AmbergrisCaye.com Home Forums The Cayes Ambergris Caye Almost time! Tour information, please!

RE: "Only partially true. Don't forget the commission paid to the hotel by the operator, which can be as much as 1/3 of the total you pay."

I don't entirely agree. I think most hotel/resort owners WANT guests' vacations to be a good experience. It wouldn't matter to us if someone paid us 50% commission on a tour. If we don't think the guests will have a positive experience, that it will be a trip or tour that the want to recommend to the next guest, we would not send them with that company. Marketing, a good customer base, and word of mouth recommendations don't come because people go out on tours and have a bad time. Most hotel and resort owners know that. Those that don't, will eventually learn that.

Tulu is a great snorkeling guide feel free to pm me if you want his number. Many people on this board have been repeat customers of his long time.

I have also heard great things about Lil Alphonse as well.

As for things on the island the butterfly jungle is cool if you like that kind of thing and not expensive.
http://www.butterflyjungle.bz/

I am also a Tulu fan. My granddaughters really enjoyed going out with him as well.

My 6 yr old loved him! She went around town saying, "where's Tuuuu Luuu? Where's Tuuuuuuuuuu Luuuuuuuuuuu?????", all weekend.

I'll fourth that. Tulu is a great guy.

Thanks Everyone. I'll be looking around for Tulu, it sounds like! I've also heard good things about Lil Alfonso. I wish Tulu had a web page but I still trust word of mouth over a web page anyway!
We're also getting excited about renting a golf cart and doing our own exploring, renting kayaks and snorkel gear. Only 9 more days!

Believe me, Tulu will never have a web page! There's more time in life!!!!!!!!! Although I've never went out with Lil Alphonse I've heard nothing but raves from people who have.

Last year Tulu was stationed at Fido's dock, in the blue boat. If he's moved, maybe someone could let us know. I think one of the things everyone likes about him is he's real! He's been there for a long time, knows everyone, and also has a very real love for everything about San Pedro and the reef. That being said, everyone we have had dealings with have had the same love for the island, the country, the water, the ruins, etc. It's all good!

Find Frank Anderson at Wet Willie's dock for snorkeling & short fishing trips, we really enjoyed the trip to Lamanai with Giovanni at SEArious.

You're right of course Cindy, but it's a question of balance. No hotelier is going to put up with complaints no matter how much commission he receives, but most tour operators don't engender many complaints. Given two operators who both provide a good service, but one pays much more commission than the other, then what hotelier won't go with the money? I don't have any objection to that either, so long as the guest isn't misled into thinking he's getting impartial advice when he's actually getting nothing like. Trouble is that greed is causing certain hoteliers to lie directly to guests. I have direct written evidence, but I'm not printing it here.

All I and other operators want is a level playing field.