Dive Resort (CITY) starting w/ P.R.I.Z.E!

[mrjoh2001]

Unbelievable; at my company, I just won a trip for two to any city in the world starting with P.R.I.Z or E (at Ritz Carlton level property and $2000 spending cash)

Rome, Paris, Prague (that is all very lovely but what I want to do is relax, dive, sit by the beach and drink cocktails with umbrellas in them...):

What is the best dive resort (w/ RITZ CARLTON level property) that I can go to???
Only caveat is that the City has to start with P.R.I.Z or E

(ex.; Phuket, decent diving, nice night life, OK beaches, etc... but I've been there 2x)

Can you guys help me?

 

[tvictory]

They are building a Ritz-Carlton resort on West Caicos, which is close enough to Providenciales to qualify under "P". I don't know if it's open yet, but it's probably worth waiting for if you can. Palm Beach has good diving. How about the Cheeca Lodge in Islamorada? I don't know about the diving in Rio (or Ipanema) or Istanbul, but I'm sure they all have umbrella drinks.

 

[Taxgeek]

Congratulations, that's awesome!

Maybe you could find a Maldivian resort that starts with the right letter? They have some VERY nice hotels and the best beaches. You'd have to use the island name though, they don't exactly have cities there. Rihiveli is a gorgeous island and they offer diving . . . and the plane tickets are VERY expensive! At least from CA.

 

[OHGoDive]

Have you actually looked on their website to see what cities they are located in? You might be surprised. Not in Rome, Paris, or Prague. In fact, a quick glance shows the only location that fits the restriction (PRIZ or E cities) outside of North America is Istanbul. It doesn't exactly scream dive destination to me.

Even in the US, your choices are pretty limited, Pasedena, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Palm Beach, FL, and Pentagon City.

Rose Hall Jamaica looks like the only real beach destination.

I suspect that they realized all this when they designed the prize package

Still, it's a great prize, I'd pick the coolest spot, (I'd pick Istanbul) even if there was no diving, and enjoy someone else picking up the tab.

Good luck!

 

[Taxgeek]

Looking at the OP's post, I'm not sure the property has to be an actual Ritz Carlton property - it seemed to me that the award can be used to stay at a really really nice property, and the OP wanted to take advantage of that. I may be wrong though. Maybe one of the resorts on the north side of Bali are in a village with an appropriate name.

 

[OHGoDive]

Looking at the OP's post, I'm not sure the property has to be an actual Ritz Carlton property - it seemed to me that the award can be used to stay at a really really nice property, and the OP wanted to take advantage of that. I may be wrong though. Maybe one of the resorts on the north side of Bali are in a village with an appropriate name.

Ooooh, I see. Perhaps you're right. I took it to mean that it had to be an actual Ritz-Carlton property.

Your way has a lot more potential... how about Port Louis, Mauritius?

 

[mrjoh2001]

Yes Taxgeek you are correct; it is a Ritz Carlton level property, so I would say anywhere between $350-500 a night would be OK!!

Rihiveli looks pretty nice (and expensive is nice.. haha, I will look closer into the Maldives; is it pretty easy to island hop?)

Anyone know of resorts along the Red Sea; how about somewhere on the Great Barrier Reef?

Zanzibar and/or Eliat (in Israel???)?

 

[diversteve]

Punta Mita Four Seasons Resort - 25mi. s. of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
Parrot Cay near Providenciales, Turks & Caicos. But it's a boat back to Provo to dive.
Both an I and Z: La Casa Que Canta - T&L Magazine's 17th Best Hotel in the World - Ixtapa - Zihuatenejo, Mexico. Supposed to be pristine diving nearby.
Technically the Ritz Carlton on St. Thomas is closest to the village of Red Hook...
Princeville Resort, Princeville, Kauai, Hawaii.
Atlantis Resort, Paradise Island(Nassau...) Bahamas - boat diving only though.
Papeete, Tahiti??

 

[mrjoh2001]

OHGoDive:

Port Louis, Mauritius

Looks perfect; I can take a few extra days off of my own time to go to Madagascar.
This is great!

Anymore suggestions welcomed!!!

 

[johnny_bravo]

Can the Ritz Carlton Cancun count with "Playa del Carmen" nearby

Cheers.

-J.-