I grabbed an ORD-STT seat literally two minutes before the fare expired. I'll be there in November, arrive Tuesday, leave Thursday. First time, and all too short, but 2 days is all I could get. Any advice on inexpensive lodging will be greatly appreciated.
We are heading to St. Thomas on the same fare this weekend! We leave Monday morning and come back Wednesday night.
We're staying at Best Western Emerald Isle (I think that's what it's called). It's a 5 minute walk from STT from what I've read/been told. We were going to do Marriott but an ocean view was going to be $250/night. The Best Western ended up being $120/night (all rooms ocean view)and looks like a decent place from the pictures I've been able to find. I'm certainly not expecting Westin or W service, but I'm sure it will be more than acceptable of a hotel to stay at.
A decent short-stay option is Hotel 1829, right on the edge of 'downtown' Charlotte Amalie. Nice views. All rooms are different. Off-season rates are good.
Hmmm I am looking for cheap, to keep the MR feeling alive.
Maybe those of you who know the place can guide me about one point: Must one book online in advance, or is it one of those places where you can arrive and find something cheap locally, something that would never make it to guide books and online portals?
In many European/Asian cities, my experience has been that the airport has a "tourist help" desk who have up to date local info and can find something much better value than guide books etc. Not sure if St Thomas is such a place.
Hmmm I am looking for cheap, to keep the MR feeling alive.
Maybe those of you who know the place can guide me about one point: Must one book online in advance, or is it one of those places where you can arrive and find something cheap locally, something that would never make it to guide books and online portals?
In many European/Asian cities, my experience has been that the airport has a "tourist help" desk who have up to date local info and can find something much better value than guide books etc. Not sure if St Thomas is such a place.
If your trip is early in November, you'll probably be OK without an advance booking. If you're going around Thanksgiving, it might be risky.
IIRC, most of the booking operations at the airport represent and steer you to particular properties, unlike what you might have experienced in Europe and larger Asian cities.
I've always booked in advance but (almost) always went during busier seasons.
You can find STT B&Bs online in the $100 range and book them if you want to avoid the bother after you've arrived.
If your trip is early in November, you'll probably be OK without an advance booking. If you're going around Thanksgiving, it might be risky.
Thanks. It is smack in the middle: Nov 17 - 19. If the airport desk does not offer cheaper/better options than online, then I'd book in advance. (My memory of European and Asian cities was that locally you could find options that do not even appear in any portal or guide-book's radar screen. But a place like STT probably doesn't have the volume for that.)
Just curious: Can I leave my passport and green card home, and only fly using DL for ID, like I would for Phoenix or Atlanta? Or are the USVI not that US?
Programs: AA PLT, CO/CM GLD, B6, IHG Plat Amb, SPG GLD, WDW PAP/DDE, Club 33
Posts: 1,930
Quote:
Originally Posted by aktchi
Just curious: Can I leave my passport and green card home, and only fly using DL for ID, like I would for Phoenix or Atlanta? Or are the USVI not that US?
Bring them. They are US, but they're not THAT US. IIRC, you'll need to preclear before departing for your return flight.
The flight down on AA was so-so. Nothing spectacular but nothing terribly wrong except we were delayed 4 hours for a late arriving aircraft.
The Best Western Emerald beach is a nice property with a nice beach! The only thing about the hotel is there really is no cold water and the beds are awful.
We rented a vehicle from Thrifty (who came and picked up at our hotel and then took us to the airport when we dropped it off) for one day so that we could get around cheaper than via taxi.
Gladys' Cafe in The Royal Dane mall is a must! It's easy to miss but well worth the effort.
We are heading to St. Thomas on the same fare this weekend! We leave Monday morning and come back Wednesday night.
We're staying at Best Western Emerald Isle (I think that's what it's called). It's a 5 minute walk from STT from what I've read/been told. We were going to do Marriott but an ocean view was going to be $250/night. The Best Western ended up being $120/night (all rooms ocean view)and looks like a decent place from the pictures I've been able to find. I'm certainly not expecting Westin or W service, but I'm sure it will be more than acceptable of a hotel to stay at.
I'll let you know how it was when I return!
Halothane
how did you get the Best Western for $120 ? i'm looking at it for january or feb and it's $300/night ! is it just the season ?
how did you get the Best Western for $120 ? i'm looking at it for january or feb and it's $300/night ! is it just the season ?
I just looked on Kayak and see where the Best Western Emerald is running $300 a night. That's INSANE and I would NOT pay that much for BW! If I had been there longer I would have stayed at Marriott Frenchman's Reef or gone to St. John and stayed at Westin St. John. A quick glance on Kayak was showing Marriott at $330 a night on various dates in Feb.
Will you be renting a car while there? Taxis get expensive down there and they are not the traditional taxi that we're used to here on the mainland.
I just looked on Kayak and see where the Best Western Emerald is running $300 a night. That's INSANE and I would NOT pay that much for BW! If I had been there longer I would have stayed at Marriott Frenchman's Reef or gone to St. John and stayed at Westin St. John. A quick glance on Kayak was showing Marriott at $330 a night on various dates in Feb.
Will you be renting a car while there? Taxis get expensive down there and they are not the traditional taxi that we're used to here on the mainland.
Halothane
sadly i decided to wait until i got home from work to bite on the delta MR worthy fare SFO-STT and it was gone. so i won't need to worry about dropping $300 at the BW either ...
halothane, donlind and everyone else with STT experience: Need your help urgently. I just returned form an Asian trip and have only a few days to do something about STT.
I reach STT 11/17 afternoon, leave 11/19 afternoon. That's all I could manage in "paradise" this time; hope to go again. What is the best way to use this limited time (17th evening, all of 18th, and 19th morning)?
Hotels: Halothane, you obviously liked BW. I think it is around same price ~120 now Other possibilities are in Business District, a couple of B&B's around $80. Which area would you recommend? Or, would it be better to stay each night in a different hotel, just to sample different areas? I'd have practically no luggage, so moving around is not a problem.
Should I bother renting a car? Should I even bother with St John? Or is it better to make the best of St Thomas in this limited time?
Any words of wisdom and experience would be greatly appreciated.
