Caribbean Villas

American Airlines puts St. Thomas and St. Croix on Sale (through Nov. 3)

Official release

AMERICAN AIRLINES PUTS ST. THOMAS AND ST. CROIX ON SALE

Book by Nov. 3 to Get Great Deals

FORT WORTH, Texas – American Airlines has made it easier than ever to visit the beautiful U.S. Virgin Islands of St. Thomas and St. Croix.

American, a founding member of the oneworld® Alliance, has great low fares available for travel through mid December.  Tickets must be purchased by Nov. 3, 2009, and travel must be completed by Dec.17, 2009, and are subject to a two-night minimum and 30-day maximum stay. Fares from the U.S. Mainland start as low as $91 and are available Monday through Thursday, both to and from the U.S. Virgin Islands. So, make plans now to visit two of the most beautiful islands in the Caribbean.

Here are some samples of American’s great low fares. Fares shown are each way, in U.S. dollars, based on round trip, Economy Class travel, purchased on AA.com.

Fare Each Way Based on Round-trip Purchase*
 
Miami – St. Thomas
 $91
New York – St. Thomas
 $118
Boston – St. Thomas
 $125
New York – St. Croix
 $177
Chicago – St. Croix
 $190
San Francisco – St. Thomas
 $195
Detroit – St. Croix
 $203
St. Louis – St. Croix
 $203
Dallas/Fort Worth -– St. Thomas
 $206
*Fares shown are valid for off-peak travel beginning Oct. 22 – Dec. 15, 2009, in U.S. dollars in Economy Class, with all travel complete by Dec. 17, 2009. Fares do not include all government-imposed taxes and fees. Travel may be on American Airlines or American Eagle.

Travelers can check schedules and fares and book flights by visiting www.aa.com. On AA.com you’ll find the absolute lowest fares available for American Airlines, American Eagle and AmericanConnection® flights – guaranteed. For full details on our Lowest Fare Guarantee, visit www.aa.com/benefits.

A “Fly Now, Pay Later” deferred payment option on American also allows holders of the American Airlines Credit CardSM account to enjoy six months of no payments and no interest for tickets purchased on AA.com. For terms and conditions and more details, visit www.aa.com/paylater.

Additionally, American Airlines VacationsSM has a number of exciting and affordable travel packages available to many popular destinations around the world. For more information, visit www.aavacations.com.

*Fare Terms and Conditions

Fares shown are each way based on off-peak, round-trip Economy-Class travel purchased on AA.com, and are in U.S. dollars. Fares shown are valid for travel Monday–Thursday. Other travel days are available at additional cost. Fares are subject to change without notice.

Fares do not include (a) a federal excise tax of $3.60 per U.S. domestic flight segment, defined as one takeoff and landing, of a passenger's itinerary; (b) up to $18 per round trip in local airport charges; and (c) September 11th Security Fee of $2.50 per enplanement originating at a U.S. airport. For U.S. Virgin Islands destinations, government taxes and fees of up to $85, are not included.

Ticketing/Travel: Tickets must be purchased within one day of making reservations but not later than 11:59 p.m., Nov. 3, 2009 (Central Time). Fares are valid for travel beginning Oct. 22 – Dec. 15, 2009, with all travel complete by midnight, Dec. 17, 2009. A two-night minimum stay is required, and a 30-day maximum stay is allowed.

Advertised fares are valid only on American Airlines, American Eagle, and AmericanConnection® and do not apply to other codeshare flights. Seats are limited. Fares may not be available on all flights. Schedules are subject to change without notice.

Fares are nonrefundable and nontransferable. Changes to your ticket may be made if you meet the restrictions of the new fare and pay up to a USD$150 fee, plus any fare difference. Changes must be made before your ticketed flight’s scheduled departure time. If you cancel your flight prior to the scheduled departure time, the ticket will be valid for one year from the date of issue for an unused ticket or one year from travel origination for a partially used ticket. If you do not cancel your flight prior to the scheduled departure time, the ticket has no value.

For an additional $20 per ticket, travel arrangements can also be made by calling American’s reservations number at 1-800-433-7300 (en Español 1-800-633-3711) within the United States. Outside the United States, call the local reservations number. For an additional $30 per ticket, travel arrangements can be made at an American Airlines Travel Center or Airport Ticket Office. Tickets may also be purchased through a travel agent. Travel agents may impose a service charge for ticketing.

A portion of travel booked on American Airlines may be operated by American Eagle or AmericanConnection. American Eagle is operated by American Eagle Airlines, Inc., or Executive Airlines, Inc., which are wholly owned by AMR Corporation, the parent company of American Airlines. AmericanConnection service is operated by Chautauqua Airlines, Inc., an independent contractor.

To purchase tickets on AA.com you must use a credit card with a billing address in the United States, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Canada, the United Kingdom, or select Latin American and Caribbean countries.

Customers may be charged $20 each way for the first checked bag and $30 each way for the second checked bag. See www.aa.com/aa/pubcontent/en_US/utility/041208_CheckBagFee.jsp for more information.

AmericanAirlines, American Eagle, AAdvantage, AmericanAirlines Vacations, and AA.com are marks of American Airlines, Inc. oneworld is a mark of the oneworld Alliance, LLC. American Airlines reserves the right to change the AAdvantage program rules, regulations, travel awards and special offers at any time without notice and to end the AAdvantage program with six months’ notice. For complete AAdvantage program details, visit www.aa.com. For full details on our Lowest Fare Guarantee, visit www.aa.com/benefits.

