Having just returned last night, thought I'd add my .02 rather than a new thread. Last time there was Nov 2019, so things are a bit different post covid
Accommodations - Longtime BA user, rooms/bathrooms same as always, perfectly adequate tho a bit slippery when wet. Used to the traffic noise so doesn't bother us. Thankfully, didn't bother our traveling companions on their first trip there. No complaints
Grounds - Biggest disappointment was (1) the removal of the hammocks, where there is now I guess a landscaper's tent. Seems a great waste of relaxation space and truly missed. Have several nice afternoon naps there. And (2) The area that used to be all grass is now mostly dirt, turning into a mudpit in the rainy season. We've been in November before several times, so not sure what the issue is, and why the grass couldn't be kept up. it's rather unattractive and removes one of the bigger selling points of BA. I read above that the restaurant had some reno and they were serving downstairs, that would explain all the tables and the awning and perhaps inability to water / care for the lawn. But IMO it's super unattractive and a pity that the nice lawn area has disappeared. This is compounded by removal of the very few small umbrellas they used to have on the pool deck. They were not a lot, but at least they were something for those of us not interested in baking in the sun.
Fire pit is a strange addition but in that unused concrete area so no bother.
Restaurant - The menu is greatly expanded, and has some good options. The fajitas and quesadillas were quite good, burger not as I remembered it. But thrilled with Noventa y Tres across the street, ate two dinners, a breakfast and a lunch there and it was very very good.
Dive op - Had three DMs over 5 days- Rollo (1 day), Juan (who was a freelancer, 3 days) and Matt. (1 day) Rollo was fine and frankly unmemorable. Sorry, he was a great person to talk to on the boat, but underwater I felt Matt was a bit disengaged. I think pointed out 3-4 things on two dives. He was a chaperone. Which is fine, we all have lots of dives, but it's always nice to have some interaction. Juan was fantastic, enthusiastic, great diver, and into what he was doing. We were on Jibara all 5 days which was great for us and the couple we were traveling with, had 1 or 2 extra most days and just us the last day, so manageable.
I imagine if it was just us two, we might get included in some other group. i think they had to bring in Juan as there was one very big group staying there and one smaller group, then the rest of us. Great for the hotel and the employees for tips etc., but having a big group there raises other issues (not the least of which massively draining all of the early morning coffee immediately), it is the 800 pound gorilla but nothing to be done about that, and they all got their own big boat.
Given the experience, we got lucky with our little group and have to say I would not have enjoyed diving with Matt all week as much as I did with Juan. Met Andy, but didn't dive with him and would have liked to.
I have to say I loved the concierge service by Alfredo and crew, before we dove with another op so had to collect and rinse our gear. Having that all taken care of was fantastic. He even went and collected gear from the dock after a shore dive, as my wife needed to doff her gear in the water and I pulled it up. We went to get the wheelbarrow and he said he'd get it.
Did 2 shore dives, as expected and ladder in place for easy exits.
I do now know that the lost key charge is $10
Any questions or anything I missed, ask away
For comparison, this is what the grounds used to look like (only real pic I have).
This is what they look like now. Granted this is after a rain, but the flooded parts just turn into bare dirt with muddy areas
I don’t know if this is a transitional thing or permanent so don’t want to be unfair to the hotel
