Recommendations for last minute overseas holiday/provider

I just returned from a week in GOZO ... with non-divers.
The Hotel - Atlantis, is a great hotel (as long as you stay in it and
not off site apartments)
Has a PADI 5 star dive center as part of Hotel.
Gozo .. and Malta have no end of 'English food' ... drive on same side
of road, etc.

I booked direct via their web site - http://www.atlantisgozo.com/

Tgey even arrange pick up return from airport and ferry transfer to
Gozo ... and all went smoothly.
Booked flight swith XL airways again on-line, paid the extra for extra
leg room seats - and glad we did ! and XL also give an additional
10Kg baggage allowance for divers for free.


Also seemed strange to see Triumph Heralds, Morris Marina'a, Alegros,
Maxi's, etc. .... gues sthey simply don't rust away over there. Not
exactly a great deal of roads to drive on either !
Drop me an email if you want to know more.

XL may be OK for mid-range flights. Just don't book them for
long-haul.
They have only one jet capable of making it to Tobago. That was
grounded last year due to a fault in a secondary generator that had
been an issue for over 6 months. (I don't know precisely what the fault
was, or why it didn't lead to the plane being grounded earlier, so
don't bother asking).

We ended up being delayed by 46 hours on our return flight. (Just
under the 48 hour mark that would have triggered a biggesr insurance
payout). We were held at the airport on both days, continually being
told that the plane was just a bit late. At abouot 7pm each day they
eventually told us it wasn't coming. We didn't even get to enjoy the
extra couple of days!

At least we got our holiday, there were some incoming passengers that
lost 2 days of a 7 day holiday.

XL may be OK for mid-range flights. Just don't book them for
long-haul.
They have only one jet capable of making it to Tobago. That was
grounded last year due to a fault in a secondary generator that had
been an issue for over 6 months. (I don't know precisely what the fault
was, or why it didn't lead to the plane being grounded earlier, so
don't bother asking).

We ended up being delayed by 46 hours on our return flight. (Just
under the 48 hour mark that would have triggered a biggesr insurance
payout). We were held at the airport on both days, continually being
told that the plane was just a bit late. At abouot 7pm each day they
eventually told us it wasn't coming. We didn't even get to enjoy the
extra couple of days!

At least we got our holiday, there were some incoming passengers that
lost 2 days of a 7 day holiday.

XL may be OK for mid-range flights. Just don't book them for
long-haul.
They have only one jet capable of making it to Tobago. That was
grounded last year due to a fault in a secondary generator that had
been an issue for over 6 months. (I don't know precisely what the fault
was, or why it didn't lead to the plane being grounded earlier, so
don't bother asking).

We ended up being delayed by 46 hours on our return flight. (Just
under the 48 hour mark that would have triggered a biggesr insurance
payout). We were held at the airport on both days, continually being
told that the plane was just a bit late. At abouot 7pm each day they
eventually told us it wasn't coming. We didn't even get to enjoy the
extra couple of days!

At least we got our holiday, there were some incoming passengers that
lost 2 days of a 7 day holiday.

XL may be OK for mid-range flights. Just don't book them for
long-haul.
They have only one jet capable of making it to Tobago. That was
grounded last year due to a fault in a secondary generator that had
been an issue for over 6 months. (I don't know precisely what the fault
was, or why it didn't lead to the plane being grounded earlier, so
don't bother asking).

We ended up being delayed by 46 hours on our return flight. (Just
under the 48 hour mark that would have triggered a biggesr insurance
payout). We were held at the airport on both days, continually being
told that the plane was just a bit late. At abouot 7pm each day they
eventually told us it wasn't coming. We didn't even get to enjoy the
extra couple of days!

At least we got our holiday, there were some incoming passengers that
lost 2 days of a 7 day holiday.

XL may be OK for mid-range flights. Just don't book them for
long-haul.
They have only one jet capable of making it to Tobago. That was
grounded last year due to a fault in a secondary generator that had
been an issue for over 6 months. (I don't know precisely what the fault
was, or why it didn't lead to the plane being grounded earlier, so
don't bother asking).

