Rock and a hard place, looking for vac/anniversary destination

[Dweaver]

Hello!

I've been lurking here for a little while, and have searched with no luck and my knowledge is new of diving destinations.

I'm looking for a destination for a week vacation (sat-sat) that will also be a good destination for my non-diving wife for our anniversary.

Here is the rock and a hard place:
Our anniversary is in August ( 5 yr mile marker!) and that is right in the middle of hurricane season. My wife and I have became a little spoiled to all-inclusive resorts as we started going to these type places before I started diving.

We are looking for somewhere for her (just lay on a nice beach with drink in hand and under a palapa) and somewhere I can do diving and hopefully both can go snorkel from the beach at the hotel.

We are unsure about gambling our vacation with a hurricane and good weather otherwise most islands like Caymans, Turks & Caicos etc would fit this bill. We have already been to Aruba and Curacao and I looked at Bonaire but didn't see any all-inclusive resorts.

Also I have not booked a vacation out of the country where air and hotel was separate. Have usually booked through Delta or United.

Hoping some veteran travelers and divers could give me some advice and opinions.

Looking for somewhere in the Caribbean, or Mexico, or Latin America preferably missing possible hurricanes.

Thanks for any help and advice.
Hope to meet some of you and go diving sometime.

-Doug
East Tennessee

 

[UnderwaterBumbleBee]

What about St. Lucia? I haven't been there but we researched it last June when our dive shop was doing a group trip there. Depends on how much you want to spend, Anse Chastenat is a well known honeymoon/anniversary resort and they have diving but the resort is a little more expensive. The Pitons look beautiful, green lush mountains, nice relaxing beach, beautiful resort.

That time of year it will be hard to exclude the possibility of a hurricane in the Caribbean. Even the ABC islands have had a few hurricanes or threats in recent years. We've fortunately never had any hassles that time of year. This year we are headed to the Dominican Republic around the same time as your anniversary for a wedding so we are hoping for the best as well.

Another suggestion is Belize, Ambergris Key would be nice for both of you and it's a fun island to explore (especially on a golf cart).

 

[DiverG]

Doug, since you are looking at Mexico or the Caribbean you should look at booking through air and hotel through Orbitz.com. Using promo code 200Entertain will get you a $200 discount on air/hotel packages.

 

[DandyDon]

I think that Key Largo is idea for newbies and the Keys have a lot to offer other than diving, but Cozumel might be best. I go every August, with trip insurace; I use TravelSafe.com.

You can certainly book air and hotel together and Sidestep.com has good Vacation discount packages, or see http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/ge...s/331431-fun-orbitz-200-package-discount.html then pick your operator.

Good beaches and good shore snorkeling are seldom at the same place as fish don't like wide open sandy areas. The southern resorts see map have the better beaches, but I usually do mostly boat diving or snorkeling wherever I stay. Sidestep.com is not good on their location information, I think they use google maps which suck, but they map will help.

 

[vshearer]

Fiesta Americana Condesa Cancun Hotel. Cancun (Quintana Roo). Rates from USD94

Anyhow, that is where I would go.

 

[robint]

Cozumel:
I would look at Cozumel Scuba Diving at Scuba Club Cozumel Dive Resort and Scuba Cozumel Dive Shop
A great all-inclusive package and great shore diving/snorkeling. It is not a fancy resort though, more like a rustic Mexican hacienda, no tv, but the service is impeccable, food fantastic, and atmosphere is very relaxing (no kids running around screaming). There is a pool and beachfront area with sand (no walk-in beach), oceanfront hammocks...

if you want a bit fancier, I would look at one of the all-inclusives on the south end of Cozumel or the Cozumel Palace up in town. The Palace does not have a beach, but it is very luxurious.

as far as weather in August in Caribbean.... yeah, you are taking a chance, but more likely than not you will have good weather, just very hot and humid with occasional rain showers. I would get trip insurance though in case there is a hurricane.

PDC:
or you could look at one of the big all-inclusives over on the mainland in Playa del Carmen/Riviera Maya/Tulum areas. There are some gorgeous places there with nice beaches but the diving isn't quite a good as over in Cozumel. YOu can take the ferry over and dive Cozumel a day or two, but it makes for a long day. On the mainland there are the cenotes to dive too, if you are comfortable with that. Lots of great topside activities on the mainland - Mayan ruins like Chichen Itza, Coba, and Tulum, ziplines and jungle tours. August is also during the whale shark season up in Holbox area - you can book a day of snorkeling with them from PDC area.

Honduras:
If you are looking for a more exotic location - think about Roatan or Utila. There are several all-inclusives on Roatan - Cocoview and Anthony's Key, but they are more of rustic type accomodations (the type we like but some people don't). To me, it doesn't get any more romantic than Cocoview! I really love that place. Shore diving and snorkeling you can see everything from eels, eagle rays, squid and octopus just steps from your over-water room!
Welcome to CoCo View Resort

as far as Caymans or T&C... yes and no. There aren't many AI resorts there, a few though, but they are pricier than the ones I just mentioned. Depends what type of place you are looking for!
Cayman Brac and Little Cayman both have resorts that you would enjoy, most likely. Nothing much to do at them but dive/snorkel and sit around pool though as there are no real cities on the islands. T&C has a Sandals, I think, but the same thing - not much else to do there in Provo.

As far as booking ---- check out www.caradonna.com and www.divetrip.com and www.bayadventures.com These are all DIVE travel specialists and they can arrange the airfare along with the packages for you. I have used Caradonna and Island Dreams both, happy with both.

I have recent videos and photos from Cozumel, cenotes, and Chichen Itza on my website.

robin

 

[toddthecat]

Grenada.

-Far enough south that hurricanes rarely hit the island.
-Has a large enough airport that you can get a direct flight from Miami, FL (can't remember the carrier. Want to say American Airlines.)

-St. Georges, the capital, is about 10 mins from the airport and there are hotels and resorts to accommodate pretty much anyone (small and cozy to huge and expensive).

-There are three dive shops within 10 mins of the airport. Search the interwebz for: Aquanauts in Grenada, Devotion 2 Ocean, and Dive Grenada.

-If you enjoy wreck diving, this is certainly the place. Home to Bianca C, the Titanic of the Caribbean. A 600 ft long cruise ship where the bottom of the pool is at exactly 132 feet. Plenty of other wrecks and reefs to see as well.

-Grand Anse beach is amazing if your wife wants to just chill out.


Just my two cents. I can provide you with more detailed information if you like.

 

[Belmont]

Lots of great info here.
Sandals resorts can be found in Jamaica, Ste-Lucia, Bahamas and more.
Scuba and snorkel included in the price.
They have hurricane insurance.

 

[DeputyDan]

I know it's not on your destination list - but you should consider Kona Hawaii!

 

[ktomlinson]

Belize is easy...I would take the boat from the airport to Ambergris Caye instead of flying, cheaper and its scenic. The diving is good and so is the food in town and the accommodations. Not sure about Knoxville, but Delta does a Saturday flight to and from Belize/Atlanta. Roatan is also a good spot, topside it was a very relaxing vacation for me, and the diving was very nice. The location of Roatan means that it is sort of protected from most hurricanes, although it has had some. If you arent very proficient at Spanish, neither location will give you any trouble.