High airfare prices to St. John

shoemak38 · Post by **shoemak38** » Sun Aug 18, 2013 9:10 pm

Thanks to private high school and college tuition bills, I've been waiting six years to return St. John my plan was to take my to graduating daughters to St. John next year. But with the high cost of airfare we made the realization this weekend that is just as cheap to fly to Europe next summer instead of St. John. So instead of looking for eagle rays and turtles I'll be touring Paris the South of France and the Mediterranean coast of Italy. And I have to wait another year before once again I can see St. John.
Why pay a thousand dollars to fly to St. Thomas when I can spend the same airfare (more likely less) to fly to Paris or Frankfurt if I get lucky to show my kids a little bit of my German heritage. All they care about is French food and wine and having some baguettes and the beaches of the French Riviera (they will have to keep their Tops on Dad Insists

)

lprof · Post by **lprof** » Sun Aug 18, 2013 10:26 pm

shoemak38 wrote:Thanks to private high school and college tuition bills, I've been waiting six years to return St. John my plan was to take my to graduating daughters to St. John next year. But with the high cost of airfare we made the realization this weekend that is just as cheap to fly to Europe next summer instead of St. John. So instead of looking for eagle rays and turtles I'll be touring Paris the South of France and the Mediterranean coast of Italy. And I have to wait another year before once again I can see St. John.

You know, that long cold winter of snow will have to pass before going anywhere. What is 7 years of waiting for STJ compared to 6? Not much. You can do it! Stick with the forum; you'll be fine.

Why pay a thousand dollars to fly to St. Thomas when I can spend the same airfare (more likely less) to fly to Paris or Frankfurt if I get lucky to show my kids a little bit of my German heritage. All they care about is French food and wine and having some baguettes and the beaches of the French Riviera (they will have to keep their Tops on Dad Insists )

Traveling to Europe will be thrilling for all of you... sharing your German heritage, French food and wine, Paris, strolling La Promenade des Anglais with the proud papa, Italy... and don't forget Monaco... you know your way around Monte Carlo, don't you???

I agree with your decision and know that you will have a great time... Europe-2014... STJ-2015

Teresa_Rae · Post by **Teresa_Rae** » Mon Aug 19, 2013 2:16 am

It would certainly be very pricey to fly to St. John....I think you'd have to rent a private plane and sky dive

Cecile · Post by **Cecile** » Mon Aug 19, 2013 3:54 am

Hi shoemak38.
yes Europe is wonderfull. But believe me,you will have to spend lots of EUROS!!!!! I live near Münich and prices all over Europe are getting up higher and higher, shame for all of us...........

Wish you a wonderfull time in Europe.

Best regards
Cécile

ski2play · Post by **ski2play** » Mon Aug 19, 2013 8:17 am

Need another daughter? I promise to keep my top on!

shoemak38 · Post by **shoemak38** » Tue Aug 20, 2013 9:55 pm

Thanks for the encouragement Linda I know after five years what’s one more year. Yes Europe will be fun and Monte Carlo is one the planned stops (to be young again). I’ve never done the Italian coast from the French border down to Pisa so this would be a first for me. The bright side is I have a whole new topic to write about the off-topic forum this winter instead of talking about Maine

Cecile
transportation will be the biggest new expense versus St. John. I used to be in the American army stationed outside Heidelberg I also spent my childhood in Germany as my father was in the service. Believe it or not have climbed both the Zugspitze and Alpspitz when I was younger.

Ski2play
my daughter did not believe me when I told her it was common practice for women to be topless on the French Riviera and she cringed in shock when I told her what I posted on the forum

jmq · Post by **jmq** » Fri Aug 23, 2013 1:03 pm

For what the villa owners, Caneel, jeep rental, and food places can get away with charging, its lucky for them that folks can get pretty obsessed with STJ.

Recent polls naming STJ "Best Island" etc. isn't going to help the middle class traveler either. It used to be that stuff was offset somewhat by relatively cheap airfares to the VIs. Change that part of the equation, and all of sudden places like Europe and Kauai don't seem out of reach, especially when you consider that in a place like Kauai vehicle rentals and condo rentals with outstanding views can both be had for half of what you would pay in STJ.

Or, when we went to notoriously expensive Switzerland in 2007, we were stunned to learn that our Swiss "family" pass cost a little over $300 to travel from one end of the country to the other over 10 days on all manner of trains, ferries, and gondola lifts (and got us into museums for half price), and that our chalet style hotel with stunning views of the Alps was less than $300 per night including breakfast AND dinner using local farm food.

But, judging by how crowded STJ is getting even in the off season, there are plenty of people able and willing to pony up the $$$ to enjoy the island, and I certainly get that. I just hope that old philosopher Yogi Berra wasn't talking about STJ when he said "Nobody goes there anymore. It's too crowded."

I will shut up now as I have to go chase some kids off my lawn

mbw1024 · Post by **mbw1024** » Fri Aug 23, 2013 1:48 pm

I am really looking forward to my upcoming trip but I'm fairly certain it will be the last for a while, for all the reasons stated by JMQ. We already have a place rented in Palm Springs for winter 2014 for less then the cost of the villa we will be renting in Sept/Oct at the height of hurricane season.
Not to say the owners aren't justified for off set their own very high costs. I understand that. But all other factors and forcing me to look elsewhere.

Jumper · Post by **Jumper** » Fri Aug 23, 2013 10:34 pm

We are in the same boat, with the rising cost of airfare and everything else, next year will be our last trip for awhile.

seagrape · Post by **seagrape** » Sat Aug 24, 2013 12:36 am

We are paying an outrageous $4000 for airfare from Alaska at Christmas. Luckily, it's a write-off. Soon to come...sister villa to ours opening end of summer, 2014. Shared pool and very competitive pricing. Wish us luck! Don't worry, no names mentioned!

Pete (Mr. Marcia) · Post by **Pete (Mr. Marcia)** » Sat Aug 24, 2013 8:56 am

To echo the above comments, I suspect that our upcoming trip to STJ in December will be our last...at least for the foreseeable future. It is going to cost our family over $6,000 in airfare alone. If we had not already committed to the villa, we would have cancelled the entire trip. I know this is heresy to say on this forum, but we're not sure that the expense of going to STJ is worth it anymore.

kklay · Post by **kklay** » Sat Aug 24, 2013 9:23 am

Our group too had to pay almost twice the price for airfare this year over last year's fall trip. We already had our villa and luckily the owner worked with us to change our dates a little.

My plan is to work on using my two airline cards to rack up the miles so I'll have enough for my next trip. It does seem like some of my biggest monthly expenses don't take a credit card as payment : (

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