Key Dive Package - Too good to be true?

[mike_s]

I still don't think their ad is clear. Maybe it is on another web page, but it wasn't on the one I looked at.

While I didn't get the emails that the above poster did from the dive shop, I'd prefer not to have to deal with dive shop owners like that either, regardless of who they are.


Regardless, I'm unlikely to stay there anyway, but nothing to do with this ad, but that I most likely would have never run across them.


However, the above poster got an email that was clear in saying it was $435 for 5 nights for 2 people (plus taxes), which equates to $217 pp for thost 5 nights. This is what I read the ad to say in the first place.... So there definately seems to be some confusion somewhere....

 

[H2Andy]

I had no problem booking a room according to the terms of the ad except Nancy said they could'nt honor it around Thanksgiving holidays.

excellent news

(fragging 15 word limit)

I also investigated this because on the surface it seemed like a reasonable deal for the hotel, given their lowest room rates and a way for the dive shop to get additional business.
...
As you can see the deal does seem legit and from what I can tell the issue did come about from misunderstandings and the subsequent escalation of them.

excellent, that's two people who have found the ad will be honored as written

seems that there was some sort of misunderstanding, which mixed with some personality conflicts and escalated into something else

 

[fisherdvm]

Yes, I agree, it probably was some misunderstanding. The woman at La Siesta apparently was too hard headed to admit that she booked me 30 days too late. They probably ran out of the $149 rooms, and tried to recoup to forcing me to stay at the pricier room.

Any case, it was no excuse for her to say that I was swearing.... And it was no excuse for Key Dives to threaten to sue me.

Anyhow, they tried to recoup their reputation, but it was too late...

If you do book your hotel through Key Dives, though, be aware of the incompetence of La Siesta's staff.

Despite Key Dive giving you a confirmation number, make sure that you call La Siesta to verify the date, and the exact cost. It could surprise you like it did me - more than twice the cost, and 30 days too late....

 

[fisherdvm]

Oh about the cruises, both Carnival and Royal Caribbean have 4 days cruise from $149 to 169, inside cabin if you book about 1 to 2 weeks ahead of time. 7 days cruise from 680- 750. However, the price rapidly escalates within 2 to 3 days of the departure date (once you are sure no hurricanes are coming through).

We got lucky to book a 7 days cruise for the military rate of $640 for 7 days. Because of our luck, we ended up in a larger cabin with large windows....

We were fed 24 hours a day. Sit down dining for breakfast, and a wonderful dining experience every night with great waiters. The menu: steak, all you can eat lobster (one night), escargot, etc...

 

[fisherdvm]

Oh, that is 640 for 2, so at less than 100 buck a day, you are dined like a king. Add the tax, port charges, it was 770. Add $140 in tip, it was about $900. They had coffee, tea, juice, water, but no pop. You pay an extra $35 for all you can drink pop/soda. Wine and alcoholic drinks averaged about 5 to 6 bucks, and if you drink alot, they do have "coupons".

The folks on the ship are so pleasant, even if you don't tip them. If you tipped them a few bucks, they are extra nice.... The other folks at our table did not give extra tips, and yet they were treated very well.....

I certainly don't think they made money off from us... They just needed to fill the spaces. But for the daily on board entertainment, night shows, casinos, gym, jogging track, etc.... You can't beat the price.

The dives are usually 2 tanks, for about $120 to $150 with all the equipments (minus wet suit, which is $10). You MUST have your C-card. No buts, or ifs. Since some of the islands are remote, internet access is not available to verify for cert... So bring your dive card.

Oh, the stupid rules..... Carnival only guarantee reimbursement of lost luggages only $50 per luggage, max of $100 a person. Unless you declared the value of your luggage before handing it over to them..... Which is very impractical and unrealistic. So check with them the next time before you board.... So you don't lose your fortunes in dive equipments.

 

[RonFrank]

I appears to me that what happened was that the person who initially booked the reservation got the wrong dates. When fisherdvm went to confirm (at the last minute) the resort did not have any of their lower price rooms available, and they were then booked in at the last minute at a much higher rate.

We've been traveling extensively for over a decade often a month on the road at a time with many hotel/campground, car, and airfare reservations in different cities often in multiple states. This has gone off without issue, and I think it's because we do a few things that may help others.

When you book a hotel, ask a LOT of questions.

Parking availablity.
Number and size of beds.
Does the room come with a frig, microwave, coffee maker?
Is laundry available?
If it's a condo verify kitchen appliances, cookware, whatever is important.
What is the tax rate?
Any hidden fees?
Is there daily room service? Some condo's do not have daily room service.
Is the deposit refundable, and what are the cancellation terms?
Next, once the room is booked, call the hotel/resort within a week of booking the room, and confirm everything again, especially dates, and rates. If you book via the travel agent it still may pay to confirm the reservation. I also like to have some sort of written confirmation which is generally available online.

For a car rental similar things apply.
R there milage charges?
What is the tax rate?
What other fees apply? (with cars there are ALWAYS OTHER fees).
Can you take it out of state?
Is there a second driver fee?
How do you get to the car from the airport? Some agencies we've used offer shuttle service, but not late. It still maybe worth it to book these agencies, but if you are getting in late, you may have to plan on a taxi to a hotel near the car rental, or you may want to book in an earlier flight.
Can you use your own insurance? (Always yes in my experience).
What size car? Midsized these days are just compacts with 4 doors, so if you really want midsized, you better ask.
What is the Age of their rental fleet? We've got cars with less than 10 miles on them two years straight (Gotta love the new car smell!)! Some cheap companies however run their vehicles into the ground, and nothing is worst than a breakdown on an a tight schedule 200 miles from an agency who can do little or nothing for you quickly.
What do they do in the event of a breakdown?

The internet has made flights easy. One can book via Obritz, Expedia, whatever, and generally get online confirmation and the Eticket online which confirms the airline, gate, and seat assigments.

When traveling screwing up is a two way street, but the customer is going to be the one without a room/car/flight if one does NOT do their homework.

Confirmation is the key, and we always put together a travel folder that includes state maps, mapquest directions, and the confirmations for everything. I order it by date, and as we travel we just pull the information from the folder as we go. When your on the road for a month hitting many places, this proves vital. I know I'm really relaxed when I loose track of what day of the week it is! It happens every year for all of us, and has nothing to do with alcoholic consumption!