What is your citizenship? If you are coming from Canada I believe your passport will suffice.

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Another Kanuck with a Kid in the Karibbean,Eh!
Finally Off The Rock - 2 years Down & a Gazillion $ in Debt ...

Take from Sabaspouse, she, her husband and family are on on the island so I'm sure she has it down to a science...

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Another Kanuck with a Kid in the Karibbean,Eh!
Finally Off The Rock - 2 years Down & a Gazillion $ in Debt ...

thanks a ton both of you! I really appreciate your input.

But i jst read on the US Visa/Consulate website that transit visas are needed since 2003! and I am a Canadian perm. resident but not a citizen. Now I have to get the US Visa before end of August, and to get those visa appts is a hassle and takes forever. I am screwed!

How are Canadians getting to the island?

You have almost 2 full months... If you are getting the runaround from your local federal gov't office call your local M.P... He / She should expedite your paperwork. Be Persistent!!!!
My son just booked yesterday... Flying from Detroit, Metro, August 31 (closer than Toronto). Flying Delta.... Lv. Detroit at 6:20 a.m. stops in Atlanta and arrives in St. Maarten at 1:52 p.m which will give him plenty of time to catch the ferry and make that ALL IMPORTANT meeting at Scouts Bar on the Island that evening... He's checking on availability of the dorms for that nite but if necessary will sleep in the corner of the bar if push comes to shove!!!

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Another Kanuck with a Kid in the Karibbean,Eh!
Finally Off The Rock - 2 years Down & a Gazillion $ in Debt ...

Hi Guys!

Right now Winair is having a sale on one way tickets. You can go from SXM to SABA for low as $25!!!! Check out the website.

I purchased my tickets online back in June with ebookers.com.... August 24th ATL to SXM $400, then I booked my winair flight August 25th $58.00 (taxes, fees)....Hope this helps!

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Leigh

Hey Leigh, Just curious, are you packing very much luggage???

WINAIR.....Terms & Cond...
XVI." BaggageChecked Baggage - You check your baggage that you wish to check at our check-in counter.
The combined weight of all baggage per passenger that free (no cost) is limited 20 kilograms (44 pounds). "

That isn't very much.. 44 lbs...

1. Overweight Charges - An individual's baggage is considered separately when the weight of anyone piece of baggage exceeds the free allowance. If any single piece exceeds the maximum. the piece will be assessed as follows: Excess baggage charges are according to the destination and are calculated at 2% of the one-way fare, per kilogram.

So, if you happen to have an additional 50 lb suitcase (125 kg) X 2% of $25.00 (one way fare) = $62.50 additional... or if they include the price with the airtax... 125kg. X 2%($.915) of $45.75 = $114.38 additional

NOTE TO KID..... Pack very light or take the ferry!! Either that or my calculations (math) are all wet!!!!

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Another Kanuck with a Kid in the Karibbean,Eh!
Finally Off The Rock - 2 years Down & a Gazillion $ in Debt ...

First, there is a post in the fall about luggage weight. It is very informative. Everyone should read it.

Second, I always recommend booking right through to Saba if you intend to fly. Winair does check the weight of the bags but you are not charged extra for anything over their limit. US Airway's limit is 70 lbs I believe. It is amazing how fast things add up. If you are booked right to Saba, don't worry about it. Just throw what you need into your suitcase and go.

Also, try not to worry about your baggage once it is checked to Winair. There are very specific weight restrictions for Winair. They often pull larger bags off the flights if they won't fit. Then they'll send your bag on the next available flight. This throws off people who are nervous or anal about their luggage. It is hard to trust that your bag will be along "whenever they can fit it" but it really does work. You simply have to make an extra trip to the airport or tip your taxi driver really well to deliver it when it comes in. They will. Our luggage was outside our door at 7:30 the next morning.

As far as a "Transit Visa", I've never even heard of that. The children and I have travelled back and forth to Canada several times since we arrived in December. Other than a passport and a letter of travel permission from my husband for my children, no one has asked for anything special. I would think as a student, your school letter of acceptance with a passport should get you through customs without any problem. They simply want to know that you have a connecting flight and you are not planning to stay in the US for anything. Now, I don't know how it works without a Canadian passport. I imagine, Canadians have an easier time due to our border cooperation but I would think that the US wouldn't care as long as you keep going to St. Maarten. You could always call the US customs office in the Toronto Airport. All passengers have to clear US customs before you even get on a US bound flight out of Toronto.

That's my 2 cents for whatever it is worth.

R/

"But i jst read on the US Visa/Consulate website that transit visas are needed since 2003! and I am a Canadian perm. resident but not a citizen. Now I have to get the US Visa before end of August, and to get those visa appts is a hassle and takes forever. I am screwed!"

Great advise Sabaspouse, however, regs. may be different if one is not
a "Canadian Citizen"... I'm not sure!!!
Oh By the way... A belated "HAPPY CANADA DAY" for all those who once lived north of the 49th Parallel...

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Another Kanuck with a Kid in the Karibbean,Eh!
Finally Off The Rock - 2 years Down & a Gazillion $ in Debt ...

http://www.valuemd.com/attachment.ph...1&d=1151859500
Just one more SMALL REASON to consider the ferry ride....
Ha Ha Ha... I assume the "X" at the end of the runway is something you really don't wish to see when landing!!!!

Attached Images

 

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Another Kanuck with a Kid in the Karibbean,Eh!
Finally Off The Rock - 2 years Down & a Gazillion $ in Debt ...

Come on Bruce! The Winair flight is the best thing about the journey. Very exciting. The landing is not as exciting as take off anyway........They are very safe. No accidents in their 40+ years of flying. Besides, any slight change in favourable weather conditions, they cancel all the flights anyway. Nothing to worry about.

I'd much rather 12 minutes on Winair than 2 hours at sea.

R/