81 replies to this topic

[WreckWench]

BUFFER HOTEL UPDATE - SEE BELOW FOR WHO WANTS A ROOM AND WHO HAS PAID SO FAR:

 

 

I have just re-confirmed (albeit a tad show) that our group reservation is CONFIRMED as follows:

 

• 20 rooms (one for every person) has been reserved for up to 2 days prior to the start of both week #1 and week #2. If you are traveling as a couple, only one room has been booked for you.
• Extra days can be added to the reservation but SOONER is better than later.
• This is not a beachfront nor ocean view hotel for this pricing. This is a nice place to stay that is in everyone's budget so no one has to be by themselves.
• The group hotel has full wifi in the rooms, free breakfast, free transfers from the airport and is centrally located with access to cultural as well as eating establishments.
• The single room price including taxes, green fee, breakfast etc is $86 USD CASH Price or $89 USD CREDIT price. (This is actually a few bucks less than we initially posted!)
• We have reserved MOST of the hotel which is HIGHLY rated by all the rating agencies.
• The idea behind the group hotel is so that we have safety in numbers, someone else has exchanged enough local currency to pay the bill (most hotels in Male require the booking be held via credit card but paid for with local currency). We have LEVERAGE with all our bookings being in one place as well as SAFETY.
• Each person sans any couples traveling with us, will have a private room to help establish an acceptable jet lag and sleep restoration process unique to just you. In other words...no one will accidentally wake you up because their sleep cycle is out of whack. Conversely you will have a chance to recoup and regenerate before boarding the boat whereby EVERYONE will have a roommate.
• We have negotiated a group rate for the rooms saving a few shekels for everyone.
• And finally, I will publish pictures, full hotel amenities and add the rooms to the booking engine so you can sign up for them shortly, but whiles this is happening PLEASE tell us your actual travel arrivals and departures so we can tailor the reservations to people's actual arrivals and departures.

 

And finally....the room is clean, quiet and nice without spending a small fortune on a room that is essentially designed to help you beat jet lag and ensure your bags arrive. I am VERY COMFORTABLE staying here myself and STRONGLY ENCOURAGE everyone to do the same for the following reasons:

 

1. The rooms are already booked to cover the entire range of arrival and departure dates FOR BOTH WEEKS so no effort on your part is needed
2. The entire group will be able to meet and if we need to make any rooming tweaks on the boat I can still do so
3. The entire group will all be in ONE PLACE which will provide a huge element of safety and peace of mind not only for the solo traveler BUT FOR THE GROUP LEADER who will stress to death worrying if everyone has arrived or is safe or will find the boat or will get luggage if it is delayed etc etc etc. If you can think it..I will stress over it.

 

SO PLEASE USE THE GROUP HOTEL so the can relax a bit with one LESS HUGE WORRY...YOU BEING THERE SAFELY AND ALL TOGETHER!!!

 

p.s. This is not the cheapest room nor the most expensive. I originally thought the s/o would be $120 so we are well below that amt and only slightly above what a d/o would cost.  YOUR SAFETY AND PEACE OF MIND IS NOT WORTH TRYING TO SAVE A FEW BUCKS. And along that note...if you choose to do your own thing then I will expect to see you at the boat and I will force myself not to worry about you. I will leave you to your own devices as you prefer to make your own arrangements and make your way to the boat etc.  Otherwise I will ensure that no one oversleeps, I will take care of any hotel issues for you, help with any luggage issues, etc.

 

 

 

^{Just booked and paid my deposit.  Would like more information on Extra land based nights and.or buffer pkgs being set up by SD.com (approx $120 s/o or $65 d/o per day)}

 

Hey girl glad you are able to join us!!!

 

We will be getting people more info on the buffer days shortly. There are two schools of thought....

 

1. A mini vacation in Male for a few days before and/or after to include diving, sightseeing etc.

2. A safe, clean reasonably priced place to stay to ensure bags arrive before the boat departs, catch up on sleep and acclimate etc.

 

The pricing I gave assumes the latter. I am hoping since we have had so many sign up early that we can discuss more fully what people want and I can then proceed to lock in the rooms accordingly so we can help with keeping everyone together as a group, group rates and/or sharing rooms to save money etc.

