Travel Tips

This is an e-mail received from the Roatan newgroup on Yahoo. This e-mail gives you some ideas as to what to do and see around the island and the person that wrote it has been living on the island for a while now and is always very informative. If you do get to Roatan look them up or even stay at their place.

Their Contact info is:

Waylon and Sandy Sims
Coral Beach Inn's Photos
http://members.aol.com/athundersm/photos.htm

Now on to the e-mail???
<BR>

Welcome to our world!

We have a nice fishing touring charter available here. Call when you arrive and we'll tell you how to hook up with a boat based on weather conditions and your schedule.

Don't expect that anyone will rent you their boat to bop around the island alone in. Reef surrounded islands are NOT good for boat renting to guests--even experienced boaters are typically not experienced at navigating these reefs and need to be driven by an experienced Capt. For example, the reef in front of our place sits right on shore. Is great for dives and snorkels, but makes getting a boat in and out next to impossible. We have Kayaks here for folks to paddle around the bay from our dock and to go over to a deserted beach for a picnic or sumthin'. Yeah, we pack picnic lunches too and have life jackets and snorkel gear. Yep, we cook the fish you catch too.

But I digress--that's guest services. OOPS! <grins>

Places to go and things to do vary with the location of your stay and time you'll be here. You can't see Roatan in a week. Tourist spots are West End--bars, shack shops, Anthony's Key in Sandy Bay close by. Nature stuff and prettiest areas (in my opinion) are more East End in the mountains. Also Iguana Farm, Marble Hills, and Hole in the Wall are East End. We're mid island and arrange with our rental jeep and a map for guests to see both ends of the island. Otherwise, you'll need to rent a vehicle and check out these locations on a map you can get at Eldon's in French Harbor.
<BR>

NIGHT SPOTS?

Want a few drinks and to get crazy? Dance till ya drop?

Try Luna Beach party on Sat nights in West Bay. NOTE HERE: DO NOT WALK THE BEACH FROM WEST END TO WEST BAY ALONE LATE AT NIGHT ON SAT. NIGHTS LADIES. Arrange for a taxi or a car rental is even better.

Twisted Toucan and Loafers are the "happening" bars in West End. Tiki Bar is a new up and comer with a pig roast weekly. All ya gotta do is go to West End and you'll find them. We like food and the underwater touring boat at Half Moon Bay. Great for lunch (counch fritters!! Yumm!!!) on a hot day after shopping and walking viewing boat is VERY air conditioned and a nice treat. $20 gets you a one-hour tour of the underwater show in West End without risking snorkeling with boats around in some areas you might want to see.

Another spot to be is Tues steak night at Ricks American Cafe in Sandy bay. Signs are on the main road. Tell Steve and Mary HI for us!

Arco Iris steak house is a hot place to eat--we like the soft serve ice cream and pizza across the street too!
<BR>

SAVE A LIZARD!!

DO the Iguana farm just past French Harbour--signs on the road, but are small so look close on the right hand (South)side of the road as you go. If you hit Parrot Tree (Big Entrance) you've gone too far, but might stop there to try out the white beach and coffee shop anyway. Sorry. I digress. <chuckles> Sherman's lizard pets number 3,000 he says--I don't doubt it. The farm is his home, so when you pull up and think, "is this the place?" Yeah, it is. Some are person-sized HUGE critters in red, green and orange. Ask to meet Big Red and take a photo--otherwise no one will believe you when you return home. Donation of a few dollars simply pays for his food to rescue these animals that are hunted here for meat. Again chip in extra buck or two if you can. Go at noon any day for feeding time and bring a camera. You WILL we amazed! (side note) Iguanas can not feed without sunlight to digest food. If it's cloudy that day plan for another day when the guys will come out of the trees for a snack at lunch. Also ask to see Sherman's other pets in the sea--huge fishy fellows!
<BR>

Tunnel tour

Hole in the Wall does the lunch buffet on Sunday--has long been a locals hangout. Arrive noonish to get a table--expect to eat around 2 to 3PM. Since Bob and Rhonda don't get rich on food the idea is that you hang out and buy a few drinks first. We also tip like crazy there since the food prices are VERY reasonable for Roatan. To get there take a water taxi from Oakridge to get the entire Mangrove tunnel tour. $20 plus a tip to the taxi dudes gets you a two-person ride. (are you getting the idea that tipping is a plan around here? <grins>) Follow the main road (only paved road) East until you see the large "Oakridge" sign and drive down the Oakridge access road until it ends at the water. Park anywhere your car will be fine (jes' don't leave expensive stuff laying out in it) Take a camera! A snorkel and being early isn't a bad idea either since there are a few nice snorkel spots along the way on the tunnel tour. But you should take a snorkel with you at all times, bug spray, and bottle of drinking water. At night a small flashlight is a good plan too.

