I feel like I just won $600 in the lottery!

[scootr5 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close scootr5]

I've been checking fares at least once a day for our trip this summer to St. Maarten for our family of four. United has been running about $750 round trip for the ORD->SXM nonstop.

This morning it was $604. I used 124K chase rewards points/miles and $850 cash for the fare.

[chriskre Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close chriskre]

Oooo. St. Maarten. Jealous here. Enjoy.

[scootr5 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close scootr5]

Oooo. St. Maarten. Jealous here. Enjoy.

Yep. Never been anywhere in the Caribbean and always wanted to go. I'm planning a sunset cruise, and a day sail over to Anguilla while we're there.

When I saw the unit at Simpson Bay pop up on interval last year I grabbed it. My kids were disappointed that I cancelled Cancun for it, but I don't think they will be once we're there....

[chriskre Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close chriskre]

Yep. Never been anywhere in the Caribbean and always wanted to go. I'm planning a sunset cruise, and a day sail over to Anguilla while we're there.

When I saw the unit at Simpson Bay pop up on interval last year I grabbed it. My kids were disappointed that I cancelled Cancun for it, but I don't think they will be once we're there....

Oh no, Cancun is nice but you can go anytime.
The islands are just so much nicer. More expensive but really feels like paradise.
I'm heading to Cayman next month. Can't wait.

[grest Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close grest]

wonderful!!

[bigfrank Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close bigfrank]

I love it when I save on air fares. Good for you

[lawren2 Malibu Beach Barbie & A Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close lawren2]

The only thing better than a huge SCORE on an exchange is to get the cheapest possible airfare.

Congratulations it sounds like you managed to do both for this trip!

Anguilla is beautiful. We ate at Cap Jaluca excellent! It is definitely a bring $$$ place though.

[scootr5 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close scootr5]

The only thing better than a huge SCORE on an exchange is to get the cheapest possible airfare.

Congratulations it sounds like you managed to do both for this trip!

Anguilla is beautiful. We ate at Cap Jaluca excellent! It is definitely a bring $$$ place though.

Thanks! I'd rather be going this weekend, but my wife is a teacher so we're tied to school schedules....

I booked the Anguilla sail with Bluebeard charters. It includes a BBQ lunch on the beach at Shoal Bay.

[lawren2 Malibu Beach Barbie & A Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close lawren2]

If I remember correctly you have to swim to the beach and back on this one. Keep an eye our for conch shells that have been harvested and tossed back. You may find a keeper.

[riverdees05 Platinum Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close riverdees05]

Great!

[scootr5 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close scootr5]

And it's back up to $683 today.

[GrayFal Silver Contributor and supermoderator Find all posts View Profile Close GrayFal]

And it's back up to $683 today.

I LOVE when that happens!

[taffy19 Gold Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close taffy19]

You did well and it sounds a beautiful place too. Enjoy!

[mdurette Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close mdurette]

I know the feeling....I just purchased flights on SW 5 days ago. Two days ago the price dropped. I grabbed the lower price. Yesterday they dropped again and I grabbed it. Thank You SW for allowing this....my points account is about 9,000 points richer now that you allowed me to make these changes!

[monarch Member Find all posts View Profile Close monarch]

Congrats on the airfare! My biggest tip for the islands is Badger sunscreen.
It is white, thick, and greasy (made from all natural oils and zinc). My kids sail competitively and are in the sun way too much. I am a native Floridian who is very careful about the sun. THey wear big hats and badger at regattas. Can be as much as $19 a tube. I find it on sale online for $12-14 a tube.

Last year on a 10 day boat trip in the Caribbean which included 10 hours in the open water some days, I was able to test the spray on sport Neutrogena high SPF with helioplex against my Badger. Badger won hands down. You do need to re-apply it, and it can take some getting used to - I usually squeeze some into my fingers and rub it/soften it and then just rub it in. I think it keeps the skin hydrated with all the oils which might help stop sunburn also. The Neutrogena, even with reapplication, left all 4 of us pink at the end of the day.

HTH, and have a GREAT trip! I wish you were going this weekend also! I have been hiding out in FL for the past 2 weeks but returned to the polar vortex in DE yesterday just before the storm hit! Fun Fun Fun