December family trip

[j_spot]

Hey all - Looking for advice based on a few key things for a Family trip in December 08. The points arent based on highest priority, but it needs to have all of them to make it a possibility for my family as there are only 3 divers out of 13, and ages range from 18-76. The categories dont have to be world class five star, just adequate, but of course the nicer the better.

1. Dive sites - shore or boat dives are ok.
2. Good shore snorkeling
3. Nice beaches
4. Things to do outside of lounging on the beach - hikes, cultural things etc.
5. Either All inclusive or Condos - one or the other. Eating out for 13 three times a day adds wayyyy too much. Especially when they drink like my family.
6. Now the tricky point - Hospital. The location needs to have a high level of reputable care. My grandfather has had triple bypass, is diabetic etc etc just an all around old person with a need to travel not too far from a doctor.


Hawaii - Maui or Kuaui are high on our list - Kuaui less so because of the rains for the beach goers. The issue here is that we have been to Maui multiple times and are kind of looking for something new and the condo we always book is full.
Cozumel/cancun - we dont know about hospitals, same goes for the rest of the Carribean.
Australia might be an option, but we dont know where to start - East? West?

Are there any obvious choices that we are missing?

 

[robint]

Hey all - Looking for advice based on a few key things for a Family trip in December 08. The points arent based on highest priority, but it needs to have all of them to make it a possibility for my family as there are only 3 divers out of 13, and ages range from 18-76. The categories dont have to be world class five star, just adequate, but of course the nicer the better.

1. Dive sites - shore or boat dives are ok.
2. Good shore snorkeling
3. Nice beaches
4. Things to do outside of lounging on the beach - hikes, cultural things etc.
5. Either All inclusive or Condos - one or the other. Eating out for 13 three times a day adds wayyyy too much. Especially when they drink like my family.
6. Now the tricky point - Hospital. The location needs to have a high level of reputable care. My grandfather has had triple bypass, is diabetic etc etc just an all around old person with a need to travel not too far from a doctor.


Hawaii - Maui or Kuaui are high on our list - Kuaui less so because of the rains for the beach goers. The issue here is that we have been to Maui multiple times and are kind of looking for something new and the condo we always book is full.
Cozumel/cancun - we dont know about hospitals, same goes for the rest of the Carribean.
Australia might be an option, but we dont know where to start - East? West?

Are there any obvious choices that we are missing?

Wow, I was all set to say Cocoview in Roatan until I hit #6. No way would I want to depend on a hospital there.

Hawaii may be your best bet. You can get a condo there to cook instead of eat out daily (which is $$$$ there). In the Caribbean - Grand Cayman might be a good choice - very modern and condos available.

I would't look at anywhere in the South Pacific - it takes 12-20 hours to get there depending which country and that's alot of time for an elderly person to sit on a plane. Yuck. And if they have a medical problem over the Pacific ocean, oh well.



robin

 

[ben@scorpiodivers.com]

well cancun/playa del carmen/cozumel have all your wish list points covered, fantastic diving all over this area, beach snorkeling is great form akumal and puerto morelos not to mention all the "must sees & dos" chichen itza, xel ha, swim with dolphins, white sandy beaches and plenty tequilla to fix 13 family members.
in cancun and playa del carmen is hopsiten or galenias, very nice private hospitals, easily accessible and located, safe and clean and as far as all inc. i think cancun/playa has some of the best resorts in the world, the service is impecable, the food and entertainment too, check out the "rius" (spanish chain), "sandos" and "oasis", all top notch all inc. resorts over the riviera maya.
hawaii i cant comment, never been, oz is awesome, its a long way form home and 13 pax will be avery large airfare alone but if you do make it get straight to queenlands, the barrier reef, damn i miss that place! take a flight to n.zealand and then anothet flight to fiji..... wow, thats ome vacation, i used to do that until my mexican girlfriend stole my passport!
mexico my man!

 

[jasondcrawford]

Have you given any thought to some destinations in Florida? It seems you might be looking for something a little more exotic.

 

[j_spot]

Have you given any thought to some destinations in Florida? It seems you might be looking for something a little more exotic.

We havent looked at florida because, and no offence to anybody there, but the "culture" and non beach activities dont appeal to us - maybe we have preconcieved notions that are 100% false, but Theme parks arent our thing.

Thanks for the input so far - it is reinforcing our decision, now we just need to find a actual destination and make the plans!

 

[Doc]

The only place that I know of that fits those criteria... all of them... is Cayman.

 

[tadeotadeo]

San Andres Island has all the above with the exception of the shore dive, There are a few but most are cumbersome to get to. It would be better to just take the boat.
Ciao
Tad

 

[Doc]

San Andres Island has all the above with the exception of the shore dive,

Look inside the "hospital" did you?

 

[tadeotadeo]

Look inside the "hospital" did you?

The New Hospital just opened up....if I’m not mistaken Nov of 2007.
I'm not much into the medical field but I have been told by a doctor/friend that it is state of the art and she will be able to perform her surgeries there, which was not an option before the new hospital.

 

[caymaniac]

We havent looked at florida because, and no offence to anybody there, but the "culture" and non beach activities dont appeal to us - maybe we have preconcieved notions that are 100% false, but Theme parks arent our thing.

Thanks for the input so far - it is reinforcing our decision, now we just need to find a actual destination and make the plans!

There are some great canoe/kayaking in the everglades and then there's alot of historical stuff in Key West like Hemingways' house and there's the Atocha treasure, plus the sunsets over the at the pier is crazy. Some great eats on Key West as well. No theme parks in the Keys, but the diving around Marathon is great. Key Largo has some great deeper dives like the Duane plus great reefs. If you need a beach they have a few there also. All that plus American hospitals are in the area.