flybigjet
Contributor
Greetings all--
The baseline: I'm headed to Palau Jan 4 - Jan 15 2017 (but with a travel day on each end, functional dates are Jan 5-14). I'm going with my wife, and afterwards, we are headed to the Odyssey in Truk.
My problem is what and where to stay in Palau. Money is somewhat of an issue, since this little shindig is going to cost me the better part of a car; however, it's sort of a "50th birthday" celebration, so I'm not adverse to spending the coin, I just want to spend it wisely.
I'm more of a diver than my wife. She tolerates, and will dive, but also likes to kayak, lay on the beach, do spa's, etc.
In some ways, I realize that my goals are inherently incompatible with hers, but I need to come to a decision about how we're going to go about this. One thing that is important to all of this is that I'd like to spend a day at the battlefield in Peleliu, and my wife would rather like to kayak the Rock Islands for a day.
Please chime in with any advice, ESPECIALLY if you have personal experience. I've spent the better part of a week reading the forum, but I'm starting to get data overload.
Option A: Liveaboard. So far, the ONLY two that I've found that work for our dates are the Palau Aggressor II and the Ocean Hunter III. (no idea about the Solitude-- their website doesn't go out to 2017 and I haven't heard back from them yet). Siren dates don't line up. Price is similar so it's a toss-up. One concern is reading several reviews about the PA-II from 2014ish that concerned me. Without digging up old history, for the expenditure of time and money, I expect the staff to be extremely personable, helpful, and professional-- something that I have concerns about after reading about the PA-II. It seems that there were a few issues with divemaster/captain, but I'm almost more concerned with the Aggressor Fleet's cop out of "we're a franchise and we don't have control". It makes me nervous. And would make my wife very unhappy. Which would make me unhappy. I have little to no knowledge about the Solitude and OC-III-- reviews seem pretty thin in comparison to the PA-II, but they seem to be well liked on here. One other thing to consider is that we'll be going directly to the Odyssey after this-- my wife could easily be talked into sitting by a beach for a week, and then going to Truk (but she can do that a lot easier and cheaper in the States!)
Option B: Shore based. Wife is leaning towards the Palau ROYAL Resort (NOT the PPR)-- and it's not exactly cheap (and I have heartburn because you're spending a lot of coin for somewhere that you'll be gone for most of the day from). For the diving, I'm considering Palau Dive Adventures, Sam's, or Fish and Fins. I've read pretty good things about PDA (although they're new and small), and Sam's might be a little bit "too big"? I don't have much knowledge of Fish and Fins.
We have an upper cap on spending, but my wife and I are of the age (more her than me), that comfort and nice are worth something. I don't mind sleeping in a dive on occasion, but she's more of a "beach, spa and wine" sort of girl. So, I need to consider the "better" hotels.
So. A little help? Essentially, suggestions/differences/raves/rants between the Palau Aggressor II, Ocean Hunter III and Solitude?
Same thing for Palau Dive Adventures/Sam's/Fish and Fins? Pro's? Con's?
And, hotels-- Is there anywhere else I could consider that's not quite at the PRR, but is equivalent to the PPR?
Thanks! I'm kind of losing my mind (and a LOT of sleep over this!)
R.
The baseline: I'm headed to Palau Jan 4 - Jan 15 2017 (but with a travel day on each end, functional dates are Jan 5-14). I'm going with my wife, and afterwards, we are headed to the Odyssey in Truk.
My problem is what and where to stay in Palau. Money is somewhat of an issue, since this little shindig is going to cost me the better part of a car; however, it's sort of a "50th birthday" celebration, so I'm not adverse to spending the coin, I just want to spend it wisely.
I'm more of a diver than my wife. She tolerates, and will dive, but also likes to kayak, lay on the beach, do spa's, etc.
In some ways, I realize that my goals are inherently incompatible with hers, but I need to come to a decision about how we're going to go about this. One thing that is important to all of this is that I'd like to spend a day at the battlefield in Peleliu, and my wife would rather like to kayak the Rock Islands for a day.
Please chime in with any advice, ESPECIALLY if you have personal experience. I've spent the better part of a week reading the forum, but I'm starting to get data overload.
Option A: Liveaboard. So far, the ONLY two that I've found that work for our dates are the Palau Aggressor II and the Ocean Hunter III. (no idea about the Solitude-- their website doesn't go out to 2017 and I haven't heard back from them yet). Siren dates don't line up. Price is similar so it's a toss-up. One concern is reading several reviews about the PA-II from 2014ish that concerned me. Without digging up old history, for the expenditure of time and money, I expect the staff to be extremely personable, helpful, and professional-- something that I have concerns about after reading about the PA-II. It seems that there were a few issues with divemaster/captain, but I'm almost more concerned with the Aggressor Fleet's cop out of "we're a franchise and we don't have control". It makes me nervous. And would make my wife very unhappy. Which would make me unhappy. I have little to no knowledge about the Solitude and OC-III-- reviews seem pretty thin in comparison to the PA-II, but they seem to be well liked on here. One other thing to consider is that we'll be going directly to the Odyssey after this-- my wife could easily be talked into sitting by a beach for a week, and then going to Truk (but she can do that a lot easier and cheaper in the States!)
Option B: Shore based. Wife is leaning towards the Palau ROYAL Resort (NOT the PPR)-- and it's not exactly cheap (and I have heartburn because you're spending a lot of coin for somewhere that you'll be gone for most of the day from). For the diving, I'm considering Palau Dive Adventures, Sam's, or Fish and Fins. I've read pretty good things about PDA (although they're new and small), and Sam's might be a little bit "too big"? I don't have much knowledge of Fish and Fins.
We have an upper cap on spending, but my wife and I are of the age (more her than me), that comfort and nice are worth something. I don't mind sleeping in a dive on occasion, but she's more of a "beach, spa and wine" sort of girl. So, I need to consider the "better" hotels.
So. A little help? Essentially, suggestions/differences/raves/rants between the Palau Aggressor II, Ocean Hunter III and Solitude?
Same thing for Palau Dive Adventures/Sam's/Fish and Fins? Pro's? Con's?
And, hotels-- Is there anywhere else I could consider that's not quite at the PRR, but is equivalent to the PPR?
Thanks! I'm kind of losing my mind (and a LOT of sleep over this!)
R.