Accomodation near West End in march

[Wingman_]

Hi guys,

My gf and i are planning a trip to Roatan in march. At the beginning i was planning on booking in CCV or FIBR but CCV only has room for one week and FIBR didn't appeal much to me, it doesn't look very cosy and the beach doesn't look that fancy.

I dive a lot but my gf doesn't (for the time being ) so i figured that something near West Bay would be more interesting for us. I know it's not the best of places for non divers but for the time being, it'll do.

I'd like to know what would be my accomodation options in West End (preferably close to or in West Bay) for that part of the island with a budget similar to CCV or FIBR.

I've heard about AKR but i've also heard that they feed morays and i'm not too crazy about that i must say.

Your precious help would be much apreciated!

Cheers

 

[sand diver]

West Bay and west end are pretty easy to get between during the day on a water taxi- about $10- $15. In he evening its a little more expensive in normal taxi- $10. West Bay has a beautiful long strech of bech and the far end has great snorkeling. West End has more selection of bars, resturants and general activities.

There is also a variety of accomodation ranging from Cocolobo at $95 a gith for 2 people to Posada Las Orquideas at about $40 for 2 people. Cocolobo overlooks the water with exremely nice rooms with great ammenties including flat screen TVs and a swimming pool. Posada also overlooks the water on mangrove bite. Rooms are very spacious! Both of these are about a 10 mintue walk away from the centre of West end. If you would rather stay in West Bay Coconut Tree has cabins on the beach. Coconut Tree Divers will also pick you up from there in the morning to go diving.

Coconut tree Divers runs 4 dives a day off their boat. 2 in the morning for experienced divers and 2 more in the afternoon. Their boat is big enough to accomodate snorkelers/ sunbathers in the afternoon, an option for your girlfriend when you go diving! They are really an excellent shop, expenienced staff, very good equipment and great attention to safety! I've heard that they will also soon be offering trips furtehr away including Cayos Cochinos and the other side of the island (Mary's Place etc). The other shops I've heard good reveiws about although haven't dove with are Native Sons and Reef Gliders.

Just a word of warning if you are planning on coming March/ april- check out the dates for the central american holiday- Semana Santa. IT gets very busy on the island during that week. I would recommend going before or after.

Hope that helps!

 

[Bay Island Diver]

Great advice from Sand Diver there, To clarify one thing that it appears you are confused about, West End and West Bay are seperate places. As sand diver says, Taxi rides between the two are easy by Boat or Water Taxi.

 

[Wingman_]

thanks sand diver that's great info!

yes indeed i thought west bay was in west end! Thanks for the clarification.
Has someone heard about Las Rocas and Henry Morgan?

From their page it seems coconut tree is just cabins, is there a place where we can have breakfast, and is there a breakfast included option?

 

[Bay Island Diver]

Try Foster's West Bay

 

[CODMAN]

Wing, in my honnest oppinion, you won't find anything in the pricerange of FIBR for unlimited diving. It also has a beach/ bar and activities, for non-divers. A close second I'd say is CoCoview for unlimited diving. It's more expensive than FIBR, but from what I've read, a better run dive operation. But less to do for non-divers than FIBR. Just for your info, there are packages to FIBR for 600$ a week, unlimited diving and all meals. Add 100$ for a week of unlimited Nitrox. I personally liked FIBR a lot and the beach was very nice by Roatan standards. Only real complaint was the food (I have high standards).

I repeat, I really don't think you'll find a better deal. Especially if you want to dive your brains out. If $$ is of no concern, but diving your brains out is, Cocoview would be my second choice (once again, only because of the higher price).

This said, I'm sure there are plenty of other good OPs/ places to stay in west end where you will have a great time. but in the price range of FIBR? I don't think so...

Then again, I might be wrong. Hopefully someone more knowledgeable will point it out if I am!

Just trying to help!

Hi guys,

My gf and i are planning a trip to Roatan in march. At the beginning i was planning on booking in CCV or FIBR but CCV only has room for one week and FIBR didn't appeal much to me, it doesn't look very cosy and the beach doesn't look that fancy.

I dive a lot but my gf doesn't (for the time being ) so i figured that something near West Bay would be more interesting for us. I know it's not the best of places for non divers but for the time being, it'll do.

