Don't mean to be rude but if you can't afford the $300 airfare from San Juan to St. Martin how in the world do you think you're going to afford St. Bart's where an average hotel room will run you $200 per night low season and quite a bit more for high season.

No ferries exist between Puerto Rico and St. Maarten (wish they did at times). Your best bet is probably American Airlines or American Eagle, although you might find something cheaper with another airline. Unfortunately air travel is your only choice from SJU to SXM.

You might also look into prices for air from St. Maarten to St. Barth's. It might not be much more than a ferry, and certainly a WHOLE lot faster.

Can't comment on ferry service from Puerto Rico to St. Thomas. Maybe someone else might know?

To The *Idiot* Trying to Be Funny:

No! Excuse me! You need to check yourself! I *absolutley* mean to be rude when I say you have no idea what my finances are like who I may or may not know on that island, what I may or may not know about that Island, or even who the hell I am. I asked a simple question, if you don't have an answer keep you ignorant remarks to yourself, fool!

To other person, thank you, your remarks were helpful. Wish more people were like you.

Naima

Naima
you did say you and your fiance are going to be on a strict budget..The reply was exactly what anyone who has ever been to st barths was thinking when they read your email. I know I was...

yep.. i thought the same thing

strict budget does not = St. Barths

check out travelocity.com, I found SJU to SXM lowest fare was 110.00 pp on Liat, and 233 on AA - Eagle. Then take caribair or winair over to St. Barths. Are you looking to do this just for a day trip or a few days, I would think it would be a lot of traveling for a day trip, SJu-SXM in about an hour flight, then 15 minutes to St. Barths.

Look, don't assume that just because I don't want to spend 600 dollars on a plane ticket if there are cheaper alternatives that I don't have the means to stay where I am going. I've obviously managed to scrape up a few coins to take two people halfway around the damn world and spend an entire week in a nice resort in Puerto Rico. But no I can't conitnue to spends loads of cash on plane tickets if there are cheaper alternatives. I don't have a trust fund, sorry. I work for a living. I don't want to have to continue to rip people new ones but the way that person responded to me was rude: period dot. They don't know me and I don't have any patience for people like that. If you don't like the way I responded, tough. Yeah I'm on a BUGDET, but I'm not BROKE. I have been there before, know people there, and didn't ask to be told how expensive it was; staying there is not going to be a problem for me. Oh, I am WELL aware of how much things cost, I'VE BEEN THERE! DON'T make me continually repeat myself. I think it's a little snotty of people to assume that because I'm trying to be frugal, I can't afford something. I've been all over the world, Honey. I can afford to go anywhere my heart so desires.

Now, once again, if you don't have any suggestions that are helpful, or you just feel like you need to justify your being a snotty, stuck-up bastard - bugger-off. Please. I can get the answers I need elsewhere.

By the way, Kym, thanks, I didn't mean the last thing I said to be directed at you at all. I appreciate helpful answers like that not emails from people who start off saying, "Um, excuse me I don't mean to sound rude..." usually it means they're about to be rude. I am planning on staying a few days. The last time I was there I was lucky enough to make friends with some local people who live on St. Maarten but whose parents live on Barth's so we'll be staying with them. I did see the LIAT fair. I'm going to continue to do some research and hopefully come up with something reasonable. Thank you.

How about a rowboat? It's cheap and you'll get to blow off a little steam so you won't be so damn agressive.

I don't think you want to take the ferry to St. Barts. It is a rough ride and a long one, especially for October, which is still hurricane season.

What are you looking for in your visit? Nice beaches? Culture? Snorkeling? Since you have been to St. Barts, why not try St. Thomas. Actually, you could spend a couple of days in St. Thomas. Some people don't like St. Thomas, usually the people who only have been there on a cruise. I have stayed there for 10 days or more and it has so much to offer. There are cheap, but nice hotels in downtown Charlotte Amalie. I stayed in one for $42/night, including homemade breakfast.
You could take the ferry over to St. John pretty cheaply and see some very nice beaches. Lots of sports activities, lots of things to do. There is good shopping and nightlife as well. I have met some wonderful islanders on St. Thomas.

I think you can find cheaper flights to St. Thomas directly from San Juan. Save St. Barts for another trip. I find San Juan to be expensive, so you may end up spending more money than you thought there.

Naima,

Why of the defensiveness. You stated that you were on a strict budget. People responded appropriately regarding St. Barths and it's expense. I (and probably others) saw nothing rude is the comments from the first poster. The first rudeness was from yourself. You did say "Any responses would be appreciated." Did you mean to say "Any responses would be appreciated, as long as they don't hit my PMS button"

We went to St. Maarten in June and took the Voyager to Saba. Believe me, it is a VERY ROUGH ride. I was so sick!!!! I have been on lots of boats and have never had a problem, so unless you have a VERY strong stomach don't take the voyager. We also flew to St. Barths and it is beautiful but very expensive. Have fun on your trip.

