Caribbean diving holiday...a Christmas wish list

I am organizing an extended family Christmas holiday in the Caribbean .
Sounds great until I try to find the perfect combination that will keep
everyone happy. Cost is not an issue, although a direct flight from Toronto
would be.



I am an ex DM with over a thousand dives.GBR, Caymans, Honduras, Simians,
Sipidan etc, so am looking for some very special diving..but.



My Mother, an active 68 year old artist is looking for exciting local
culture and a bit of historic exploration.



My sister in law wants swaying palm trees and mango daiquiris.



My brother wants to do a bit of diving and a bit of nothing much.



My 4 year old nephew is looking for a great kids programme that will keep
him entertained and leave his parents free to do the above.



Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Cheers, E

I see no mention of Cuba in your list of destinations visited, nor do you
mention Turks & Caicos. Both are easy to get to from Toronto.
I will be diving in Turks & Caicos this month, all wall diving.

"Elisa" <elisa@nospam.com> wrote in message
news:hWbpb.3049$fg4.28294@news20.bellglobal.com...
> I am organizing an extended family Christmas holiday in the Caribbean .
> Sounds great until I try to find the perfect combination that will keep
> everyone happy. Cost is not an issue, although a direct flight from
Toronto
> would be.
>
>
>
> I am an ex DM with over a thousand dives.GBR, Caymans, Honduras, Simians,
> Sipidan etc, so am looking for some very special diving..but.
>
>
>
> My Mother, an active 68 year old artist is looking for exciting local
> culture and a bit of historic exploration.
>
>
>
> My sister in law wants swaying palm trees and mango daiquiris.
>
>
>
> My brother wants to do a bit of diving and a bit of nothing much.
>
>
>
> My 4 year old nephew is looking for a great kids programme that will keep
> him entertained and leave his parents free to do the above.
>
>
>
> Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
>
> Cheers, E
>
>

I would recommend Cozumel, but I don't know about direct flights from
Toronto. Alternatively, you could go first to Cancun and then to
Cozumel by land which might give some of your family a different view of
things.

Elisa wrote:
> I am organizing an extended family Christmas holiday in the Caribbean .
> Sounds great until I try to find the perfect combination that will keep
> everyone happy. Cost is not an issue, although a direct flight from Toronto
> would be.
>
>
>
> I am an ex DM with over a thousand dives.GBR, Caymans, Honduras, Simians,
> Sipidan etc, so am looking for some very special diving..but.
>
>
The diving in Cozumel is great.
>
> My Mother, an active 68 year old artist is looking for exciting local
> culture and a bit of historic exploration.
>
>
There are some minor Mayan ruins on the island. You can take a day trip
to Chichen Itza, Telum or Akumel to see more important ones.
>
> My sister in law wants swaying palm trees and mango daiquiris.
>
>
No problem.

>
> My brother wants to do a bit of diving and a bit of nothing much.
>
>
There are easy dives for those who dive once every five years in
addition to some to 130 feet.
>
> My 4 year old nephew is looking for a great kids programme that will keep
> him entertained and leave his parents free to do the above.
>
>
Many of the hotels have childrens' programs.
>
> Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
>
> Cheers, E
>
>
There is a wide range of places to stay from B&B to luxury all
inclusives. Lots of nice restaurants in town to eat. The small family
ones love everyone, but kids are special.

Dr. Yak

Direct flights from Toronto to Cozumel are no problemo.

