usvi-on-line
Sign of the Times
Sign of the Times
I was looking at the Vacation Vistas website today and of the 11 Villas that Lisa has in her portfolio, 9 of them are listed as available for Thanksgiving and/ or Christmas. Those seem like pretty high vacancy rates for the Holidays.
The holiday bookings are always so expensive. I wonder if perhaps some people not necessarily cancelling, but are instead choosing a different week to travel. Not only are the villas often at least double the price for holiday weeks, the airfares are outrageous then too. Even in an excellent economic climate, I personally would never come down for Christmas or February vacation as I do not see it as a good value.
It's like looking in your soup and finding a whole different alphabet.
got that right
I did not realize untill i got to shopping around(after i got my plane tics)that it is high season when we are coming in april. As i was looking for a place to stay I noticed that villas go up as much a grand during high season. i hope for what this honeymoon is costing i get a look at KC while i'm there. Even if its through binocs. ha
Rocken Robbin gets her dream Honeymoon vacation in the Virgin Islands
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nothintolose
- Posts: 1960
- Joined: Mon Aug 07, 2006 10:36 pm
- Location: New Orleans, LA
The problem for many of us is that our vacation schedule is tied to the kids school schedule--so besides summer- easter, february and christmas are the only times we can travel -- so you sort of get screwed. we were lucky enough this year to have miles for three tickets--and the kids have a long break so it worked for us--but i imagine a lot of persons rethought holiday travel this year
< leaving on the 22nd of march...but too lame to figure out the ticker thing again!>
I think that Lisa has a lovely group of properties. I know that Argonauta and Villa Bijou (whose owner I know) are booked, but I surprised that there was anything available during what some consider to be the prime season.
I'm with Liamsaunt, I don't see the value in traveling during the Holidays. We do like to go in March due to the Remora's 2 week break and the frigid New England weather. High season rates call for smaller accomodations for the three of us. I'm willing to sleep in a parking lot as long as I can get to the beach
I'm with Liamsaunt, I don't see the value in traveling during the Holidays. We do like to go in March due to the Remora's 2 week break and the frigid New England weather. High season rates call for smaller accomodations for the three of us. I'm willing to sleep in a parking lot as long as I can get to the beach
Here's my question: why aren't villa owners adjusting their high season prices downward?
The reason for high season prices are based on supply and demand. But since there is less demand it would seem prudent for them to have someone staying there even if they're paying less than they normally would.
To me some money is better than no money.
And let's be honest, it doesn't cost the owner more money to operate the villa in high season vs. low season.
The only reason these prices are the way that they are historically is because it's cold everywhere else and warm in the VI during the winter months.
Perhaps they're waiting til the last minute to drop prices for last minute bookings. But I think they're going to find that folks aren't going to bite on that eiher due to prohibitive airline costs.
I think that Villa owners may need to become more flexible in their pricing if they're going to keep up...
I'm just sayin.....
The reason for high season prices are based on supply and demand. But since there is less demand it would seem prudent for them to have someone staying there even if they're paying less than they normally would.
To me some money is better than no money.
And let's be honest, it doesn't cost the owner more money to operate the villa in high season vs. low season.
The only reason these prices are the way that they are historically is because it's cold everywhere else and warm in the VI during the winter months.
Perhaps they're waiting til the last minute to drop prices for last minute bookings. But I think they're going to find that folks aren't going to bite on that eiher due to prohibitive airline costs.
I think that Villa owners may need to become more flexible in their pricing if they're going to keep up...
I'm just sayin.....
*Another fine scatterbrained production
One thing I've always wondered about when it comes to dropping villa prices - what about the folks who booked earlier at the regular rates for basically the same time period (low or high season)? "Last minute" discounting is one thing, but if a villa owner drops all future bookings by a percentage for a period of time and you are already booked there are you then going to feel you should be offered the same discount? It's kind of a slippery slope for an owner with existing bookings.
- Margy
- Margy
I got a great deal for Janaury.
The cottage we booked has an "Economic Bailout Special" and is offering off-season prices during high season. We were looking at a lot of places but the off season price made the decison for us: $1,000 for a week in Janaury is the cheapest on STJ except for those new Sailview apartments!
And, flying Friday-Friday saved us bucks too: $898 total (taxes & all) for the both of us. Cheaper than when we flew down two years ago.
The cottage we booked has an "Economic Bailout Special" and is offering off-season prices during high season. We were looking at a lot of places but the off season price made the decison for us: $1,000 for a week in Janaury is the cheapest on STJ except for those new Sailview apartments!
And, flying Friday-Friday saved us bucks too: $898 total (taxes & all) for the both of us. Cheaper than when we flew down two years ago.
It did seem slow last week. I am sure people just can't afford to make the trip right now. I just can't justify paying twice as much during "season" for my villa rental. Cars have higher rates then too. The weather on STJ doesn't change much, and believe me it's cold enough here to appreciate my trip to paradise last week.