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Is it time for a "No Frills" down and cheap trip?


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#16 ScubaTurtle

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Posted 07 December 2012 - 10:00 PM

I pretty much agree with Tammy with the exception of a/c. gotta have air conditioning in my room.. ok so I am a wuss when it comes to that. I can tolerate hot and sweaty all day long but at night I need a cool room.

I'm in agreement with Jim on this one. Gotta have a/c!

I can't disagree with the need AC opinion. I can sweat it out all day long in the heat but once I get back to my room I need to have at least the option to cool off. The no alcohol option is an interesting idea (if it actually lowered costs) but as you said Kamala sometimes it's just as expensive as the other drinks (even water in the case of some 3rd world countries). I have to say for me in Roatan the cafe lattes from the hotel were REALLY good and worth the all inclusive cost since I wasn't drinking much alcohol.

I would be up for a more no frills resort (no entertainment, no bars, simple rooms) but not up for a camping trip. As you said I think there are a lot of different interpretations of "No Frills".

I'm a BOTTOM DWELLER !!!!!
Rather do MORE no frills dive trips per year than middle to higher end trips. I just did 6 dives(got sick prior to trip)/8 days in Puerto Rico on 3 tee shirts/ 2 shorts and less then $50/night lodging inc taxes.
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Damn Stan, that's some serious dive time each day. Very jealous.


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#17 WreckWench

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Posted 08 December 2012 - 06:07 AM

I am happy to organize a/more simpler trips/no frills trips if we had a consensus that enough people wanted one. Usually and the word is *usually* if we plan a FL trip it serves the purpose of being fairly no frills and usually as reasonable as it gets for diving these days. We are SERIOUSLY discussing at least 1 FL trip for next year. Ideally for me its in tandem with another trip where I need to fly out of MIA so that I am effectively only paying for a lay over in FL and not the entire airline ticket.

Another 'no frills' destination is NC. We add a number of amenities to make it doable for fly in divers and its certainly NOT camping but its an older 'mom and pop' kitsy beach hotel and again its one where if I can drive vs fly it helps me offset a very expensive airline ticket.

What we *usually* find is that simple things such as a/c are not as basic as *we* take them to be. There are tons of really lovely places in many diving venues that have hotels with no a/c. They rely on cool breezes and milder climates to offset the need for a/c. However we are relatively spoiled and assume a/c to be a necessity vs a luxury.

Also a *no frills* trip usually works best with a smaller number of people. They rely on the individuals to work together as a team rather than show up and be on vacation. For example... food. When food is included in a pkg you eat when you want too. You do not rely on coordinating with your roommate or usually more accurately several suitemates as to when you want to eat. You show up and order or help yourself to the buffet vs someone making lunch for everyone or worrying about eating 'shared food' or trying to keep 'your food' separate from everyone else's. So you pay a bit more for the convenience of someone else preparing food and of course the convenience of just being able to eat when you want. Many people after they reach a certain age no longer want to deal with all the hassle. Its not worth it. Often times *no frills* trips are younger people's trips or maybe those just young at heart. If nothing bothers you, you are a go with the flow person then it will probably work out. If you need things a certain way, require a bit more luxury no matter how you define it, then this is probably not the path for you.

And finally...we offer several very inexpensive trips such as our Roatan trip. Anytime you can get 3 boat dives a day, 3 meals a day plus fancy coffees, sodas, alcohol, water etc and even more so when its a really NICE resort for $1159 including taxes that is $165 a day. And that included unlimited shore diving so the price per dive can be VERY low... you don't get more 'no frills' pricing than that with a modicum of convenience and yet we have people complain. THAT is why I am always nervous about 'no frills' trips as people have become quite accustomed to so many conveniences that they just take for granted.

But say the word and we'll make it happen....

Or check out our 2013 Roatan trip over Halloween next year...or NC Wreck & Shark diving over the 4th of July or our Florida trip we are talking about doing next summer. We have several "inexpensive" trips lined up that many already consider 'no frills'. ;)

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#18 georoc01

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Posted 08 December 2012 - 07:18 PM

And no frills can be on either the diving side or the accomodations side. The question would be you can stay at a nice resort where the diving is relatively limited with large cattle boats with very high diver to dive master ratios.

Likewise you can have spartan accomodations, but dive on small dive boats with lots of TLC from the dive operator.

To me, I'd rather have the latter, even if it means paying extra for nice meals or BYOB in an ala carte mode.

#19 drbill

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Posted 11 January 2013 - 10:41 PM

I've never been one to pamper myself if I can find a safe, inexpensive way to dive more places around the globe.

#20 RobMotoColo

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Posted 27 February 2016 - 09:20 AM

My personal version of no frills has been Key Largo. Fly into either Miami or Ft. Laud., take Greyhound bus to marina with Holiday Inn & Courtyard hotels and dive with Ocean Divers or other. Various restaurants in walking distance plus DiversDirect store.
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#21 WreckWench

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Posted 29 February 2016 - 11:52 AM

My personal version of no frills has been Key Largo. Fly into either Miami or Ft. Laud., take Greyhound bus to marina with Holiday Inn & Courtyard hotels and dive with Ocean Divers or other. Various restaurants in walking distance plus DiversDirect store.

 

 

Totally agree! And we hope to offer more Florida "no frills" trips in 2016 and for sure 20171!!!  :cool1:  Thanks for the input! Perfect timing to revive this topic! :respect:



Contact me directly at Kamala@SingleDivers.com for your private or group travel needs or 864-557-6079 AND don't miss SD's 2018-2021 Trips! ....here! Most are once in a lifetime opportunities...don't miss the chance to go!!
SD LEGACY/OLD/MANUAL Forms & Documents.... here !

Click here TO PAY for Merchandise, Membership, or Travel
"Imitation is the sincerest flattery." - Gandhi
"Imitation is proof that originality is rare." - ScubaHawk
SingleDivers.com...often imitated...never duplicated!

Kamala Shadduck c/o SingleDivers.com LLC
2234 North Federal Hwy, #1010 Boca Raton, FL 33431
formerly...
710 Dive Buddy Lane; Salem, SC 29676
864-557-6079 tel/celfone/office or tollfree fax 888-480-0906




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