 

 

MASTER LIST OF EXTRA NIGHTS SET UP FOR WHOM:

 

Group Hotel Needs for Feb 26-Mar 5, 2017 Trip

 

1. Marcia aka LibraDiver -  Feb 24 & 25  PAID SO

2. Nick aka TwoWheelGuy -  Feb 24 & 25 -  PAID SO

3. Michael aka Reef Junkie - Feb 24 & 25 AND Mar 4 & 5  - PAID SO

4. Lindsey aka DiverGirl662 - Feb 24 & 25 - PAID SO

5. Nadley aka Sassy SeaTurtle WANTS 1 day Feb 25 check out Feb 26 - PAID SO

6. Susan aka Susiq WANTS 1 days 25h check out Feb 26 - PAID DO

7. Patty aka N.J.Turtle WANTS 2 days Feb 24 & 25th check out Feb 26 - PAID SO

8. Sumant aka DesiDiver WANTS 2 days Feb 24 & 25th check out Feb 26 - PAID SO

9. Erika aka SeaNymph WANTS 2 days Feb 24 & 25th check out Feb 26 - PAID SO

10. Jeff aka Largodiver WANTS 2 days Feb 24 & 25th check out Feb 26 - PAID SO

11. John aka KeysJohn WANTS 2 days Feb 24 & 25th check out Feb 26 - PAID SO

12. Wendy aka Wildtang WANTS 2 days Feb 24 & 25th check out Feb 26 - PAID SO

13. Silvie aka Silviescuba: 1 Day 2/25 - PAID D/O

14. Holly aka RideNdive:  WANTS 2 days Feb 24 & 25th check out Feb 26 - PAID SO

15. Michael aka ReefJunkie: WANTS 2 days Feb 24 & 25th check out Feb 26 - Paid SO

16. Kamala Wreckwench - WANTS 2 days Feb 24 & 25th check out Feb 26 - PAID S/O - DO 25TH

 

Group Hotel Needs for Mar 5-15, 2017 Trip

 

1. Ben aka Beerknurd WANTs 1 night Mar 4, check out on 5th - PAID SO

2  Butch aka Cajun Diver WANTS 1 day Mar 4 check out Mar 5 - PAID SO

3. Craig aka MrDessert WANTS 1 day Mar 4 check out Mar 5 - PAID SO

4. Ellen aka SeaLassie WANTS 2 days Mar 3 & 4 - PAID SO

5. Kathy aka LittleMermaid - Wants 1 day Mar 4 check out 5 - PAID DO

8. Mary aka WisconsinFarmGirl WANTS 2 days Mar 3 & 4 - PAID SO

6. Melanie aka Melaniewhite7 WANTS 2 days Mar 3 & 4 - PAID SO

7. Sandra aka DiverSandra WANTS 3 days Mar 3 & 4, checking out Mar 5 AND Mar 15 check out Mar 16. - PAID SO

8. Nicholas aka TwoWheelGuy - Arriving Week 1

9. Sandra aka MizTee WANTS 1 day Mar 4 check out Mar 5 - PAID SO

10. Sue aka lv2dive-run-ski WANTS 1 day Mar 4 check out Mar 5 -MAR 4 PAID S/O

11. Walt aka Wet Wally WANTS 2 days Mar 3 & 4 checking out Mar 5 - PAID SO

12. Kamala aka Wreckwench

 

Arriving on the 5th and/or do not need a room:

13. Candace aka aquapacific

14. Rachael aka GrandyBabyDiver

15. Karen aka Smiling Diver

16. Chris aka CLH418

17. Jen aka ItsScubaJen

18. Terra aka Terrable

19. Helen aka fishfriend

Edited by ScubaPunk, 20 February 2017 - 01:15 PM.

[sallybok]

What day would I actually leave SFO if I want the 1 or 2 day prior to boarding the boat? I assume I fly to Male. I am looking at a 10 day trip - does that mean 10 days on the boat or 2 days in hotel then the rest on boat? Is there a possibility of a single supplement on boat? Cost? . What is the expected water temp that time of year, also wonder about the currents? Maybe I can  make this trip.

Edited by sallybok, 13 June 2016 - 02:08 AM.

