Need trip ideas: Kauai, Bahamas, or ???

[jbtut]

I'm trying to plan a trip in March. I've got 6 days off total. Planning on booking very soon. I need some ideas. Doesn't need to the best diving, but mostly relaxing, nice beach, sun, and some diving available.

My budget is around $2,00o-2500 for flight and room although cheaper is always better.

Wife wants to visit somewhere new (otherwise Cozumel or Curacao would be my choice). So that excludes: Jamaica, Cozumel, Roatan, St. Thomas, Playa del Carmen, San Juan area, Belize, Curacao/Bonaire, Grand Caymen, D.R., Nassau That's all I can think of off the top of my head.

My thoughts are Kauai, or possibly somewhere in the Bahamas. Any good suggestions? I'm kinda out of ideas.

Thanks jbtut

 

[DeputyDan]

I would look at Kona Hawaii.
One thing to be mindful of - most condos there do not have A/C.

Don't know about the current situation in Cabo - but it may also be an option.

 

[jbtut]

Thanks Dan. Kona or Maui might also be options. Is the diving good on Kona? Also any idea if the beaches are nice/swimable this time of year. That's one of my primary concerns with Hawaii in general is going during the stormy season.

 

[DeputyDan]

The diving in Kona is top notch.

Couple of operators to look at

Kona Hawaii Scuba Diving | Manta Ray Night Dives | Scuba Diving Packages | Kona Honu Divers

Jack's Diving Locker : Snorkel and Scuba Dive Shop in Kona, on the Big Island of Hawaii"

We used the Kona Honu operator during our visit.

The Manta Ray night dive is not to be missed.

 

[DeputyDan]

One of the members on this board -- friscuba -- runs a dive charter on Kona.

You may want to send him a PM.


ScubaBoard - View Profile: friscuba

 

[diversteve]

My budget is around $2,00o-2500 for flight and room although cheaper is always better.

per person right?

Maui would be possible if you do some shorediving, rent an off-beach condo in the Kihei area - many are just across the street from the beach - check vrbo.com - and eat at normal places. Plan on a car also. The resorts will all be in the $200/400+ range per night in March so probably not on your budget. Kapalua and Wailea are two areas to skip...

A few years ago I rented a really nice 1BR condo just where Kihei turns into Wailea. Big - though quiet - complex, the buildings were quads and spaced out, two pools and a block long on-property walk to the beach. Maybe $1800 total?

Boat dives are generally $120/130 for 2 tanks from the 3 most often talked about diveops: B&B Scuba, Ed Robinson's or Mike Severns. You can also do guided shore dives with [user]Shaka Doug[/user] or Maui Dreams Dive Co.

Hawaiian and USAirways compete from Phoenix so we often get good deals. So an option might be to fly here on Southwest and then over. SW won't show up on any of the large travel sites.

March in Kauai might still get blown out on the North side - IDK. So look for something south in the Poipu area and dive with Seasport Divers or Fathom Five. Seasport is a good outfit, I have no exp. with FF. We rented a big house so I can't help with accommodations. The Poipu area diving is good - always Turtles, lava tubes to enter - some very dramatic. And lots of fish - more than you can count. Tunnels (shoredive) on the north side will still be too rough to dive most likely so save the drive up. Koloa Landing isn't bad but don't save it as a highlight dive. Good place to get wet the first day - easy entry off an old boat ramp. The best diving is out to Ni'ihau but IIRC March is too early for them to attempt the crossing, it's long, rough and all day.

Poipu Beach is America's Best Beach - http://www.poipubeach.org/

I've been to most of the places you have. We're currently looking at Costa Rica. The Pacific side seems to be better but you can also dive the Caribbean side - Costa Rica is only 200 miles wide. We may do both. Some of the better diving is offshore at Isla de Cano near the Drake Bay area. From here (PHX) there's a direct flight also. That's really all I know about it currently.

 

[robint]

ditto.... from Utah and having such a short trip, I would go to Kona or Maui.

another option would be Key Largo, fly into Ft Lauderdale, get rental car, and drive down. Lots of dive ops to choose from, and decent wreck diving as well as shallow reefs. OR stay in Ft. Lauderdale and do some of the diving there (tons of wrecks, all drift diving).
www.silentworld.com
www.amoray.com
www.southfloridadiving.com
www.horizondivers.com
(just a few options)

robin

 

[Scott]

Diversteve hit's the mark. Maui is a good option for around your price. I'll be there in a couple of weeks in an off beach condo, rental car and air for close to $1500.
Consider Turks & Caicos. Good diving, beaches, descent pricing and you can get a same day flight. I know Jet Blue is offering flights from SLC to T&C via NYC or Boston in the next couple of weeks.

 

[jbtut]

Thanks for the ideas. It's looking more like Cozumel at this point. (I know, I said it was not an option). The flight times into hawaii are the deal killer. I have an odd time off due to my job so the trip is wed-mon. If we go to Cozumel we can catch an early flight and get to CZM by 1:00pm same day. Hawaii flights don't arrive until late in the day and the return flights are all overnighters, meaning I have to leave on Sunday. I can stay till Monday in Coz. So that means basically a full extra day. On a short trip I think it's going to make the difference.


FWIW Costco has pretty good deals on Kauai - $2400 for flight, jeep wrangler, and 4 nights at the Outrigger condos at Poipo (sp?).

I think we'll try to get to Kauai in the fall when I might be able to get a full week or even 10 days. That would give us more time to see the waterfalls and hike more.