Suggestions for budget-friendly early December dive vacation

[Canhoto]

Hello-

I am hoping to find somewhere warm and sunny with and calm turquoise seas, with cheap airfare and an all-inclusive resort that caters to divers. I will be travelling solo, and have a pretty low level of experience, so easy shore dives would be nice, but boat dives would be cool too. I am also not looking to be in the middle of nowhere with nothing to do but dive all day. I'd like to do two or three dives a day, but also be able to go hiking, lay on the beach, visit a bar or restaurant, etc.

I've been looking into Roatan, Aguadilla PR and Curacao, and possibly Nicaragua. I will be flying from Northern California. Any and all advice is welcome.

 

[KathyV]

Traveling solo makes it difficult to find budget-friendly and December is the beginning of the high season in the Caribbean when prices are the most expensive.

Take a look at the 2 for 1 offer from Anthony's Key Resort on Roatan. Cayman Air now offers some flights to Roatan so that might help with the airfare.

I know that you are interested in December, but if you could delay until January, Scuba Board has a few spots left for their all-inclusive Surge trip to Bonaire. The single occupancy, all-inclusive rate is $1740 for a week, see the link below:

ScubaBoard SURGE 2018 Bonaire Package Deal

Have you considered a liveaboard? They are all-inclusive and the prices are based on double occupancy, but if you book with the understanding that they may match you up with a same gender room-mate then you will get the discounted price. And if they don't get another solo diver reservation, they will usually will let you have the room to yourself at the double occupancy price.

Explorer Ventures is offering $300 off (around $1800 pp double occupancy) for their Saba cruise for the first week in December. Just let the divemaster know that you have a low level of experience.

December 2-9, Caribbean Explorer II – St. Kitts/Saba/St. Maarten Save $300 per person!

And if you can travel in January instead of December, the Aggressor Fleet is offering $977 off on their new Roatan Aggressor, so it would be $2018. Again that is based on double-occupancy and they might pair you up with a same gender room-mate, see the link below:

Aggressor Fleet - Official Website

 

[diversteve]

I'm sure it's possible but I've never heard of Nicaragua and good diving mentioned together. My dive friends go there to surf sometimes.

The AKR 2 for 1 doesn't seem like it would work for a solo traveler either unless you can buy just 1/2. Small beach on the Key, pool, about 10mins. by cab to the West End for dozens of restaurant, bar, nightlife options - as good as it gets on Roatan. One thing to watch with them is only Deluxe or Superior rooms have AC - on Roatan you want that.

The best beach on Roatan is in West Bay - it also has everything else you're wanting. Lot's of dive resorts but they're sort of modified AI - you can buy the room and add on diving/meals - some with on-site ops or nearby. Infinity Bay is as nice as it looks, Bananarama as funky as the name sounds. No shore diving there but a nice beach. They also market it to the cruise excursions so it can be crowded.

1/2 way between the two areas is Luna Beach resort. IDK their single supplement but they have some smaller beach front rooms. Nice beach, pool and there's a snorkel area offshore - IDK if that could be a dive farther out. Onsite dive operation and you walk along the beach to the West End for dinner - they only do breakfast/lunch. The water taxi will also pick you up there till it's dark. Due to location you'd mostly need a cab ride to one of the towns - it's kind of set in along the water and the road there is farther back. We almost stayed there once.

Most AI resorts are predicated on double occupancy so there's a single upcharge. On Roatan Cocoview is an option but they have no beach, no pool but 3 shore dives off their dock. They also have a really reasonable single supplement - last time I checked it was $200/wk. There's some jungle hiking (it's a pretty flat island) ziplining and they're not too far from French Harbour where there's some shops/bars but the resort itself is pretty isolated by water - you take their boat from their parking lot to it.

The only real AI resort on Curacao is Sunscape - it's a little east of downtown and has Ocean Encounters on site for diving, a shore dive and decent beach. Within 10 mins you'd be in the heart of downtown and it's also near other touristy areas closer by.

A little farther east is Lion's Dive - almost an AI since they have a meal plan option. Walking distance to the main Ocean Encounters shop and just across from the Seaquarium complex. About 200 yds. to Mambo Beach Club and the new Mambo Blvd. shopping/restaurant complex. I think they have two pools and it's pretty nice - Hemingways there is one of the better restaurants on Curacao.

If you like anything around the Piscadera Bay area (the Marriott Renaissance, Holiday Beach, Hilton, maybe Blue Bay) those are all in a quieter area yet 5mins. ride from the north side of downtown. The Marriott has no beach - just sand around their pool, the Hilton is an old one - the physical building, Blue Bay a few mins. further west but might be all condos? If you see Floris Suites it's gay-friendly - not judging, it's advertised.