"DrYak" <DrYak@nospam.com> wrote in message
news:Raipb.136869$k74.91233@lakeread05...
> I would recommend Cozumel, but I don't know about direct flights from
> Toronto. Alternatively, you could go first to Cancun and then to
> Cozumel by land which might give some of your family a different view of
> things.
>
> Elisa wrote:
> > I am organizing an extended family Christmas holiday in the Caribbean .
> > Sounds great until I try to find the perfect combination that will keep
> > everyone happy. Cost is not an issue, although a direct flight from
Toronto
> > would be.
> >
> >
> >
> > I am an ex DM with over a thousand dives.GBR, Caymans, Honduras,
Simians,
> > Sipidan etc, so am looking for some very special diving..but.
> >
> >
> The diving in Cozumel is great.
> >
> > My Mother, an active 68 year old artist is looking for exciting local
> > culture and a bit of historic exploration.
> >
> >
> There are some minor Mayan ruins on the island. You can take a day trip
> to Chichen Itza, Telum or Akumel to see more important ones.
> >
> > My sister in law wants swaying palm trees and mango daiquiris.
> >
> >
> No problem.
>
> >
> > My brother wants to do a bit of diving and a bit of nothing much.
> >
> >
> There are easy dives for those who dive once every five years in
> addition to some to 130 feet.
> >
> > My 4 year old nephew is looking for a great kids programme that will
keep
> > him entertained and leave his parents free to do the above.
> >
> >
> Many of the hotels have childrens' programs.
> >
> > Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
> >
> > Cheers, E
> >
> >
> There is a wide range of places to stay from B&B to luxury all
> inclusives. Lots of nice restaurants in town to eat. The small family
> ones love everyone, but kids are special.
>
> Dr. Yak
>
>
>

Thanks for all of your advice. Cuba, Turks and Caicos and Cozumel are all
places that I would love to go...I guess what I really need is some
direction and advice regarding specific resorts that would suit both divers
and kids. I am an independent traveller and have never been to a resort and
don't even know what to look for.
I find just the idea of a resort a bit overwhelming, my dive holidays have
always been completely spontaneous and free, relying on local advice and
feeling out the various dive shops on location. This holiday with the added
family element is a bit more difficult and obviously needs more planning, I
would be grateful for any more advice.
Thanks again, Elisa


"Elisa" <elisa@nospam.com> wrote in message
news:hWbpb.3049$fg4.28294@news20.bellglobal.com...
> I am organizing an extended family Christmas holiday in the Caribbean .
> Sounds great until I try to find the perfect combination that will keep
> everyone happy. Cost is not an issue, although a direct flight from
Toronto
> would be.
>
>
>
> I am an ex DM with over a thousand dives.GBR, Caymans, Honduras, Simians,
> Sipidan etc, so am looking for some very special diving..but.
>
>
>
> My Mother, an active 68 year old artist is looking for exciting local
> culture and a bit of historic exploration.
>
>
>
> My sister in law wants swaying palm trees and mango daiquiris.
>
>
>
> My brother wants to do a bit of diving and a bit of nothing much.
>
>
>
> My 4 year old nephew is looking for a great kids programme that will keep
> him entertained and leave his parents free to do the above.
>
>
>
> Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
>
> Cheers, E
>
>

in article hWbpb.3049$fg4.28294@news20.bellglobal.com, Elisa at
elisa@nospam.com wrote on 2/11/03 1:21 pm:

> I am organizing an extended family Christmas holiday in the Caribbean .
> Sounds great until I try to find the perfect combination that will keep
> everyone happy. Cost is not an issue, although a direct flight from Toronto
> would be.

AIR CANADA has 3 non-stops a week to Grand Cayman. Good connections to
Cayman Brac and Little Cayman
>
> I am an ex DM with over a thousand dives.GBR, Caymans, Honduras, Simians,
> Sipidan etc, so am looking for some very special diving..but.
>
>
>
> My Mother, an active 68 year old artist is looking for exciting local
> culture and a bit of historic exploration.
>
Okay the Cayman museum is modest, but worth seeing. Once away from the 7
mile beach there is a real "cayman" way of life that is worth exploring
>
>
> My sister in law wants swaying palm trees and mango daiquiris.

Just got back from Cobalt Coast. Don't know about daiquiris, but, enjoyed
the beer and the swaying palm trees. Drinks on 7 mile are fun too. My
favourite bar is My Bar at Sunset House.
>
> My brother wants to do a bit of diving and a bit of nothing much.
>
Cayman!!!
>
> My 4 year old nephew is looking for a great kids programme that will keep
> him entertained and leave his parents free to do the above.
>
It is has been a while but a few of the big hotels on Grand Cayman have
great Kid's Villages. Try the Hyatt.
>
> Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
>
> Cheers, E

For Turks & Caicos www.provo.net might be a place to start. Conquest
Vacations has good deals to Cuba. Email me offline for more. You can figure
out the email address from the header.
..

