[cmj]

Does anyone have a good, reliable travel agent here in TV? I don't want to go through AAA. Looking to fly from MCO to St. Croix but apparently "you can't get there from here" if you know what I mean. I'd rather not fly from MCO to Miami to San Juan to St. Croix. My brain is fried from trying to figure out options.
BTW: Thanks for your encouragement on the glasses situation last month. It worked out well.
I don't come here often, but when I do I know I'll get good answers. Thanks in advance for helping me with this one.

[swrinfla]

cmj:

Sorry that I can't offer you a name, but I can suggest a couple of options that you may not have thought of. Since many travel agents won't even bother to sell airline tickets anymore, you may have to join the rest of us in figuring out how to do this on line.

I was in a travel agent for nearly 20 years. Got out of the business in '02, because it went to "H*** in a hand basket" after 9/11.

When I travel myself these days, I start by going to www.orbitz.com. There you can find what airlines fly between your points (MCO, STX), and the display will tell you how many stops/changes, etc. And, you can get a good idea as to prices. I then go directly to the airline's site that best matches what I'd like, and manoeuver around there to see what works best for me.

I frankly stay away from the discount sites (Expedia, and such), mostly because I have never quite trusted them if something goes wrong. I know, though, that many people swear by them, because there definitely are some very good deals.

That's my usual method.

You should know that it is, so far as I know, virtually impossible to get to any island in the Caribbean without going through either Miami or San Juan! American does (or did) have nonstop service from Orlando to San Juan, which would avoid the horrors of Miami. And, American (or American Eagle) used to be the most common small-plane carrier from San Juan to the islands. I haven't ever flown any of the routes, preferring to go by cruise ship, but my agency booked clients all over.

Getting there was always a nightmare!

SWR

[784caroline]

From what I can see there are only 2 carriers in/out of St Croix AA and Continental....I also checked carriers such as Jet Blue and airtran that have some carabean routes (San Juan, jamacia, Aruba) but may not show up on alot of schedule screens. A good agent cannot make wine out of water. You may be stuck with your own research! Jet Blue and Air Tran both have non stop to San juan at a very reasonable cost....less than $100 one way.

[carm310]

Originally Posted by cmj

Does anyone have a good, reliable travel agent here in TV? I don't want to go through AAA. Looking to fly from MCO to St. Croix but apparently "you can't get there from here" if you know what I mean. I'd rather not fly from MCO to Miami to San Juan to St. Croix. My brain is fried from trying to figure out options.
BTW: Thanks for your encouragement on the glasses situation last month. It worked out well.
I don't come here often, but when I do I know I'll get good answers. Thanks in advance for helping me with this one.

Hi CMJ,

While I do not know anyone in The Villages, I can recommend an agent in Robinson, IL who I worked with managing her sales in a host agency for nearly five years. She still issues airline tickets and is very reputable and is the best out of 40 agents who booked through the agency I worked with. I have since moved on (in May of this year) to Rail Vacations - Vacations By Rail and no longer do airline ticketing.

I agree with the other responses that getting to where you want to go will most likely involve stop overs. If you decide to call mention that Carm told you about them. As an aside, the owner, Karen visited friends in The Villages earlier this year...Small world!
The name of the agency is:
Bailey's Travel (Karen or Leslie will be able to help you)
902 W Mulberry St
Robinson, IL 62454-1656
(618) 544-4988‎
Hours are Monday through Friday
Good Luck!
Carm

[GatorFan]

I have found that I get the best price going directly to AA.com.

[Freeda]

Spirit Air also has some great flight deals; and has direct flights from Orlando to San Juan, so you can bypass Miami. If you join their $9 club - a one time $39 fee - it will get you some amazing discount prices when they have their frequent air fare sales; you will save much more than the $39 the first time you fly with them. We have had great results from this airline. www.spiritair.com They do not sell through orbitz, etc - like Southwest, you have to buy at Spirit Air's website.

[sharon]

Originally Posted by cmj

Does anyone have a good, reliable travel agent here in TV? I don't want to go through AAA. Looking to fly from MCO to St. Croix but apparently "you can't get there from here" if you know what I mean. I'd rather not fly from MCO to Miami to San Juan to St. Croix. My brain is fried from trying to figure out options.
BTW: Thanks for your encouragement on the glasses situation last month. It worked out well.
I don't come here often, but when I do I know I'll get good answers. Thanks in advance for helping me with this one.

You can fly out of MCO to SJU and then get on a FERRY by water to St CROIX or Bus Service it is only 85 miles to ST CROIX from San Juan. I fly to San Juan 5 or 6 times a year and take the FERRY by water to St Thomas and ST CROIX. I will be going this route Thursday and The Villages for two weeks.

[cmj]

Thanks to those who replied. A ferry?!?!? Never would have thought of that. I'm still searching. Still looking to just do one transfer. I'm looking at AA to SJU then Cape Air to STX. I've done tix online before but not with a lot of transfers. Plus, the time changes make me nervous.
I really appreciate the replies. Thanks again.