FIBR trip report jan 6-13, the good the bad and the ugly

[formernuke]

I did my first dive trip to FIDR and here are my thoughts.

The resort: The resort is in need of repair, the roof area over the stairs leading to the dining area colapsed and needs repairing, while I was there it was hit or miss on whether I would have hot water or not to shower with, the rooms do not have alarm clocks and wake up calls are unreliable at best. The rooms where clean and had clean drinking water supplied in them, the TV seemed to get a varity of channels in both english and spanish (understand I didn't spend much time in the room), the food was buffet style and overall very good.

The Diving: Maybe it's because I'm a NE shore diver but I found the diving to be great, some of the others where complaining about vis only being 40 ft, but that is 4 times what I"m used to. The water temp was 82 degree's F at depth. Unfortantly while I was there it was overcast and rained with is what led to the 40 ft vis.

Overall for the price I thing it was a good trip and I enjoyed myself, I would have liked to have had better weather.

Note this is no longer a 5 star resort, I knew that going and so I was not disapointed, some of the people I met there where expecting a five star and where highly disapointed. I think part of this was because they where not divers and there didn't seem to be much they could do especially with the overcast weather.

 

[sailbad the sinner]

For the price, it is a good deal. It is hard to offer the kind of dive packages at their prices and not defer some expenses...

 

[ncchuck]

I did my first dive trip to FIDR and here are my thoughts.

The resort: The resort is in need of repair, the roof area over the stairs leading to the dining area colapsed and needs repairing, while I was there it was hit or miss on whether I would have hot water or not to shower with, the rooms do not have alarm clocks and wake up calls are unreliable at best. The rooms where clean and had clean drinking water supplied in them, the TV seemed to get a varity of channels in both english and spanish (understand I didn't spend much time in the room), the food was buffet style and overall very good.

The Diving: Maybe it's because I'm a NE shore diver but I found the diving to be great, some of the others where complaining about vis only being 40 ft, but that is 4 times what I"m used to. The water temp was 82 degree's F at depth. Unfortantly while I was there it was overcast and rained with is what led to the 40 ft vis.

Overall for the price I thing it was a good trip and I enjoyed myself, I would have liked to have had better weather.

Note this is no longer a 5 star resort, I knew that going and so I was not disapointed, some of the people I met there where expecting a five star and where highly disapointed. I think part of this was because they where not divers and there didn't seem to be much they could do especially with the overcast weather.

Is this Fantasy Island Beach Resort?

 

[robint]

I did my first dive trip to FIDR and here are my thoughts.

The resort: The resort is in need of repair, the roof area over the stairs leading to the dining area colapsed and needs repairing, while I was there it was hit or miss on whether I would have hot water or not to shower with, the rooms do not have alarm clocks and wake up calls are unreliable at best. The rooms where clean and had clean drinking water supplied in them, the TV seemed to get a varity of channels in both english and spanish (understand I didn't spend much time in the room), the food was buffet style and overall very good.

The Diving: Maybe it's because I'm a NE shore diver but I found the diving to be great, some of the others where complaining about vis only being 40 ft, but that is 4 times what I"m used to. The water temp was 82 degree's F at depth. Unfortantly while I was there it was overcast and rained with is what led to the 40 ft vis.

Overall for the price I thing it was a good trip and I enjoyed myself, I would have liked to have had better weather.

Note this is no longer a 5 star resort, I knew that going and so I was not disapointed, some of the people I met there where expecting a five star and where highly disapointed. I think part of this was because they where not divers and there didn't seem to be much they could do especially with the overcast weather.

Glad you had a great time. If the weather had been better then the vis would have been fantastic and you would have enjoyed it even more!

I don't know who told you that FI was ever a 5 star resort, I think it has never been rated that. Maybe a 3 star at best just because it has a pool. In fact, I don't think any place on Roatan is really a 5 star resort.

 

[RTBDiver]

I don't know who told you that FI was ever a 5 star resort, I think it has never been rated that. Maybe a 3 star at best just because it has a pool. In fact, I don't think any place on Roatan is really a 5 star resort.

I was thinking the same thing. I would love to hear where this was ever given such a start rating and agree as well, while some places may have something that "might" be 5 star, I don't believe anyplace on the Island as a whole could be considered even close to that

 

[Doc]

I would love to hear where this was ever given such a start rating and agree as well, while some places may have something that "might" be 5 star, I don't believe anyplace on the Island as a whole could be considered even close to that

"Star" ratings actually do mean something, but by any standardized system, there simply is nothing on Roatan (yet) that is making it securely into 1*. You might do comparatives within the same island, much like skiing trails are marked at a mountain resort, but when you utter the word "5 Star", it conjures up instant images to people... and rightly so.

Resorts, in this example FIBR, bring this upon themselves. Look at their website descriptions and imagery. Any number of Roatan resorts gild the lilly, some try to make a silk purse out of a sow's ear.

On Roatan, the only real thing to consider visiting for is the SCUBA Diving. If you are looking for a Spa Resort to take care of your Blonde Bikini Babe,:gorgeous: go to some other island. If Roatan ever really does develop a Spa Resort, she is still want to go shopping or have some other diversion, possibly fine dining? Strike two.

It's SCUBA Board, so I'll stick to SCUBA diving. Look at the websites with care. If people post photo albums, look at them critically. Look for the dive op and boats, not fish and pretty people pictures. If an operation posts little detailed imagery, be very wary.

I think FIBR's dive-op should be better "shown off"... they have a lot to brag about, but they do not. http://www.fantasyislanddiveresort.com/dive-center Instead, they hype an imaginary high class "spa-like resort lifestyle experience", which it aint. The reason for this? The bulk of their guests and the management direction points it's market positioning toward the Euro/So American vacationer who may do some diving... not the North American dive vacationer. Go there for a fairly good dive op at a resonable price~ the other stuff is open to debate and dependent on the lunar phase.

 

[Wookie]

Well, it's easy to see why some folks would think it might be a 5 star resort, they claim it right on the home page:

Fantasy Island PADI 5 Star Resort

Some of the more more jaded of us know what a PADI 5 star means, but maybe not some of the newer divers.

To the OP; MM, EM, IC, ET, ELT?

 

[robint]

Well, it's easy to see why some folks would think it might be a 5 star resort, they claim it right on the home page:

Fantasy Island PADI 5 Star Resort

Some of the more more jaded of us know what a PADI 5 star means, but maybe not some of the newer divers.

To the OP; MM, EM, IC, ET, ELT?

geez, that explains it!!!

I agree with you RoatanMan, Fantasy Island doesn't have a website that works for me, it doesn't sell me on going there. They could do alot better job, or I could!! Maybe they should hire me.

 

[RTBDiver]

Well, it's easy to see why some folks would think it might be a 5 star resort, they claim it right on the home page:

Fantasy Island PADI 5 Star Resort

OK, I just spilled some coffee on my keyboard reading this. I mean, nothing against anyone using a title they pay for but Please tell me no one really would think the PADI rating meant anything as to the quality of the resort. West End alone has at least 3 PADI 5 star resorts.

 

[scubafanatic]

....given the state of the world economy, and the resulting financial stresses on resorts/liveaboards....don't look for a sudden upsurge in $ being spent on upkeep/refurbishment in most places.....many places will be lucky just to stay in business!