[WreckWench]

What day would I actually leave SFO if I want the 1 or 2 day prior to boarding the boat? I assume I fly to Male. I am looking at a 10 day trip - does that mean 10 days on the boat or 2 days in hotel then the rest on boat? Is there a possibility of a single supplement on boat? Cost? . What is the expected water temp that time of year, also wonder about the currents? Maybe I can  make this trip.

Hey Sally... Great questions! I hope you can join us!

 

1. What day would I actually leave SFO if I want the 1 or 2 day prior to boarding the boat? Travel time including layovers is approx 25-30 hrs and we cross the int'l dateline so you need to depart 2 days prior to arrive on the day you desire. So the 10 day trip starts Mar 5 so you would leave SFO approx Mar 3 to arrive in time for the boat's departure. To then have a buffer in MLE you would leave 1-2 days prior to that.  Please know we are HAPPY to help with airline tickets since this is a big trip ad the int'l dateline confuses people. ALSO several other members are looking at the 10 day trip and will do a day or so in Dubai and then a day or so in MLE. This breaks the trip up and lets you see another country along the way. In fact a gal from CA is looking to fly to BOS to join up with a couple of gals planning to go and all travel together via Dubai on Emerates. The ticket from BOS was only $900 to MLE.  I am looking to do something similar for the 7 day trip myself. The air savings pay for the hotels along the way. and you can travel with other members.

 

2. I assume I fly to Male.  Yes Male aka MLE

 

3. I am looking at a 10 day trip - does that mean 10 days on the boat or 2 days in hotel then the rest on boat?  A 10 day trip means all 10 days on the boat. A 7 day trip means 7 days on the boat.

 

4. Is there a possibility of a single supplement on boat? Cost? . Yes but it is extremely expensive. It is approx 75% of the trip price on top of the base trip price. If you need a firm price let me know and I will get it locked in. The rooms on this liveaboard are HUGE...even the lower cabins are really big so space will not be an issue.

 

5. What is the expected water temp that time of year, also wonder about the currents? Water temps are WARM low to mid 80's. The Maldives are a series of atolls or islands. We will travel to a number of them to dive so we can experience Mantas, ALL sorts of sharks, possibly whalesharks, turtles, marbled rays, sting rays and tons of schooling fish including batfish, bump head parrotfish, midnight parrotfish, barracudas, and so many other fish and critters!  A few of the dives will be 'channel dives" which are similar to blue corner in Palau where you jump in, swim into the current briefly and then hook into the reef with a reef hook to watch the show go by! The boat rents or sells reef hooks so no need to buy one unless you wish too.

 

6. Maybe I can  make this trip. That would be fantastic! Le me know if I can help you connect with several other gals also looking at the trip. You'll love them and they you!

 

Let me know if I can help with anything else!

[aquapacific]

I hope Sally sees this:

I booked the Emirates 3:40 PM (all non stops)  to DXB from SFO on 3/1/17. 

Will stay at a cheap hotel 3/2, 3 & 4.  It has free Airport & Mall shuttles  &  It's close to the Hop On & Off  Buses.

Will catch the Em 4:35 AM flt to MLE  & arr @ 9:45 AM on 3/5.

The isld looks small.  I'd like to do a Mini tour til 3 PM on 3/5 & meet at the dock. 

 

On 3/15, my flt back to DXB leaves @  11:10 AM;  arrives @ 2:20.

I booked a nicer place closer to D.town for one PM.

Will fly DXB to SFO at 8:50 AM on the 16th.

FYI:  My best price on Air was through Orbitz

Edited by aquapacific, 07 August 2016 - 02:20 PM.

[dive_sail_etc]

Using Sally's quote to generate an email notice....

Sally please see Candace aka aquapacific's reply directly above regarding flight scheduling.

[MRDESSERT]

I am planning on arriving there in the afternoon of 3/2/2017 (Emirates #208 14:05) and departing 3/4/2017 @4:45 AM to MLE (Emirates #658), then spending that day & most of 3/5/2017 touring MLE.

 

Can someone tell me how to put a signature on my forum posts...thanks!

[Sqbagal]

Can someone tell me how to put a signature on my forum posts...thanks!