Also, the mountain top drive to Oakridge is AWESOMELY beautiful! Ocean views of both sides of the island! Cameras are a must! As is allowing extra time to stop and sight see at the pull off spots!
<BR>

Local rum is Flor de Cana.

Great stuff and inexpensive--a few bucks a bottle -- sold everywhere. Several types. Locals claim extra seco (clear white) won't give you a hangover--as much. Most gringos tend to like the Negro--brown rum aged 5 years--even seems to be better than the 7 year stuff that is lighter brown and a bit more expensive. BEWARE Ron Plata and other dollar a bottle rums with a back bite of kerosene and a nasty morning after. Spend the extra few bucks for the good stuff or bring TONS of aspirin!!! LOL Or so I've heard. <grins>

Dollars and Lempiras

Both dollars and lempiras are used anywhere--not so with credit cards or even travelers checks. Check with hosts as most of us will cash travelers checks--as will larger places. Best to shop small shops with cash and come with more cash than expected and less plastic. Exchange rate is 17 Lempiras for one dollar USA. DO NOT USE AUTO TELLER MACHINE IN COXEN HOLE! If you run short go to Credomatic in Coxen Hole--go inside--be prepared for a line. They will cash advance on credit cards with no fee on this end--but in Lempiras. Check your plastic before you come here to see what they charge on your end.
<BR>

Get to Utila?

Takes two days--ferry to Utila leaves here at dawn and goes to the mainland first--then to Utila--arrives Utila at noonish--comes back the next day at noonish. Our preferred place to stay in Utila is at Utila Lodge with Jim and Kisty. E-mail available if you write offline and I get time to look it up--probably on Steve's page too. Utila is small with only one car that I know of. You walk everywhere and it's hot so carry water if you're not used to the heat. Not much happening unless you want to dive or fish--both of which are great there. There's no swimming in town on shore--you take a boat out with one of the dive shops to snorkel or dive.
<BR>

Our phone numbers are -- 455-5739 or 991-3263 call when you arrive for directions (if not a paying guest that we'll meet with cold beers and cokes<smiles>) as you won't find it otherwise--as is intended this place is very private. <smiles> Come with $55 and be prepared to buy a coffee table book, eh?

Best way to meet us and play 20 questions?

Well, uh, maybe rent a room here? <silly grins> Was that too obvious? Plan in advance as we tend to stay booked and would hate to miss having you as our guest. We do not run an open bar, beach, or restaurant for anyone but our guests and their guests. Sorry, but we offer such extensive room service, fancy drinks and gourmet foods, diving, fishing, horseback riding, rental jeep, snorkeling gear, guided snorkels, Kayaking--and so on-- without a big staff to get under foot (JUST US TWO!) So it's impossible to handle extra people without notice. We work out butts off, folks!!! Our guests also expect to have their own hammock and beach without being crowded out by lots of day visitors all day every day without notice. Thanks for understanding!!! Call first, OK and we'll plan a good day for a visit when guests here are off the premises touring or whatever.

Still, for the clinic fund, I'll front ya a beer and 10 questions if you'll call. Folks tend to come and refuse to wanna leave. EVER. <grins> We have a really great place!
SO BUY THE BOOK! *

Honesty, there's TONS more and I hate even trying to do this since I ALWAYS forget someone special. But I'm outta time and gotta go to work, so . . .

As always, we hope this helps!

Waylon and Sandy Sims
Coral Beach Inn's Photos
http://members.aol.com/athundersm/photos.htm

Now check out their website and see all of the great pictures there and BUY THE BOOK! *
<BR>