Utila or Roatan

[diversteve]

A couple of quick comments:

Cocolobo on Roatan came to mind after reading your wish list. They offer room/diving/breakfast packages. Cocolobo, West End, Roatan, Honduras. Hotel and dive packages They work with Coconut Tree Divers, we dove with them for a week - I often recommend them here. http://www.coconuttreedivers.com/

March is Whale Shark season off Utila. Snorkel only but it's still a thrill. We snorkeled with 6 the last week of March 2 years ago.

Roatan has ziplines and some other touristy things. As well as some nice beaches - especially in West Bay. At your experience level you could also do the Dolphin Dive at Anthony's Key. Anything that passes for nightlife is probably in the West End. Things to do on Roatan: Roatan Activities

Utila is a big backpacking destination - IDK why exactly. Utila activities: The island of Utila has a range of activities! | UTILA GUIDE

 

[Doc]

As for airfare to get to the its a wash. I am looking at going the Marh 17-24 and airfare to Roatan is close to $1000, but if I fly into San Pedro Sula, and go to Utila, it will be close to $1000, so that really not an issue.

If you value your vacay time, remember that taking a less expensive flight onto the mainland can cost you dearly in terms of paradise time versus transit time. You can fly straight into Roatan, Utila is going to take you longer, sometimes a day extra.

In an Ideal world , we would stay at a hotel that provides breakfast and we woudl eat out the rest of the time. We ahev looked at AI resorts, they tend to bust the budget, and then there is just part of us that does not like to be locked into one place.

Beware the false economy that this might seem to provide. If you start doing math, the Bay Islands AI provides a distinct advantage after hitting anything more than two dives per day. In terms of dive cost, this is fairly easy to see. If you take into account the tyranny of time, the expedited features of dining and boat departures becomes evident. Combine the need for acquiring lunch and dinner elsewhere, and you seriously cut into available dive time. Look hard at non-AI dive boat departure schedules and you'll see that making more than two dive departures can be problematic- plus the once-a-week night dive schedule that non-AI's offer. There are certain attractions to day-dive ops, just be aware of what you're getting... don't be penny wise and pound foolish.

Utila is a big backpacking destination - IDK why exactly.

Because it can be done more cheaply than another destination. Living in a hammock is not everyone's ideal, understanding that this is a low-end indicator- there are others, as well. It generally keeps other prices down, too, even for the slightly upgraded options. This level disappears with the ongoing building of success of the destination~ even Vietnam has gotten noticeably more costly. Backpackers are pushed further afield.

There are slightly more non-dive diversions on Roatan, but not much to recommend.

 

[north6633]

Thanks for all the great responses everyone, I think we are leaning towards Utila, but need to sort a couple things out budget wise.

One question, I have found some pretty direct flights from SEA to SAP, but on the way home we only have 1 hour 10 minutes to clear customs in Houston, is that a reasonable to to do that? Seems tight, but not sure. I know if teh flight ios not on time it is for sure. On the plus side I would be coming, and my worst case scenario I would miss a day of work not a day of vacation.

Thanks again for taking the time to respond.

Paul

 

[godive19]

I have been doing this a couple times a year over the last 10 years and always leave at least 2 hours to clear. It all depends on the traffic at the time and the staffing of the TSA officers. I have come close a couple of times and I have cleared with over an hour to spare. It all depends