Setting up Dive Trips

[Joe_Tucker]

How difficult is it to setup Dive Trips? I've been considering trying to do a Bonaire trip in the spring and am considering cutting out the LDS. Anyone done this with a group before? Tips? Things to be wary of?

[Don Wray]

If you talking about booking for more people than yourself, the biggest drawback is most dive ops, resorts etc. want either a healthy deposit or full payment up front. If your the one doing the booking and someone either don't pay or backs out, your stuck with trying to find someone to fill the spot(s) or your out the money.

[Flatliner]

However, if you are setting up your own trip, it's REALLY easy.

[Joe_Tucker]

No, I'm talking about coordinating a trip with other people. Going it alone is a piece of cake.

[fireflock]

Do you already have a group of friends, or are you going to try and round some up.

IF you already have people, it's not much more complicated than setting up your own trip. The hardest thing to decide is what to do with the money. When possible, I prefer for everyone to book themselves and pay the companies directly. That way, if someone backs out, the rest of the group isn't stuck with the bill or looses a discount.

Many places offer discounts for groups, or you can rent a condo instead of getting individual rooms. That can be a fun way to go, but have a plan for what to do when someone decides they can't pay for the portion they committed to.

[No Misses]

Get the money up front! People are less likely to back out if they have already paid. I have seen freindships ruined over money.

[ReefHound]

Booking groups is not that hard and if you fill enough spots (usually 10 to 14) your spot is comped as trip leader. I have two bits of advice.

One, find a travel agency that specializes in group bookings (dive travel a big plus). You'll get most of the benefits as if doing it on your own and the agent can block off airfare and spots while you fill the trip and get deposits. The block is temporary (i.e. 90 days) so at a certain point you'll have to fork over the money or release the spots.

Two, you just can't book group trips with people who cannot commit. Collect significant deposits early. Set a specific due date for the deposit. Don't let people slide because they are friends and assure you they are "good for it". Let them know spots are not reserved until money has been put down, and that deposits are non-refundable unless they find a replacement for their spot. Advise them to buy trip insurance to cover their personal uncertainties. Otherwise you will endure a lot of unnecessary stress and possibly be left holding the bag.

[Joe_Tucker]

Thanks for the advice - the more I think about it the more I think that letting the LDS have some margin is okay as long as I don't have to play bill collector with my friends. Great point.

[scubarobin]

I have tried to do this on several occasions when friends said they were interested......... and everyone was interested until I asked for the money. That's when all of a sudden people had "something come up" and couldn't go. Last trip I had 9 people commit to going before we set the date and booked. Everyone agreed on the date, and then only 4 people total actually booked. Two people got mad when I asked them why they backed out, haven't heard from them since!
So, if you don't mind losing friends and money.......

[MSilvia]

Originally Posted by ReefHound

you just can't book group trips with people who cannot commit.

AMEN! After getting burned by several last-minute dropouts on a trip to Europe, I have a short list of people I can count on to go if they said they'll go. I'd organize a trip for larger groups, but only on a pay-in-advance basis.