Loopcity

That's an insane price on the antigua. They sell for over $10k most places. It's also an awesome hot tub.

Island Spas are made by Artesian who has a solid reputation for quality, reliability and energy efficiency. Personally, they are my favorite line of spas bang for buck and all things considered.

The brands with the best reputation for quality include Bullfrog, Marquis, Hot Spring, Sundance, Jacuzzi, Arctic, Artesian, Dimension One. I would imagine that most of those brands are in your area.

All of the brands that you mention are reputable and high quality. You can't go wrong with any of them. Personally, I think the sealed bottom is nice and would not be concerned about it being a problem if the spa leaks. Keeping rodents and moisture out is important, imo. As for Bullfrog's jetpacks, I think they are a really cool design. The ability to pick out your jets when you order it is a pretty neat thing if you ask me. They have been really gaining in popularity over the last few years. The reduced amount of plumbing and shell holes is also something that I think makes sense. As for floor models, I personally would rather order one. A floor model may be fine, but you really have no way of knowing what it has been through. I figure for such a large purchase, the little bit you save for a floor model is just not worth it. I'd rather know I was getting a brand new one and I get to pick to colors and features I want. Good luck!

There isn't really a way to do that with that spa. The "bad design" is really the only cover lifter that will work with that spa due to it's unusual shape.

They are lying to you if they say there is no difference between Divine and Clearwater. Either way, both are lower quality. There are about 10 different brands I would buy before considering either.

Putting bromine in the filter compartment or the main body of water won't make a difference as to it's effectiveness. The reason they tell you to put it in the filter area is because that is where the water is moving and the granules won't settle on the bottom and possibly discolor or damage the shell.

The D-1 should definitely be a better build quality. 220v shouldn't cost much more, assuming you can fit the larger breaker in your main box. 110v works fine in mild temperatures. Generally, the difference is that on 110v the heater is 1kw and on 220v the heater is 4kw (or more). Additionally, on 110v the heater cannot operate while the jets are on high speed. I find the above to be generally true, though am not 100% familiar with your situation.

Cal spas is not a company that I would do business with. They have a terrible reputation

You got a really good deal. Enjoy!

That is a damn good deal. It would still be a good deal at $10k. I would jump on it. In what part of the country are you located?

The electrical wiring can indeed come in from any side. There are chaseways built into the abs base pan. The wiring will ultimately terminate on the same side as the control panel. Also, they discontinued the tanzanite (blue) shell color. They replaced it with a darker blue called Sapphire, I think. Bring 3 of the 2" ratchet straps if you go to pick it up. Put one over the hot tub. The cover on top of the spa, then 2 straps over the cover. I like to straps on the cover for long distance hauls.

All of the spas that you listed are excellent choices from reputable manufacturers. Go with the one that feels best to you.

South Seas is made by Artesian who is a great manufacturer with a longstanding reputation for quality. That is an awesome hot tub that can feel comfortable purchasing. The original Caldera is also a fantastic hot tub, but I totally understand not wanting to spend that much. If you like the South Seas, I say go for it. Artesian builds a quality hot tub and they have been around for a very long time. My personal recommendation would be to remove Master Spas from your list of potential spas. They have a reputation for dishonest and shady business practices and are middle of the road quality, at best. It will also use quite a bit more energy to operate. As far as foam insulation, I think that it's important not just for insulation purposes, but also because it supports the plumbing and shell. Keeping a hot tub at 104 degrees, even in Houston, will cost less with better insulation. Ozone is installed on the majority of hot tubs sold. There are pros and cons to it, but by no means is it necessary. Good luck!

Hot spring makes a great, reliable hot tub. That seems like a decent price as well.