Roatan Divers 8/29/17 Roatan Divers 8/29/17

How Much Does It Cost to Stay in West End, Roatan for a Week?

So you're coming to visit Roatan for a week or so, fantastic! When it comes to travel expenses like food, transport, lodging and activities, many travelers want to have an idea of how much to budget. One thing to note: costs here on Roatan might not be what you expect.

So you're coming to visit the West End area of Roatan for a week or so, fantastic! When it comes to travel expenses like food, transport, lodging and activities, many travelers want to have an idea of how much to budget. Spoiler Alert! Things here in West End might not be what you expect.

When you think of Roatan as being part of Honduras, many travelers expect things to be super affordable since we're in Central America. The reality is that Roatan is an island, and almost everything consumed here is imported. Our food, products and supplies had to undergo a much longer journey to make it to our happy island, and therefore that drives up the price of just about everything.

Let's do a quick breakdown on the most common travel expenses when visiting West End, Roatan. Keep in mind that when it comes to other islands and what things cost there, Roatan still ranks high in terms of affordability and getting the most bang for your buck.

Food & Drink Costs

The view from Ginger's Caribbean Grill, across the beach from Roatan Divers

Whether you are eating out at a restaurant or buying groceries, expect the price to be what you would typically pay in the United States. We have big supermarkets in Coxen Hole and French Harbor, which carry many of the common American name brands most tourists recognize. On average, these goods will cost the same, if not more than if you were buying them at your local grocery store.

For eating out at most restaurants in West End, expect to spend around $8-$13 per person (not including tip). Food can run about $15-20 a person at a few of the more upscale establishments. To read more about tipping policies and other FAQ here on the island, go here for a helpful guideline.

And sure, it's possible to find cheaper eats depending on what foods you enjoy (think fried food and lots of carbs)! Here in West End, we do have local street vendors, serving typical Honduran food, like Baleadas and platos tipicos (meat, beans and rice) for around $5.

We know, we know - the biggest question on your mind is how much a beer costs, right? Many of us like to gauge the affordability of a travel destination by their cost of beer. In Roatan, average cost for local beer is about $3, wine & imports (think U.S beers) $5, and cocktails between $5-7.

Lodging

West End sits at just about 1 mile long, and within that area is a range of accommodation options for travelers. Whether you prefer a more established hotel in the heart of West End or a home or condo for rent on the outskirts if you enjoy being off the beaten path a bit, there's always somewhere you can find that will fit your needs.

Hotels

Prices for hotels in West End can range from $35 to $200 a night (not including hostels), so every budget is covered. Important factors to consider when thinking about your hotel options are the time of year (high season prices vs low season prices) and if they include A/C or offer any meal options in their price. Hotels here are generally pretty small in size and they bring much of the charm and small community setting that people love about Roatan.

It's important to note that while West Bay has all-inclusives, hotels in West End do not. Most hotels don't include breakfast, either, so make sure to keep that in mind and read up on the fine print when you're searching for accommodation.

What are some nice hotel options? The Beach House Roatan is a luxury, boutique hotel located in the center of West End and sits directly on Half Moon Bay. Prices start at $175/night + 19% tax and include breakfast. For travelers wanting a more affordable, basic accommodation, we invite you take a look at Anderson Sunset Villas. They offer studio rooms and two-bedroom apartments between $45-75/night. Contact us for availability.

Vacation Rentals

Depending on the size of your group, a vacation rental condo or a house might be what you're looking for. With prices ranging from $600-1,200/week for 1, 2 or 3 bedroom options, condos can cut down on your accommodation expenses (one 2 bedroom condo can be cheaper than getting 2 hotels rooms) and give you the freedom of cooking your own meals. Caribbean Colors offer a variety of properties in West End and the surrounding areas, and their properties offer modern amenities, great locations and stellar service.

Transportation

If you're staying in the West End area, the great news is that you can walk to practically everything! Lodging, dive centers, restaurants and bars all sit within a small area. However, when it comes to airport transportation, traveling to Coxen Hole or the eastern areas of the island, you will need wheels. Taxis are a great, safe option to consider. They will be more expensive if you want a private taxi, but if you're fine sharing the ride with others, you can request a "collectivo". Taxis here don't have meters, so generally you will agree upon a price before getting in and heading out. The price will fluctuate depending on location and number of people. Remember to bring small bills, since taxies here rarely carry change!

