Discounts for own gear on Utila ???

[Stout]

/cue, Peter Paul and Mary's version of Leaving on a Jet Plane, just for ambiance.

So, I'm leaving for Utila in less than a week, I've got my gear spread out all over the floor a bag to neatly pack everything into, got my bug dope, first aid kit ( everything except surgical tools ) toothbrush, and a change of underwear.

Last time I talked to my travel agent, she was citing all this baggage and weight limits weirdness with Continental Airlines. Things like one free bag, up to 35 pounds, or I have to pay extra. Two bags ? bend over, get out the wallet and cough up, want to eat airline food Ka Ching!!!

I never had these hassles flying to Asia and my flight to Utila is costing me more that round trip to Bangkok.

So, since I figure I've read every word anybody's ever written about Utila on the internet, I've started researching Roatan to kill time.

In Asia, there's a discount for schlepping your own gear half-way round the world and in my recent romps through the internet I'm seeing the same thing offered on Roatan as well.

Why not on Utila?

My usual MO is to carry my heavy and fragile stuff with me in my carry on. My reg, mask(s),, lights etc but since I haven't flown through the US since 2002, I'm expecting a bag like this to trigger a full fledged anal probe by the TSA, so I'd rather just toss everything in my checked luggage and be done with it.

Once I get packed, if may just end up costing me more to bring my own gear to Utila if my bag ends up over 35 pounds.

I'm thinking why not just leave my reg and BCD at home, when I can beat the crap out of somebody else's for free ?

 

[Sloeber]

Stout,

In regards to Continental luggage policy (I know, not the point of this thread), you are alllowed 1 checked back to 50lbs at no additional fee. A second bag, to 50lbs, will be charged $30. Beyond that you enter the excess baggage policy which becomes pricey.

Continental Airlines - Checked Baggage Fees

For me, it boils down to just how bad do I want my UW camera with me. I can get all my scuba gear and clothing into a single suitcase at 49.5lbs and my carry-on. But the camera... yeah, it's worth the $60 roundtrip fee to take some photos. If it was for my scuba gear, again, it'd be worth the $60 to me to have my own gear. YMMV.

See ya soon!

 

[Doc]

Continental specifies one bag of 62" and 50# for free, a second one will cost you about $27.

Hard to rent gear for that kind of money.

My usual MO is to carry my heavy and fragile stuff with me in my carry on. My reg, mask(s),, lights etc but since I haven't flown through the US since 2002, I'm expecting a bag like this to trigger a full fledged anal probe by the TSA, so I'd rather just toss everything in my checked luggage and be done with it.

Regulators are not fragile and have little attraction for thieves. Check them. Most people that travel extensively do so, including wetsuit padded camera housings.

Regular, non-exotic dive lights can be wrapped in your wetsuit and checked, as well. Incapacitate them with tape or remove batteries- avoid fire hazards and TSA fiddling with them- not much interest in obviously empty flashlights.

I'm thinking why not just leave my reg and BCD at home, when I can beat the crap out of somebody else's for free ?

Only but for~ if you're behind the guy with that thought... then why not?

But you bring up a valid point. Contrary to the "life support" mantra and "Why you should buy your own equipment" drone of Dive Training magazine, using rental gear on location is a very valid option.

Bring your own mouthpiece if you want, but otherwise rental gear, especially in a location such as Utila which is well served by good dive ops... that would make sense.

 

[Stout]

Cheers guys, thanks for the replies

I just gor off the phone with my travel agent and she said "whoops" about the 35 pound thing, she was thinking of something else. Last year, I was at 40 pounds with all my gear and this year I was planning on travelling heavier.

Myaye I'm thinking old school Utila, when nothing was available ( I couldn't even get myself a pair of shorts when I managed to loose the only pair I had with me ) and since I'll be staying in a place with a kitchen i thought I'd bring along some pots of Thai curry ( those little plastic ones, about half a pound ) and assorted other flavour enhancing goods. Heck, I'm even eyeing up this small container of laundry detergent.

I'm not packing a camera, save my cheap point and shoot digital.

No laughing but I'm bringing along or was up until today, 6 flashlights. Three cheap crappy ones for on land ( yea I've been caught coming out of Cross Creek after midnight and having to creep my way back to the Mango Inn in the pitch black. The lights were cheap. I've got two of those little Princeton Rage UW lights, they seem pretty powerful but the batteries are only supposed to last one night dive, so I have spares for those and I just decided to leave my SL6 and a dozen batteries at home.

So I should be OK weight wise, with 50 pounds, I'm going to be using a larger than usual bag which I've flown with before, no problems.

Yea, maybe I'm being overly paranoid about the reg, it's had a fair number of hard knocks and never suffered for them. Masks are definitely going in the carry on though, One's a Pro Ear and cost me $150 and I hate to loose or break it.

I don't have any fear over using rental gear, I just thought it "odd" that Utila operators weren't offering any discount for not using their gear when Roatan is.

Henry..see you in a week or so

David

 

[GoProHonduras]

"I'll be staying in a place with a kitchen i thought I'd bring along some pots of Thai curry"

You can even buy those Thai curry pastes on the island at Bushes supermarket!

 

[Stout]

Cheers Andy

So, I'll leave the foodstuffs out then.

In 2002, my wife joined me on the island and she brought down, literally, a suitcase full of curry, tea, spices etc, all based on requests from expats wanting a taste of home.

 

[Sloeber]

You can buy new shorts now, and the local ladies will wash your laundry for super cheap

 

[Stout]

Excellent !!

Got two pairs packed anyway

I've always felt guilty paying someone peanuts to wash out my socks and gonch by hand. Yep I'm bringing socks. If they have a washing machine, they've got my business but if it's old school I'm filling the sink and gettin' down 'n dirty.

 

[DiveonUtila]

Here on Utila, if you have a washing machine it is bathed in a golden glow of heavenly light, all be it that they are usually far too big to fit into the cardboard- box houses that most of us live in here.
The laundry lady we use is very good and returns things nicely folded so don't worry too much about your socks
You will find that Bushes carry's most things that we crave from home, though at a super charged "i'm not paying that, what a rip off!" prices, so bringing your favourites from home is a good idea!

 

[Stout]

It's not really my socks I'm worried about, it's the laundry lady.

I'm bailing on the bringing food idea, my travel agent says "not a good idea". My little box of flashlights and batteries is probably going to set invoke TSA curiosity as it is. I;'m thinking that thing is going to look mighty "funny" when X-rayed. Maybe I should toss in a few loose wires for added effect.