Need help getting to Utila March 4th after 2:30pm

[Sloeber]

Glad to hear he's willing to wait a few minutes. Hope the move up works. Everyone wants to get off the plane ASAP, but when I have heard FAs on late flights ask all who do not have immediate connections to wait one moment so those who do have immediate connections a head start, I've seen entire plane loads of passengers cooperate. Doing it for one would be easier. Hope she just has a roll-on and nothing checked and wears fast shoes.

She is one chill, down to earth chicky, believe me there, but asking *any* female to bring nothing more than a roll-on for a 7 day vacation is akin to asking me to not do any diving when in Roatan. IT. IS. NOT. HAPPENING.

But she does prefer running shoes... so maybe there is a chance LOL

Personally, I don't see how one can exit an international flight, clear customs, grab luggage, and snag a taxi in 40 minutes.... but ole Vern says its not only possible but *all* his previous clients have managed such a feat. I'll be sure to report back here on how that works out for anyone researching it in the future.

 

[DandyDon]

She is one chill, down to earth chicky, believe me there, but asking *any* female to bring nothing more than a roll-on for a 7 day vacation is akin to asking me to not do any diving when in Roatan. IT. IS. NOT. HAPPENING.

But she does prefer running shoes... so maybe there is a chance LOL

Personally, I don't see how one can exit an international flight, clear customs, grab luggage, and snag a taxi in 40 minutes.... but ole Vern says its not only possible but *all* his previous clients have managed such a feat. I'll be sure to report back here on how that works out for anyone researching it in the future.

Ah, from one of your previous threads, I was thinking that you were staying Feb 20-27 at FIBR, then another week thru Mar 6 or so in the Bay Islands to be named - and she was arriving on Mar 4 for 2 or 3 days to then return with you, and I was wondering? Some people do fly that far for a weekend, like airline Non-Revs at times. Now I see that she is staying a week that is indeed different.

There is a Delta flight in at 12:14 and who knows what else, but maybe she'll get a clear shot. If Vern says it will work, I bet it will even if he has to wait longer.

 

[diversteve]

When she gets off the plane, tell her to get in the right line(s). They all merge into two but once you turn the corner into the building it's the shorter line. That's the tricky part of getting through, after that customs is one x-ray operator that I never saw stop a bag.

Being near/at the back of the short line still took us 45 mins to get through immigration both times we've been there. (May 2008 and March 2009)

I might still go for the Ferry. Google Earth has it at 2+ miles from the Airport to Dixon Cove - I wasn't paying attention but it seemed like 10 mins. or less after we got into a cab. On the 12:10 flight we made it to the ferry with over 1/2 hr. to spare.The Princess is just off the Galaxy parking area so it's a 5min. transfer once you have your luggage in La Ceiba off the Galaxy. Plenty of time to transfer.

It's 6-7 miles to the West End from the airport - in the other direction. Longer than it looks on the map, the road is twisty and vertical in some areas. If she somehow managed to clear the airport by 1:30ish - I'd say the ferry was doable.

After that I'd probably go for Vern on the West End. If she needs to call him en-route, my buddies AT&T Int'l worked there. T-Mobile didn't. I was roaming but calls never connected. I had to change to my Int'l sim card. Did it while waiting in line at immigration..lol.

If she misses Vern, tell her to stay overnight in the West End. Try across the street at Coconut Tree. S/B about $45-50, they're decent (older) in a quiet gated area and have food on-site and multiple food options nearby. It's a pretty safe area, there's always tourists walking down the main road in front.

There's other options within walking distance, Chillies, Posada Arco Iris, others. Chillies is a hostel afaik.

There's a cab stand across the street next to the CTD pier where Vern leaves from if she decides on the ferry the next morning. Or wait for Vern, the West End has enough shops/restaurants/bars to amuse yourself for a morning.

Afaik except for a few nicer resorts and the AI's farther east, there's not a lot of options on the south side near Dixon Cove. I wouldn't want to stay in Coxen Hole overnight - not even sure that you can find a place there.

I don't see her making it either unless everything goes perfect. Maybe if Vern can wait a little longer that might be possible. But he's got about a 4 hr. sail afaik. The ferries are a little faster, we were on Utila just after 5.

 

[diversteve]

One other risky option on the CO flight is to sit in the very back.

On our first flight they opened both doors for disembarking. Unfortunately we were in the middle of the plane.

On our second flight we asked the flight attendant if they were planning to do that again - she said yes - but when we arrived they didn't have an extra set of stairs due to other planes also arriving within a few minutes of ours.

So we were just about last off the plane on both flights.

 

[ncchuck]

All I can say is good luck. I picked up guests for 4 months on Roatan and I can't ever remember getting out of the airport within an hour of the plane landing. This is going to be very tight but it Vern says it works, I'm sure he know better than many of us.

 

[CajunDiva]

I'm much more optimistic than that...I think it can be done - easily! Of course there are always variables involved. If another plane lands immediately prior to the CO flight, immigration could be a problem. But I fly that route on a regular basis and usually get through customs within about 20 minutes. (Sometimes it SEEMS like an hour!) Granted, the last few trips we have fortunately been upgraded to business class so I think the suggestion of moving up before landing is a good one.

Just tell her to be patient, put a smile on her face, and immediately after clearing customs she should find Orlando...he is one of the luggage handlers at the airport. If she explains her problem to him, he will help expedite her through the rest of the process and get her out to a cab. (For which he of course should be generously tipped!!!)

Best of luck

P.S. Dandy Don will be going through in a couple of days...maybe he can time the process!

 

[DandyDon]

P.S. Dandy Don will be going through in a couple of days...maybe he can time the process!

Actually, he is arriving the same day as me, in our group for a week.

You're right about the variables. If the Delta plane is late and/or full, or a new guy at Immigration, etc - but since Vern said it will work, I bet it does.

 

[adjuster-jd]

She's coming in on a Thursday so it should be less busy than on a Saturday where we have DL and CO arrivals back to back. Might be a little easier..
Good luck on that..

 

[ncchuck]

Weekday arrival should help a lot. The advice on finding Orlando (baggage handler) is excellent. He's a good guy that can help.

I lived there for 4 months and picked up guest every saturday (Feb to May). The average time for customs, baggage pickup, xray (yes they xray'd incoming bags) was well over an hour but this was 3 years ago when there was probably a lot more traffic.

 

[DandyDon]

The advice on finding Orlando (baggage handler) is excellent. He's a good guy that can help.

It sounds like it might be good to find Orlando tomorrow, hand him a pic of the lady with $10 bill, talk to him about Mar 4, get a contact phone number for Mar 3 or 4, and have her give him the other $10-20 then.