Homeboys may be on the way out of the Caribbean, but American Airlines is leaving with a bang. The carrier has put pretty much every destination in the region on sale, as long as you book by the end of this month.
We tried something simple to start, an early September round-trip between St. Maarten and Miami. AA is selling seats for $388, which is a steal compared to the $850 United is asking. Since the sale also covers Mexico, we tried NYC-Mexico City and dug up a fare of $526 all-in. That's the best rate going for the early September dates we used.
As with all airfare sales, sometimes you'll find great deals and other times it won't work out. Just remember: The money you save may go towards luggage fees if you overpack!
Though it was threatening Bermuda, it now looks like the first Atlantic hurricane of 2008, Bertha, will spin off into the open ocean without major incident. That's certainly good news for now, but some meteorologists think the formation and track of this storm are bad omens for the season as a whole.
Destinations that depend on visitors year-round are already offering up storm guarantees to keep the tourists coming despite the threat. Topping the list? You guessed it: Bermuda.
Not long ago, American Airlinesdecided to cut back service to San Juan and by extension the rest of the Caribbean. Almost immediately, JetBlue decided to scoop up some of that extra capacity. Now AirTran wants a piece of the action, too.
The LCC will add a seasonal flight this winter from Baltimore, and additional flights from Orlando and Atlanta will also go on the schedule.
American was pretty much screwed either way, deciding between raising fares--and losing customers--to pay for jet fuel or losing money while maintaining a schedule that would keep smaller, low cost airlines like JetBlue and AirTran out of its market. We'd feel bad for AA, except, well, you remember what happened this April.
Troubled actress Lindsay Lohan already has an offer for her summer vacation: Oscar nominee Johnny Depp wants her to come over--to his private island! Depp bought Little Hall's Pond Cay, a mile-long island in the Bahamas, in 2004 and uses it when he, longtime girlfriend Vanessa Paradis and their two children need to get away from the prying eyes of the paparazzi. (We like to imagine he wears full pirate gear and staggers around with a bottle of rum.)
Depp extended the offer after he ran into Lohan backstage at the MTV Movie Awards last weekend--except he calls his lil' corner of paradise "Fuck-off Island." Oh wait, that kind of sounds like the place you send people you don't like.
Hopefully Lindsay can work in a trip around the filming of her next movie, the '20s tango romance "Dare to Love Me." We just wonder where Woody Harrelson fits into all this...
American Eagle CEO Peter Bowles came up with the understatement of the week, as the struggling American Airlines announced a significant cutback in Caribbean service:
The crisis in the airline business is real, and the steps American is taking to reduce its schedule are necessary.
AA and American Eagle will eliminate service between San Juan and Washington Dulles, Baltimore, Fort Lauderdale, Newark, Orlando and LAX. Within the Caribbean, flights from San Juan to Antigua, Aruba, St. Maarten, Santo Domingo and Samana, Dominican Republic are also going away; daily flights from San Juan to other Caribbean destinations will be decreased.
After spending four days on Aruba combing Palm Beach, getting rubbed down at the Larimar Spa, exploring the Aruban outback, and drinking rum punch at the island's best dive bar, it's high time for a fancy meal on the beach.
If it's fresh fish you're after then head to the Flying Fishbone in the seaside neighborhood of Savaneta--and be sure to make a reservation because clearly the secret's out.
Aruba has some of the Caribbean's best windsurfing on Palm Beach, a dynamic northwestern coastline easily viewed while on the island's best drive and a fantastic spa where you can get rubbed down with rum and aloe vera. Seriously folks, this island's where it's at.
If you're still not convinced then it's obviously time for a drink. Head south to San Nicolas where you'll find Charlie's Bar--hands down Aruba's finest dive.
Who knew a small island like Aruba could keep someone so busy? You've already been windsurfing, butterfly watching and sunset sailing on Palm Beach, plus you've conquered the Aruban outback on the island's best drive.
It's time to slow down and relax--after all, vacations were made for pampering. If it's Zen-like tranquility you're after, head to the Larimar Spa, easily Aruba's best sanctuary for the mind, body and spirit.
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by pbb
