Roatan in a week - logistics advice?

[nkb535]

Hey, everyone.

My bf and I are heading down to Roatan one week from tomorrow. We have our room and dives booked already (through Bananarama) and are trying to get all the last minute details (mainly about cash) figured out. We know about the $38 cash leaving fee, but we were wondering if anyone knew of anything else that we should bring with us or have prepared before we go that might be specific to Roatan (we've both traveled internationally before, so are pretty savvy).

Are there ATMs on the island?
Can we use debit cards (mostly for food; hotel and diving are already paid for)?
Did you bring any lempiras with you and if so, how much?

Any advice on how to get around, what to do (other than diving; we have 2 non-diving days right now)?

Any other general advice about Roatan?

thanks in advance for any help!

 

[diversteve]

Roatan ATMs

ATM machine functionality is sporadic, and although you are given an option for receiving U.S. Dollars or Lempiras, the ATMs will only give Lempiras, so be aware if you key in "$300 U.S. Dollars" you will only receive 300 Lempiras. Many ATMs do not take foreign credit cards, and none accept deposits.
ATM Locations

West Bay: Mayan Princess, West Bay Mall (Credomatic)

West End: Gas Station, and at the small hotel next to Coconut Tree

Coxen Hole: HSBC Bank, Credomatic Placa Mar, and the Roatan International Airport (two)

French Harbor: HSBC, Eldens Supermarket

MegaPlaza Mall: Banco Continental, BAC Credomatic, Banpais, and Banco Atlantida

Jackson Plaza: Texaco and HSBC

From: http://roatan.honduras.com/banking.html#.T38PN9lwauQ

I never used a debit card during the week. A lot of the smaller shops/restaurants in the West End likely wouldn't have the technology. Internet access in the West End isn't all that reliable, it crashed several times during the week, so I would guess neither is the network access for cc machines. A buddy used one at the Coconut Tree store used a couple of times - but with a credit card iirc.

You can get lempira at the ATM at the airport. They're located by both main entrances.

so be aware if you key in "$300 U.S. Dollars" you will only receive 300 Lempiras.

I don't think this is correct, as I'm pretty sure the exchange rate is a lot different than that. I used the ATM at the airport a few days b4 we departed and received an awful lot of lempira instead of the $200 I would have requested.

U.S. dollars were accepted everywhere we went - at several resorts, 1/2 dozen restaurants and some of the smaller snack places along the West End road. We mostly paid cash for everything. Also the cab drivers took them but made change in lempira.

Take taxis. Hitting someone/something on Roatan with a rental car is something you likely don't want to deal with. Lots of stray dogs running around that might suddenly become $omebody's property if you hit one. Ride Prices are (very) negotiable in advance also. If you pay more than $20 to go across the island (width/not length) you probably overpaid.

Ziplines? http://www.southshorezipline.com/

You probably can't take too much bug repellent...lol.

 

[Necklinsberg]

When we were there you had to pay a tax (about $38 US as I recall) in the local currency at the airport prior to departure.
There were several threads here about changing the amount and changing the way collected so I am nut sure what is current procedure.

 

[Mike]

I bring US dollars and pay for little things in cash, going to dinner in West End or elsewhere we had no problems paying with a credit card. I'm sure there were a couple of times that we might have had to pay in cash, but since I always bring it anyways I don't remember any exact examples of when we had to.

I always rent a car. You pick it up at the air port.

Not sure I've even seen a

lempira.

Advice - get out and see the island, go to the crab races at the thristy turtle, always visit the thirsty turtle during the time they do their 2 for 1 drink of the day specials, right next door to bananarama between it and the 'disco' beach bar there is a really nice restaurant, you'll need to stop in during the day to make a reservation and be ready to take your shoes off when you eat there. Go snorkeling down the beach all the way west until you hit the cliffs.​

 

[Carl_F]

Lempira - we used them sometimes but for a week's stay, dollars will work fine. Though the locals didn't know what to make of a dollar coin.
Exit fee - in dollars or lempira (we actually used both on the way out a month ago.)
ATM - there's also an ATM at the West Bay Mall (the strip mall at the road entrance to Bananarama - it says "dollars" or "lempira" but will only deliver in lempira. West End has two ATMs, one will deliver dollars, but those two ATMs did not work at all when we were there a month ago. There's an ATM at the cruise ship terminal in Coxen Hole that provides dollars. (Exchange rate is roughly 20 L to $1.)

