Hey thanks for the info!

250 euro a night is quite expensive, but I like your thinking. I'll be traveling with 2-3 other people so as a split it might work, although was also considering apartments in Paris as we were thinking of hitting some trade days too.

My plan is to use my FOC, which won't get confirmed but has a good priority on standby anyways. So MEL-HKG then i should be able to get myself to LHR, AMS, CDG or FRA on the same ticket - whichever is more open. Might get a backup on AF though as they also have 2 flights a day HKG-CDG. (i always say i'm going to get these backups but never do!). After the week there i think i might try my luck on AF CDG-SXM or KL AMS-SXM as i've always wanted to go there. Then to get home from there.... no idea. Come back the long way through Europe, or jump up to JFK and back that way. Depends on if my FOC allows split routings which i need to find out.

Have you been to SXM?