roatan

Based on earlier advice on this newsgroup, I'm planning on 5 days in
roatan's west end. I hope to be snorkeling/freediving as much as possible
with my teenage son. So far I'm looking at:
Keifitos
Halfmoon bay cabins
Seabreeze
Bananarama
Fosters
Any comments or recommendations?
thanks
a

"a" wrote in message
...
Based on earlier advice on this newsgroup, I'm planning on 5 days in
roatan's west end. I hope to be snorkeling/freediving as much as possible
with my teenage son. So far I'm looking at:
Keifitos

It's kinda secluded, so if you guys are looking for real quiet, some
solitude and a looong walk up the beach to town, or down the beach to West
Bay, then it might be what you are after.

Halfmoon bay cabins

Highly recommended, snorkeling in Halfmoon Bay starts right at shore . . I'm
even told that the best snorkelling to be found in the Bay, is right there.
I can't confirm this since I'm a scuba diver not a snorkeller.

Seabreeze

Depends on what you want. Besides I think I've already commented on this
place. It's not on the beachside, it's behind some buildings and so isn't
quite as open as represented in the website pictures, which were taken prior
to the construction of the two story building in front. I found that the
buildings in front (facing the street) blocked a bunch of the street noise
though not the early morning roosters or the noisiest bullfrogs I've ever
heard (when it rained). With regard to the animal noise issues, well, they
probably exist everywhere. The rooms are slightly rundown, but for the
price, I was satisfied and have already rebooked the same room. As I said
before, at this hotel, my own personal choice, I would not stay in anything
but a studio or a one bedrooms.

Bananarama

This is in West Bay, so it depends on whether or not you want to take a
water taxi to West End proper from time to time. Unless you rent a vehicle,
after 5:30 pm, you are pretty much restricted to West Bay and so will have
limited choices for restaurants and those choices will be more expensive.

Fosters

There's two Fosters. One is in West End and one is in West Bay. Which one
were you thinking about?

Any comments or recommendations
thanks
a

"chilly" wrote in message
news:7%pTd.495372$Xk.483027@pd7tw3no...

"a" wrote in message
...
Based on earlier advice on this newsgroup, I'm planning on 5 days in
roatan's west end. I hope to be snorkeling/freediving as much as
possible
with my teenage son. So far I'm looking at:

Keifitos
It's kinda secluded, so if you guys are looking for real quiet, some
solitude and a looong walk up the beach to town, or down the beach to West
Bay, then it might be what you are after.

Beach looks/sounds nice and I'm still wondering whether I want seclusion or
a little more 'action' (to keep a 15yr old entertained).


Halfmoon bay cabins
Highly recommended, snorkeling in Halfmoon Bay starts right at shore . .
I'm
even told that the best snorkelling to be found in the Bay, is right
there.
I can't confirm this since I'm a scuba diver not a snorkeller.

I've read the same...


Seabreeze
Depends on what you want. Besides I think I've already commented on this
place. It's not on the beachside, it's behind some buildings and so isn't
quite as open as represented in the website pictures, which were taken
prior
to the construction of the two story building in front. I found that the
buildings in front (facing the street) blocked a bunch of the street noise
though not the early morning roosters or the noisiest bullfrogs I've ever
heard (when it rained). With regard to the animal noise issues, well,
they
probably exist everywhere. The rooms are slightly rundown, but for the
price, I was satisfied and have already rebooked the same room. As I said
before, at this hotel, my own personal choice, I would not stay in
anything
but a studio or a one bedrooms.

less appealing


Bananarama
This is in West Bay, so it depends on whether or not you want to take a
water taxi to West End proper from time to time. Unless you rent a
vehicle,
after 5:30 pm, you are pretty much restricted to West Bay and so will have
limited choices for restaurants and those choices will be more expensive.

The dive boat options (assuming we'll want to take up a seat on snorkel
friendly trips) are appealing here. Also have heard the beach is nice.


Fosters
There's two Fosters. One is in West End and one is in West Bay. Which
one
were you thinking about?

West Bay. Didn't realize there were two! Sounds like Bananarama in that it
has nice beach but is more secluded.

In any case Chilly, thanks for these and the earlier comments you've made.
They've been on-target and very helpful. I like to leave some things up to
'luck' but this is a last minute ending to a longer trip with my son, and
I'm hoping to hit all the 'right notes' from the get go.

