I am researching and scheduling a trip for my local lds/club and need some feedback to help me as I have never done this before. (Shop owner normally only schedules weekend Florida)
The very best VALUE I can find is all inclusive with air from Miami to Cocoview in December for 7 days for @1100.00.
December appeals to me but I am concerned that many people would find it difficult to squeeze a trip in during in during the Holidays. On the other hand the hundreds of vacation dollars saved could buy a lot of Christmas presents... any thoughts?
In your opinion, what do you think is the best month/season for booking a dive trip for the most appeal and response?
Second, how much advance time do you need in order to plan and schedule a trip?
I have to finalize Monday for the December date....thanks for all the responses in advance.
Rick Murchison
June 29th, 2002, 09:43 AM
I stay out of the Caribbean from mid July until the first of November.
I've already been through my hurricanes.
Other than that, I'll go anywhere, any time.
Rick
Spray25
June 29th, 2002, 09:46 AM
How about an option that says any time is a good time for diving.
scubagatorgal
June 29th, 2002, 09:49 AM
They only allow 10 responses total...I needed more options!
Tavi
June 29th, 2002, 10:19 AM
Hi scubagatorgal,
My wife and I usually plan for 2 weeks in the fall, the last week in October, and the first week in November. Summers over, and it's before the Holidays ( it's getting cold here in NY, and it's beautiful there). It's at the very end of Hurricane season (this didn't work last year, Michelle visited while we were in Grand Bahama). Air fare isn't bad this time of year and it's easy to get the dates we want.
If we can, we take a trip in March or April. It helps me get over that "isnt winter ever going to end" depression That I sometimes get. Sometimes airfare is more this time of year because of spring break.
Then again, I've wondered what an August trip would be like??
They tell me It's hot , but it's not bad 'cause there is always a breeze. The weather is either Hellfire and brimstone (read Hurricane)(remember this is a possibility, not a likelyhood). or it's absolutely gorgeous! ......and the diving in the warm water is absolutely wonderful!!
Thinking to self:
hmmmmm........do I really want to wait 'til fall??? ;)
scubagatorgal
June 29th, 2002, 11:09 AM
include the remote hurricane/ tropical storm and increased bugs...
AllenG
June 29th, 2002, 12:35 PM
If you offer a great opportunity and good value, the date will become of secondary import. One of my managers who was reponsible for setting up special events used to fret when enrollment was slow and would invariably proclaim that the problem was that the date just wasn't right because of this or that or some competing event. Annoyed with this routine, one time I asked her what date would have worked better. Initially she was hard pressed to come up with a better date. When finally she did ome up with a date, I then asked "If you had originally chosen this new date and sales to date were slow, what mitigating factors would you now be citing as to why this was a bad date?" Suffice it to say, the list of factors that would have made this other date bad was even longer and more potentially devasting than the list for the original date. However, because our events offered good value, enrollments always came through.
You could drive yourself nuts with summer vacation is good, but hurricanes, so spring is better, but what about school vacation week, so go in the winter, except price is higher, so go in the fall, except this is the rainy season, so go between Thanksgiving and Xmas, but people will be focused on the holidays . . . .
Cocoview is recognized as good diving. Your $1100 price is CCV's group rate of $675 plus $425 MIA-RTB air, so potential customers will recognize this as a fair price (you'd be amazed at how many dive shops will price at above regular price even though they may be sharing in the commission on the land portion, pulling the group comps, and have negotiated a lower price and "fam trip" air). On the other hand, it is all of $25 less than the regular December CCV and air prices (i.e., without group). Are you doing this as a business venture/fund raiser for your club, or are you the good-hearted volunteer/organizer? Some groups will split the value of the group comp to make the price value more pronounced.
Don't sweat the date, focus on value!
scubagatorgal
June 29th, 2002, 12:54 PM
and many of us would like to do a trip and of course, save money for us all at the same time.
If those are the normal rates then either I would need to see if Cocoview and the resort will further reduce their rate for the December date.
What was the most favorable response you had in setting trip dates? Was it all over the board?
