Utila recommendations

Thread view:

Enable EMail Alerts

Start New Thread

Thread rating:

Sandi - 14 Aug 2005 16:29 GMT

We're considering a trip to Utila instead of our usual trip to Roatan.
We're tired of the cruise ship pod people - aka the hordes of suncrazed
lemmings - that are now invading Roatan.

Recommendations on places to stay? Our requirements are A/C,
kitchenette, hot water, room for three.

Dive shops?

Transportation is not an issue, we live in Honduras and take the ferry
or a plane from LaCeiba.

Sandi

Reply to this Message

Don Ward - 15 Aug 2005 00:07 GMT

If Utila is the island you'd like to visit, I highly recommend Laguna
Beach Resort.

Check out their web page: http://www.utila.com/

It is a great little resort with modern Newton dive boats, a very
friendly staff and very comfortable accommodations. The food is good,
and the bungalows air conditioned.

Although the Bay Islands are not one of my favorite destinations, I
would go back to LBR. And you couldn't pay me to go to Roatan.

I was very pleased with this resort.

Dive safe,

/Don

Reply to this Message

Sandi - 15 Aug 2005 02:15 GMT

> If Utila is the island you'd like to visit, I highly recommend Laguna
> Beach Resort.
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> friendly staff and very comfortable accommodations. The food is good,
> and the bungalows air conditioned.

While it looks like a very lovely place, I don't all inclusives.
Medical dietary requirements on my part now necessitate a kitchenette
for meal preparation. For the other two in the pary, it's no big deal
if they are eating in restaurants or buffets.

> Although the Bay Islands are not one of my favorite destinations, I
> would go back to LBR. And you couldn't pay me to go to Roatan.

The Bay Islands are not my favorite place period. Unfortunately, with
the cost of airfare, it is the only affordable place right now. I
actually do live and work in Honduras full time and the cost to go
rountrip to Utila or Roatan is less than $100. Last time I checked, San
Pedro Sula to Bonaire was about $900 a person, to Cancun or Cozumel is
$600, and to Belize it is nerarly $700 with a change of planes in EL
SALVADOR! So...I'm stuck with the islands for the time being.

Sandi

Reply to this Message

Sandi - 15 Aug 2005 02:18 GMT

> The Bay Islands are not my favorite place period. Unfortunately, with
> the cost of airfare, it is the only affordable place right now. I
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
>
> Sandi

The $700 is two of us. All the other prices to Cancun/Cozumel and
Bonaire are individual prices. Belize is still out of the question.

Sandi

Reply to this Message

chilly - 15 Aug 2005 00:25 GMT

> We're considering a trip to Utila instead of our usual trip to Roatan.
> We're tired of the cruise ship pod people - aka the hordes of suncrazed
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
> Transportation is not an issue, we live in Honduras and take the ferry
> or a plane from LaCeiba.

Not having been to Utila, I can't make any specific recommendations, but I
wondered if you'd found this website yet:

http://www.aboututila.com/AccomInfo/Apartments.htm

It might of some help to you.

Reply to this Message

Sandi - 15 Aug 2005 01:28 GMT

> > We're considering a trip to Utila instead of our usual trip to Roatan.
> > We're tired of the cruise ship pod people - aka the hordes of suncrazed
[quoted text clipped - 14 lines]
>
> It might of some help to you.

yeah...I've checked it out. There are a few possibilities but I was
looking for input from people who have been to the island. The folks I
know who have been there don't dive. They just go for two or three days
to escape Siguatepeque and are heavily into the bar/resort scene.

Sandi

Reply to this Message

chilly - 15 Aug 2005 03:11 GMT

> yeah...I've checked it out. There are a few possibilities but I was
> looking for input from people who have been to the island. The folks I
> know who have been there don't dive. They just go for two or three days
> to escape Siguatepeque and are heavily into the bar/resort scene.

OK, I hear that. Here's a post from another board that might help:

"I currently live on Utila and it's pretty fair, although a)more than half
the shops have accommodation by the shop on the waterfront, and those that
don't will store your gear securely so you don't have to carry it the 10
minute walk(!) across town.

Personally, I'd go for the mid-price ranged UDC (www.utiladivecenter.com),
which has accommodation at the Mango Inn(nicest on the island, although 10
mins from the shop). It visits every site on the island every week,
including 2 north side boats every morning.

My favourite site is 'Duppy Waters' which has great variety of turtles at
the moment. Yesterday's dive had 2 along with barracuda, lobsters and a huge
spotted eagle ray. We snorkelled with 2 whalesharks and about 20 dolphin on
the surface interval too.

Most sites northside have walls going very deep and beautiful coral
formations and more life on top.

Site number 2 is aquarium, so if you visit Utila, then aim to visit these
two."

By the way, did you get my email?

Reply to this Message

Sandi - 15 Aug 2005 04:02 GMT

> By the way, did you get my email?

Thanks...and yes I did...reply sent. I read the newsgroup before I got
to my email tonight.

Sandi

Reply to this Message

Geoff Schultz - 17 Aug 2005 11:46 GMT

"Sandi" <westie97@yahoo.com> wrote in news:1124033391.657310.209500
@z14g2000cwz.googlegroups.com:

> We're considering a trip to Utila instead of our usual trip to Roatan.
> We're tired of the cruise ship pod people - aka the hordes of suncrazed
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
>
> Sandi

I've spent 6+ months a year for the past 3 years in the Belize/Honduras
area. Note that I live aboard my boat, so my views of an area are
different from someone who stays ashore. My needs/wants are also different
and I dive off of my dinghy. That being said, you couldn't pay me to go
back to Utila to dive. Where are the fish? The area has been so over-
fished that it's not even funny. May be Roatan is getting over-run with
people, but the diving is much better. Of course, given the choice between
the atolls off of Belize and Roatan, Belize wins hands down.

If you're interested, here's a link to my diving reports for the area:

http://www.geoffschultz.org/Diving_Reports.html

-- Geoff

Reply to this Message

Sandi - 17 Aug 2005 16:31 GMT

> That being said, you couldn't pay me to go
> back to Utila to dive. Where are the fish? The area has been so over-
> fished that it's not even funny. May be Roatan is getting over-run with
> people, but the diving is much better.

Diving isn't our primary reason for a trip to Utila or Roatan. Only one
in the group dives, the diver and one other person snorkle and the
third person doesn't do water sports period. This is simply a low cost,
long weekend or Christmas break getaway where diving is available.

The diving will degrade rapidly in Roatan if the morons off the cruise
ships keep damaging the reefs the way we've seen happen over Christmas
2004.

Sandi

Reply to this Message

Geoff Schultz - 18 Aug 2005 12:00 GMT

"Sandi" <westie97@yahoo.com> wrote in news:1124292717.189961.156760
@g44g2000cwa.googlegroups.com:

>> That being said, you couldn't pay me to go
>> back to Utila to dive. Where are the fish? The area has been so over-
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
>
> Sandi

Then you'll probably be quite happy and there's the distinct advantage that
Utila doesn't seem to be the sand fleas that eat you to death in Roatan.
Be sure to walk to the windward side of the island and stop by a place that
I can only remember as "The Tree House." It's amazing!

-- Geoff

Reply to this Message