Palau Choices?

[dirtfarmer]

I'm ready to book a trip to Palau. I leaning heavily to a Fish n Fins package staying at the Landmark Marina. Both Fish n Fins and Sam's have good reviews, so I think I'm going to be in good hands with either dive shop. The Landmark is by the dump. How's the smell? I had a farm by a waste water treatment plant and it was built so the prevailing winds carried the smell away from the population.So is Palau's dump like that and the smell gets carried away to the sea? Or does it stink up the Landmark?

I'm leaning heavily for the Landmark for a few reasons price & proximity to dive shop.Having it next door makes it easy to catch a nap before dinner. But I'd like to avoid having to take a cab for dinner.

So in the area of Fish n Fins/Landmark, are there small restaurants, stores?

I will be going in mid-Nov/before thanksgiving, hows the "crowds" then?

Thanks!
Dirtfarmer

 

[Kevrumbo]

The smell from the dump is very noticeable --I would recommend staying at the West Plaza Desekel near the center of Koror town instead. You'll be in closer walking distance to the eateries, and the Bank of Hawaii ATM is right there around the corner.

Can't go wrong with either Fish n' Fins or SamsTours for dive operations, although SamsTours has the better shorter, more convenient walking distance range to your lodging at West Plaza Malakal, Sea Passion or Palau Royal Resort Hotels.

 

[Centrals]

Liveaboard.
4-5 dives a day with nothing to worry about.
I hate the long and bumpy ride to the dive site everyday.

 

[Nflor001]

I'm going on the Tropic Dancer Oct 16. You should check it out.

 

[Mossman]

I'm going on the Tropic Dancer Oct 16. You should check it out.

The Tropic Dancer is $3K plus single supplement = $4,500. The OP is considering staying next door to a dump in order to save money. The Landmark/Fish-n-Fins package is $1,165 plus single supplement, I'm guessing around $1,500-$1,600, plus it includes free nitrox. Telling someone who's considering spending $2,000 total (budgeting $400-500 for drinks and food) to check out something that costs over twice as much doesn't seem very helpful.

 

[Nflor001]

The Tropic Dancer is $3K plus single supplement = $4,500. The OP is considering staying next door to a dump in order to save money. The Landmark/Fish-n-Fins package is $1,165 plus single supplement, I'm guessing around $1,500-$1,600, plus it includes free nitrox. Telling someone who's considering spending $2,000 total (budgeting $400-500 for drinks and food) to check out something that costs over twice as much doesn't seem very helpful.

Sorry, did not know you guys were drinking buddies. I had no idea what his budget was. I also forgot to mention that it is 25% off that week.

 

[Mossman]

Sorry, did not know you guys were drinking buddies. I had no idea what his budget was. I also forgot to mention that it is 25% off that week.

Hardly drinking buddies. It's just common sense. When someone is commenting about staying in a hotel that's next door to a dump, worried about the smell but still leaning toward staying there because of the price, I made the logical leap that he's concerned about price. Since the Tropic Dancer, even at 25% off, would still cost twice what he's probably intending to pay, I made the assumption that it's out of his budget range.

If someone were asking for a comparison between Motel 6 and Best Western, would you suggest they stay at a Four Seasons because it's nicer?

 

[parzdiver]

I stayed at recently at the Sea Passion and our group booked with Sam's Tours. We had a large enough group that they picked us up in the morning at the hotel dock. Otherwise, it was walking distance between the two. Not across the street, but no big deal. They also had vans that ran people back to the hotel on request. Taxi's were cheap enough for the short rides to a few of the restaurants.

 

[dirtfarmer]

OK be nice people. Yes liveaboard is out of my budget range. I'm most likely going to do a ten days of diving trip, and I do have to pay single supplement. Any input on The Rosegarden? Or the Seapassion? I"ll look into some of the others too.

How's the crowds that time of year?

 

[parzdiver]

OK be nice people. Yes liveaboard is out of my budget range. I'm most likely going to do a ten days of diving trip, and I do have to pay single supplement. Any input on The Rosegarden? Or the Seapassion? I"ll look into some of the others too.

How's the crowds that time of year?

I was very happy with the Sea Passion, a very nice hotel, and close to Sam's. Looking at Sam's web page they have package deals with the Sea Passion.