Less than a month to go.....will I ever make it?

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RICHinNC

Contributor
Messages
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Location
RAEFORD. NC
Well, I now have less than a month to go before I leave for my 22....no, now 23 days vacation to Barbados.

Like my last couple trips, I bought the airlines tickets way out in advance and I dont know why I wasted the time and effort doing so. I am flying with Delta and so far they have changed my flights 4....yes, 4....times. But I will live with that.

The really best news is, one of my bestest friends in my life was planning on going down the first week with me but then had a cervical cancer scare. Long story short, she has been cleared and will be making the trip as planned. Trip or no trip I am just happy she is ok.

We both get there on the 1st Sept almost on the same hour, then she will leave on the 8th in the morning....and my GF will show up at 8 pm that night. One lady out .. one more in....I will never have the bathroom to myself !! We will both leave together on now the 23rd of Sept. It was originally the 22nd, but Delta changed it. I can handle one more day in paradise.

Hotel, vehicle, medical insurance...yada yada are all ready. Regs are in for check and should be back on the 18th.....cant think of anything I have forgotten.

I have been writing to another SB'er that will be arriving the same day. We will def get some diving in together. Anyone else looking for a place to go is welcome to join in.

I just have to make it through this months....arrrgggggg
 
Please write a trip report. I'm interested in what you think about the diving there.
 
i wish i could join!!! Have a great time!!! You have to report on this!
 
I plan to take a laptop. My hotel has put in a wireless system. So hopefully I can post while I am there.

Downdeep....this is my fourth trip there. I would not compare it to Bonaire but it isnt bad really. There is shore diving available, naturally boat diving too, and tons of stuff to do above water. If you have any questions feel free to ask.

This is my.....I dont want to be on my death bed regretting I never took the time to go to an island and veg for a long time.....trip. I was going to do 4 instead of 3 weeks by my daughter has a bun in the oven that will be ready mid Nov so I need some vacation time for that visit.
 
If you don't mind me asking how much does the entire trip run you?
 
Congratulations Rich on taking some well deserved time off... :D

Enjoy... be safe... have fun!

Dave
 
Barbados is on the list. I have friends who have been there and tell me it's really nice. They don't dive, however, poor things. I'm thinking maybe around this time next year. I'll PM you for additional information.

Speaking of Bonaire, I hope to be back in January or February. WooHoo!

Where do you live in NC? I have relatives in Statesville, Raleigh/Durham and Willmington. And I've never been diving there can you believe it? NC is a LONNGGG state like TN. The coast is about a 10 hr trip from here I think.
 
ffdiver:
If you don't mind me asking how much does the entire trip run you?


I stay at a place called the Sea Foam Hacienda. You can check out their site at www.seafoamhaciendas.com and it has their cost schedule. As a repeat customer I get 10% off the cost. The suite will cost about $118 a day or so. It consists of two air conditioned bed rooms, a full kitchen with full size appliances, a nice size combination dining and living room and all rooms have a balcony facing the beach as the hotel is right on a great beach.

Car rental...gotta have wheels man....will run me $845 the entire time. And, all gas stations on Barbados charge the same price for gas as it is controlled by the government. Maybe we could learn something there....but I am sure our gov would screw it up.

The flight cost vary every year and depending on who you fly with obviously.

Food and drink is the main cost. I do take some GOOD pans and do some of my own cooking but food in grocery stores is expensive too. I dont know how some of the people on ANY island eat sometimes.

I will probably kill about 8K on this thing, but it will keep me from laying on my death bed wishing I had taken the time to do an island for a long period. Dont forget to factor in my GF is going to show up for two weeks and I include that in the 8K.

As for NC....Right now I live south of Raleigh and I am about two hours out from Wilmington. I am going to move here soon but not sure where .....but it will be in the Fayetteville or Raeford area.

You can find dive shops that do two tank dives at around $80 to 90 USD. And, you can rent tanks and do shore dives too.
 
So jealous. Have a ton of fun and MAKE SURE you do a trip report when you get back, with pictures...
 
Rich you nailed my opinion of Barbados, nice place, good to great diving, but to expensive. My trip also cost about $8k which is 2x a trip to Bonaire. I did enjoy it though. I noticed you are staying on the south coast, we did the west coast and the good diving was right off the coast without surf on the beach. Here's a link to some pictures to remind you what it looks like.

http://www.bonairetalk.com/newsgroup/messages/23830/323979.html?1183980714
 

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