Curacao is really low current diving - you have to actively search for a drift dive (Lost Anchor or the far south point of the Tugboat site) and the reef parallels the shore. Most of the site entries are off sandy beaches - if a dive dock is needed the on-site operator has built one. It's a good choice for you. The Tugboat is worth the drive, it's in 17' just off the beach and the pier nearby is 40' deep and covered in stuff. One of the piers by the Tugboat is covered in Orange Cup Corals also. (best at night)

Plus if you're not comfortable with whatever instabuddies you find, there's the Dive Bus, all they do i escorted shore diving at the better sites around the island. As the name sounds, they'll pick you up at any resort in town also. Bas Harts Diving offers a similar, more personalized experience.

I don't do it but Christoffel Park has hiking trails for all levels of difficulty - sort of mid/west part of the island.

 

[KathyV]

...The AKR 2 for 1 doesn't seem like it would work for a solo traveler either unless you can buy just 1/2...

That's not correct, how could Anthony's Key Resort let "2 people stay for the price of one" but still charge a single traveler a supplement?

I checked the "buy one get one free" promotion details on the AKR website and they clearly state:

"Travel dates December 31, 2016 - December 30, 2017. Subject to availability...Prices shown are per person for a 7-night minimum stay based on single or double occupancy."

http://www.anthonyskey.com/promotions/promotion-buy-one-get-one-free-in-20171.htm

So I think that AKR may be a good budget-friendly option for a solo traveler because it is all-inclusive and they don't charge a single supplement, and their promotion pricing is consistent for all of 2017 and doesn't increase during the high season.

But you are right to caution the OP about their pricing because the cheapest accommodations at AKR may not include air-conditioning, and I wouldn't stay at a tropical resort without AC. Whether traveling alone or with others, I would pay for an upgrade to get a room with AC at AKR (or anywhere else in the tropics!) And be aware that the advertised prices don't include the 19% government tax.

Airfare to Roatan can be expensive, I suggest asking the booking agents for AKR for advice about the best air-travel options. Even if they charge a small booking fee for air transportation, they may have better knowledge and connections to offer the best options.

 

[diversteve]

I would assume - and I may be wrong - that AKR is not going to tie up a 4person overwater cabana for one guest so likely they put them in the Hillside section which are more like hotel rooms.

I did not know the details of the 2for1 which was why I suggested to check.

As you mentioned, we've never been able to get to Roatan for less than about $900 no matter when we book. I suspect that's why the 2for1's $30-35 dives and reasonable food prices exist.

Another point to consider is the beach. From a Hillside room, you have to walk down the hill, board the water taxi and shuttle over to the Key. AKR on the main side consists of most of the facilities - including the restaurant at the Hillside level - and a large dock that fronts the property - they parallel park all nine boats. Not exactly the walk out the door onto the beach experience you might expect. And it's not a very wide beach.

 

[KathyV]

A budget-friendly, all-inclusive resort for a solo traveler, at the beginning of the high season, with cheap airfare, in a popular, tropical tourist destination with good diving and other attractions - is really asking for quite a lot! So the OP may have to rethink at least one of his requirements.

Sunset House on Grand Cayman is another possibility. I just checked airfares from Sacramento to Grand Cayman during the week of December 2 to December 9, and both Delta and United are offering round-trip fares for $500 - and that's really quite cheap (but they weren't the shortest, easiest, best routes.)

Sunset House is not an all-inclusive, but breakfast is included and they are offering a "Single Diver Special" through December 15, 2017, see the link and info below. They don't list the pricing and it is "Based on availability" so it would be a good idea to make enquiries soon, if interested.

According to their web site, Sunset House's one-week dive packages include "6 days of 2 tank boat trips, unlimited shore diving, daily breakfast, airport transfers, welcome gifts and all your tax and service charges". So there are no hidden taxes or hotel service charges or resort fees - but tips for the dive staff would be extra.

Sunset House is located near George Town so there are many opportunities for activities and restaurants. Cayman can be a very expensive destination, but there are some less expensive options.

A typical day might be to have the free breakfast at the resort, dive the 2-tank boat dives in the morning, grab a light lunch at MyBar on the resort property. Do one or two afternoon shore dives, (or relax by the pool) and then head over to Guy Harvey's in George Town for dinner. Happily that will be after the cruise ship passengers have left town for the day!

GC has a good, reliable, inexpensive bus service so you could take the bus into George Town for dinner and plan on taking a cab back - it's only a short distance.

Or there is free parking at the resort and rental car prices are usually a bargain on GC, and that would greatly expand your eating and entertainment options, but you have to be willing to drive on the left side of the road and of course, it would be better to do most of your drinking at the resort after diving is done for the day.