 

MRDESSERT - (Love the name!) First, welcome.  Second, to modify/add a signature line:

1) In the Forums (here) look to the top right corner where your photo/member name appears.

2) Use the dropdown box there to go to MY SETTINGS

3) Once there, look to the lefthand bar and you will see SIGNATURE

4) Open that tab and you're all set.

 

When you have a chance, please post HERE to let us know a little about yourself and so other members can welcome you aboard

[Cajun Diver]

I posted this in the airline route options and am duplicating it here for the MLE hotel:

 

So this is what I'm looking at doing after reading all of the posts and what Jose mentions from his previous trip:

 

March 1st from IAH to Dubai arriving March 2nd.  Staying there until March 4th in one of the hotels where others are then going to MLE that morning.  I always like a day buffer for liveaboards in case something happens and I could always cut short the Dubai portion if necessary.

 

Coming back March 15 depart MLE for Dubai and having a long layover departing on the 16th for IAH.

 

All on Emirates and so would need one night in MLE on the 4th.

 

The sand dune safari dinner sounds like something I want to do.

[Libradiver]

Hi there.

I've done a lot of research so here's my plans.

BOS to Dubai arriving 2/21 at 8 AM. I'm staying at a new hotel that opened in May, the Rove Downtown Dubai, which is across from the massive Mall. It has an aquarium that even allows diving with the Sharks. I'm hoping that by being a new hotel, it conforms to the updated fire codes give their recent fires. Also considering sacrificing a view to be on a lower floor for easier escape. (Raised by firefighters).

I'll be in Dubai until 2/24 9 AM. I hope to do the jeep safari desert dinner and see sunset from their tallest building.

Arriving in MLE on 2/24 at 2:55 PM. No hotel plans yet. Considering a dive and maybe a massage at one of the over-water huts with the glass floor before getting on the liveaboard on 2/26.

Edited by Libradiver, 17 September 2016 - 06:02 AM.

[susiq]

Hi there.

I've done a lot of research so here's my plans.

BOS to Dubai arriving 2/21 at 8 AM. I'm staying at a new hotel that opened in May, the Rove Downtown Dubai, which is across from the massive Mall. It has an aquarium that even allows diving with the Sharks. I'm hoping that by being a new hotel, it conforms to the updated fire codes give their recent fires. Also considering sacrificing a view to be on a lower floor for easier escape. (Raised by firefighters).

I'll be in Dubai until 2/24 9 AM. I hope to do the jeep safari desert dinner and see sunset from their tallest building.

Arriving in MLE on 2/24 at 2:55 PM. No hotel plans yet. Considering a dive and maybe a massage at one of the over-water huts with the glass floor before getting on the liveaboard on 2/26.

 

I haven't bought tkt yet but likely arriving from JFK to MLE (via DOH) either 2/24 or 2/25. If the former, I'd be arriving around the same time as you! (Either same day or one day later!) maybe we could talk about meeting up? No hotel plans yet here either. I'm waiting for Kamala's input on what she's found for us....Looking forward!

[dkal]

Kamala,

Any updates on the buffer packages before and after the Mar 5-15 trip?  At this point I don't believe I will be going to Dubai like the rest but straight to Male instead. Airfares are pretty pricey going to Dubai.  Planning on leaving CA 3/1 arriving late after 10pm on 3/2 in Male then after the trip departing late around 11pm on 3/17 going home to CA.

Any hotel names that I can lookup would be great.

Thanks!

Debbie  

[susiq]

Any updates on the buffer hotels  prior to the first week's Feb. 26 departure from Male? Right now the airfare prices are steady on Qatar Airlines but depending on how I tweak the arr/dep dates I might save some $$ to be used in an extra day's hotel and touring....I have the option of arriving on the 24th or 25th and still have at least one day ahead of the boat departure...for relaxing exploring and beach napping! Ditto on the return. 

 

 I'm hoping to hear about some hotel names as well....and how the plans are shaping up before buying my air ticket....

 

 

Lots of folks are talking about the second week..... so I'm looking for others who will be on the first week with me! Will post this on airline thread too....

Thanks!

 

Susiq 

Edited by susiq, 03 October 2016 - 04:54 PM.

