Diving in July - Suggestions for all-inclusive resorts that non-divers will like

[KarinW]

Downing, thanks so much for your valuable advice - I appreciate it. Since you are a good source of info, do you mind sharing your thoughts on lodging... which type of unit makes sense to book? And are there some units that are better than others so it would make sense to request them up front?

Karin

 

[Downing]

Karin, as the other regulars on this board know, I love talking about this place.

As far as lodging, that's a tough call and depends on your priorities and your budget.

There are three types of lodging there: duplex, fourplex and free standing cabanas. All lodging is right on the beach and well appointed. The good news is there's no such thing as a bad room or a room with a bad view.

Starting from the boat dock where you arrive, turn left and walk around the curve of the island to the right. There are one or two duplexes, followed by one or two fourplexes, then the Lodge where you take your meals, then the pool and pool bar, then the cabanas.

We've always stayed in the same cabana, Cabana 8. We asked for it because originally it was the last one down the line. I always take my ipod and sounddock and don't want to disturb the neighbors. As it turned out last time, they were in the process of building three more cabanas down the line which I'm sure are finished by now. I think the new cabanas are bigger and have hot tubs.

I've seen one of the fourplex rooms. It's smaller than a cabana but just as nice. I haven't been in a duplex room, but I've heard from others that they're just as nice also.

Some of the original cabanas are bigger than the others so if you're going to have more than two people rooming together you should ask about that when you book the trip. I don't know if the brand new ones are big enough to accomodate four people but maybe.

At this point, unless they comp the cabana again, when we go back I think we're going to stay in one of the duplexes to be closer to the dock and to change things up a little. All surface intervals are done on the island, but our cabana was just a little too far to go there and back--about a ten minute walk each way--so we would usually hang out at the dock or pool. The folks who stayed in a duplex could be "home" and back in under a minute.

Whether a cabana is worth the extra expense is debatable. Our first time, they comp'd our second week cabana fee since we were staying two weeks. The second time, they comp'd the cabana fee plus 10% since we were returning guests.

Any other questions, feel free to ask. There have been some TIR trip reports on this board that may help as well.

 

[Gaz]

Yes Downing is right about half weeks at TIR I just booked 4 people in there for half a week and another couple on a wed to wed week schedule. Normally they do Sat to Sat but if you do Wed to Wed be aware that you will not do any activities on the Saturday due to arrivals and departures so you will do 3 less dives than the Sat to Sat Package.

Personally I have to agree yet again with Downing that a week Sat to Sat is the best option to get maximum value and dive time in.

Gaz

 

[peterbj7]

Do any other atoll island resorts offer half weeks?

 

[Downing]

Well, there is something to be said for staying on the island on a Saturday.

When we were there for two weeks, my original plan was to go back to the mainland on the Saturday in the middle of our stay. After we got there, I changed my mind and decided to stay for two reasons: I had already gone back on the first Wednesday to check out the Zoo, and I wanted to do the nitrox course. I had tried to do the class at night during the week, but after a full day of diving I kept falling asleep so I needed a chunk of time and a place to study other than my bed to knock it out.

So I spent much of that Saturday sitting in the Lodge, studying the manual and then taking the final exam. Since the place was practically deserted, I had the Lodge all to myself. I would take a short break after each chapter and sit out on the deck, drinking coffee while looking out over the ocean. At lunchtime, the remaining kitchen staff put out cold cuts, and my wife and I ate lunch with the remaining assistant manager. I remember thinking that this was the world's greatest classroom and there was no place else I'd rather be at that moment.

After I finally finished in the early afternoon, my wife and I went kayaking around the island, flipping over several times and laughing so hard we could hardly breathe.

Even though I didn't enjoy taking the course, I can honestly say that day is one of my fondest memories of the place.

 

[Gaz]

Sounds Just Like PARADISE LOL

Peter yes Isla Marisol also offers the same 3 4 or 7 nights

Gaz

 

[KarinW]

Once again - I truly appreciate you taking the time to write down all this information!!!!!!! Thank you!!!!! And if you think of anything else that maybe helpful - I would love the knowledge.

 

[BDSC]

Downing is right on with his suggestion. We stayed a week at TIR and loved it as well. Will definitely go back at some point. The food was great and so was the diving.

We stayed in the quad buildings when we were there and the room was absolutely beautiful. The cabanas are really nice and we went in one when we were there but I don't know that I would pay the extra to stay in one. It was probably a little larger than our room but not by much and really no "nicer". My wife loved the outside yet private shower. I'm not sure she ever took a shower in the regular shower inside.

If you go you won't be disappointed in this resort and if time does permit, I'd do the week deal.

 

[Downing]

Once again - I truly appreciate you taking the time to write down all this information!!!!!!! Thank you!!!!! And if you think of anything else that maybe helpful - I would love the knowledge.

Hmm. What else.

If you fly in the night before the boat transfer, which we do, I recommend staying in either The Great House or The Radisson, which are right across the street from each other.

TGH has more third world colonial type character but pretty much no services to speak of other than The Smoky Mermaid restaurant in what would be the GH side yard. The food's not bad but not great and somewhat expensive but the outdoor tropical garden setting is a great place for a meal or a drink. July is the slow season and there's a good chance you'll have the place nearly all to yourself.

Both hotels are expensive for what you get, but there really aren't many viable options in Belize City. We prefer TGH, but most folks stay at the Radisson. If you decide to stay at TGH, I can recommend some rooms there over others.

Whatever you do, don't stay at The Princess Hotel & Casino, even though you might be tempted since the TIR transfer boat docks at the marina right behind it. I can't quite put my finger on it, but I just don't like the place. It smacks of sleaze, sometimes smells bad and just generally gives me the creeps. (Apologies out there to any PH&C lovers who might be offended, but you really ought to have your head examined.) TIR will arrange for your transfer from the airport to the hotel and from there to the dock, which is only about a mile from TGH and Radisson, so you gain nothing by staying at the Princess anyway.

As far as Belize City goes, it's not a tourist town and is um, rough around the edges to put it mildly. You'll be warned not to venture forth at night and they're not kidding. You'll be safe at either of the above hotels as they share 24-hour security patrols. If you want to look around the city during the day, which I always do, stick to the main streets and you'll be ok.

Since the transfer boat doesn't leave until 2:30 or 3 o'clock, you would have time to do something in the morning. TIR can arrange for you to go cave tubing, visit the Zoo, climb the ruins of Altun-Ha or check out the Baboon Sanctuary. A guide would pick you up, take you there and bring you back to the dock in time to catch the boat. I've done all four (different days) and enjoyed them. And it sure beats sitting around the hotel waiting for the 2 o'clock transfer to the marina to roll around.

Altun-Ha is about thirty minutes or so past the airport so it's actually a good thing to do on your last day in Belize if you have an afternoon flight out. And again, it beats sitting around the airport all morning.

 

[peterbj7]

A note on the Zoo. I'm in Dallas at present and went to the Dallas Zoo yesterday. I'm not going to knock it, and there are many hard working and dedicated people there, but somehow it just feels like a commercial enterprise. The Belize Zoo feels like what it is, an animal sanctuary mostly for injured animals either rescued from the wild where they would not have survived, or born in the Zoo to those rescued animals. No animals (I'm told and believe) have ever been captured in the wild in order to display them. And the enclosures are not only vast but are also totally natural. A zoo quite unlike any I've ever seen anywhere else, and well worth a visit. To be honest, the name "zoo" gives the wrong impression to most people and "animal sanctuary" would be better.