Also, any insights into the dive spots which might be of interest to
snorkelers would also be welcome - just in case you're bored. Hoping for at
least one night snorkel and I'd also like to see the far E end of island...

cheers
a

My 17 year old and I stayed in Seabreeze....secluded....reasonably
quiet.....I won't take anything but a studio with a kitchenette. I
don't need super deluxe accomodations. Quiet, clean, A/C and hot water
is all I need along with a kitchenette. I've stayed there twice, July
2003 and December 2004. Chilly and I were neighbors. Half Moon Bay for
snorkeling is about a 5 minute walk from Sea Breeze. West Bay Beach is
a short 25 lempira water taxi ride from West End Village where Sea
Breeze is. Next time we go...we again will stay in West End Village
area. We may check out other places but in any case....the place I take
has to have a fridge and at least a two burner hot plate.

The kid snorkels and scuba dives. She found a lot of interesting things
to see both at Wet Bay Beach and in Half Moon Bay.

When we were there in 2003, most of the people we flew over to the
Island with stayed in West Bay...and were in West End every night to
use the restaurants and bars and the grocery stores.

Sandi

In article ,
"a" wrote:

Based on earlier advice on this newsgroup, I'm planning on 5 days in
roatan's west end. I hope to be snorkeling/freediving as much as possible
with my teenage son. So far I'm looking at:
Keifitos
Halfmoon bay cabins
Seabreeze
Bananarama
Fosters
Any comments or recommendations?
thanks
a





I think Halfmoon Bay will serve you best. Great snorkling right there
but the place is quiet at night but only a five minute walk from the
westend action. Your son will like Westend far more than West Bay.

I would suggest you not waste money on a dive trip. For variety take a
water taxi to the far west part of West Bay Beach and swim straight out.
The ledge is closest to shore there and a easy swim.


But then what do I know, my place is at the other end of the island.

Ron

We went to Roatan a few years ago with two teenage boys. We
stayed in West Bay at Bananarama (owned by a German couple
at the time, but there are new owners now.)
The beach was great with wonderful snorkelling just off the
shore.
We were there for the diving but the snokelling at West Bay
was great too.

West Bay is more secluded than West End (except when the
tour ship people come but they tend to stay together and
leave by the afternoon) and a bit more expensive for
restaurants, but the beach is better and it was easy and fun
to take the water taxis into town. (The seclusion and quiet
was a plus for us since we were at the end of a stressful
journey, but this will depend on you and your son's choices.)

I remember half Moon Bay Cabins in West end being very nice
as well. It had a great location, with snorkelling off the
rocks and a lovely breakfast area in the sahde on the
water's edge.

The cottages at Bananarama were very nice, set in grounds
near the beach but more secluded with flowers and banana
trees. We all liked it here- quiet, but with action nearby,
great seafood places, beautiful beach and the diving was
first rate. So was the snorkelling.

You will have a great time wherever you go.

a wrote:
Based on earlier advice on this newsgroup, I'm planning on 5 days in
roatan's west end. I hope to be snorkeling/freediving as much as possible
with my teenage son. So far I'm looking at:
Keifitos
Halfmoon bay cabins
Seabreeze
Bananarama
Fosters
Any comments or recommendations?
thanks
a

"a" wrote in message
...


Keifitos
It's kinda secluded, so if you guys are looking for real quiet, some
solitude and a looong walk up the beach to town, or down the beach to
West
Bay, then it might be what you are after.

Beach looks/sounds nice and I'm still wondering whether I want seclusion
or
a little more 'action' (to keep a 15yr old entertained).

I don't remember the beach being anything special. Certainly it was not in
the same class as that at West Bay.

(snip) anything
but a studio or a one bedrooms.

less appealing


Bananarama
This is in West Bay, so it depends on whether or not you want to take a
water taxi to West End proper from time to time. Unless you rent a
vehicle,
after 5:30 pm, you are pretty much restricted to West Bay and so will
have
limited choices for restaurants and those choices will be more
expensive.

The dive boat options (assuming we'll want to take up a seat on snorkel
friendly trips) are appealing here. Also have heard the beach is nice.

The beach is pretty nice, but what little else I saw of that area, I didn't
find anywhere near as pretty as the Westend area.

Fosters
There's two Fosters. One is in West End and one is in West Bay. Which
one
were you thinking about?

West Bay. Didn't realize there were two! Sounds like Bananarama in that
it
has nice beach but is more secluded.

In any case Chilly, thanks for these and the earlier comments you've made.
They've been on-target and very helpful.

You are most welcome. I hope that you still find my comments to have been
"on-target and very helpful" once you are actually there. :^)

I like to leave some things up to
'luck' but this is a last minute ending to a longer trip with my son, and
I'm hoping to hit all the 'right notes' from the get go.