Guy Harvey's offers a Happy Hour from 5 to 7 pm and they offer a $9.99 CID ($12.18 USD) dinner special every night (and a $1 Deal on Saturday and Sunday) see the link below: Guy Harvey's Restaurant and Bar, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands

And there are some other low-budget eating options available on GC if you look for them, again having a car gives you many more options, but there are inexpensive local venues such as Heritage Kitchen or the Grapetree Cafe.

I have never stayed at Sunset House but we have visited and the resort property is lovely. And the Red Conch Chowder at MyBar is delicious!

See the link below for a photo of the Standard Courtyard room that is included in the Single Divers special. It looks nice and it appears to have a small refrigerator and an ice bucket in the room. That can also help reduce costs.

You can pick up some snacks and lunch fixings at a local store and plan on making some light meals on your own. And my experience with resorts in Cayman is that they usually provide ice cheaply or at no charge, so preparing some of your own beverages (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) to enjoy on your patio or balcony can also save money. They may not offer a refrigerator in all the rooms - it's not listed under "amenities" so be sure to request one. And if there isn't one in the room when you arrive - ask again.

If you enjoy some alcoholic beverages while on vacation, plan to pick up a bottle of duty-free liquor at the airport, after you clear security but before you leave the US, because liquor is quite expensive in the Caymans. My Bar at the Sunset House Resort also offers a Happy Hour.

Have a solo trip planned? Sunset House has the answer with big savings

Sunset House has the answers with a Singles Divers Special from now until December 15th, 2017. Save with a minimum seven night / six days of diving. Based on availability. For more information on this special and others, feel free to call us at 1-800-854-4767. (Available in Courtyard Rooms Only...Single Occupancy Only)

Courtyard Room Standard Rate - Sunset House - George Town - Cayman Islands

One of the most popular rooms for “cost conscious.” These rooms have a walk-in patio door and are available with 2 Queen or 1 King bed, digital cable TV, air conditioning, and private bathrooms. Most courtyard rooms can access the wireless network. There are courtyard rooms above the front office area and on either side of the parking lot headed to My Bar. There are also eight courtyard rooms in the garden area close to the 400 block of rooms.

Amenities

• Hair dryer
• Safety Deposit Box (Front Desk)
• High Speed Internet -on Balconies
• Easy to Set Alarm Clock Radio
• LCD Flat Panel TV
• Air Conditioning
• Bath Amenities
• Complimentary Parking

 

[KathyV]

...As you mentioned, we've never been able to get to Roatan for less than about $900 no matter when we book. I suspect that's why the 2for1's $30-35 dives and reasonable food prices exist..

Very true, another factor that often makes Roatan seem like much less of a bargain than you would expect, is that the advertised prices usually don't include the 19% tax required for all hotels and resorts and rental properties. That can substantially increase your costs.

 

[Trailboss123]

I think @KathyV nailed it with the Sunset House option on Grand Cayman. If you can get an airfare from Sacramento anything below $750, I would jump all over that option. I have stayed at Sunset House in December previously and had an outstanding time and the weather and diving was great for us. They have a great on site restaurant and bar and you are walking distance to downtown (albeit a healthy walk)-- personally, I would rent a car for getting around the island to sightsee and do supplemental shore diving.

 

[Canhoto]

KathyV and others, thank you for the suggestions. Sunset House looks like it really fits the bill.

 

[KathyV]

I think @KathyV nailed it with the Sunset House option on Grand Cayman. If you can get an airfare from Sacramento anything below $750, I would jump all over that option...

KathyV and others, thank you for the suggestions. Sunset House looks like it really fits the bill.

Great! But you will have to do some searching for the best airfares and travel times, if you want one-stop and short travel times it's going to be more expensive - but probably not terrible - and worth it in my opinion.

Cayman is on Eastern Standard Time so it may be late in the afternoon or evening when you arrive on GC, and you will have to go through Customs and Immigration, and then get the car if you plan to rent one. And it gets dark earlier in December.

Your body will still be on Pacific Time and it will feel earlier - but it won't feel so good when you have to get up the next morning for the boat dives.

Paying more for easier and faster travel is probably the smarter option, and you can start enjoying your vacation sooner!

Like @Trailboss123, I also prefer renting a car on GC, but if you arrive on the island late you may find yourself driving on the left side through the roundabouts after dark, which may not be the easiest thing to do after a long trip. So you might want to take advantage of the "free airport transfers" that are included in the package and arrange a rental car through the hotel later.

BTW, I think I was wrong about there being a small, man-made beach on the SH property - I was thinking of another resort. I believe that it's all ironshore at Sunset House, but there are places to sit and relax and enjoy the sea, and watching the sunset from My Bar is a great experience!

I hope that they still have availability and that it all works out for you!