Take the water taxi to the West End if you want to go there. Cheap ride. I recommend looking for the boat, "Andy", and ask for Ronnie. (But never had a bad experience with any of the other boats.)

I second the snorkeling at the south end of West Bay. Go south (left out of Bananarama) about 100 yds south of the pier and then go in anywhere between there and the iron shore. Fantastic snorkeling! Best time is early morning about sunrise as things can get stirred up later in the day from everyone else.

I don't recommend drinks at the "disco" beach bar mentioned by Mike. The prices are outrageous. The other bars on the beach are more reasonable (heck, we rarely left Thirsty Turtle.)

All the restaurants took credit card (not sure about debit card.) But tip using cash as a number of places don't allow adding tip to the card charge for some reason.

I highly recommend the shack in the back of the parking lot for breakfast. Great, local food!! And inexpensive, too!

Enjoy! We're going back in September!!!

 

[Mike]

Carl - not the disco bar, the thirsty turtle for drinks.

West.... South.... technically it's southwest but who's counting?
If you're standing on the beach facing the water, turn to your left and walk till you hit the cliffs, jump in the water you're there.

 

[toddthecat]

Not sure I've even seen a

lempira.
​

Sure you were ever there? The standard when paying in USD is getting Lempira back...

 

[scubanski]

Hey, everyone.

My bf and I are heading down to Roatan one week from tomorrow. We have our room and dives booked already (through Bananarama) and are trying to get all the last minute details (mainly about cash) figured out. We know about the $38 cash leaving fee, but we were wondering if anyone knew of anything else that we should bring with us or have prepared before we go that might be specific to Roatan (we've both traveled internationally before, so are pretty savvy).

Are there ATMs on the island?
Can we use debit cards (mostly for food; hotel and diving are already paid for)?
Did you bring any lempiras with you and if so, how much?

Any advice on how to get around, what to do (other than diving; we have 2 non-diving days right now)?

Any other general advice about Roatan?

thanks in advance for any help!

I'm heading down from the 18th-25th staying basically next door to bananarama at infinity bay, the awesome snorkling is in front of infinity and to the left a little. As for cash i usually bring down about $600 for a week. I'd rather have extra cash and not have to deal with finding it. As others said the atms may or may not work and may or may not have money. When i have used a working atm my Chase bank card has always worked but my girlfriends bank of america card seems to always have an issue. Many places will take credit cards. I try and save the cash for places that don't.

Bananarama will give you cash if you need it but they charge around a 5% fee. I have never needed to exchange money for lempiras, everyone takes dollars and the discount for using lempiras is minimal.

As for getting around i have always just used taxis and water taxis. I never had a reason for a car. Some cool excursions for non-diving days are cayos cochinos boat trip or an around the island trip with a stop at the hole in the wall for lunch. Great fishing also. Hope this helps

 

[Carl_F]

Carl - not the disco bar, the thirsty turtle for drinks.

West.... South.... technically it's southwest but who's counting?
If you're standing on the beach facing the water, turn to your left and walk till you hit the cliffs, jump in the water you're there.

No argument on either count! The only thing that I didn't like about the Thirsty Turtle is that the 2 for $5 drinks are in the smaller cups than when at regular price. But that's minor compared with everything else (staff ... Jessica, Alberto, everyone! vibe, location, beverage choices, etc.)

On the snorkeling, when we were there, reports were that a turtle could be seen during the morning. My wife and I never saw it but multiple folks reported it. We did see juvenile barracuda, plenty of blue tangs, needle fish, sharp tail eel, sand divers, and all the normal reef fish.

 

[Colo Hippie]

Eat one dinner at Gios in French Harbor - The special of lobster, crab, and shrimp for $39 will feed two and is great.