I'm sure it will all be fine, no matter what you end up doing. Like you
said, some things just need to be left to luck. My last trip there, I had a
few things in mind . . .didn't do half of them, enjoyed the other half that
I did do and thoroughly enjoyed many of those things that just came up
serendiptiously. :^)

Also, any insights into the dive spots which might be of interest to
snorkelers would also be welcome - just in case you're bored. Hoping for
at
least one night snorkel and I'd also like to see the far E end of
island...

I'm sorry. I can't help you there. My perspective of the sites has always
been from under the water. I could perceive that one or the other site
might be great for snorkelling and be completely out to lunch. If you are
stuck on having boat snorkels, you would probably be better served to ask
the operators' for advice once you arrive. Of course, their answer will be
biased in favor of taking a boat snorkel trip, but I still believe they'll
only direct you to the best spots to do that.

OTOH, Ron always gives great advice and you see that he recommends that you
not concern yourself with a boat trip.

I look forward to you getting back and reporting here on how things went.

Hoping for
at
least one night snorkel and I'd also like to see the far E end of
island...

If you mean just a sightseeing drive, then I'd suggest including Arch's
Iguana Preserve, just past the Cocoview entry sign. The Mariposa
jam/jelly factory (great locally made products to take home), the
Belgium Microbrewery (if open). Wander into Oak Ridge or Jonesville.

If your into reading, there is a wonderful novel set on Roatan that is
for sale in West End called "The Judas Bird" by David Evans. You can
also by it cheaper direectly from the author online at
http://www.thejudasbird.com (Amazon has it but you'll pay more).

Now if you mean snorkeling the East End, your out of luck. Water access
is very limited and the areas you can get to - DON'T. Oak Ridge Bay is a
cesspool from fishing boats flushing their bilges to toilets flushing
straight into the bay.


I'd suggest Half Moon Bay as the best bet for a night snorkel, possibly
the shallows off West End, but much of that has been trampled by the
cruise ship tourists.


BTW, the reason I said to avoid boat trips is simply because most of the
time you'll be in deeper water with the reef 20-30 feet down. But ask if
they aredoing any sights where the shallows are near, that means 10-15
down.

"Ron T" wrote in message
news
Hoping for
at
least one night snorkel and I'd also like to see the far E end of
island...

If you mean just a sightseeing drive, then I'd suggest including Arch's
Iguana Preserve, just past the Cocoview entry sign. The Mariposa
jam/jelly factory (great locally made products to take home), the
Belgium Microbrewery (if open). Wander into Oak Ridge or Jonesville.

Sounds good...

If your into reading, there is a wonderful novel set on Roatan that is
for sale in West End called "The Judas Bird" by David Evans. You can
also by it cheaper direectly from the author online at
http://www.thejudasbird.com (Amazon has it but you'll pay more).

ah, I came upon the site surfing roatan. may check it out.

Now if you mean snorkeling the East End, your out of luck. Water access
is very limited and the areas you can get to - DON'T. Oak Ridge Bay is a
cesspool from fishing boats flushing their bilges to toilets flushing
straight into the bay.

Really I meant the far E end, accesible by boat only. I saw somewhere that
Rose (?) beach and the offshore cays Morat (?) have pristine patch and wall
reef?

I'd suggest Half Moon Bay as the best bet for a night snorkel, possibly
the shallows off West End, but much of that has been trampled by the
cruise ship tourists.


BTW, the reason I said to avoid boat trips is simply because most of the
time you'll be in deeper water with the reef 20-30 feet down. But ask if
they aredoing any sights where the shallows are near, that means 10-15
down.

Really I like a mix of both. With luck I'd like the opportunity to see some
pelagics and also the chance to practice my freediving. I'm easily good to
30-40' and would like to have a place to try and double that. And I'm
hoping to get my son comfortable with 30-40'. It's hard to practice in a
14' pool :-/ ...best done with a buddy of course...

Thanks much!
a

Really I meant the far E end, accesible by boat only. I saw somewhere that
Rose (?) beach and the offshore cays Morat (?) have pristine patch and wall
reef?

There is some nice reef and walls down there, that's where I go. However
good luck getting some one to take you. The water taxis will but I
wouldn't bet on them still being around when you surface. I can give you
the email of someone who might be willing for a price, but it won't be
cheap as that is a long haul from Oak Ridge when gas is $4/gallon and
you have a 130hp engine.



Really I like a mix of both. With luck I'd like the opportunity to see some
pelagics and also the chance to practice my freediving. I'm easily good to
30-40' and would like to have a place to try and double that.

Swim out a quarter mile from West Bay Beach - you can drop down the wall
and wave at Pepin. It goes to 1200-feet close in and several miles deep
another half mile out.