Help with our 30th Anniversary trip....

I’ve been doing my research/googling. It appears there are no direct flights from Atlanta to Curacao. This is a bummer because I liked the value for the USD. The shortest flights seem to be one-stop and take about 6-8 hours total from Atlanta to Curacao. I’m trying to avoid the longer travel days as they can really start to hurt my wife’s back.

Do some airlines have seasonal, direct flights from Atlanta?

@KathyV, where should I keep an eye out for the low season specials?

We have a pretty good routine with Cozumel, so we can always fall back to Coz. Just wanted to try something new.

 

Direct Flights from ATL May 2020

Grand Cayman
Providenciales
St. Thomas
St Croix
Roatan

Price ranges from $530-$1100 listed from least to most

If you have exact days I can provide details. Most seemed to be Delta.

 

If you are thinking of Grand Cayman, then a condo is a good choice because there beaches are usually not crowded and you can prepare some simple meals and drinks and then go out for a nice dinner. Most of them offer some kind of special pricing during the summer.

Since your wife is a non-diver and this is your 30th Anniversary, then the Seven Mile Beach is the most popular area and it has the most activities for a non-diver.

Central 7MB is the most expensive area but the condos to the north (but still on 7MB) are a little less expensive and quieter with nice, wide, beaches. Are you thinking of renting a car? Driving is on the left but a car is a big convenience on GC, and it widens the range of places that you might like to stay.

I am not a big 7MB fan but there are others on SB that are more familiar and can make suggestions for GC 7MB accommodations, like @mi000ke, @Alucard, and @Doctorfish.

You can look at sites like caydirect.com, caymanvacations.com, or VRBO for rental properties. Look at the map on Cayman Good Taste (a restaurant guide) and you can see the locations of various properties. http://caymangoodtaste.com/interactive_map.asp?mapID=13

When you are comparing properties make sure that you understand the pricing. Most listed prices won't include the 13% tax and there may be service charges or other fees added to the total price. A lot of places will be advertising specials like 1 or 2 nights free during the summer months.

Most of the condos are 2 and 3 bedroom and that's more than you need. I know that White Sands and London House have 1 bedroom condos so you might try checking them out first. If you find a great deal on a 2 bedroom then it would be worthwhile even though you don't need that much space.

If you are not interested in a condo, or you are looking for something less expensive then there are other choices. Sunshine Suites is a popular venue and it is across the street from the Westin (and from 7MB) but you have full access to the Westin Beach and amenities and it includes kitchen facilities and daily breakfast. There is a daily resort fee for Sunshine Suites.

There are other choices like the Comfort Suites, not cheap but in a lower price range. It is on the beach side of the road and you can access the beach via a short path, but it is a very small beach - they have a nice pool and daily breakfast is included.

And there are places that are on the water but not on the beach but not far from 7MB that are more economical like the Grand Caymanian Holiday Inn. There are also places not on the beach, but near the beach. There are very nice public beaches on Cayman that are free but most don't have facilities, but you can bring chairs, towels, food and drinks - and they are usually not crowded. If you go to the popular beach clubs with bars and restaurants onsite then you will have to compete with the cruise ship passengers.

There are a lot of dive ops that service the 7MB area and most will pick you up on the beach or by van. And there is good, very inexpensive shore diving on GC at places like Turtle Reef at Macabuca with Sundivers and the onsite dive op.

If you would prefer to stay at a dedicated dive resort then take a look at Sunset House - it is on the water but not the beach, just south of George Town, and not terribly far from 7MB. Daily breakfast in included at Sunset House, and it has the Cathy Church Photo shop onsite if you are a photographer, and there is a house reef for unlimited shore diving; @Trailboss123 can give you more info about Sunset House.

Take a look at some of these properties and the pricing and see if anything looks attractive and within your budget and come back with questions and we will try to advise you. Good luck!

 

If youlook for a condo be aware that many of the south SMB properties have ironshore at the waterline. So make sure you see pictures of their beach access. See it here - Grandview Condos Seven Mile Beach in Grand Cayman

Also the beach gets wider - and IMO better the farther north you stay. Contact the dive op of your choice - most pick up to some point north of the Ritz. There are also some 1 bedroom condos available - vrbo.com has some of them.

 

Also, not sure if anyone has mentioned it yet, but there are some really good deals to be had on VRBO.com and Airbnb.com - Lots of people do not consider this option when looking into Grand Cayman.

 

A more complete list of direct flights from ATL to the Caribbean:
Belize
Mexico (several places)
Bahamas (several places)
Guatamala
Bermuda (not quite Caribbean but a good diving spot!)
Cuba
Grand Cayman
Jamaica
Bonaire
Costa Rica
Nicaragua
Aruba
Panama
St Martin
Haiti
Turks and Caicos
Dominican Republic
Honduras (several places, including Roatan)
St Kitts and Nevis
St Lucia
San Juan
El Salvador
St Croix (U.S. Virgin Isl)
Grenada
Antigua and Barbuda
St Thomas (U.S. Virgin Isl)

 

FYI, direct flights into Curacao are only available from (U.S. in BOLD):
Amsterdam
Bogata
Caracas
Charlotte
Frankfurt
Bonaire
Dominican Republic
Miami
Montreal
JFK
Aruba
Panama
St Martin
Trinidad
Grenada
Toronto
Suriname

 

So of the above places, which are the best diving locations, that have a nice atmosphere for my non-diving wife?

 

My top two would be Mexico ( cozumel) and grand Cayman. Our best friends are a diver non diver couple and vacations have been the cause of strife. I just married a girl that loves diving as much as me. Made my life less stressful. JMHO Bill ( leaving for Bonaire tomorrow with my wife of 31 years)

 

Concur with @wildbill9 - My personal Top 2 would be Mexico and Grand Cayman from this list.