Dee
June 29th, 2002, 09:29 PM
Originally posted by scubagatorgal
and many of us would like to do a trip and of course, save money for us all at the same time.
If those are the normal rates then either I would need to see if Cocoview and the resort will further reduce their rate for the December date.
What was the most favorable response you had in setting trip dates? Was it all over the board?
The normal rates for CoCo View is $825 plus whatever TACA is charging for air...so you got a good deal that I doubt they will lower. We go every year in March/April. Yes, it's higher but we like the weather and dive conditions best that time of year. I've been there during the rainy season (October) and as much as I love CCV and the diving there, it would have to be a free trip to get me to sleep on wet sheets and use wet towels all week again! But there weren't any bugs!!
scubagatorgal
June 29th, 2002, 11:09 PM
Taca's rate is $425.00.
Have you been there in December or know of anyone who has? The few trip reports from that time of year have all been favorable as to conditions.
It is a good time of year to see Whale Sharks, especially in Utila if you take the day trip. I am sure that is why Stan Waterman is going to be there that week lecturing and filming Whale Sharks and other cool things.
AllenG
June 30th, 2002, 11:35 AM
You have asked about Roatan in December. I have been there during December and found it to be delightful (but admittedly, I think that Roatan any time other than rainy season is delightful). You will find that the rainy season is over and the visibility really isn't compromised too badly by run-off.
Re pricing, you can see some of CCV's most aggressive pricing at http://www.roatan.com/rates/ccv_lms.htm, where they list a $699 price for November 30-December 7 and December 14-21, and a group rate of $675 for minimum of 10 divers, and a comp with 15 paid.
Good luck. Let us know what you end up doing! If you wanted to or needed to, you probably could fill a few slots just with ScubaBoard readers . . .
scubagatorgal
June 30th, 2002, 12:19 PM
I got a lot of feedback online and emailed and it was all positive. I looked for trips past, present and future and only found one that came close to this price!
I am going to confirm tomorrow and full steam ahead and no turning back...
As for any of you that want to join this trip please feel free to contact me by email or PM as you are certainly welcome. I will post the details with concrete numbers but I anticipate that it will be no more than $1099.00 air inclusive from Miami + hotel and departure tax and gratuities. Bar tabs and excursions are seperate. I am sure that any Whale Shark trips to Utila will be great as Stan Waterman is hosting that week at Coco View and that is surely in his viewfinder!
My LDS has agreed to host this because we his customers want exotic trips and he is unable to go due to his class and Florida trip scheduling with his students. He has given us his blessing and we are avoiding a shop markup and yet have the stability and backing of the shop who will administrate the trip and handle the monies.
As we the customers hardly know eachother due to a lack of trips you will fit right and in and not feel like an outsider.
As we live 4.5 hours from Miami we will all be driving to the airport. For any of you connecting in Miami you might want to come a few days early or stay a few days on your return to dive the Keys or West Palm. Just book your wraparound Miami RT appropriately.
Will post final trip details once I have it together...again, thanks to all of you who helped me decide to go for it!!!
AllenG
June 30th, 2002, 06:44 PM
Scubagatorgal - You may already be aware of these points, but to ensure the specifics of your forthcoming adventure in any written representations, you may want to be mindful of the following:
1. Resorts often count "nights" rather than days - in your first posting, you mention that it is for "7 days," which any reasonable person reads as one week. As I understand it, in travel parlance, 7 days/6 nights might have you arrive on Saturday and depart on Friday (days = Sa, Sun, Mon, Tues, Wed, Thurs, Fri = 7; nights = Sa, Sun, Mon, Tues, Wed, Thurs = 6). I believe that CCV's one-week rates are for 8 days/7 nights, as in the Waterman week is listed as 12/7 - 12/14 (i.e., Saturday to Saturday). Is your trip 8 days/7 nights or 7 days/6 nights?