Activities

Roatan offers a range of activities, but of course we are most famous for our diving! The costs for diving on Roatan is some of the most affordable in the world, especially when you consider how healthy and vibrant our reef is and how many dive sites we have to offer.
Other activities like ziplining, snorkeling, spas, fishing, golf, or boat excursions are available as well. The cost varies per operator, but we encourage people to consider responsible eco-tourism. For more information about supporting eco-conscious businesses, visit Go Blue Bay Islands, who together with National Geographic can guide you to vendors and operators who demonstrate their commitment to the environment. They rock!

Hopefully we've managed to give you a nice overview of what things cost here in West End and piqued your interest about staying on our beautiful island! For more information about currency on Roatan, check out our other post, 5 Things to Know About Currency on Roatan. As we mentioned, while Roatan may not be be the cheapest destination available, it's still a great value when you take into account the total cost of a trip here, combined with the amazing value of being a part of a small island community with a nice blend of modern and rustic vibes.

Want to know more? We're happy to help guide you through planning your next holiday to Roatan so please send us a note. We can't wait to hear from you!

Roatan Divers 4/17/16 Roatan Divers 4/17/16

5 Things to Know about Currency on Roatan

We all know that traveling to foreign countries inevitably brings out the hassle of currency. How much should things cost? What currency do countries use? What denominations are best? Knowing a few simple tips about the currency and policies of the country you're visiting can save you a lot of hassle

Tip 1. Cash is king on Roatan

I know that North America and Europe are all about the card, but here, cash reigns supreme. A lot of places can't or won't take credit card, and the places that do take it may have a pretty hefty fee attached, up to 22%. I know it's unnerving carrying so much cash around, but life will be much more convenient and cheaper for you if you plan your budget with the intention of only spending cash on the island.

There are several ATMs to use around the island, and some of them are good to use and some aren't. The ATM at the airport is the most convenient as you can just take out money right when you land, and it's the only place that has a US dollar ATM (most of the time. Sometimes they run out of cash. Because Roatan!). Other ATMs are normally maximum 5,000 lempira withdrawals (around $220). You can also do cash advances at Banco Atlantida in Coxen Hole or French Harbor, where you give your card and ID to a bank teller and can take out up to 20,000 lempiras without any fees from this end.

Tip 2. If you choose to use ATMs, still keep some reserve cash anyways

In keeping in line with the previous tip, you can take money out throughout your trip if you don't want to bring down loads of cash with you. However, the ATMs aren't always working, or might not have enough money in them, so you shouldn't wait until you absolutely need the cash to take it out. Keep a few days of reserve cash on you so that you're not stuck in a bind when the ATM decides to shut down.

Tip 3. Have US dollars, will travel

Exchanging money at airports sucks, because the exchange rate is normally terrible and there's a hefty fee attached as well. Luckily for you, Roatan has you covered!

Roatan accepts both Honduran lempiras and US dollars. The exchange rate varies from business to business, with some strictly adhering to the exchange rate for the day and some rounding up or down to make it a cleaner number (so if the exchange rate is 22.3, then they'll just exchange at 22). Whatever currency you pay in doesn't guarantee that you'll get the change in the same currency, either. You could pay a $10 tab with a $20 bill, and get $5 in US and 112 lempiras in change. You can also pay in mixed currency, which is a bonus.

Tip 4. Small bills, por favor

If you're spending money early in the morning, a lot of business won't have change for you. This applies especially to taxi and water taxi drivers. If you try to pay a $3 water taxi ride with a $20 bill at 7AM, you're most likely out of luck. Keep a good amount of $1 and $5 bills with you to avoid the complications of having to run around different businesses trying to get them to break your $20 bill for you. Furthermore, please keep in the mind that whatever time of day, most local business won't have change for $100 bills, so try to keep your denominations to $20 or less unless you're paying for things like hotels, or activities like scuba diving or zip lining.

Tip 5. Keep bills clean

In the United States, you can use a bill that's almost completely ripped in half, and business still will accept it as legal tender. Not so on Roatan. Most business cannot accept ripped or damaged US dollar bills because the banks won't take them. I won't get into the complicated reasons why because it's a lengthy foray into bureaucracy and international politics, but please understand that businesses are not being difficult when they won't take your half ripped $20 bill. Before you come down, check and make sure all your bills are clean - no rips, no tape, and no mustaches on Jackson's face.

So there are our Top Five Tips for using currency on Roatan! If you have any Top Five Tips that you'd like us to cover, let us know on our Facebook page or shoot us an e-mail, we'd love to help make your trip to Roatan the best it can possibly be!