Almost ready to book FI - Feb 14-21

[CODMAN]

Good choice on the rooms! For people on a tighter budget like you seem (and as I am), FI is a blessing... Like everyone, I prefer 5 star pampering and luxury... But my budget doesn't allow it! The FI package allows for a wonderfull dive trip and an OK resort with very nice people, at an incredible price... I think you are going to enjoy...

OH by the way, my LDS was also organising trips to FI... Their cost was around 600$ each above what I got directly from FI... We saved tons by booking direct... Of course, booking through your LDS does save you the trouble of researching everything and doing all the booking/ airfare arrangements yourself... But thanks to Scubaboard and great people like you find here, that is so easy now and even part of the fun of planning a trip...

Well our trip was booked today. Yahoo! Can't wait.

I asked for a newly renovated room with a king bed vs the two. Booked hotel + air myself and saved over $600 for the two of us. Will be funny being there the same time as the LDS whose people bought for so much more.

Booking agent Megan was fantastic. Answered every e-mail I sent; most times within minutes. She confirmed today that they do supply beach towels so that's two less bulky things to bring down.

Hubby is going to do his AOW. He bought the book and is going to the review/quiz with an instructor here and then just take down the referral sheet for the 5 open water dives. Does anyone know the price for just that portion? Website has the whole course for $210. LDS led us to believe it would be about half.

I bought myself a wetsuit on the weekend. Didn't need to pay the extra for a custom. The Henderson 3mm suit streches fine and cost alot less. (<$200 Cdn) We also bought two dive lights for our night dives; hubby got a compass for the navigation dive which is part of his course and we bought a 2nd dive bag plus a mesh bag for carrying everything onto the boat.

Can't wait to see our next AMEX bill. :shocked2:

I want to thank everyone here for all the great stories and advice you have shared. The lastest trip report is a little scary. Reminds me to remember the pictures on the website are probably years old and the place is a little "rundown". Maybe the new management will have made some noticable changes in the next 3.5 months.

Anyone else there for Valentine's Day???

Betty

 

[Fantasy Dive Travel]

So is it going to be book with FIBR direct or thru the Texas office? I've met the fellow with the Texas office, at FI and at Dema, but forget his name at the moment.

Well as we always say book through whomever you like as long as you stay with us!

Nicks companies “Fantasy Island Vacations, Fantasy Island Travel Services or Roatan Travel Services” were at one time our liaisons for the United States. This meant that they would go to the shows like DEMA and work our booths and with travel agents to help with the booking process for Fantasy Island Resort. Privilege Hotels did keep Nick on and signed an agreement with him until the end of October. Due to the change in management Nick did receive a new contract but one limiting him to a wholesale booking agent as he represents several properties both on and off the island.

Due to this change we have signed an agreement with Fantasy Island Dive Travel as our US and Canadian liaison for guests, travel agents and wholesale agents. They are taking an active approach to their position by actively being on the property every 60 days and assisting in the changeover and future of the resort. They also will be our representatives at DEMA and hope you will stop by the booth and introduce yourself.

As I said you can book wherever you like and we hope that you choose to stay with us. If you would like to book directly with the resort and are in the United States or Canada then please visit the sites below or call 888-503-6030.

Fantasy Island Resort Roatan Honduras PADI Scuba Diving Snorkeling
www.FantasyIslandDiveResort.com


Marianela Hernandez
Assistant General Manager
Fantasy Island Resort
Roatan, Honduras

 

[BettyfromToronto]

Confusing. I thought I was booking directly with the hotel. Oh well. Got a good deal and like I said "I saved over $600 for the 2 of us over the LDS's package".

Betty

 

[DandyDon]

Confusing. I thought I was booking directly with the hotel. Oh well. Got a good deal and like I said "I saved over $600 for the 2 of us over the LDS's package".

Betty

I think you did fine...

Well as we always say book through whomever you like as long as you stay with us!

 

[BettyfromToronto]

I was on the LDS website today and their Roatan trip is now $2249. :shocked2: We were saving $313 before and now it's over a $460 saving per person. It was over $500 each but we decided to buy the $50 package with SunWing where we get to choose our seats now, get special check in and can have advance boarding. (last 2 items only on TO; not Roatan).

Wow! That's almost a total of $1K in savings! :banana::banana::banana:

So I'm thinking if I can do this for Roatan; I can do it for January 2012 when we will be in Hong Kong for 3 weeks and want to go to the Phillipines for 5 days (3 days of actual diving). Only tricky part is the airport transfer to/from hotel in PG.

But I never would have done this if it wasn't for all the tips and advice provided here by all of you. So THANK YOU!!!!!

 

[DandyDon]

But I never would have done this if it wasn't for all the tips and advice provided here by all of you. So THANK YOU!!!!!

Super! And since your Sig mentions "280 Days, 11 Hours, 21 Minutes, 48 Seconds. until we leave for either FI again, Jamaica or Cozumel," here is a little trick that works well for Coz. It applies to anywhere in the Caribbean including Roatan or Jamaica, but seems to work best for Mexico...