2. The published prices at Coco View (and other Roatan facilities) DO NOT include the always popular 12% tax (see, for example, http://www.roatan.com/rates/honduras/CCV_rates.htm#Package%20Rates). You mention that the departure tax and gratuities as included, but that "departure tax" is not the Honduras 12% tax, so don't be surprised if the 12% tax gets tacked on as an addition to the $675 land-portion of the package. Also, Honduras, like many other countries, has a separate departure tax that, so I've been told, can only be paid by the traveler when he/she leaves the country ($25 or so, as I recall). CCV may have quoted you a price that includes that additional tax, in which case you're covered, but you may want to verify that.
Forgive me for belaboring these details if you already knew of them, but since this is your first adventure in group trip planning, I would like to make sure that it is a smooth and enjoyable experience for you!
scubagatorgal
June 30th, 2002, 09:32 PM
Currently we are at 7 "nights" as a Saturday to Saturday. I will check into the costs of extending to Sunday.
I knew about the resort tax and departure tax---any other surprise costs?
Thanks for all the advice...it has helped immensely!
Dee
June 30th, 2002, 10:11 PM
Originally posted by scubagatorgal
Taca's rate is $425.00.
Have you been there in December or know of anyone who has? The few trip reports from that time of year have all been favorable as to conditions.
It is a good time of year to see Whale Sharks, especially in Utila if you take the day trip. I am sure that is why Stan Waterman is going to be there that week lecturing and filming Whale Sharks and other cool things.
I have friends who go every year in December. They live in Denver, CO and really like getting away from the snow! They were there with Stan Waterman last year and loved it. This year they are both taking his class and hoping for Whale Sharks. I'll cross my fingers for ya!
You've got a great off-season price. We generally pay $1400pp (depending on TACA) for our high season Mar/Apr trips. We'd go with you if we could, I never get tired of CCV.....unless it's October! :D You're gonna love the shore diving!
scubagatorgal
July 2nd, 2002, 02:08 PM
You are right about the airlines! Taca charges 425.00 with restrictions and paid instantly...they are higher for group rates that allow you time to get deposits and pay closer to departure...
I am still negotiating and there is a new air carrier in the mix so I am hoping the $1099.00 will stand. Should know today or tommorrow at the latest...
If anyone from the board wants to go they will be welcome...I will post the final costs as soon as I know what exactly they are.
BEACHBUM885
July 5th, 2002, 07:31 PM
September-January is typically Hurricane and Typhoon season in most areas of the Caribean and South Pacific. It would be wise not to go out in the open ocean. I have encounter serious storms that would drive me insane not to mention seasick. A cruise would definitely be out of the question during this time.
Wait until the off season possibly March, April or May. As a travel business school grad I can tell you that the deals get better during this time. Prices are seriously low. And look into an all inclusive resort. One price pays for just about everything.
KZMAN
July 5th, 2002, 09:45 PM
Originally posted by scubagatorgal
I got a lot of feedback online and emailed and it was all positive. I looked for trips past, present and future and only found one that came close to this price!
I am going to confirm tomorrow and full steam ahead and no turning back...
As for any of you that want to join this trip please feel free to contact me by email or PM as you are certainly welcome. I will post the details with concrete numbers but I anticipate that it will be no more than $1099.00 air inclusive from Miami + hotel and departure tax and gratuities. Bar tabs and excursions are seperate. I am sure that any Whale Shark trips to Utila will be great as Stan Waterman is hosting that week at Coco View and that is surely in his viewfinder!
My LDS has agreed to host this because we his customers want exotic trips and he is unable to go due to his class and Florida trip scheduling with his students. He has given us his blessing and we are avoiding a shop markup and yet have the stability and backing of the shop who will administrate the trip and handle the monies.
As we the customers hardly know eachother due to a lack of trips you will fit right and in and not feel like an outsider.
As we live 4.5 hours from Miami we will all be driving to the airport. For any of you connecting in Miami you might want to come a few days early or stay a few days on your return to dive the Keys or West Palm. Just book your wraparound Miami RT appropriately.
Will post final trip details once I have it together...again, thanks to all of you who helped me decide to go for it!!!
Glad to hear your going for it! I'd be in, if not for trips already scheduled, same time frame. Enjoy!, and make sure you post your fun:)
