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I've heard from a member of the staff that Banyan Bay may discontinue their water sports program in '07. The program advertised on their website at: Banyan Bay Water Sports web page is considerably more than we experienced in '06, but at least with with some prodding a Hobie Cat and some Kayaks were made available to us. This feature is very important to us and one of the many reasons we love Banyan Bay. We would be dissappointed if this feature were discontinued. If you feel the same way please send an email to: banyanbay@btl.net and let them know.

They also may be guilty of false advertising if they don't remove the many pictures of the Hobie Cats and Windsurfer prominently featured in their printed materials and on their website.

Hope they change their mind.
A new watersports building is being built (etc July 06) and all the equipment has gone through a recent revitalization including the glass row boats (best idea since sliced bread).

A sailing instructor is also currently under employ.

Heard and may are weak words and shouldn't be included with guilty.

SIN
I have spoken to staff just recently. And I was told the building next to the volley ball area (under construction) is not for water sports but for a Time Share sales office. And at this time the only vessel being offered in the sports program is kayaks!!

Some one earlier did say it was for the water sports program but that was not confirmed by anyone else.

I don't want to implicate the person I have spoken to on the staff, but they are in a position to know what they are speaking of.

I was just there weeks ago and the sailing equipment was in a state of total dis-repair. It took quite a bit of persistence to even get any equipment on the water.
Actually they already are guilty. What was advertised and what we were provided were quite different (as far as the Water Sports Program). At our recent stay we were told that no water sports equipment was available for guests to use or rent. We then asked if we could receive a discounted rate because we had booked our stay believing the advertised equipment was available. At that point they cleaned up 2 Hobie Cats and some Kayaks and made them avaible to guests. We were very happy with the Banyan Bay resort, it's staff and service. But, I feel that guests should know what to expect in advance.

If some guests write in to inform the management of their appreciation of the program. Banyan Bay may consider keeping the water sports program in the future.
It may not be what you want to hear, but you could always stay somewhere else and use Sailsports Belize in town. Chris is an instructor and a nice guy who would hook you up with whatever equipment you fancied that day.
I guess I'm wrong, I only work there, or should I post pics to convince you or send the email of the instructor.

Banyan Bay is one of the few resorts that offer such equipment to the public.

SIN
I holiday at Banyan Bay every Febuary and this last time down they had just started building the timeshare office and it was sad to see no watersports offered. My husband and son like to take out a kayak but there were none available this past holiday. I will be coming down in October and hoping they will have something to offer then
If my TP was low 56 times I would have worked out a backup plan...

"I don't want to implicate the person I have spoken to on the staff, but they are in a position to know what they are speaking of."

There may be truth in what you say but until the "owner" tells you so don't put too much faith in it.
The glass bottom boat's are a bit slower going to & from shore, but a great trip because you can watch the sea life along the way. Victor is one of the best snorkel guides that I've met on San Pedro. People are under the impression that the boat is for not getting in the water. Wrong !
Anyone in town area rent glass bottom row boats? If so any idea on price? That sounds like fun.

Can you see the fis very easily when traveling in one?
Call chris at Sailsports Belize. I know that they will rent you hobbie cats and for a small fee he will deliver to your resort even up north.
TMM rents out their glass bottom kayaks, just ask at the dock in front of the Palms.
Check at the watersports area at Banyan Bay, just north of Banana Beach. He has a glass row boat, three hobie cats and a bunch of windsurfers and kayaks.

SIN
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Originally posted by Sir Isaac Newton:
Check at the watersports area at Banyan Bay, just north of Banana Beach. He has a glass row boat, three hobie cats and a bunch of windsurfers and kayaks.

SIN
SIN you and I seem to be getting our info from different people. When I spoke with the staff in the Banyan Bay office on 5/17/06 at 6:00 PM they said they had nothing for guests except Kayaks. They also confirmed that the structure next to the volley ball court was a time share sales office. If I'm wrong then someone needs to get over to the office & inform the office staff that they are giving the wrong info out to the guests. If you work at Bnayna Bay you might want to go into the office and ask them why they are giving out this info if it is incorrect.
Wow, that's cool, you made a conference call to the staff last week?

I'm sure the management will work out any communication problems. I'm cool with the situtation as are most folks.

Next time you're here, check it out for yourself and stop running up your phone bill - everything will be ok.

SIN
Thanks for the very informative reply, that really helped clarify things. I was speaking with the staff because I was booking units for 2 families and we want to know what to expect next year! For whatever reason.....your info and the info coming from the staff are completely different. In what capacity exactly are you employed at Banyan Bay?
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Originally posted by SIN: I'm cool with the situtation as are most folks.
Maybe a little too cool for me. A search of the word "timeshare" cross-referenced with "Member # 4344" may shed a little light on this discourse, if anyone here cares to be enlightened. You appear to be in the timeshare business or be a salesman your self SIN. Maybe you have an ulterior motive in keeping prospective time share customers in the dark about Banyan Bay's intention to discontinue the water sports program, eh? Maybe this is one of your selling points?

Well I guess the cat is out of the proverbial bag.
My capacity is about 12 Belikins, for a Monday night anyway.

Rafael is the name of the watersports manager/instructor. I also noticed some of his equipment housed in the new building next to the H building, which will be purpose shared with the vacation club.

Most of the staff I speak to are on the same page as I am.

Have a great time at Banyan Bay! Check with the front desk supervisor to verify the above.

Cheers!

SIN
Ulterior motives, you guys are too funny, lighten up, it's a vacation, and you'll owe me a Belikin when you get yourself on one of the Hobie's for a day on the Caribbean.

Or you can continue to worry, finding a negative in what should be a positive experience. Sad.

SIN
Coming from Mr. Negative, that's a breath of stale air.

I must say that I'm amazed that someone in the real estate biz would be so quick to inflame and irritate potential customers, which most people on this MB should be considered. Perhaps it's just in your writing style, but it certainly comes across as arrogant and blustering.

Vote with your tourist dollars folks, remember that SIN works for Banyan Bay when you book your trips. It's a nice place, but there are lots of others, too.
Amen. I wondered why he was giving tplowe a hard time and then did an about face. It's getting old.
Walked past yesterday and they had Hobies on the beach and kayaks on a recently built Palapa rack in front of the new building (which does seem large to be just for watersports).

I can't imagine they would discontinue this service as this sort of thing a draw for potential guests and buyers at a premium resort. Even if few people use them, they already have them and they look good with their bright coloured sails and hulls dotted along the beach in those promo shots.

Windsurfers maybe, as its a little more specialist, a lot harder to learn and more staff and kit intensive - plus with Sailsports Belize down the beach there is a decent specialist WindSurf/KiteSurfing business that they can recommend when they have the need.
CM for team leader!
To help everyone with this issue, Banyan Bay is not discontinuing the water toys that are located in front of the under construction building.

The building is going to serve as a timeshare sales office and will also have an entrance, office and storage to service the water sport rentals.

As for the condition of the water crafts, all kayaks, hobies, windsurfers and the like are being outfitted with new equipment, replacement parts and acessories necessary to bring them all back to their original working order.

The orders for these parts have been placed. After alittle shipping time to the freight forwarder and the filling of the next container coming to Banyan things will be back to normal.

Hope this helps to clearify this thread.
Thanks, for the very helpful post. The people at BB told me they didn'e make money off the equipment. But, they probably gain more business than they know by having it. It certainly adds to the ambiance of the resort. I guess they saw the light. The equipment looked to be in very poor shape in March. Good news.
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