[WreckWench]

BUFFER HOTEL UPDATE:

 

I have just re-confirmed (albeit a tad show) that our group reservation is CONFIRMED as follows:

 

• 20 rooms (one for every person) has been reserved for up to 2 days prior to the start of both week #1 and week #2. If you are traveling as a couple, only one room has been booked for you.
• Extra days can be added to the reservation but SOONER is better than later.
• This is not a beachfront nor ocean view hotel for this pricing. This is a nice place to stay that is in everyone's budget so no one has to be by themselves.
• The group hotel has full wifi in the rooms, free breakfast, free transfers from the airport and is centrally located with access to cultural as well as eating establishments.
• The price including taxes, green fee, breakfast etc is $93 USD CASH Price
• We have reserved MOST of the hotel which is HIGHLY rated by all the rating agencies.
• The idea behind the group hotel is so that we have safety in numbers, someone else has exchanged enough local currency to pay the bill (most hotels in Male require the booking be held via credit card but paid for with local currency). We have LEVERAGE with all our bookings being in one place as well as SAFETY.
• Each person sans any couples traveling with us, will have a private room to help establish an acceptable jet lag and sleep restoration process unique to just you. In other words...no one will accidentally wake you up because their sleep cycle is out of whack. Conversely you will have a chance to recoup and regenerate before boarding the boat whereby EVERYONE will have a roommate.
• We have negotiated a group rate for the rooms saving a few shekels for everyone.
• And finally, I will publish pictures, full hotel amenities and add the rooms to the booking engine so you can sign up for them shortly, but whiles this is happening PLEASE tell us your actual travel arrivals and departures so we can tailor the reservations to people's actual arrivals and departures.

 

And finally....the room is clean, quiet and nice without spending a small fortune on a room that is essentially designed to help you beat jet lag and ensure your bags arrive. I am VERY COMFORTABLE staying here myself and STRONGLY ENCOURAGE everyone to do the same for the following reasons:

 

1. The rooms are already booked to cover the entire range of arrival and departure dates FOR BOTH WEEKS so no effort on your part is needed
2. The entire group will be able to meet and if we need to make any rooming tweaks on the boat I can still do so
3. The entire group will all be in ONE PLACE which will provide a huge element of safety and peace of mind not only for the solo traveler BUT FOR THE GROUP LEADER who will stress to death worrying if everyone has arrived or is safe or will find the boat or will get luggage if it is delayed etc etc etc. If you can think it..I will stress over it.

 

SO PLEASE USE THE GROUP HOTEL so the can relax a bit with one LESS HUGE WORRY...YOU BEING THERE SAFELY AND ALL TOGETHER!!!

 

p.s. This is not the cheapest room nor the most expensive. I originally thought the s/o would be $120 so we are well below that amt and only slightly above what a d/o would cost.  YOUR SAFETY AND PEACE OF MIND IS NOT WORTH TRYING TO SAVE A FEW BUCKS. And along that note...if you choose to do your own thing then I will expect to see you at the boat and I will force myself not to worry about you. I will leave you to your own devices as you prefer to make your own arrangements and make your way to the boat etc.  Otherwise I will ensure that no one oversleeps, I will take care of any hotel issues for you, help with any luggage issues, etc.

Edited by WreckWench, 27 October 2016 - 01:09 PM.

[susiq]

Thanks Kamala. This is great news!!!  

 

My update: I'm now arriving MLE (from DOH)  at 3 PM on the 23rd.  I'll email you. 

Edited by susiq, 27 October 2016 - 11:17 AM.

[MRDESSERT]

wow...that was easy...for us...Thanks Kamala!!

Did I miss the name of the Hotel?

I may have...been up since 1:30 am now it's 5:30 pm...back to work @1:00am (busy time for us bakers)...

 

well I will see it when it's there...my info:

 

3.4.17 DXB 4:35AM - MLE 9:45AM

I booked it so I am there for a day and a bit...

 

I am the least stressed about luggage, as I will be the ONLY one on the trip with carry on only...that's right...I am one of those "rent the dive stuff guys". I will bring all the clothes I could possibly wear and all my extra fun stuff and have it on wheels...

 

Kamala - I am sure the dive rental equipment is top notch like the yacht & please confirm this is 100% ok...thanks...