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'.