The first (annual?) online auction to benefit the Friends of the Virgin Islands National Park drew bids totaling $16,535. The sale featured a villa rental, day sails, original art and island-made jewelry.
The two-week event proved to be a holiday feast for bargain hunters. The total value of the 31 donated items was $26,000. But the final bids were about 70%. The average sale was at a discount of 30%.
The biggest bargain was a weekend at Kismet, which bills itself as "One of the world's most beautiful villas." They haven't seen Blue Tang, I guess. 🙂
Owners of the property above Maria Bluff put a value of $5,000 on the offered "heavenly weekend." The highest of the five bids was $1,935, 60% off.
Other items sold to benefit the Friends included a $300 certificate for Cactus Blue, the new Mexican restaurant in Cruz Bay. It went for $300. Three nights at Caneel drew a bid of $1,750, above the $1,500 stated value. A diamond Petroglyph pendant on 14 karat gold chain, from R&I Patton, sold for $1,725.