Paralyzed by choice

[jbjclj]

We went to Mega and bought yougurt, fruit and beer and kept it in the refrig. I would choose Bahia over Casa del Mar (food was marginal), Bahia's rooms are bigger, big kitchen and you can walk everywhere for dinner, lunch. Casa Del Mar is about 1 1/2 miles from town.

 

[nodakdive]

We ruled out Vista Del Mar based on the photos of their breakfast. Husband needs some protein, I need fruit.

Our AI was noisy until about midnight...so I'm hoping if I could generally sleep through that (I go to bed around 9), I can sleep through downtown.

I'm second guessing again and thinking Casa del Mar. I can't tell if breakfast is included if you don't get their meal plan though. I want breakfast.

Breakfast is generally included if you book through Delta, maybe others too. Their AI is $40/pp per day though I've never done it. I think they used to charge $9 US for their breakfast buffet. It may or may not be the same with the tax change. From what I've seen over the years, if you book through Delta Vacations, and I'd suspect the same of other "vacation" companies, you get the breakfast. If you book through Orbitz or Travelocity, etc, you don't. With them, you get some kind of rental car credit or something. Either way, I think you get sub tickets. So, we book through Delta, don't do the AI, but we still get free breakfast.

CDMs breakfast starts at 7am. If the hotel is full or near full, the breakfast is a buffet, if not, you order from the menu and I think it's all you can eat if breakfast was included with your air/hotel. I remember ordering an egg entre with bacon, and then I'd order a side of bacon, and there was no charge. The 3rd day, they just brought a bunch of bacon even if I didn't order extra.

I'd rather do my taxi rides without any equipment to worry about. When I'm tired after a day of diving, I'd just as soon get dropped off at the restaurants doorstep. Seems to me when my blood sugar is low my tolerance for walking to food is lower. After I've had something to eat, walking a few blocks to catch a cab, or just look around, is almost welcome.

I've seen the Maximus pick people up at CDM many times when I'm waiting for my boat. If I was to guess, I'd say Alison's "leave the caletta time" is 8:30am. Deep Blue's boat leaves downtown at 9am and they tell us 9:15am on the dock for pick-up.

Several years ago, the bar, Tikila, had live music on the weekends, maybe Thursday too. That lasted one year and I'm glad that's all the longer it lasted. They played late and loud and I'm willing to bet that CDM complained. Sounded like they were playing in my room. Anyhow, noise has never been a problem other than that one trip for 2 nights.

-Blair

 

[Skittl1321]

From what I've seen over the years, if you book through Delta Vacations, and I'd suspect the same of other "vacation" companies, you get the breakfast. If you book through Orbitz or Travelocity, etc, you don't

Thank you- this is what I needed to know. I always use Orbitz/Travelocity for the combined airfare savings.

I think Alison only leaves the marina at 8:30 if she has late cruisers, as that was her general pick-up time for us when we were staying at a Southern Resort. I don't know what time that puts her leaving the marina though....which is kinda key if we stay at Bahia (if we stay CDM, then she'd get us there whenever).

But I'm thinking with the fridge, access to restaurants, Bahia is going to win this time.
We'll have to keep track of what we spent on food to see if All Inclusive makes more sense.

Thanks everyone for the help.

 

[dmoore19]

Maybe that was the Texans in the room next door?

Noise at downtown hotels is why I no longer stay there. Hacienda San Miguel is fine although the back rooms may have barnyard animal noises.

 

[DjDiverDan]

I've been staying at Casa Del Mar each December for the last 3 years, and I think the Breakfast is just fine. You are not limited to the buffet - you can order off the menu, French Toast, Pancakes, Eggs with Bacon or Ham, Motulenos or Huevos Rancheros. If you get bored with the CDM Breakfast, you can walk across the street to Ernestos, which has FRESH SQUEEZED OJ, much better fried potatoes (CDM doesn't understand the meaning of "crispy" when it comes to fried potatoes), and a better view. But none of the places open until 7:00 a.m. (Sorry, at Eye Doctor - was interrupted), so its always a bit of a rush to get to Dive Boat if there's a 7:30 call. I think you can get a Garden/Balcony room at Casa Del Mar for about $79 plus tax (total about $90). The Standard Rooms are cheaper, but smaller, cramped, a bit musty, with a view of the Parking Lot. Not what I would go for, but if you don't really care about comfort because the only thing you're going to do in the room is sleep, what the hell. Personally, I like the first floor garden rooms where I can walk out the sliding door to the pool for a late night dip before bed.

 

[Skittl1321]

I think the Breakfast is just fine

The problem for me seems to be that it is not included. (I did look at Delta Vacations and it is $200 more than Orbitz, which doesn't seem worth it to get breakfast included).

 

[MMM]

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[DjDiverDan]

We've always gotten breakfast included by booking directly through the Hotel - contact them directly. You might also get a better rate. It never hurts to ask.

 

[cvchief]

Noise at downtown hotels is why I no longer stay there. Hacienda San Miguel is fine although the back rooms may have barnyard animal noises.

Maybe that was the Texans in the room next door?

BARNYARD ANIMALS?????

Do you know how expensive it is to keep your own herd of pygmy deer and peacocks?? Do you?? Well, er, ah.....

WELL OK, I don't either, but it can't be cheap, so easy on the barnyard animals stuff..... Especially when they are my next door neighbors.

 

[Midge907]

We've always gotten breakfast included by booking directly through the Hotel - contact them directly. You might also get a better rate. It never hurts to ask.

Even if you get the same deal, which you should you are doing a big favor for the hotel. The travel websites take a huge chunk of money for those reservations, the big problem is that some smaller hotels have learned they can't compete without playing the Expedia game.