Naima,
You really are full of it. In your initial post you went to great lengths to talk about what "strict budget" you were on and how you needed to get to St Maarten as "cheaply as possible".
Then you claim you "don't want to have to continue to rip people a new one" because they commented on the expense of St Maarten and St Barth's. What the hell is that supposed to mean? Someone was forcing you to be crude and nasty?
When you started this you claimed that round trip from SJU to SXM was going to cost you $300 per person. Someone was nice enough to point out that Liat's fare was only $110. You responded by saying you had seen that but were going to "continue to do research". How much cheaper do you want it to be? My God girl, if you can't afford it, don't go. Be satisfied to stay "in a nice resort in Puerto Rico". Maybe daytrip to Vieques or Culebra. Save St Maarten till you can "scrape up a few coins" to travel comfortably.
You take a deep breath and realize that when you post something on a message board you will get all kinds of responses. You are the one who started the name calling and ranting and raving. God I feel sorry for your fiance.

If you don't mind having a fairly flexible set of travel plans, LIAT are doing $25 standby fares for most of their destinations. That means you could go to St Maarten, or direct to Anguilla, St Kitts, Nevis or even Antigua. The last three would also be much more affordable once you get there. Alternatively, check out Saba, which is far less visited and less 'up itself' than St Barts.

TTT

Naomi, I don't think anyone here can read minds nor do I think anyone cares with whom or how many times you've traveled around the world. What I do think everyone here can vouch for is that if someone were to mention the destination of St. Bart's and the words "strict budget", well, the two of them just don't belong in the same sentence. I thought I was rather tactful. Sorry if you thought otherwise. Yes I have no idea who you are (nor do I care) but I'll still give you some more advice. Leave the "ugly American" temper at home because you won't get far with it in the laid back SBH, money or no money.

For your information (and excuse me if you already know this), I doubt if that Liat fare was $110 round trip. I've never heard of that cheap of a fare for San Juan to St. Martin. Usually it is in the $300 range for the r/t fare.

Be careful hummmm. You might be forcing Naima to "rip you a new one". Can you imagine the service people on St Barth's dealing with an attitude like that? Please Naima stay away from St Barth, they did nothing to deserve you and your snotty, nasty, ugly temper.

TO ALL THE MISSINFORMED PEOPLE.....THERE IS A FERRY COMPANY CALLED CARIBE CAY THAT CAN TAKE YOU TO ST. MARTEEN FOR $70 US ROUNDTRIP. THEY ALSO GO TO ST. THOMAS, ST CROIX, ST. JOHN. FOR INFORMATION VISIT THE WEBSITE: WWW.CARIBECAY.COM

THE FERRY LEAVES EVERY SATURDAY AND SUNDAY AT 8AM FROM THE TOWN OF FAJARDO. THEY PROIDE TRANSPORTATION FROM SAN JUAN TO FAJARDO BUT YOU HAVE TO CALL TO MAKE A ARESERVATION.

HOPE THIS HELPS.

FOR MORE INFOR CALL THE PR TOURISM OFFICE AT 1-800-866-7827

Caution: Caribe Cay Ferry = Lose your lunch.

I've heard the ferry from St. Martin to St. Bart's (which is one hour) is bad enough. Can't imagine what the four or five hour ferry ride from San Juan to St. Martin would be like.

Any ferry from Puerto Rico to St Martin would have to traverse many miles of open ocean and would take the better part of a day. I just found $180 from SJU to SXM on Orbitz. ( I don't know why Naima the ninny is having so much difficulty with finding airfares) I would opt for spending $180 over $70 and be able to get there in one hour vs several hours on a ferry out on the open ocean.
But of course responding to her at all puts me at risk of bring down the wrath of the dreaded Nasty Naima on me.

Maybe she should see if there is enough room for luggage and her fiance (poor guy) on the back of her broomstick. That will probably be the cheapest of all.

Please call 800-468-0482 LIAT costs less than $200 roundtrip. I just booked a flight for thanksgiving weekend.

Listen to you guys...someone is asking a legitimate question and you have nothing better to do with your sorry, uneducated lives then to rip peoples questions??? Dont worry about it Naima, they are just jealous that cant afford to go to the Caribbean.

Listen Paradise.....you're a little late to the party...and by the way don't assume what people can or can't afford, nobody is jealous of a person who can't afford a trip from SJU to SXM.

Why would you respond to a post that was so old and way down on the list? Unless you are Naima or a troll just looking to stir the pot!! Go back under your rock where you belong

To Joan,

I think you are right on the money thinking that Paradise in Naima. She does like to 'rip' things, doesn't she. In one post she was going to "rip people a new one". In this one - "rip people's questions".