About American Airlines

American Airlines, American Eagle and AmericanConnection® serve 250 cities in 40 countries with, on average, more than 3,400 daily flights. The combined network fleet numbers more than 900 aircraft. American's award-winning Web site, AA.com®, provides users with easy access to check and book fares, plus personalized news, information and travel offers. American Airlines is a founding member of the oneworld® Alliance, which brings together some of the best and biggest names in the airline business, enabling them to offer their customers more services and benefits than any airline can provide on its own. Together, its members serve nearly 700 destinations in more than 130 countries and territories. American Airlines, Inc. and American Eagle Airlines, Inc. are subsidiaries of AMR Corporation. AmericanAirlines, American Eagle, AmericanConnection, AA.com, We know why you fly and AAdvantage are registered trademarks of American Airlines, Inc. (NYSE: AMR)

Grenada's Caribella - picture perfect villa wedding

Grenada villa Caribella was recently the perfect spot for lovely wedding, and the managers sent along a few photos of the setup for us to enjoy.  Click on any thumbnail below to view the larger versions. 

     

Receiving these photos was a reminder to us that is that we often receive requests to host weddings at our villas.  The main reasons our guests cite for having a villa wedding are:  enhanced intimacy, romance and privacy.

You may view conditions for renting the following villas for large functions and gatherings (over maximum headcount) on our web site under "Rental Notes": Estate Belvedere on St. Croix; Bellagio Estate, Ventana, Siren's Song on St. Thomas; and Kismet on St. John.

As you can see, we have only a handful of villa owners who will permit gatherings that go beyond the established maximum headcount.  Please ask your agent or telephone our office (1-800-537-6246) as part of the planning process, as it may be possible to host your wedding at a villa not listed above, under specific conditions:

1)  If the ceremony only entails those who are registered guests at the villa plus the official(s) necessary to carry out the ritual.

2)  Licensed vendors (such as spa personnel or caterers) must be introduced to McLaughlin Anderson Luxury Villas and the island manager to ensure access and compliance with the rules regarding the care of our guests.

3)  Subject to owner approval and conditions at all times.  Please inquire!

Kindly view a copy of our Functions Policy to familiarize yourself with our rules.  All villa rentals are also subject to our Rental Terms and Conditions.  We want your memorable occasion to be worry-free.  And it certainly can be, at your villa!

Department of Tourism Announces New US Airways Non-Stop Service

(official release)

DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM ANNOUNCES NEW US AIRWAYS NON-STOP SERVICE

~Weekly flights from Boston to St. Thomas to commence in December~

ST. THOMAS, U.S. Virgin Islands, August 26, 2009 – The U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism has received commitments from US Airways for new, weekly non-stop service from Boston’s Logan International Airport to St. Thomas’ Cyril E. King Airport.  The service represents a new route for the carrier, which will operate on Saturdays beginning December 19, 2009 through April 23, 2010 using the A319 aircraft.  The flights are now available for sale at USAirways.com and all other US Airways ticketing outlets.

The new service announcements are evidence of the Administration’s commitment to fostering a stronger relationship with our airline partners and growing air service to the Territory.   

In support of the new airlift, the Department of Tourism is dedicating $25,000 to supplement US Airways’ marketing campaign to launch the new service.  In addition, the DOT has earmarked $1 million for television ads, June through December 2009, with US Airways as the call to action.  US Airways has committed more than $100,000 to the cooperative marketing program to support this and other US Airways flights to the Territory. The campaign includes print advertisements in the Philadelphia Inquirer, Boston Globe and Charlotte Observer; an appearance by the USVI as the “featured destination of the month” in the airline’s in-flight magazines on all domestic and international routes; digital banner advertisements and consumer and travel agent e-blasts.

Additionally, the DOT will host a travel agent reception and media dinner in Boston in December to support the new service, followed by a familiarization visit for a group of key US Airways travel agent suppliers and top-tier journalists in early January 2010.

“We are excited to welcome new non-stop service from US Airways that will provide additional capacity and options for travelers to visit the Territory this winter,” said Tourism Commissioner Beverly Nicholson-Doty.  “We remain committed to supporting our airline partners and finding ways to ensure continued and increased airlift in the current economic environment.”

###

Member of the Caribbean Tourism Organization

 

Contact:     Allegra Kean-Moorehead

Director of Communications

340-774-8784 ext. 2234

akmoorehead@usvitourism.vi   

Ferry service offers more options for Caribbean travel

According to eTurbo News, soon there will be a new way to discover neighboring islands while visiting one of our favorite destinations, Grenada.  BEDY Ocean Lines in Grenada will be embarking on its first journey on October 20, 2009 and will begin accepting inquiries on October 1, 2009.  Service will include Barbados, St. Vincent, St. Lucia, Trinidad and Grenada.  Trips between the islands will last between 1-1/2 to 3-1/2 hours depending on destination.  If you will be visiting Grenada next year, this is a great way to add to your island adventure!   The service is expected to be available for Grenada travel in February 2010.

For more details on this new fast ferry service, read the article

Ferry service soon to be a choice for five Southern Caribbean destinations

Insure your trip, protect your investment

The last thing anyone thinks about when planning a trip is ... not being able to actually go on the trip.  But we know that when we least expect it, our plans can go awry.  And when they do, it's best when we already feel that we're halfway to some relief.

Trip insurance costs relatively little but its value cannot be measured when you are in a spot and really need it!  Check out this post on the WhereToGoNext travel news distribution service called "Vacation Rental Insurance can Save a Vacation"!

Ask us or your travel agent about your trip insurance options as part of the booking process.