Coco Plum Caye, but her friend had the same experience as you. Great tip!

I have also created my own all natural/organic bug repellant for here, and have it available in 2oz spray bottles. My husband, who 'was' a DEDICATED deet man, has even converted to it 100%.

I've heard really wonderful things about Avon Skin So Soft as well, but I find it so super simple and fast to make my own, I know exactly what's in it, so I just mix it up as needed.

Do you sell this bug repellant? We come to San Pedro every year and the bugs bites make me miserable. This year someone told me about the baby oil. I didn't have any so I put on a heavy layer of orderless moisturizing lotion before spraying with deet and that seemed to work. Go figure. . .

A shop called War Paint has lots of toiletries and hair products. Middle Street.

Yes, I forgot about War Paint, and it will most likely also have any/everything you need.

Yes, I sell my bug spray. It's $6.00US for a 2oz mist/spray container, with a $1.00 refund if you return the bottle. (Part of my being 'green' policy, even though the bottles are cobalt blue.) :-)