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HomeNewsArchivesLOCALS GET GREAT RATES FOR VETERAN'S DAY

LOCALS GET GREAT RATES FOR VETERAN'S DAY

Nov. 4, 2001 – Pack your bags, stock up on sun block and get a house sitter for the dog. Veterans Day weekend is the time to check yourself into one of the territory's larger resort hotels while the room rates are rock-bottom low.
Most have dropped their prices even lower for locals. The three-day weekend would be a good time to take advantage of the opportunity before the water gets "too cold to swim in" for those accustomed to tropical climes.
Many, but not all, of the rates are good until December. So, if you've got other plans for Veterans Day weekend, or if the hotel of your choice has sold out, another time soon will make an equally nice getaway.
Unless otherwise noted, rates quoted here are for double occupancy of a room and do not include the territory's 8 percent room tax. Some hotels also add a service charge, so check when reserving.
Not all of the territory's larger hotels could be reached for information, and not all of those contacted are offering locals' rates for the long weekend that are exceptionally low. If you have a favorite not mentioned here, call on your own to see what they can do for you.
St. Thomas: The Renaissance Grand Beach Resort is charging $79 a night for a room with an island view. Front desk operator Errol Rogers said the ocean view rooms are already booked up for the holiday weekend.
At the Wyndham Sugar Bay Beach Club and Resort, a package consisting of a room; breakfast, lunch and dinner for two; and the use of non-motorized watersports toys such as kayaks can be had for $195 a night. "That includes taxes and gratuities," reservations agent Verna Ralph said.
At the Ritz-Carlton St. Thomas Resort, the current locals rate is $125 per person per night. The rooms sleep up to four people.
Marriott's Frenchman's Reef Beach Resort has a room rate for locals of $125 per night. "That's a resort view with a double or king bed," executive assistant Sharon Flamon said.
St. Croix: A room at the Divi Carina Bay Resort can be had for $91.80 per night, including the occupancy tax. That's the resort with the casino, of course.
Sunterra Carambola Beach Resort offers rooms for $110 to $130 a night, with the lower-rate rooms having lesser views. "It lets locals experience the resort and enjoy our fine dining," front desk manager Michael Marshall said, explaining why the hotel discounts rates for locals during the slower months.
Marshall also said the hotel's Friday night Pirates Buffet draws large crowds. It's priced at $29.95 for adults, $14.95 for children ages 6 to 12, and $5.95 for children under 6.
St. John: A room at the Westin Resort can be had for $89 a night. That's even lower than the hotel's usual low summer rate for locals. Operations manager Graham Davis said the hotel had 10 rooms left as of Friday, but more might become available if cancellations come in.
Davis said not all of the Westin's 349 rooms and villas are ready for guests. Eighty of them are in the midst of renovations, a job planned before hotel occupancy plummeted in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
Caneel Bay Resort, discreet getaway of the rich and famous, has rooms for locals right now for $125 a night.
Along with such stunningly low prices at the major resorts, you'll also find off-season rates and discounts for locals at mid-size and smaller hotels.
At Secret Harbour Beach Resort on St. Thomas, locals get a 20 percent discount, which drops the price as low as $143 a night.
If you want to get in a little scuba diving on your getaway, you might head for The Waves at Cane Bay on St. Croix. The oceanfront resort includes tanks, weights and airfoils in its room rate of $75 per night.
And on St. John, The Inn at Tamarind Court gives a 10 percent locals discount, which drops the price to $76.

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