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Our Caribbean trip has gone thru many changes over the last couple weeks, but as always we are making for some time in the USVIs.
We are committed to making a Windjammer Cruise out of St. Martin. Thanks to advice on this board, we have decided to do a major airline carrier in and out of San Juan, then arrange our island hopping on a local carrier.
We prefer island airlines because the price has always been much more reasonable than say the American Eagle. However, on some we have found their dependability less than perfect.
Right now we are leaning toward Liat for our hopping. Are they pretty good? Is there a better small airline we should be looking at for trips between St. Thomas, St. Martin, St. Croix and San Juan.
Our esperience with Air St. Thomas was OK, but we have heard of others who were stranded by that airlines a couple years back.
Don
Well there isn't one airline that flies routes between all four places (St. Thomas, St. Croix, St. Maarten, San Juan). If you were traveling between STX and STT, it would be Cape Air or the Seaplane, if you were traveling between SXM and SJU, it would be American, LIAT, or Caribbean Sun, if you were traveling between STX/STT and SXM, it would be LIAT or American, and if you were traveling between STX/STT and SJU, it would be Cape Air, American, Caribbean Sun, or the Seaplane. Is your island-hopping from SJU to STT, then STT to STX, then STX to SXM? If I was doing this, this is how I would do it:
SJU to STT - I would take Seaborne, it's probably the cheapest, and of course the most exciting. Also, there's the "port to port with no airport" convenience. It is highly reliable (I believe they have 99% ontime performance, or some high percentage)
STT to STX - Again, I would take Seaborne, since it's the best value and convenience.
STX to SXM - LIAT is the only airline that has direct service between St. Croix and St. Maarten, and if you took American Eagle, you would connect all the way to San Juan, and it would probably be a ripoff. I haven't heard many complaints about LIAT.
So can you clarify on the routes you are flying, and I could help you with more info.
Dominic
Dominic,
Thanks for the info.
You gleamed our itinerary from my note only in reverse. You did get me the details I need.
Next Friday or Saturday we will be flying from San Juan to SMX. Liat would be reliable to do that and so would Caribbean Sun.
About eight days later we will be flying to St. Croix or St. Thomas. First get there with Liat and then island jump with the Sea Plane.
does that sound right to you?
Thanks again,
Don
