TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin You got to be kidding

We are not going to SXM this year . The first time in 21 years . We stay in Orient bay and we feel it won't be ready in April . But We still Love SXM and I keep checking airfare out of Philly in April . $1,500.00 per person R/T ( no direct flight ) YOU GOT TO BE KIDDING . And the flight isn't even half full . I just don't get it ??? Thank God about 5 couples that go to SXM in April are going to Paya Bay for more than half the price to fly . And that includes the insurance .. What I s AA doing ? Even if The hurricane didn't hit SXM last year I would never pay $1,500.00 per person R/T to ( not direct ) SXM . Hope things look different in 2019 or we won't be going then either . Sorry I love you SXM ....... But I just wasn't able to pull the trigger . Jeff _C

Did you try Cheapoair.com? We were trying to find tickets for a trip we are taking and AA was $3,000 for the two of us and Cheapoair found tickets for $1,100 for both of us.

Delta prices at of PHL in April are around $700...if that helps

Have you looked into alternate airports close by? That is really high. How about mid week pricing?

Thanks for the input . But we are all confirmed for Paya Bay in April . I Just had a co - worker that was on a cruse that went to SXM in Feb . He has never been to SXM before . He told me that there was a lot of construction going on . But he felt that the ship should have gone some where else . He thought that the place was still a mess . And that they were no ready yet . Jeff

I think the prices are up because flights have been cut back so the supply is small but the demand is still big so the much higher fares. I see that starting in April and May more airlines are adding flights, just wish they could have been more flights during high season. We have been to St Maarten twice since Irma and both flights were full and we paid more than normal. The Island is ready as the beaches are great, food great, people great and happy to see tourist coming and the weather is still great. We did also see a lot of construction going on which I think is a great sign that they are moving forward but of course you will see for a long time hurricane damaged properties but that in no way affects me from having a great time or getting a great tan like always. Lots and lots of great restaurants,shops and mainly the smaller Hotels open and we did not judge them on less than perfect which did not matter these trips as we know they are all trying hard to get back to normal and dealing with temp fixes. We go back in April and can't wait to see even more progress.

Not only the cost of flying was a crime . But also our problem was with lodging . Our first week we rent a villa with other couples in Orient Bay . None of the villa we have rented are up and running . The second week we stay ( just my wife and I ) in the Simpson bay area . We do not own a time share but we rent through Book-It .com or VRBO and those places were out also . I do hope things will be pretty well up and running for 2019 . Like I said we have been going there since 1996 ( every year ) I did not want to settle .We will do all we can to be there in 2019 . Stay strong SXM . I will miss you . I know Paya bay will not be the same . Jeff_C

I think your going to find a slight shortage next year for accommodations as there will be a high demand for less available rooms as some of the larger timeshares will still not be at full capacity. Available rooms will first go to the timeshare owners before trades. People that usually go and didn't this year will be itching to go.

Totally agree! The island & the people have given us 20 years. They need us & we went! The hugs we got in 3 weeks was incredible .

Unless you can fly from the NYC metro area, air is out of sight in many cases. I had friends get air for under $600 from St. Louis and also Cincinnati. I was considering going but air from Dayton was close to $900 and is now over $1200. Not a good situation for most people.

We got RT from NY for 2 people on Jet Blue for $736 total.

Thanks for making my point.

Looked to book a trip to see family in March a few weeks ago. SXM to MIA direct $1100 pp, SXM to MIA taking 18 hours, $835 pp. Needless to say, won't be seeing my grandkids in March!

The disparity in airfare is amazing. Cities just an hour or two away from each often see a difference of several hundred dollars and nothing seems to match the NYC area for the absolute best fares to SXM.

Just booked for June from Cleveland, OH.
$505 down on Delta thru Atlanta
$224 back on American thru Miami

Sorry, with those prices, why didn't you book AA round trip?? We got our tickets for June this year way back pre-Irma, got a steal at around $350 r/t from Miami. Same dates are around $600 r/t now.

We booked our May trip back in July. First class one way on miles 50,000 each. Returning First Class 850.00 each. SEA to SXM. All on AA.

When I looked into a round trip on AA, the tickets where over $1,100 each. I don't understand.

I'm stuck with credit on Delta. Flights are $1400.00 roundtrip when want to go. AA is like $850.00. From Detroit.

Roger and Beth--you could have booked two one way tickets, both on AA. Did you look for two one ways? Sometimes roundtrip is more than two one ways.

I tried that. The one way down was showing at $850 and up.

Weird, ok.

I notice you are in Detroit. Guessing you already checked but Delta does fly out of Toronto, if that helps. If you booked out of Tor, you would pay in Cdn $'s, not sure what your delta credit allows

J&B

We would love to go down in April, but the airfares are out of sight!!! We got a GREAT rate for late October. That we are booked!! Not going this past Oct-Nov, really felt it!! That fall holiday really re charges the batteries going forward through these COLD COLD winters! If we can get the airfare within reason I'd love to go. Maybe stay at Bruno's??? It's just wrong for the airlines to stick it to us!

We booked on Spirit from myrtle beach for $525 each round trip and are staying at villa joie de vie for 7 nights for $2400. 3 bedroom , 2 bath house with private pool. Hurricane caused minimal damage amd its all been repaired. 3 couples, $800 a couple for the week. Can't beat it.