Question for those who travel March/April

[alw1977]

We're likely returning next high season with our (soon to be) two(!) kids and a sitter to help out. We've got to work around our sitter's spring break period, so we'll be traveling the first full week of April (3/31 - 4/7). Are Sat-Sat tickets typically terribly expensive during that time? The most we've ever paid is $400 RT, direct out of Atlanta. Any better if we do Sun-Sun or is it just kind of a toss up?

[loria]

we are usually stuck travelling in school vacation weeks and whether you leave saturday or sunday you will be paying a premium--(or we always have)

[loria]

if you can do it, it might be worthwhile to try to get yourself and your kids down there early and leave later and have the sitter meet you--this might get you a slightly better fare...but that said high season is still high season.

[alw1977]

loria - I hear ya. That's what I thought. We might try that. Thanks!

[loria]

i as looking at ATL STT for thursday the 29th thru thursday the 10th and got 488pp nonstop on Delta--
the sat-sat fare was 625 (with a stop)--
not sure if the savings is worth it (in terms of villa rental, car etc) but it makes a nice excuse to extend your vaca!

[alw1977]

2 weeks - would be nice! We may be able to squeeze out 10 days. Not buying air for a while anyway (until at least August). Shoot, it may be worth it, since traveling with a 6-month old and a 2.5 year old isn't going to be the easiest anyway.

[Need2GetAway]

We traveled April break this year (flew home on Easter Sunday) and I sort of hated it. Our tickets were expensive, but that wasn't even the big problem. The big problem was that so many people got bumped and there were big delays. If you don't have a connection to make it matters less, but clearly the airlines were universally handling a lot of traffic that week - and it does make things more complicated when it's mostly families traveling together. On that Sunday 36 people were stranded by US Air (for the flight to Philly) in St. Thomas for 2 and 3 days...

[Need2GetAway]

Also, it looks like you will be traveling that week to accommodate the babysitter's schedule? Personally, I'd MUCH prefer to be on St. John a non-break week. You have so many years ahead of you when you will be tied to the school break schedule...can you go some other week and skip the sitter?

[FinsUp]

That is the same week we travel and usually book our nonstop Bos to STT in early August. That seems to be when the fares are the cheapest. We usually get them for a little over $400 pp.

[alw1977]

Need2GetAway - no way we're skipping the sitter! 6 months and 2.5 years... we need the help or else it's no vacation at all for us!

Our other option is to wait until school gets out in mid-May. We may go that route or go in early June. I really love the Caribbean in high season, but June has never treated us badly.

[Iluvstjohn]

awwwww...you can do it! We've taken our kids since my oldest was 11 months and my kids are only 19 months apart! Once you get there, STJ is easy. If you have a place with a pool and a tv...and you enjoy the place...because with little ones...naps and schedules need to be adhered too...so momma and daddy can enjoy the day as well!

I know Flip Flop has used on island sitters quite a bit for a night out....I actually emailed a couple of people to do it...but my kids are now older and "want" to go out for dinner. I never thought I'd see the day where my rooster son stayed awake past 7pm...but he's doing it!

There is hope!

[alw1977]

Thanks all. We may move our trip to June, so we can stay 10-11 nights. Plus, the little one will be closer to 9 months. We took our son to St. John when we was 9 months and it was a tad tough, to be honest. For us, we enjoy getting time away by ourselves at night and a little during the day. We also like to plan a full day BVI boat trip, so having our own sitter come with us is a bonus that helps us achieve what we want to do on vacation, in addition to enjoying family time. With kids so little, I hesitate to use an on-island sitter I don't know.

[Need2GetAway]

Best idea yet -- Leave the kids at grandma and grandpa's. LOL

[alw1977]

Need2GetAway - Oh, yes, we've done that! It's great. Since we both work F/T, we want to spend our long vacations with our kids. We'll do the "couple" thing for a week every couple of years. For now, it works great to bring along a sitter so we have the best of both worlds.

[Muhaha]

That must be the happiest baby sitter on the planet.