Trouble getting into and out of Honduras

[kimanjo]

Help! I have a return ticket out of San Pedro Sula (via TACA) back to the USA next Tuesday. I am STILL in Nicaragua and I have been trying to get into Honduras for the past 72 hours to get to the Bay Islands to do some diving. However, none of the busses are crossing the border. So I went to a travel agent (2 different ones, actually) and asked about flights into Honduras. I was told that there is military surrounding each airport and conceivably I could fly from Managua into SAP, but I would not be allowed to leave the airport in a bus to continue on a major highway to La Ceiba.

The only way I can get to the Bay Islands is to get a one-way ticket into Roatan or La Ceiba from Managua (if possible and at least $300 extra, per person there are 2 of us total $600 ), but then comes the question of how to get back into SAP if things go downhill.

So I have booked alternate plans in the Corn Islands for a week.

my problem now is, do you have any suggestions about how to change my flight out of SAP if I cannot get there to take it? TACA is basically saying "up yours".

Thanks!

 

[Robertcrockett]

Well I'm not sure why the military would be surrounding the airports when the know exactly where Zelaya is (at the border) and I have not heard anything about bus traffic being shut down. I arrive in San P Sula on Sat and will fly into Utila on air Sosa I think the tickets were 118.00 USD I'm not sure whether ur thinking Utila or Roatan but Sosa could easily fly u to la ceiba to catch the ferry or direct to the islands. Try Morgan's travel located in Utila.... They have been a life saver for me.. I highly recommend them!


Morgan's Travel  
Utila Bay Islands,Honduras C.A.
Tel. (504)425-3161
Tel. (504)425-3166
US # 786-623-4167
email: utilamorganstravel@yahoo.com
Web: utilamorganstravel.com

 

[UTLgirl]

The Military at the airports isn't that unusual. Our airports are both Military & Civilian at the same time. They have however increased their presence this past week, just as they did in early July when Mel tried to come in. It's precautionary in case he aborts a border crossing & tries to come in another way. Even Utila, small as we are, has a contingent here at the moment.

I second Robertcrockett (I won't hum the song Dave). Contact Morgan's Travel. If any one can help you out, it'll be them.

 

[Robertcrockett]

LOL I should have never mentioned that song...Now i have this horrible dream that I get off the plane in utila and there is a brass band playing that theme song...Maybe its the malaria meds!

 

[agilulfo]

The only way I can get to the Bay Islands is to get a one-way ticket into Roatan or La Ceiba from Managua (if possible and at least $300 extra, per person there are 2 of us total $600 ), but then comes the question of how to get back into SAP if things go downhill.

So I have booked alternate plans in the Corn Islands for a week.

my problem now is, do you have any suggestions about how to change my flight out of SAP if I cannot get there to take it?

Have you checked with TACA if they would change your SAP to Miami flight on Tuesday and let you fly from Managua via San Salvador instead? I find it hard to believe that they wouldn't let you do that even for a small fee given your situation (right now the fare on 8/4 is $570 per person).

TACA's number in Nicaragua is (505) 276-9982.

Good luck.

 

[kimanjo]

Thanks--my problem is getting into Honduras. I am in Nicaragua and NO BUSES are running through Honduras right now--that is, the executive class TicaBus and TransNica and King Quality...I think they are scared Zelaya and company will stowaway away in the luggage compartment to come into the country.

I wouldn't have much of a problem getting out of SPS, but getting into SPS is a nightmare...it will cost me and my teen daughter each $340 for a one-way ticket from Managua to San Pedro Sula...that's almost $700!!!!!!!! For that priice I could buy 2 sets of r/t tickets back to Cnetral America from our home state, Florida, for a second vacation!!!

I was wondering if there is any way you all can get creative and come up with an alternate plan???

 

[kimanjo]

Have you checked with TACA if they would change your SAP to Miami flight on Tuesday and let you fly from Managua via San Salvador instead? I find it hard to believe that they wouldn't let you do that even for a small fee given your situation (right now the fare on 8/4 is $570 per person).

TACA's number in Nicaragua is (505) 276-9982.

Good luck.

YES, I checked with TACA--I have been calling them for the past 48 hours here in Nica, and my sis-in-law and my husband in the USA have been calling TACA in Miami since Friday a.m. TACA is NOT allowing any departure change plans, they have told all 3 of us that my only option is to buy a new ticket!!!!! They (TACA) say that it is my responsibility to get to San Pedro Sula and I basically have to 'eat it", the loss, that is, if I can't get to SPS.

TACA did offer me the opportunity to buy 2 one-way tickets (Managua to San Pedro Sula) from them for $340 each=total $680. For that price I can fly from San Jose, Costa Rica back on Spirit in a big comfy leather seat, 1st class.!!!!

Someone suggested I contact the US Embassy in Honduras. Is that idea even remotely feasible?

 

[agilulfo]

Someone suggested I contact the US Embassy in Honduras. Is that idea even remotely feasible?

I am sorry to hear about your troubles. You may have better luck if you contact the US embassy in Managua since you are in Nicaragua. Here are both contacts:

NICARAGUA

The U.S. Embassy is located at Kilometer 5 1/2 (5.5) Carretera Sur, in Managua, Nicaragua.
Embassy Telephone: +(505) 2252-7100
Information Resource Center: +(505) 2252-7237
Consular Section phone: +(505) 2252-7888
Consular fax: +(505) 2252-7304
Consular E-mail: consularmanagua@state.gov

HONDURAS

Embajada de los Estados Unidos de América
Avenida La Paz
Tegucigalpa M.D.C.
Honduras
Telephone Numbers: +(504) 236-9320, +(504) 238-5114
Fax Number: +(504) 236-9037

 

[RTBDiver]

I am sorry to hear about your troubles. You may have better luck if you contact the US embassy in Managua since you are in Nicaragua. Here are both contacts:

NICARAGUA

The U.S. Embassy is located at Kilometer 5 1/2 (5.5) Carretera Sur, in Managua, Nicaragua.
Embassy Telephone: +(505) 2252-7100
Information Resource Center: +(505) 2252-7237
Consular Section phone: +(505) 2252-7888
Consular fax: +(505) 2252-7304
Consular E-mail: consularmanagua@state.gov

HONDURAS

Embajada de los Estados Unidos de América
Avenida La Paz
Tegucigalpa M.D.C.
Honduras
Telephone Numbers: +(504) 236-9320, +(504) 238-5114
Fax Number: +(504) 236-9037

Contacting the embassy would be meaningless. There is no problem for you going from Nica to the US or even from Honduras to the US so if your a US citizen then you can fly home to the comfort of the USA and that is all they might be concerned about if there were problems
I guess this guy really thinks the US embassy of either country will work to help you cross the border into a Country the state department has issued travel alert for?

 

[Damselfish]

When you travel, especially in some parts of the world, you should either buy trip insurance or be prepared to deal with it/eat it when something happens. That's travel. The situation you're in is a drag sure, you might not get to dive where you wanted and might have to spend some more to get home. It would nice if you can find some creative way to work it out but I really don't think the embassy deals in fixing travelers inconveniences. And sure it would be nice if TACA was more flexible or would give you a good deal on the other flight given the situation, sure, but presumably the flight is going as scheduled and it is true it's not their fault if you can't make it.