In 2005 I booked a Christmas visit. I paid around $700 per ticket several months in advance. About 2 wks before my departure, the fare dropped to somethinig ridiculously low - I think something like $300 per ticket. We got vouchers for the difference.

This was USAir - Philly to STT.

Thanks for the info. Bluwater. This trip might be hard to pull off if the airfares don't go down. I'm also looking at various hotels and resorts on a number of islands (example: Buccaneer on St. Croix) and most have over a week minimum stay. I'm not sure if they are flexible on this policy but I was hoping to leave on December 26 so my sons could wake up to Christmas at the house and stay on an island for 5 or 6 nights.

I have never paid over$500 for airfare any time of year including Xmas.......but to be fair I also am travailing to the states not from them .........the Buccaneer is also the most expensive resort on STX

It is way too early to find a good fare for a date that far away. You should book the hotels but wait before booking the air fare.

I just checked Sidekick & fares were 650 out of bradley. Not much better...didn't check Boston.

Sorry that was Sidestep!

You might want to look at www,farecompare.com, they graph the lowest times of the year to buy tickets and travel.

Thanks for the Internet sites. Ia assumed that because Christmas/the Holidays is such a busy travel time, the sooner you plan the better. We've only paid over $600 a ticket to the Caribbean once and that is for our upcoming trip to St. Kitts. I repeatedly checked after I booked and the fare never went down. For other trips to St. John, Puerto Rico, and Tortola, we have paid between $400-$500 dollars a ticket and have usually gotten one or two tickets out of four free with FF. So I will focus on our upcoming trip to St. Kitts and keep an eye on deals (if they exist) for the holidays. Thanks!

I bought tickets from BWI to STT for the week before Xmas 06 in October and got fares for less than 400. So I am not sure about buying early or maybe it was the week before..but it seemed like lots of people went that week and went home on the 23/24th to be home for Xmas

........the Buccaneer is also the most expensive resort on STX

Maybe, but it is worth every penny you may pay, imho.

lovethecape, I was in STT this past Christmas and lucked out by finding non-stop tix from Dulles (Washington DC) for $245/pp. Actually, all the credit goes to our travel agent. We stayed at Frenchman's Reef, and after a point, the 7 day minimum stay was waved. We ended up stay 6 nights because the cheap airfare left us $$ to stay longer.

I've never been to St. Croix, so I can't vouch for it, but I'll tell you this, I will never stay at a resort hotel over Christmas AGAIN! The place was packed with people I am convinced have never been in public. Next time, I'm getting a villa.

Back on topic, be patient and just keep looking. We decided in September that we wanted to go on our Christmas trip, but were VERY discouraged by the prices. By mid-October, I had pretty much given up hope. We decided to go for just a few days, it was then that our agent found the deal.

BTW, don't rely on travel websites for finding the best prices. There is no way we could have found that fare w/o our agent.

You got a great price on airfare. Tickets have gone down a little from CT ($700 on the days we are looking at and as low as $600 if we leave before Christmas). I am a little concerned about crowds during the holidays. We did stay at the Westin St. John over Easter in 2006 and it wasn't too bad but we spent all day away from the resort and dined in Cruz Bay. Christmas vacation just works out well time wise for work and my sons' sports schedules. We are also looking into many options, Buccaneer - St. Croix or a Westin villa, condos and villas on St. John.

Christmas week & President's week in February are traditionally the busiest time of the year down here. Hotel rates are usually the highest then. Good luck!

We need to fly 12/27 and return on 1/10, when would be the best time to buy air?

Thanks!