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- # of dives
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I really like to go in August, but I have been so irritated with the rapid inflation on the plane tickets from Lubbock (I think it's cheaper from almost anywhere twice as far away, including Canada!), paying so much for both bags I will check, expecting worse seats than ever and not even a sandwich, hotels, taxis (I think they went up the most percentage wise, and it matters when you're lazy and alone), etc. I've been dragging along, wondering if I am still a diver or not, if I should go back to somewhere else I've enjoyed, try someplace new - but I think that would just cost more, so tonight I got itchy to go.
I shopped Matrix for tickets and booked a Hold ticket with AA for $548. I'd have to leave my house at 3am or so to allow time for problems, drive to Hub City, park, shuttle, drag my bags in, etc. but I've done it before. I try to stay awake for each flight's safety briefing but I sleep so well on planes that it's a challenge. Ok, so it's held for 24 hours while I start shopping for my hotel. Then I have to get my pony vized and my CO tank tester calibrated, blah blah - what about good ol' Hot Coz? I've enjoyed it before, even tho the beds were harder last year, and the food & drink are fine with me, so I opened a few sites looking for AI deals - expecting about the same really in today's tight internet competition. Boy was I surprised...!!
Bookit.com quoted $98 AI/night. I'm not sure if that included taxes or not.
Expedia wanted $204/night plus $46/night resort fee?! I have long thought they were the worst, but I gave them a chance - and this is unbelievable! I did try a tentative booking to see if maybe I misread the quote, but the site wouldn't work. I saved a screen shot just for fun that I'll post at the bottom. Notice the $728 for the first night? :silly: Free cancellation is nice, but damn! Surely the $204 average/night includes resort fees, but I think they have a mistake on the $728 for the first night.
Orbitz used to impress me, but they quoted $186/night. They've lost a lot of their edge in the last year or two haven't they?
Hotels.com wanted $204/night with free cancellation.
Then I tried Hotelcozumel.com. I didn't think they could undercut the prices they contracted with the booking sites, but worth a look. $84 AI/night - well, ok, nice. No meals offered on the 21st for some reason, but ok.
I really wonder how these booking sites are making expenses with the failures I discovered. Then I saw a FB friend post that she found a great deal from Roswell NM. I didn't know Roswell had plane service, but if so - I figured it'd be higher than even Lubbock, but: "Round trip Roswell to Cozumel, Hotel,All Inclusive,6 nights with American Airlines promo code, $1587. FOR 2 in December." Ok, so I had to look. She didn't give the code but it's on American's site: 96HR150 Tried it, and it failed. Tried again, and a third time, then called. They did not offer Hot Coz, so I just priced it with Suites Colonial as I've been tempted to try them anyway. Ok, so $832 with hotel & plane - $150 = $682, or just $134 more than plane alone, and they include breakfast. Deal! Trying a new hotel & location, but I thought I'd share my silly experiences shopping the ever popular Hot Coz...
I shopped Matrix for tickets and booked a Hold ticket with AA for $548. I'd have to leave my house at 3am or so to allow time for problems, drive to Hub City, park, shuttle, drag my bags in, etc. but I've done it before. I try to stay awake for each flight's safety briefing but I sleep so well on planes that it's a challenge. Ok, so it's held for 24 hours while I start shopping for my hotel. Then I have to get my pony vized and my CO tank tester calibrated, blah blah - what about good ol' Hot Coz? I've enjoyed it before, even tho the beds were harder last year, and the food & drink are fine with me, so I opened a few sites looking for AI deals - expecting about the same really in today's tight internet competition. Boy was I surprised...!!
Bookit.com quoted $98 AI/night. I'm not sure if that included taxes or not.
Expedia wanted $204/night plus $46/night resort fee?! I have long thought they were the worst, but I gave them a chance - and this is unbelievable! I did try a tentative booking to see if maybe I misread the quote, but the site wouldn't work. I saved a screen shot just for fun that I'll post at the bottom. Notice the $728 for the first night? :silly: Free cancellation is nice, but damn! Surely the $204 average/night includes resort fees, but I think they have a mistake on the $728 for the first night.
Orbitz used to impress me, but they quoted $186/night. They've lost a lot of their edge in the last year or two haven't they?
Hotels.com wanted $204/night with free cancellation.
Then I tried Hotelcozumel.com. I didn't think they could undercut the prices they contracted with the booking sites, but worth a look. $84 AI/night - well, ok, nice. No meals offered on the 21st for some reason, but ok.
I really wonder how these booking sites are making expenses with the failures I discovered. Then I saw a FB friend post that she found a great deal from Roswell NM. I didn't know Roswell had plane service, but if so - I figured it'd be higher than even Lubbock, but: "Round trip Roswell to Cozumel, Hotel,All Inclusive,6 nights with American Airlines promo code, $1587. FOR 2 in December." Ok, so I had to look. She didn't give the code but it's on American's site: 96HR150 Tried it, and it failed. Tried again, and a third time, then called. They did not offer Hot Coz, so I just priced it with Suites Colonial as I've been tempted to try them anyway. Ok, so $832 with hotel & plane - $150 = $682, or just $134 more than plane alone, and they include breakfast. Deal! Trying a new hotel & location, but I thought I'd share my silly experiences shopping the ever popular Hot Coz...