The only airline that might work with is US Air, and after the experience I had with them last April, I'll go out of my way to NEVER fly them again. I had several of their 'customer service' agents tell me that it wasn't their problem that they didn't send me my tickets (3 months early), and I had no recourse other than buy a new ticket at full price (for a start). Don't expect WinAir to do anything to honor their codeshare arrangement, either.

Further, I've been thru San Juan 3 times now, with no problems at all.

Finally, the OP was asking about cheap flights. If you want cheap, you make compromises.

I have another question: how you guys buying tickets? I meant, did you buy them round trip August - inbound, December - outbound? Or one way each time?
I am also planning to take summers off, is there any kind of storage on the island where I can put all my staff?
Thanks

Take summers off? You mean skip an entire semester?

Anyway, I buy my tickets 6-8 weeks before I'm going to travel. That is when the majority of the deals and special pricing become available. I might buy a little earlier before Christmas because of the heavy tourist traffic here.

And no, unless you carry over the rental of your apartment, there isn't much (any) storage. Are you sure you want to have to go and find a new place to live every 2 semesters?

Thanks for reply but I still don't understand, did you buying a round trip tickets or one way?

And, yes, the idea is to skip an entire summer (all US medical schools do so). I am still young and not in a rush.

With regards to new place to live, during my interview I was told that the school is building new dorms now, enough to accommodate all who wishes to live there and they are should be ready if not by September definitely by January semester, so I would stay at the dorm all the time while on the island (I am single). I hope it will work out the way they promise!
At least that is the idea!

Trip to Sint Maarten: 1-way
Trips on break: round trip
Trip away from Sint Maarten: 1-way

And did the person you talk to tell you that the new dorm (which won't be ready by Sept, if the new school building is any indicator) is for just 1st semester students, or anyone?

Good luck with your plans.

Just my opinion but I would STRONGLY not recommend skipping summers. Aside from the fact that you would then be with 3 different classes by the time you finished, I feel that medical school isn't something you can pick up and put down whenever you want. You have to develop the skills to survive here. Just my opinion.

The person I spoke with told me that new dorms whenever they will be ready (there were some comments about afficiensy of the island builders which actually not much different from the efficiensy of the american builders!) will be available for everyone who would like to stay there (not for the families though I think).
With regards of skipping summers, I think if US medical schools doing that, there is nothing wrong with it, and the person should not strangle himself just because he or she wanted to become a doctor. Of cause, it is just my opinion. I have money to pay for the school w/o any loans and I am still young, so I think it gives me more freedom. Studying with three different classes/students is OK too because it will give me an opportunity to meet more new people/make more new friends.

hey if you want to take summers off like the American students do it then great! I wish I had the summers off However, if that's your plan then you should have an idea of what you want to do with that summer off. Not that you would lounge around for a whole summer, but don't do that. I would take that time to start studying for the step, and get clinical exposure in the hospital. I know you will have only finished your first semester, but it's never to early to start consolidating your memory for the step! And clinical exposure can never be beat. In fact, many students use their measly three week breaks to get clinical exposure.

it's funny though..after about two and half weeks of gorging myself on food and meeting all the friends and family my schedule can handle, I'm always itching to come back to the island and hang out with my medical crew so now that I think about.....no summers off for me! lol

__________________
Basic Sciences
Step 1
Psych Rotation

dont american med schools have 4 semesters of basic sciences? saba has 5. so if you start in sept 07 and skip summers youll be done around jan 2010 as opposed to april 09. id prefer to be done that many months earlier but i guess different preferences for different people.

Flying out from Newark, NJ. Hey everybody. I just bought my tickets!

I did a search with kayak.com and the lowest fare I got back was with American Airlines flying out mid-week.

Departure: EWR 08:05
Stopover: SJU
Arrival: SXM 13:45

I'll be flying with the wife and kid on April 25. We will be staying the night at St. Maarten and leave for Saba the following morning on The Edge (boat).

Total price of air fare amounts to $795.30 ($265.10 each) w/ one stopover. Total price of boat ride amounts to $100 ($35 x2 adults; $30 x1 child).

Hope this helps at all.