Poor, poor Naima.

At the risk of having my head chewed off as well my Miss Niama, let me say my piece and get out of here. As a person from the islands and living in the islands, the Virgin Islands to be exact (and not some misinformed outsider) the bottom line is NO ONE takes a ferry between San Juan and St Marteen/St Martin - they fly. The only passenger ferries that I know of around here are the ferries which run between St Thomas/ St John and Tortola - those are regularly scheduled ferries and the journey is a pleasant 40 minutes usually in very tranquil waters. There is no direct flight between San Juan and St Marteen other than American Eagle which will cost a couple hundred $$$ - 300 sounds about right (return). LIAT is another alternative but it does not offer direct flights between San Juan and St Marteen - you will either have to go via Tortola or via Antigua - in either case, because it is not a direct flight, it is likely to cost some $$$ - the best way to find out is to call their 800 number - they usually have specials at this time of the year because it is the low season in the islands. As far as St Barths and its expense goes - I have never been. But it is a fact that if one is on a budget, it is usually better on the pocket to visit the islands at this time of year, which is the low season for tourism and hence hotels tend to slash their rates by as much as 50% over winter rates. So it is quite conceivable that someone like Naima, even on a strict budget can afford to hang out in St Barths and stay at some of the best places -even better, she claims she is staying with friends - so there you go.

Peace!

My dear Island Girl,last I checked Liat offers flight 573 SJU-SXM, leaves SJU at 1:30 and arrives in SXM at 2:25, departs SXM at 11:35 aand arrives in SJU at 12:30 flight 362 all this for $186.00 round trip, so you may be living in the Virigin Islands (which San Juan and St. Maarten area not a part of) but you do not have your facts straight. That is the problem with this board, people jump and do not know the facts!!

My dear checkyourfacts, it is clear that you are the one who needs to get your facts straight. I beleive I said that there are no direct flights between SJU and SXM on LIAT - the flight which you referred to (if it even exists) is NOT a direct flight - it does not take a whole hour to fly between SJU and SXM direct so the plane obviously makes a stop somewhere in between. What you are obviously also not aware of is the fact that since 9/11 LIAT's flights into San Juan have been cut back so that at most there is probably only one flight per day from Antigua although that may have increased to an additional flight by now - so MISSDONTKNOWITALL, most likely, you are some un-informed American who as usual thinks he/she knows it all - well I have news for you, you don't!!! Take that!!!

Island Girl, you need to get off your high horse and check your own facts. The flight that was quoted is direct and NONSTOP from SJU to SXM. It takes 55 minutes to make the flight in a turboprop plane which is what Liat flies between Puerto Rico and St Maarten. Why don't you go on and check Orbitz, Travelocity and Expedia and see what you find? Better yet, check with Liat.
Sign me, just another uninformed American

Island Girl - maybe its time to do some research and not be so bitchy!!! Why the attitude!
San Juan Luis Munoz Marin Intl Apt, Puerto Rico to St Maarten, Netherlands Antilles
Departing 6 September 2002 from 13:30 onwards.
Direct Flights
----------------------------------------

Flight: LI 573 (LIAT (1974))
Depart: San Juan Luis Munoz Marin Intl Apt 6 Sep 13:30
Arrive: St Maarten 6 Sep 14:25
Aircraft: DH8 Stops: Non-Stop
Click Here for Details
Travel Time: 55mins
St Maarten, Netherlands Antilles to San Juan Luis Munoz Marin Intl Apt, Puerto Rico
Departing 6 September 2002 from 11:35 onwards.
Direct Flights

----------------------------------------
Flight: LI 362 (LIAT (1974))
Depart: St Maarten 6 Sep 11:35
Arrive: San Juan Luis Munoz Marin Intl Apt 6 Sep 12:30
Aircraft: DH8 Stops: Non-Stop
Click Here for Details
Travel Time: 55mins

Try LIAT air. Trust me there cheep and let's hope they get you there safely!

I just came on this site to find out about a few things & everyone is arguing and calling each other names.Please stop.Think about how lucky you are & just stop. Thank you.

Listen Happy Time, if you don't like the site get the hell out.
Don't read it if you don't like it. Who are you anyway, a combination of Mr. Rogers and Barney? Happy happy happy. Go take another happy pill.

Naima, knee grow please. You want to scrape pennies, do it in the projects where you from. Dont carry that ignorant ass attitude to the islands. Aint nothing wrong with trying to save money, but you treatin everyone here with an opinion that dont match your expectations with rudeness?
Your poor fiance better get his nuts out cho purse. I dont condone violence, but you need a swift bitch slap to wake yo ass up. Go save money and take a boat. I hope moby dick come out and swallow yo ass up. Hed probabaly spit you right out cause you so foul.