Best Places To Stay For A Split Roatan/Utila Trip

[cleung]

I am planning to go on a split trip to Roatan and Utila in April/May 2016 hopefully to catch prime whale shark season in Utila. From what I gather, the vast majority of established dive ops on both islands will be good. The main issue right now is determining which hotels to stay in.

In addition to diving, I would like to participate in the nightlife on both islands. Therefore the all inclusive resorts like Utopia Village, Laguna Beach in Utila and Anthony Keys in Roatan will not be for me since they are located too far from the nightlife action. I would like to stay in or at least within a short walking distance from West End in Roatan and Utila Town but not right on top of the nightlife, ie., would still like to get a good night's sleep rather than be right on top of nightlife noise.

Also, we would stay probably only three nights on each island and require private single or double rooms with private bathrooms rather than dorms.

Given these factors, which hotels would you suggest for each island?

 

[diversteve]

Depends on how far you want to walk.

In the "east" West End the properties on the east point of Half Moon Bay are relatively quiet - you occasionally hear a little music drifting over outside at night - nothing indoors. Cocolobo, Seagrape Plantation, Lands End Resort or Posada Los Orquideas. Land's End actually advertises"A world all it's own walking distance from the West End action". They say it's six minutes but that person walks faster than I do. Cocolobo is very nice also - they win the best of awards - I've toured the grounds since I rented literally next door. Posada is about as far as I'd like to walk as it's the "last" hotel on the end and actually faces Mangrove Bight.

One factor with any of those places is most only serve breakfast, maybe lunch onsite. Half Moon Bay Resort is the only one closer to the West End with their own restaurant. It faces into Half Moon Bay - if there was any noise from Sundowners Beach bar you'd hear it (and could swim to it) - although as bars go it's quiet and closes early. There could be music there happy hour or maybe at night later in the week - there was a combo there one night for a couple hours. Not exactly a dance club though more like local talent.

The "bars" are mostly past the west point of Half Moon Bay. Booty Bar, Nova Bar, Eagle Rays, Fosters - in the same general area. This map shows it far better than I can describe it. http://www.roatan.net/Roatan-West-End-Map.pdf Anything near the water taxi stop is a bad idea for quiet.

The other option is to go west. Luna Beach resort is quiet since it's about a 15min. walk along the beach - or short water taxi ride - to the West End. The water taxi's don't run very late at night though - I think they stop around dark or a little after. You could always catch a cab back - the taxi stand is right where the main road enters town. Cabs were there till very late - we like a little nightlife also... They'll also be cruising up/down the road looking for fares.

On Utila we stayed at an AI so I can't help with town.

 

[keesmon]

On Utila we stayed in a studio 3 doors down from Alton's. That seems to fit your criteria.
It was a quick stumble back from the nightlife, but away from the bars itself.
The 30 second walk to Alton's in the morning made it easy to sleep in and make the morning boat.
Here's the link:
Lazy Daze on the Bay | Utila Rentals - Destination Utila Honduras

 

[Damselfish]

Maybe the Lighthouse hotel on Utila

 

[cleung]

Great info everybody - thanks! So does anyone know for Utila town, where would the noisier party places be? I'm thinking of looking at the hotels near the ends rather than in the middle to avoid the noise but still be within walking distance to the evening fun.

 

[laurenceh]

the lighthouse inn is definitely your best bet for utila town. the nicest hotel in town, close to udc and altons dive co's but on the edge of town so no thud, thud, thud all night !!!

 

[cleung]

For Roatan, if my flight gets in at 1:10 pm, is it too tight to catch the ferry leaving for La Ceiba (then connecting ferry to Utila) for 2 pm?

 

[diversteve]

That's real tight. One issue is often 2-3 planes land between 12-1PM - one time there was already a line outside the terminal building when we got there. Some of that may have changed recently, I heard they implemented a new process - including fingerprinting?

The wait for us was always Immigration. 4 lines tapered down to 2 agents. And somebody always doesn't have their paperwork right. Which is a comedy of errors unless someone offers to translate. Customs on the otoh has always been fast - find your bags, drop them on the scanner, get waved thru and go.

As you exit the terminal cabs are lined up. Sometimes there's a yellow shirted dispatcher - we just picked a cab near the front of the line and handed him our stuff.

Dixon Cove is 2 miles away and the Galaxy process is very efficient - give your bags to the porter and enter the terminal to get a ticket. The Galaxy left at 2PM Sharp - someone who lives there said it usually does. I believe we landed about 12:30-12:45 and started getting concerned when we were still in line 30mins. later. We arrived at the Galaxy waiting area with about 15mins. to spare.

On the La Ceiba side once you recover your bags (hint $5 held up in the air and being pushy helps) the Princess ticket office is just to the left of the Galaxy terminal as you exit. As the Galaxy docks - from the upstairs lounge - you see the Princess. First class is a few $$ more and buys you nicer seat, A/C and a better bathroom.

Personally with that timing I'd stay on Roatan first. Roatan would be a weird overnight if you missed the ferry. Either you'd have to trek to the West End ($25 from the airport) - there's any number of places you could walk-in - even the hostels - or possibly the Clarion Suites in French Harbor. You aren't going to find much else on the south side except the AI's.

Plus the Princess leaves Utila at 6:20 AM so you're back on Roatan at 10:30ish. You could probably find a dive-op in the West End willing to store your bags if you were on their 1PM boat. No reason not to.

 

[cleung]

That's real tight.

Thanks very much Steve. I know that there are other flights that get into Roatan at about 10 am and noon. We'll try to get on those flights instead even if we will likely have to overnight in Houston just before so that we don't miss our ferry. We want to do Utila first because of getting there as close to the full moon as possible for maximum whale shark sightings and also not have to do a hurried double ferry transfer for our final day to catch our return flight out of Roatan back to North America. So we would rather deal with the ferries at the beginning and middle of our trip.

 

[LiquidDivingAdventure]

I'm not sure what your impression of Utila town may be. You can just about throw a rock from one end of town to the other. We usually stay at Laguna Beach Resort and although not a quick walk to town, they will accommodate trips in a small launch, and you can even bicycle. It's maybe a 10 minute trip. There have been nights at LBR when you can hear the bars from town. I prefer a bit more distance between my room and the music in town to stay at a hotel in town. Even Utopia on Utila will get you back and forth to town when you want to party.

I would not get your expectations sky high for whale shark sightings regardless of the season. In 15 or more trips to Utila we have seen whale sharks out of season and have had no sightings in what should be peak season, regardless of moon phase. It is really the luck of the draw.