"Elisa" <elisa@nospam.com> wrote in message
news:t0kpb.1039$mB5.190086@news20.bellglobal.com.. .
> Thanks for all of your advice. Cuba, Turks and Caicos and Cozumel are all
> places that I would love to go...I guess what I really need is some
> direction and advice regarding specific resorts that would suit both
divers
> and kids. I am an independent traveller and have never been to a resort
and
> don't even know what to look for.
> I find just the idea of a resort a bit overwhelming, my dive holidays have
> always been completely spontaneous and free, relying on local advice and
> feeling out the various dive shops on location. This holiday with the
added
> family element is a bit more difficult and obviously needs more planning,
I
> would be grateful for any more advice.
> Thanks again, Elisa
>
>
> "Elisa" <elisa@nospam.com> wrote in message
> news:hWbpb.3049$fg4.28294@news20.bellglobal.com...
> > I am organizing an extended family Christmas holiday in the Caribbean .
> > Sounds great until I try to find the perfect combination that will keep
> > everyone happy. Cost is not an issue, although a direct flight from
> Toronto
> > would be.
> >
> >
> >
> > I am an ex DM with over a thousand dives.GBR, Caymans, Honduras,
Simians,
> > Sipidan etc, so am looking for some very special diving..but.
> >
> >
> >
> > My Mother, an active 68 year old artist is looking for exciting local
> > culture and a bit of historic exploration.
> >
> >
> >
> > My sister in law wants swaying palm trees and mango daiquiris.
> >
> >
> >
> > My brother wants to do a bit of diving and a bit of nothing much.
> >
> >
> >
> > My 4 year old nephew is looking for a great kids programme that will
keep
> > him entertained and leave his parents free to do the above.
> >
> >
> >
> > Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
> >
> > Cheers, E
> >
> >
>
>

DrYak wrote:
>
> I would recommend Cozumel, but I don't know about direct flights from
> Toronto. Alternatively, you could go first to Cancun and then to
> Cozumel by land which might give some of your family a different view of
> things.

Two years ago, flights to CZM from Toronto were costing about half what
it cost to fly there from Austin, Texas, on the same airline
(Continental) and with the same HOU<=>CZM segments. Go figure.

Gordon in Austin
--
POPI Classification
[ ]General Business Information
[x]Motorola Internal Use
[ ]Motorola Confidential Proprietary

Last year I paid $316 Cdn for a round trip, that's about $237 US, from
Toronto. Direct flight.

"rwjg40" <identity.available@upon.request> wrote in message
news:3FA69CEE.9E8BBB99@upon.request...
> DrYak wrote:
> >
> > I would recommend Cozumel, but I don't know about direct flights from
> > Toronto. Alternatively, you could go first to Cancun and then to
> > Cozumel by land which might give some of your family a different view of
> > things.
>
> Two years ago, flights to CZM from Toronto were costing about half what
> it cost to fly there from Austin, Texas, on the same airline
> (Continental) and with the same HOU<=>CZM segments. Go figure.
>
> Gordon in Austin
> --
> POPI Classification
> [ ]General Business Information
> [x]Motorola Internal Use
> [ ]Motorola Confidential Proprietary

On Mon, 03 Nov 2003 12:22:38 -0600, rwjg40
<identity.available@upon.request> wrote:


>> I would recommend Cozumel, but I don't know about direct flights from
>> Toronto. Alternatively, you could go first to Cancun and then to
>> Cozumel by land which might give some of your family a different view of
>> things.
>
>Two years ago, flights to CZM from Toronto were costing about half what
>it cost to fly there from Austin, Texas, on the same airline
>(Continental) and with the same HOU<=>CZM segments. Go figure.
>
Any thoughts on how crowded Coz is during the holidays?

-HW "Skip" Weldon
Columbia, SC