Utila or Roatan?

[ronscuba]

Jamaica, Aruba and Fiji are way more developed than Roatan/Utila. Think much more rustic. Something along the lines of what you'd see at a US camping site that rent cabins.

December is in the rainy season for Roatan too. If you are deadset on the Bay Islands, I'd look at Anthony's Key or Fantasy Island to keep the wife's happy. If you want to be more selfish and dive, dive, dive, Cocoview offers 4 boat dives a day + unlimited shore diving on a great house reef.

But to be honest, I think your group would be happier at a destination like Curacao.

 

[CODMAN]

Fantasy island is a resort, but not luxury. They do have AC and the rooms are OK (I didn't like the food). They have a decent beach (I mean decent!!!), with lawn chairs and kayaks you can rent/borrow. 3 boat dives a day, 1 night dive a week, and unlimited shore diving. It's also very cheap! The dive op was OK (not great, but OK). They had massage service and various on-island activities... small bar, etc...

This definetly doesn't fit the luxury bill (at least in my books), but if you NEED a beach, it is probably your best bet on Roatan. The flies didn't bite us all week, but bring DEET nevertheless.

For the $$ (600$ for the week, and 100$ unlimited Nitrox for the week), it's hard to beat! It surely isn't as well dive oriented as Cocoview... But it's also much cheaper and more "resort-ish"...

Hope this helps!

 

[scubapatton]

Thanks Codman. Ronscuba, I am fully aware of what you are saying. As I noted, Jam, Aruba, Fiji were joint trips. One of my fondest memories without a SO, was backpacking Egypt and diving the Red Sea for a week in Dahab back in 1997 and staying in a thatch hut with a padlock for $5 a night. I know my wife would rail on me for a stay like that, but Fantasy Island appears to be likely to satisfy "just enough" luxury. I will have to look at CocoView and Anthony's Key still.

 

[HowieDean]

I'm with the Inn of Last Resort "Link at bottom of Post"....
I want you guys to have FUN..... And we pride ourselves on the number of Repeat Guests we have.....

That being said... Christmas-New Years weeks are probably the best chance of having terrible weather.... Bad weather usually means wind and ruff water... with some rain mixed in..... When it get's ruff on our side we try to dive the South side but sometimes it's too ruff to even get out and around to that side.....

For some reason the 2 weeks above are always busy.... And you can luck out and have beutifull weather... I would tell you to plan to lose 2 days of diving in that time period.......

We would be happy to have you and think we could show you a pretty good time... If you email the resort and Fantasy Island you can probably get a pretty good deal.. Honestly I think that if you shop and negotiate you will have a better time and spend allot less money buy going with an AI like us or Fantasy "South Side" - I would also highly recomend CoCo View but haven't said much about it cause I think they stay pretty booked around Christmas......

If I can be of any further help let me know...

 

[Saskdiver911]

Hi there, I just spent 2 and half months on Roatan diving although I never made it to Utila I know the higher end hotels would definately be on Roatan. The diving that time of year would be the same on either island. The only reason Utila would be better would be in Whaleshark season. I have also worked a bit at Coco View resort and the diveshop is outstanding although I have not seen the rooms and it is only accessible by boat to get to the resort so if you want to get out and travel the island then I would have to suggest Anthonys Key Resort. Definately the highest end resort on the island and also close to West End where the shopping and partying is done. But if you do go to Coco View talk to Mark Linton he is a great instructor and you will have amazing dives with him or his crew. Tell him Justin sent you haha. Hope everything works out for you.

 

[scubapatton]

Thank you. I am exploring the options, so I appreciate all the insight.

 

[jkling17]

I have to agree w/ the others - Anthony's Key will be the best place to take a lady that's interested in heading out for evening fun, and a bit picky about the resort. Fantasy Island is quite a hike from the nightlife in West End.

I've stayed at CoCo View 5 times and love it. My wife did too - she would just take 2-6 dives a week and the rest of the time would get daily massages, lay out in hammocks, get a bit of sun, read and relax. But it seems likely that your ladies want a little more.

If you could somehow manage to get an over the water bungelow or cabana, perhaps your wife would like it? You could also consider getting a private house on the Coco View property. These are the Playa Miguel Beach Houses. They are privately owned but rented out most of the year. They are just beyond the Coco property and so only a short walk (or even faster bike ride (bike's are provided) to the resort. Last trip I was in the closest house - #4, and was a 90 sec bike ride to the resort.

The houses are nice little places w/ AC in bedrooms but not in common areas. 1 or 2 of the houses have no AC whatsoever so stay away from those.

Fantasy has the best beach, if that's a requirement. But again - Coco and Fantasy are a long drive from the town at West End.

If you are even remotely considering CoCo, better call them fast to see what's even available, the over the water rooms usually fill up well in advance.

Jeff

 

[Bay Island Diver]

I have a friend who has a nice house to rent in West End, haven't got details of it on my website yet, but I just rented it for my mum and brother when they came out! $1100 a week for two ensuite bedrooms and a great living area. It is on ironshore in the West End.

If beach is important and price not to important have a look at Mayan Princess, certainly one of the nicest hotels on the island with a great pool and right on West Bay beach, You can have the guys at Coconut Tree pick you up from West Bay if you stay there, i think that would keep the wives happiest!

If you want more details on the house PM email me and i will forward the mail to the owner. Another good option is the houses at west bay village, i link to them from my site as well.

 

[marcoa]

Take a look at:

Home Page - Mayan Princess at Roatan Bay Islands, Honduras

Resort Henry Morgan Roatan - Villaggio Hounduras dove il sogno diventa realtà

They are nice places to stay in West-Bay. If you decide to head over to West-End, I would suggest Posada Las Orquidias or Half Moon Bay Cabins. They are right on the water, but no beach. They're on the iron shore.

You can always stay in our cabins at Coconut Tree. They're just not on the water. They're not the Ritz Carlton, but they are not too shaby either. They are right next to the dive-shop, a convenience store, and a new restaurant upstairs overlooking the water. The dive-shop is right there, our docks and boats are across the road.

You can also look into renting a house for a week. There are some real nice ones in Half Moon Bay. Here is the address: Roatan Rental - House

Sunset Villas in West-End is also nice. Take a look at Sunset Villas, Roatan Hotel, Luxury Condo, Room Rentals, West End, Roatan

I hope that helps. Best of luck...

 

[AdTravels]

Take a look at Utila.... very laid back very relaxed. Yes great diving, but as others said boat rides can be up to half an hour to get to the north side.
What Utila realy offers over Roatan is the vibe... ok, your not big party people but there are good eateries and bars which are not at states prices (unlike roatan) yes you can find great places to stay.. Light house hotel offers self catering appartments, sleeping four for 50 us a night (with A/C) diving packages from 22.5 US per tank.
OK beachers are limited but right next door to Light house is bando beach, with bar, food, facilities and great snorkelling/swimming...
the choices are endless.
Visit Utila Official Site - Utila, Bay Islands, Honduras - Tropical Island Paradise &
www.diveinaltons.com (they are the closest Dive centre.
Hope you have agreat trip what ever you decide

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