Trip Report Trip Report: Ramon's & Ambergris Caye Jan 2022

[Grateful head]

We went to Coz three times in 2021
Always a great time

Look at
Little Caymen Island
Turks & Caicos (both Grand Turk and Providencialis)
Bonaire

Was in Turks and Caicos 22 years ago….awesome diving! I am currently looking at Little Caymen and Bonaire but the idea of spending $125 per person for some Covid test in Bonaire would take that destination off the table…. for now.

 

[Grateful head]

The best diving from Belize is said to be in the outer atolls region; I got there via live-aboard, but some people do land-based in that region. Ambergris Caye seems to cater to people liking diving plus a fun touristy topside, from what I've read (haven't visited it).

I think some people have posted favorably about the diving out of A.C., though, and it's not unusual to find differences of opinion.

Cozumel and Roatan are value/budget dive trip leaders in the Caribbean, but if you want something different, you can get it. Belize, Curacao, St. Croix, quite range of places. A bit question is what you want 'different.' Just a new place with the same diving experience (unlikely), shore diving, wall diving, etc...?

Curaçao is off the short list due to high airfare, St Croix is on the short list due to reasonable airfare, an American territory and because of its touted good diving. So many places….

 

[Doc Harry]

We stayed at Ramon’s 4 years ago. We liked the resort, and the off-resort restaurants in town were excellent, but the diving close to AC was only so-so. One and done for us.

Perfect summation

 

[drrich2]

I am currently looking at Little Caymen and Bonaire but the idea of spending $125 per person for some Covid test in Bonaire would take that destination off the table…. for now.

Bonaire just recently changed it's testing requirements; check the highly active recent thread running on Covid surging in Bonaire.

In terms of cost, overall trip cost for a Bonaire trip can compare favorably with other mainstream regional destinations. For solo trips, I've noticed trips to a number of places have roughly similar totals, but the time I factor in everything.

1.) I learned from others on ScubaBoard that in recent times, Wed. - Wed. roundtrip airfare to Bonaire can be much cheaper than Sat. - Sat.

2.) If all you is shore dive, I see no need to tip. If you tip $10/tank (or more) when boat diving, that adds up.

3.) Housing and shore diving packages on Bonaire tend to be pretty cheap. If you pack a whole lot of diving in (say, 4 - 5 dives/day) while you're there, your cost/dive average for the trip gets good.

Bonaire is not the end all, be all of diving. Belize, which this topic is mainly about a portion of, has a greater variety of sizable grouper, reef sharks, more varied reef topography and in places I'd say lusher reef (unless you head down to Bonaire's southwestern sites like Sweet Dreams) - I'm speaking of the outer atolls region via live-aboard, though. But I didn't have solo shore diving in Belize, and love it in Bonaire.

If you spend time in Belize, and it's practical, try to work in a rainforest tour and see some Mayan ruins.

 

[Grateful head]

Bonaire just recently changed it's testing requirements; check the highly active recent thread running on Covid surging in Bonaire.

In terms of cost, overall trip cost for a Bonaire trip can compare favorably with other mainstream regional destinations. For solo trips, I've noticed trips to a number of places have roughly similar totals, but the time I factor in everything.

1.) I learned from others on ScubaBoard that in recent times, Wed. - Wed. roundtrip airfare to Bonaire can be much cheaper than Sat. - Sat.

2.) If all you is shore dive, I see no need to tip. If you tip $10/tank (or more) when boat diving, that adds up.

3.) Housing and shore diving packages on Bonaire tend to be pretty cheap. If you pack a whole lot of diving in (say, 4 - 5 dives/day) while you're there, your cost/dive average for the trip gets good.

Bonaire is not the end all, be all of diving. Belize, which this topic is mainly about a portion of, has a greater variety of sizable grouper, reef sharks, more varied reef topography and in places I'd say lusher reef (unless you head down to Bonaire's southwestern sites like Sweet Dreams) - I'm speaking of the outer atolls region via live-aboard, though. But I didn't have solo shore diving in Belize, and love it in Bonaire.

If you spend time in Belize, and it's practical, try to work in a rainforest tour and see some Mayan ruins. View attachment 701511View attachment 701512

I will look again into Bonaire covid testing and see if that $125 a person still applies.

The Wed to Wed airfare being cheaper is the kind of info I am craving as I tend to base the majority of my recent trips based on flight tickets. I have a hard time justifying bight ticket prices if the diving is mediocre. I research those days specifically to see if it comes out cheaper for airfare. I have been to Roatan twice, and recently looked at tickets there and they were all over $1000 a ticket.

 

[drrich2]

The Wed to Wed airfare being cheaper is the kind of info I am craving as I tend to base the majority of my recent trips based on flight tickets.

Booking mid. February with American Airlines, going Wed. to Wed. instead of Sat. to Sat. saved me > $700.

But it's my understanding the level you buy (I generally buy economy with 1 carryon, 1 personal item, pay for the 2 checked bags) may determine how they will handle it if you need to change your flight plan due to COVID-19. This might be worth checking into on AA's site, and factoring in if you're considering getting trip insurance.

I find it hard to definitively understand what is and not covered, but you may have an easier time of it.

 

[Doc Harry]

I use the advance search function, including nearby airports and flexible travel dates. Almost always I get first class seats at coach prices, and first class gets you 2 free checked bags.

 

[Grateful head]

Booking mid. February with American Airlines, going Wed. to Wed. instead of Sat. to Sat. saved me > $700.

But it's my understanding the level you buy (I generally buy economy with 1 carryon, 1 personal item, pay for the 2 checked bags) may determine how they will handle it if you need to change your flight plan due to COVID-19. This might be worth checking into on AA's site, and factoring in if you're considering getting trip insurance.

I find it hard to definitively understand what is and not covered, but you may have an easier time of it.

Thanks for the suggestion and just out of curiosity, I quickly punched in a wed to wed flight to Roatan ( because I already am familiar with prices there) near our allotted time slot and it’s still over a grand a ticket. This is on Kayak.com. I will look into the other options an Americans site this weekend.

 

[drrich2]

Thanks for the suggestion and just out of curiosity, I quickly punched in a wed to wed flight to Roatan ( because I already am familiar with prices there) near our allotted time slot and it’s still over a grand a ticket.

The Wed. - Wed. trick was for Bonaire; I don't know what the best days to use for Roatan are. I am surprised you're looking at over a grand, though. For my May 2021 roundtrip flight out of Nashville, TN to Roatan, going through Orbitz, I paid $649.09, then later decided a layover was too tight and had a change made, which cost another $38.20. That doesn't include checked bag fees.

 

[wetb4igetinthewater]

Quick question. What's appropriate for tipping? $10/tank?