Vacation Help!

[laurelgsc]

My boyfriend and I would like to take a vacation at the end of December-Beg of January. He gets very seasick and I would like to take him some place where the shore diving is good, but that I could still do some boat diving if I wanted to. We have about $1200 to spend on the trip including airfare each (excluding food). Any suggestions. I thought of Bonaire and Roatan, but the airfare + packages I checked put it out of our price range. Any places we can check, cheaper places to stay etc.......Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[robint]

Bonaire is definitely your best bet. It is the shore diving capital of the world but you can still do some boat diving if you want. Plus the dive sites are so close by that your BF may not get seasick as 5-10 minute boat rides are common with no surface intervals spent on the boat.
I would check out the websites: www.infobonaire.com and www.bonairetalk.com and www.buddydive.com


Roatan would be okay but the shore diving from Cocoview is just one area and he would get bored with it after a few days if that's all the diving he did. All food is included in the prices of resorts there so even though is looks high it really isn't.

I'd plan to go to Bonaire. There are many smaller hotels off the waterfront that are less than the waterfront resorts, too.

robint
Bonaire next month!

 

[dvrliz1]

Yep Bonaire best bet. Out of Atlanta, try Air Jamaica, or what some of our friends from Atlanta do is take a discount airline to Newark, then the direct Continental flight. When looking a resorts, be sure to ask to have ALL cost included in quotes. Some have no hidden costs, some have services charges, some charge energy surcharges, etc. Also, when renting a vehicle make sure you ask that they include insurance and all taxes. There is also a marine park tag to purchase for divers that is $25.00 and a departure tax of $32.00 pp at the airport, cheaper than many other caribbean islands. Like Robin said...go to www.infobonaire.com, select accommodations and they have a great feature where you can request up to 23 quotes at one time.

Enjoy!

Liz

 

[manuelrodriguez]

hello Guys!

Try Spain! spanish is very accomodating one.. seasick is not a prob, think about the enjoyment u want to experience..

I think U should try travel pills to avoid that...

 

[CaptEsteban]

Bonair is expensive all the way around. Great shore diving, but the trip is expensive && the meals, etc, are outrageous. I would settle for Cozumel. Not so many GREAT shore dives, but plenty to keep him busy while you go out & the price is good!

 

[oly5050user]

Bonair is expensive all the way around. Great shore diving, but the trip is expensive && the meals, etc, are outrageous. I would settle for Cozumel. Not so many GREAT shore dives, but plenty to keep him busy while you go out & the price is good!

Bonaire is most likely the way to go..Budget at $1200.(or real close to it) should get you there with hotel, unlimited dive package,rental car, full buffet breakfast,maybe even free nitrox..at a resort on the water..food is not expensive there,about the same or less than NYC. If you take into account how many dives you can get in and how much total trip with expenses are,the diving is the least expensive per dive in Bonaire.Cappriccio's italian food in town was first rate and less expensive than a neighborhood pizza shop in my home town.If you are interested pm me and I'll see about some rates for you,I just returned with a group I ran there with 25 people.I'll need airport you want to fly out of and dates.

 

[dvrliz1]

Bonair is expensive all the way around. Great shore diving, but the trip is expensive && the meals, etc, are outrageous. I would settle for Cozumel. Not so many GREAT shore dives, but plenty to keep him busy while you go out & the price is good!

I have to agree with Oly....most of our people can have a great vacation here on Bonaire for between 1100-1500 dollars depending on where you stay, how much you go out to dinner, etc. Cappricio's is actually one of the most expensive restaurants on the restaurant, and the food is superb! The other thing is you can go ANYWHERE, ANYTIME on the island...it is much safer than Coz, or Punta, even Jamaica....IMHO Most tell you to stay on the resort. On Bonaire you can explore the whole island and people at local "snacks" (actually smaller local roadside restaurants that ARE regulated hygencially by the government) will welcome you with open arms! If they don't speak much English, they will try and have them "learn" you...lol...I love it here!

Liz

 

[victor]

Bonaire
If you are trying to save money you don't need a truck for every day, dive the house reef. Some of the best dives are right there in front of you, dive early in the morning and watch the reef wake up, dive at sunset and watch it go to sleep.
Some places are selfcatering, not that much cheaper but my personal preference.