by Larry Schlesser, Roatan-Real Estate
(pictured below with wife Nancy)
I am often asked about these things and to a
degree my view points are
skewed in that tastes are so different and my
taste
obviously may not
be your taste. But with that said,
here are some of my favorites with the hope they may be informative for you.
Roatan - Places to East
For lunch, I really like both Que Tel and the Blue Parrot. Que Tel
sits right at the entrance
(main one) to Coxen’s Hole right at the large
curve maybe a mile or so
west of the airport on the second floor. They offer unique flavors and
original creations
that are always a treat.
Blue Parrot, in front of Sun Dancer cabanas in
Sandy Bay makes a great burger for those
who wish a change from sea food, (the mainstay
on the island). The owner, a Mid-Westerner, has more of a meat &
potatoes menu with good meat loaf, meat balls, though other choices are
offered and I have had good experiences with. Both are good choices.
A third option for lunch is a little local place on the main street of
Coxen’s Hole, (turning toward the cruise ship dock not towards the Municipal
Building - right at the dead end not left) is a place called Two Doves. This has more of
a “local” flavor.
Shrimp, ox tails, conch,
chicken wings, rice, beans,..........local -- but
delicious.
Evening Dining
For dinner, I have two favorites and depending on
my mood both are
winners that are must stops for your night out
for dinner on the island.
First is Dian’s in West End Village. Make a left
when you pull into
West End and it is about 100 yards down on the
left. Indoor or outdoor
dining options are available but the key here is
unique.
By that I
mean unusual flavors that are not what everyone
else offers. Pork
tenderloin in Black Bean Sauce, sea foods in red
or yellow curry,
pineapple, mango, mint--the selections change but
the quality is always
the same.....DELICIOUS.
The second recommendation would be an island icon of sorts, Rick’s American Cafe in
Sandy Bay. This restaurant is not for the weak of heart in that you
climb 60+ stairs to
get to the “tree house “ restaurant, but trust
me the climb is worth
it. U.S. beef, always perfect shrimp, and a great,
very friendly long-term staff.
Accommodations
There are many and this probably is harder
to determine in
regard to personal taste.
Many folks base priorities on price, many on amenities and
convenience but an
overall “snap shot” I would say would be the
following.
West Bay has
the nicest beach by far. With that though, is a
real lack of really
good places to eat. There are four or five restaurants but none stand out. You can, (if you eat an early
dinner), take a water
taxi to West End for considerably more choices,
but if you are not done
early enough you take a regular taxi back
are
more “tropical” -- both nestled in palm trees and
offer good value.
On the upper end there
Paradise Beach Club Villas
has diving, a
restaurant, nice rooms and small condo units.
West End is an older tourist area with lots of
places to stay, but
overall is more for the midrange, to lower range
pricing, privacy and
amenity wise. It does have more access to
the “night life” that many wish with options for
bars and even music at
various places. A newer operation and breaking
the mold for West End is:
Four new villas have A/C,
nicely done, water front,
salt water pool and they serve dinner nightly. The adjoining “C-Bar”
is there for your thirst and evening's entertainment. For
$65 - $85 a night, this
new place is a nice option for those who want
the above mid-range
place to stay,
near the “action” of
West End.
Are there other places that are not “hotels” ?
Sure. At the top of the
list (personal view point) , might be:
Both can be found along
with many other private residence, non-hotel
places on an internet site
called Vacation Rentals by Owner.
VRBO offers many options to browse
through in West End, West
Bay, Sandy Bay
and the more remote eastern end of the island
which may be just your
cup of tea.
Larry Schlesser owns Roatan-Real Estate. He and
his wife Nancy made their way to the island from the greater Chicagoland and
Northern Indiana area. After their daughters left the “nest,” Larry and his
wife Nancy decided to take on a little life of their own outside the U.S.
and experience a new place and a new culture. That was five years ago.
Larry would be glad to assist you in any real estate
matters on Roatan. You may reach him at his website,
Roatan-Real
Estate.
-----------
Return to Beginning of Article
Many folks visit Honduras and miss out on one of my favorite areas,
the Highlands (mountains) of Southwest Honduras, bordering El Salvador
and Guatemala. The starting point for any visit to the Highlands
is Santa Rosa de Copan.
(next->)