CaribbLEM is a go!

[flecom]

The resort has 26 rooms total. And yeah, based on the tremendous response so far I'd say it's likely that we will end up booking all the rooms! (Cool!)

We need to finalize the dates. If no one has any objections, I'd like to propose that we fly in on Saturday, February 23rd 2013 and depart the following Saturday, March 2nd 2013.

Adam

do we know when we need to put down a deposit or something to hold the room?

[neutrino]

Hi all,

I have all the rooms at the resort on hold for the 23rd Feb to 2nd March.

The private bus we have organized will depart at 1100am on the 23rd from San Pedro Sula Airport (SAP). This will get us to the port of La Ceiba in time to catch the afternoon ferry to Utila. It will take about an hour to get through immigration and customs. If you have to arrive the day/night before we can arrange suitable accommodation close to the airport which has shuttle transfers included in the hotel room rate. Let us know if we can/need to help you with this.

The return bus will get you to San Pedro Sula Airport (SAP) by 1200 midday. Return flights should depart after 1400. Again we can help book accommodation if you need to fly out the next day.

When you are ready to book your room(s) please send an email to info@coralviewutila.com
with LEM in the subject. We will need the following information with your booking:
PL Username
Full name (on passport) of everyone in your group
Passport number for each name - needed by bus and ferry company for us to buy your ticket.
Age of children in Feb/March 2013 if applicable

Payment can be made by the following methods:
Bank of America transfer (US)
Mail a check (US & UK)
Paypal (additional 4%)
Barclays Bank transfer (UK)

I will send out the specific payment details by return email along with your total cost.
We will ask for a 50% deposit when booking the rooms and then the remaining 50% to be paid upon arrival in cash.

For those that are looking at learning to dive I can forward you a medical form that will need to be filled out. In some cases this needs to be signed by a physician. I am sure this will easier for you to do at home rather than here. Please let me know if you require this form.

I hope I haven't missed anything out and please feel free to email us any questions. Sarah or I will get back to you asap. Again please put LEM in the subject field

Cheers
Rich

[neutrino]

Hi all,

It looks like many of the flights will not arrive or depart in time for the times we scheduled for the private bus. Unfortunately the bus cannot leave any later as it will not make it to the port of La Ceiba in time for the connecting ferry.

I highly recommend these guys. I personally use them every time I fly in and out of the country.
http://www.aparthotelvillanuria.com/
They speak English too and they will provide free transfers.
Nice pools, clean rooms, wifi etc..

Cheers
Rich

[buffo]

Nice looking place, Rich! Yeah, Marie and I will need to stay there Friday night, and again on the following Saturday night. That's the only way to make the flights work out with the bus schedule. But for only $64 per night total for the both of us (including breakfast and free shuttle to and from the airport), that works!

Adam

[mophead]

One of our vendors is sending either my father and his wife or me and my wife to Cabo. If my dad chooses to take the Cabo trip instead of me, then we're in for this LEM. If I end up in Cabo, then we can't make it to CarribLEM. We will know for sure by this time next week.

Looking forward to either!!

Edit: I am PADI Advanced and if we get to go on this trip, my wife will be (bare minimum) Open water certified by then. It would be cool if I could get my nitrox card by then, but don't know if that will happen...

[hobbybob]

Ok talked to my girl, she doesn't want to come along, but she is perfectly ok with me going.
Now i have to seriously start saving my lasermoney for this trip.
I am having my birthday just 2 days after returning on the 4th of march, so celebrating my birthday over there sounds cool.

Have discussed this with Daniel, i would like to share a room with him if this is possible ?

So, count me in.

[vjernst]

heya Guys,

I didnt know Daniel and Dimitri had plans to go.
Looks great to me so let's see what i can do.

[Bradfo69]

Perhaps I need to go back and pay closer attention but, what exactly is the transportation situation with respect to getting on/off the island and the airport. I've spoken with a couple people and many are in the same boat in that a full week is simply not feasible. I have no problem paying for a full week as that is the package price but, what would be the logistics of leaving on Thursday or Friday if necessary?

[buffo]

Perhaps I need to go back and pay closer attention but, what exactly is the transportation situation with respect to getting on/off the island and the airport.

Rich has arranged for transportation from the airport all the way to the resort (and back). The problem is that in order to catch the ferry boat, you have to leave the airport by 11:30 (at the very latest) on Saturday. Most flights don't arrive until later, which is why many people (including me) will need to fly in on Friday instead, and spend a night at a hotel on the mainland.

Likewise, on the way home (the following Saturday), you won't get to the airport until the afternoon, but the flights that leave Honduras all depart in the morning, so once again you'll probably need to spend a night in a hotel on the mainland and fly out the next morning (on Sunday).

Regarding the idea of leaving the island before Saturday, I really don't know. Rich or Sara would have to answer that question. Note that you might have to go solo if you do that (I'm thinking that Rich and Sara will be busy with the rest of the guests), and if you don't speak Spanish that might be problematic...

Adam

[fortay]

Hello Everyone, My name is Matt....Just wanted to introduce myself to those I didnt have a chance to meet in north carolina last year. I'm new to the forum and very good friends with mario (ragdoll). I'm have more of a music production background than anything else but I will be attending this LEM with my daughter so I look forward to seeing many of you again and meeting new people also. See you all in the tropics :-)