buying in St. Thomas Vs. St. Croix

Both islands have quite a few arriving commercial and private flights each day. St. Croix's airport is larger and accommodates jumbo jets and the largest military aircraft.

For STX, there are over a dozen commercial flights arriving each day from San Juan airport. There are also assorted flights each week that arrive on a direct hop from several different mainland cities.

US Air offers Charlotte (CLT) to STX direct on Saturdays.....usually on a 757. That's how I get back and forth.

Think some may be missing the point. We are STXrs, but you can't argue with the discount fares and availability to STT--if just HAS to increase your chances of snagging that tourist to rent your unit. Right now, there are fares around $210 from NY to STT, and on American as well as Spirit--we never see really good fare deals to STX

New York to San Juan on Jet Blue is often $79 each way. Add an island hop to STX for $158 and you are just over a hundred more than your $210 fare to STT... but rental rates are usually lower on STX than on STT to even that out. Another option would be to take that $210 hop to STT and then a CapeAir or Seaborne flight to STX. Yes, there is additional expense, but the seaplane flight can also be seen as part of the experience and something a tourist might have wanted to do as an excursion while on the trip.

The question for a tourist really is which of the islands better suits the type of vacation they wish to take. If it's all about $$, the on-island experience is cheaper on STX than on STT in my experience and those of other people I know who have commented about the cost of their visits to the two islands. If it's about the activities they want to experience, there are good beaches and great weather to be found on both islands. Both have festivals and restaurants worth checking out. STT is more commercial and some people do come to the Caribbean to shop. STX is more rural and has more culture to explore, which appeals to other travelers. As the islands have different experiences to offer, it doesn't have to be such a competition.

Planning for the future... more airlines are beginning to fly into STX which will lower the fares to get here over time and save tourists the time and expense of the extra stop through San Juan or STT. A real estate investment is a long-term prospect and looking at the trend of what is beginning to happen in terms of development on STX shows that STX is on the leading edge of a real estate boom such as STT and STJ have enjoyed over the past 15 years. The real estate opportunities therefore have more room for growth in the coming years on STX as we are not already priced way beyond a reasonable market value.