trying to get to turks and caicos next summer for myself, wife and 3 boys. I have the place picked out, but the airfares are like telephone numbers. Does anyone know the best time to purchase tickets? Are certain times of the year sale times? I have until next july of 06 so time is not a problem. I guess fuel costs are driving the prices, but I'am afraid if i wait prices will only go higher, What to do??? I'am leaving the New York area .Any suggestions would be appreciated. thanks. ron

I like to visit St.Vincent. Same problem. Consistently visit different websites for airlines and sign up to have them notify me of my target price. This at least gives me an idea of what's happening. I subscribe to Orbitz, sidestep, travelocity.Southwest,and expedia.

There is a superb website called ITA software, which actually lists ALL available flight combinations and prices for your destination. You cannot book with this site, but you can find the best combination of flights and fares, then click through to Kayak.com for booking. The flight info shows codes which enable the particular fare, so you can also use the info to book through your own travel agent. I did notice that you cannot specify a year, so you can only check up to 12 months ahead. THey showed air for Provo at $535 for May, for 2 adults and 3 kids. That sound reasonable?
Here is the website: (you have to sign up but I've never gotten any spam, and you only have to sign in the first time). Let me know what you think!

http://www.itasoftware.com/

Thanks a million! I will check out the site and report back. Good day. and god bless. ron

Rone:
Check out e-savers with U.S. Air. They have a great price right now from NY to Turks & Caicos. Specials change from week to week. Great beaches at T&C.

Rone:
It sounds as though you have alittle time before your trip.I would just keep checking the rates every week..they tend to go up and down.

Ex:We recently went to st john and for months before our trip..I compared prices.One week I got $730 from RDU to STT for 6 people each ticket.The next week...$460 then 1 month before our leave date..we bought them for $451 each.Also if you can change your dates by sometimes only 1 day...the rate will sometimes go down alot. We changed our leave date from a Monday to Wednesday and that made the rate go down.Good luck!!

There is no rhyme or reason to airfares but I would wait quite awhile if you are not going till next summer. We are going to T & C Nov 17th. I checked USAir (best out of PHL) everyday for 3 months - $723 per. I went on late last Thurs night after coming home from a weeks vacation and it dropped to $472 per. No promotion or anything just dropped. I booked immediately so that is roughly 4 mths prior. US Air often has esavers or getaway saver to T & C. They have one now. Good Luck

thanks for the information. But, I'am stll kicking around taking my kids. 8,13,15. T&K my be boring for them. So we just may take a cruise. Alot easier to keep them fed and entertained. I really want to get to T& K I hear the beaches are perfect. ron

Ron, We go to the carribean with our kids, never staying at those crazy kid factory resorts. Always go for 2 weeks and they have been bored. Be sure to rent a car so you can see all the islands have to offer. Give it a try before you do the floating hotel thing, I do not think you will be sorry!

Sorry about the typo THEY NEVER HAVE been Bored. Loved every minute of it.

thanks barganhunter, but I will have to kick around the whole concept. I'am not spending $10,000, to have my W and I going nuts trying to entertain. I see airfairs in the mid $400 dollar range which isn't bad. Will give the board a trip report if i do go. thanks for all your help. Happy Journeys. ron

FYI ...
Delta had PLS for $497.00 for
November 1-8, 2005. A little over
$500 during October.