Not being sure when that 280 days ends up, I looked around Sept 7-21 and found that going to Coz on Saturday 10th and returning on Sunday 18th is tremendously cheaper than other dates in that range. Sometimes that changes as you search around, but I avoid searching on airline sites as they will track your searches and start bumping fares on you. Anyway, I found air starting at $581 RT each including taxes, less than 7 hours travel time each way, and they include departure taxes within tickets to Mexico, unlike Honduras and many others. Going thru Cancun was a little cheaper, but not enough to bother with the bus & ferry. :shocked2:

Then I checked air & hotel packages: among other choices, almost the same air ticket plus 8 nights at 4 star Hotel Cozumel with breakfast buffet and $50 credit for $796 per person including hotel taxes. Add diving, lunches, dinners, and ground transfers to that - but wait!

Take that $796 package on Orbitz and apply the 200entertain discount code and get it down to $696 each! It works even better on cheaper properties as it's a flat $200 discount, and works best on private rooms as it's per room - my dive bud & I enjoyed that: private rooms, no snoring competition, private bathrooms, but it's nice anyway you do it.

Add 8 - 2 tank dive trips @ $60 = $480 each or less on that many, say with Scuba Mau, and you're looking at about $1170 each plus ground transfers and other meals. You can book the ground transfers in advance for $28 each RT but don't as you get the same vans and taxis for half if you pay there.

Keep that code in mind...

Book a qualifying Mexico, Caribbean, or Hawaii flight + hotel package between September 1, 2009, and March 31, 2011, for 7 or more nights for travel between September 1, 2009, and December 31, 2011, via Orbitz and instantly receive $200 off your booking through the use of the promotion code. Limit one discount per hotel room and one promotion code per booking. Discounts are not redeemable for cash for any reason. Any attempt at fraud will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Void where prohibited, taxed or restricted. Orbitz reserves the right to change or limit the promotion in its sole discretion.

 

[Scoooter]

Hi Betty,

Wow what a coincidence!!! I was doing a web search for info on FI to get more info before my trip and stumbled upon your thread. I'm actually going to be there the same week you are! My name is Scott and I'm also from the GTA. I'm a new diver with only 12 dives so far. Got my OW this summer. I was originally traveling with my Scuba Club but had to alter my plans as I made the mistake of being away for my daughters birthday, Feb 13. So ended up switching to this week to avoid losing my deposit but I'm going down there solo. Glad to know I at least know the name of someone that will be there

Cheers,

Scott

 

[BettyfromToronto]

Small world! I've sent you a PM

 

[BettyfromToronto]

Thanks DD your guess for dates were right on. We're planning to travel September 10-17 but I really only want a direct non-stop flight plus we don't like flying through the US. Sorry. :depressed:

I know that restricts us from places like Bonaire...but we've been hassled way too much in the past and now just totally avoid it.

I can do Air Canada Aeroplan points to COZ or Jamaica or look for charters but right now SunWing or Westjet (the main players) aren`t showing anything for September so it`s hard to look now.

We`ll do FI in February first and then decide from there. Still lots of time.

Thanks for all the help though.

 

[Reef Tank]

Super! And since your Sig mentions "280 Days, 11 Hours, 21 Minutes, 48 Seconds. until we leave for either FI again, Jamaica or Cozumel," here is a little trick that works well for Coz. It applies to anywhere in the Caribbean including Roatan or Jamaica, but seems to work best for Mexico...

Not being sure when that 280 days ends up, I looked around Sept 7-21 and found that going to Coz on Saturday 10th and returning on Sunday 18th is tremendously cheaper than other dates in that range. Sometimes that changes as you search around, but I avoid searching on airline sites as they will track your searches and start bumping fares on you. Anyway, I found air starting at $581 RT each including taxes, less than 7 hours travel time each way, and they include departure taxes within tickets to Mexico, unlike Honduras and many others. Going thru Cancun was a little cheaper, but not enough to bother with the bus & ferry. :shocked2:

Then I checked air & hotel packages: among other choices, almost the same air ticket plus 8 nights at 4 star Hotel Cozumel with breakfast buffet and $50 credit for $796 per person including hotel taxes. Add diving, lunches, dinners, and ground transfers to that - but wait!

Take that $796 package on Orbitz and apply the 200entertain discount code and get it down to $696 each! It works even better on cheaper properties as it's a flat $200 discount, and works best on private rooms as it's per room - my dive bud & I enjoyed that: private rooms, no snoring competition, private bathrooms, but it's nice anyway you do it.

Add 8 - 2 tank dive trips @ $60 = $480 each or less on that many, say with Scuba Mau, and you're looking at about $1170 each plus ground transfers and other meals. You can book the ground transfers in advance for $28 each RT but don't as you get the same vans and taxis for half if you pay there.

Keep that code in mind...

Stunning! I just booked two persons, non-stop MSP<->CZM staying seven days at Villablanca for $935 on Orbitz that includes breakfast. Throw on $1000 for Scuba Mau and meals and there is no diving cheaper than that (except for you local mud puppies ).