I'm researching a February dive vacation for myself and my dive buddy, who also happens to be my father, and his wife, who also happens to be my mother. eyebrow I've run into a wall with my research and would like to ask you, oh wise Scuba Board members, for some advice.
I'm looking for suggestions for a location in the Caribbean/Americas with good to great diving and a world-class hotel. Now, I would happily sleep hanging upside down from a cave ceiling if it meant I could go diving, but my parents much prefer convenience and comfort. My Dad travels a lot for business and is used to a really nice hotel. He wants to be as comfortable as possible on land and is willing to pay for it, particularly for just a few days.
To give you an idea, he was not terribly impressed with Cozumel's Presidente/Intercontinental about 5 years ago. (Though, personally I think that was mostly because of the rock-hard bed, a norte that had my mom sitting on the beach wrapped in 3 beach towels, and the Christmas crowds.) Since then, he's tended to stick to cruise vacations because of the luxury experience and the food. My mom doesn't swim, let alone dive, and likes a nice beach to sit and read while worrying about us getting eaten by sharks.
Since my own travel experience has been more of the Motel 6 variety, it's been hard for to me to judge. All the hotels and resorts look so nice in the pictures! Since it's a short trip, we've ruled out anything further than the Caribbean/Central America. (Flying out of the Midwest.) Some places I've considered:
- Cozumel: we loved the diving, but the Presidente won't be open for a while, and I don't think my Dad would go back to that hotel anyway. He loved diving there in the past, but I can't find a hotel I think he'd like. I wish I could, because he loves Palancar. All right, we both do.
- Grand Cayman: I thought this would be a good combination of upscale resort locales with great diving if we didn't mind some longer boat rides, but my Dad thinks the island is still recovering from earlier hurricanes. I'm trying to figure out if the Ritz-Carlton on Seven Mile Beach is open. My Dad likes to dive walls and enjoyed some dives out of George Town in the past.
- Grand Turk: Provo seems to be like Grand Cayman but not as built up, but I can't get a clear sense of what the "top" hotels or resorts are and how they would compare to, say, a Sheraton. We've never been to Turks & Caicos, I think my Mom would love the Provo beaches, and my Dad met some business associate who went there and loved it. We just don't know where he stayed.
- Belize: the best accommodation there seems to be small resorts, which I would love but suspect aren't quite what my Dad's is looking for. Placencia seems nice, but without any really big hotels. Turneffe Key seems a bit isolated? They all seem pretty similar in their descriptions. Are there any that really stand out in terms of amenities?
- Nevis: there are some really nice hotels and beaches that fit the accomodation requirement, but it seems like the diving there and in St. Kitts isn't even in the same league as the other places I've looked into. So far that's been the deal breaker.
- Liveaboards: I've tried to convince my Dad that this is a like cruise but with more diving, but he saw some pictures of the boats and declined. Also, my mom is easily seasick and would be miserable.
For those with more diving and traveling experience, where would you recommend? Is the research accurate, or are there places/hotels I've overlooked? I've searched around this forum a bit, but not surprisingly the posts seem to focus on the underwater attractions and dive operators.
Thank you in advance for any advice. I appreciate your insights and generosity in sharing your wisdom. Plus, this post is approaching Tolstoy-like lengths, so thank you for reading this far. To express my gratitude, I can offer a trip report when we return, or your choice of these lovely suspension bridges in New York or San Francisco.
I'm looking for suggestions for a location in the Caribbean/Americas with good to great diving and a world-class hotel. Now, I would happily sleep hanging upside down from a cave ceiling if it meant I could go diving, but my parents much prefer convenience and comfort. My Dad travels a lot for business and is used to a really nice hotel. He wants to be as comfortable as possible on land and is willing to pay for it, particularly for just a few days.
To give you an idea, he was not terribly impressed with Cozumel's Presidente/Intercontinental about 5 years ago. (Though, personally I think that was mostly because of the rock-hard bed, a norte that had my mom sitting on the beach wrapped in 3 beach towels, and the Christmas crowds.) Since then, he's tended to stick to cruise vacations because of the luxury experience and the food. My mom doesn't swim, let alone dive, and likes a nice beach to sit and read while worrying about us getting eaten by sharks.
Since my own travel experience has been more of the Motel 6 variety, it's been hard for to me to judge. All the hotels and resorts look so nice in the pictures! Since it's a short trip, we've ruled out anything further than the Caribbean/Central America. (Flying out of the Midwest.) Some places I've considered:
- Cozumel: we loved the diving, but the Presidente won't be open for a while, and I don't think my Dad would go back to that hotel anyway. He loved diving there in the past, but I can't find a hotel I think he'd like. I wish I could, because he loves Palancar. All right, we both do.
- Grand Cayman: I thought this would be a good combination of upscale resort locales with great diving if we didn't mind some longer boat rides, but my Dad thinks the island is still recovering from earlier hurricanes. I'm trying to figure out if the Ritz-Carlton on Seven Mile Beach is open. My Dad likes to dive walls and enjoyed some dives out of George Town in the past.
- Grand Turk: Provo seems to be like Grand Cayman but not as built up, but I can't get a clear sense of what the "top" hotels or resorts are and how they would compare to, say, a Sheraton. We've never been to Turks & Caicos, I think my Mom would love the Provo beaches, and my Dad met some business associate who went there and loved it. We just don't know where he stayed.
- Belize: the best accommodation there seems to be small resorts, which I would love but suspect aren't quite what my Dad's is looking for. Placencia seems nice, but without any really big hotels. Turneffe Key seems a bit isolated? They all seem pretty similar in their descriptions. Are there any that really stand out in terms of amenities?
- Nevis: there are some really nice hotels and beaches that fit the accomodation requirement, but it seems like the diving there and in St. Kitts isn't even in the same league as the other places I've looked into. So far that's been the deal breaker.
- Liveaboards: I've tried to convince my Dad that this is a like cruise but with more diving, but he saw some pictures of the boats and declined. Also, my mom is easily seasick and would be miserable.
For those with more diving and traveling experience, where would you recommend? Is the research accurate, or are there places/hotels I've overlooked? I've searched around this forum a bit, but not surprisingly the posts seem to focus on the underwater attractions and dive operators.
Thank you in advance for any advice. I appreciate your insights and generosity in sharing your wisdom. Plus, this post is approaching Tolstoy-like lengths, so thank you for reading this far. To express my gratitude, I can offer a trip report when we return, or your choice of these lovely suspension bridges in New York or San Francisco.