We ended up being delayed by 46 hours on our return flight. (Just
under the 48 hour mark that would have triggered a biggesr insurance
payout). We were held at the airport on both days, continually being
told that the plane was just a bit late. At abouot 7pm each day they
eventually told us it wasn't coming. We didn't even get to enjoy the
extra couple of days!

At least we got our holiday, there were some incoming passengers that
lost 2 days of a 7 day holiday.

XL may be OK for mid-range flights. Just don't book them for
long-haul.
They have only one jet capable of making it to Tobago. That was
grounded last year due to a fault in a secondary generator that had
been an issue for over 6 months. (I don't know precisely what the fault
was, or why it didn't lead to the plane being grounded earlier, so
don't bother asking).

We ended up being delayed by 46 hours on our return flight. (Just
under the 48 hour mark that would have triggered a biggesr insurance
payout). We were held at the airport on both days, continually being
told that the plane was just a bit late. At abouot 7pm each day they
eventually told us it wasn't coming. We didn't even get to enjoy the
extra couple of days!

At least we got our holiday, there were some incoming passengers that
lost 2 days of a 7 day holiday.

XL may be OK for mid-range flights. Just don't book them for
long-haul.
They have only one jet capable of making it to Tobago. That was
grounded last year due to a fault in a secondary generator that had
been an issue for over 6 months. (I don't know precisely what the fault
was, or why it didn't lead to the plane being grounded earlier, so
don't bother asking).

We ended up being delayed by 46 hours on our return flight. (Just
under the 48 hour mark that would have triggered a biggesr insurance
payout). We were held at the airport on both days, continually being
told that the plane was just a bit late. At abouot 7pm each day they
eventually told us it wasn't coming. We didn't even get to enjoy the
extra couple of days!

At least we got our holiday, there were some incoming passengers that
lost 2 days of a 7 day holiday.

Hi,

I was going supposed to be going on my first Red Sea trip next month on
an organised trip thru my club but its all fallen apart due to lack of
numbers.

Can I have some suggestions for country/company/website (doesn't need to
be Red Sea) for somewhere suitable given these provisos:

1) I'll have three non divers with me (g/f, g/f mother, 8yr old son) -
they would have had company with other non divers in original trip - now
I'll either have to spend less time diving or make sure there is plenty
of safe dry side stuff to keep them occupied.
Not personall bothered about fullboard/sc but have to have good
avaialabilty of 'English' food for the other 3!

2) Can pretty much go at short notice anytime in Oct/Nov, so would like
to take advantage of late booking cost savings (if there are any!)

3) I'm a month away from finishing my DM, certed to 40m, 130+ dives, but
have only ever done Spain (and Stoney!), so pretty much anywhere would
be good diving - anywhere with sun and fish and I'd be happy!


I'd pretty much like to decide on country/area sharpish with the
knowledge that I can just pay and go at the appropriate time.

Thoughts please

Try http://www.explorers.co.uk/dive/dive_home.htm

I get regular e-mails from them with plenty of last minute deals. I also
have friend who have used them for the last two years for holidays to
Indonesia and have never had a problem


"sharky" <bill@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:3o2sv6F3rvbiU1@individual.net...
> Hi,
>
> I was going supposed to be going on my first Red Sea trip next month on an
> organised trip thru my club but its all fallen apart due to lack of
> numbers.
>
> Can I have some suggestions for country/company/website (doesn't need to
> be Red Sea) for somewhere suitable given these provisos:
>
> 1) I'll have three non divers with me (g/f, g/f mother, 8yr old son) -
> they would have had company with other non divers in original trip - now
> I'll either have to spend less time diving or make sure there is plenty of
> safe dry side stuff to keep them occupied.
> Not personall bothered about fullboard/sc but have to have good
> avaialabilty of 'English' food for the other 3!
>
> 2) Can pretty much go at short notice anytime in Oct/Nov, so would like to
> take advantage of late booking cost savings (if there are any!)
>
> 3) I'm a month away from finishing my DM, certed to 40m, 130+ dives, but
> have only ever done Spain (and Stoney!), so pretty much anywhere would be
> good diving - anywhere with sun and fish and I'd be happy!
>
>
> I'd pretty much like to decide on country/area sharpish with the knowledge
> that I can just pay and go at the appropriate time.
>
> Thoughts please