I'd like to know what would be my accomodation options in West End (preferably close to or in West Bay) for that part of the island with a budget similar to CCV or FIBR.

I've heard about AKR but i've also heard that they feed morays and i'm not too crazy about that i must say.

Your precious help would be much apreciated!

Cheers

 

[Wingman_]

It's ok if i have to pay a little more for a limited number of dives as long as the place is nicer for my non diver girlfriend. And i must say west bay looks really nice (at least on photos).

 

[CODMAN]

I didn't visit west bay (except Anthony's keys for the dolphin dive) so I can't compare properly. Anthony's keys was a nicer resort than FIBR. But FIBR was fine for me and my girlfriend who loves to sun bathe (as well as dive). The FIBR resort is well tended and generally nice. It has what I've heard as the nicest (or one of the nicest) beaches on the island (man made of course). The rooms were simple but clean. AC worked well as well as cable TV in the rooms. In the lobby there were 3 PCs with internet access, although I've heard there are fewer now. A cute little bar. A nice pool (it was new). Volley ball courts, kayaks, etc... And a full range of off site activities for non-divers (you have to pay of course). Honnestly, the only thing I didn't like was the food (gave it 3 or 4 out of 10). That and the Nitrox operation was a bit sloppy; but I double check everything, so it wasn't a problem. By resort standards, it was quite OK (especially for the price) and there were many non-diving people staying there. I think a non-diver would have a good time there.

This said, yes, Anthony Key's is nicer (esthetically speaking). But I've heard mixed comments about the dive OP. And there are probably other places which are very nice too in west end. But along with the resort aspect for your girlfriend, will they give you 3, 4 or 5 dives a day for the same price? I doubt it.

I guess you need to choose what you prefer: a closer to "luxury" resort/hotel with less emphasis on diving? or an OK resort with lots of great diving.

And then you can pick and choose: choosing a separate dive OP and more luxurious hotel. This option will probably be the most exopensive.

This is just my 0.02$ on it, also having a girlfriend to consider on my dive trips.

Hope it helps!

 

[get10wet]

Last April, my husband and I were one of the first guests at Cocolobo in West End. We had an outstanding time. The rooms are clean and very large. The beds were king size and at the time AC was included. Our room was all glass along the oceanfront with sliders that opened to a deck with a hammock and chair... a great place to relax after the last dive and before hitting the best bar in West End (Sundowners.) Rodrigo (manager) and Theresa (cook/server) were helpful and very friendly. Theresa cooks a mean island breakfast (included) which is a great way to start a day of diving. The best part is that it is a 5 minute walk to the main drag.

We dove with Coconut Tree, and took our AOW. This dive op is absolutely the best we have used (including another on the island.) The staff was professional, helpful, and a lot of fun to hang out with. In fact, Gay walked to Cocolobo while under construction to check on progress wrote to assure me that the resort would be open in time for our trip. Everyone went out of their way to make sure our trip was memorable. They secured all of our gear so we didn't need to carry it back and forth each day.

We went to West Bay twice during our 10 day stay. Honestly, unless you are a beach-lounger, it's not the best place on this side of the island. West End is where all the restaurants, bars, shops, and dive ops are located. The beaches are pretty and the resorts are "nicer" but you miss out on so much of the West End character. My suggestion is to take a water taxi to West End when the urge strikes.

We're planning a return trip to Cocolobo and Coconut Tree Divers this April. That's how much fun we had!

 

[Bay Island Diver]

Lots of really good accurate information on this thread.

Get10Wet is spot on, if you want a place with CHARACTER you want West End, pleanty of shops and Restaurants, you actually feel like you have left the states!

Codman - Cocoview certainly gets my vote when compared to FIBR for overall quality, both accommodations and dive operation. But FIBR tends be cheaper and is more than adequate if you really do just want to dive 4-5 times a day and sleep the rest of the time!

For unlimited diving AKR is not a choice, Cocoview and FIBR certainly are better located for that. However AKR has a nice balance between proximity to the vibrant West End combined with the feel of still being in the US as it is all inclusive and gives the creature comforts that many cannot be without.

If you believe all the clap trap the state departmnent puts out about this country, then AKR, FIBR and Cocoview are all well secured facilities with enough to do to never need leave the resort.