utila or roatan?

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thomaspack
thomaspack

I know this is a question of personal preference, but I'd like help figuring it out.

I'm headed to Honduras in a couple of weeks, and have yet to decide between Utila and Roatan. I'm only in country for a week or so, and I've recently been questioning my desire to spend money on a diving course (which would lean me toward Utila). So here are a few questions to help with the decision-making process:

  • The nightlife in Utila is probably more active, but are folks out and about in Roatan during the evening? I'll be alone for the week, and while the trip is mainly about R&R and getting away from my social life, a week without human interaction would be bad. I'd like to head out to the bars and hang out with folks.

  • So the beaches and snorkeling on Roatan are great. But how are they on Utila?

  • How much more expensive generally is Roatan than Utila? I'm definitely on a budget. I'm just thinking I'd rather spend my cash on a couple of massages and a nice dinner or two rather than a dive course.

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jenibe
jenibe

Beaches not great on Utila. Only small and the sandflies when I was there were horrific (around May).

I loved Utila, but I don't know about going there if you don't want to dive...you might be the only person on the island not diving. There really is not much to do except that, and lots of meeting other divers and drinking.

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ouchcomics
ouchcomics

I can't speak for Utila, as I have not been there. My wife and I were in Roatan in July, in West End. There were folks out at the bars in the evenings... mostly groups of people in their 20's and 30's. It was not wild, but there was certainly some nightlife. It is easy to spend a fair amount of money on food in West End, but not necessary. I really recommend the Posada Arco Iris (Argentinian restaurant) for a blow out night... It is expensive, relative to Honduras, but nothing like you would pay in the States or Europe for a feast like that. I think we both had grilled fish, several beers, tipped like rock stars, and still walked out for less than $50 for both of us. There are cheaper places around for sandwiches, smoothies, and such.
The beaches and snorkeling were amazing in Half Moon Bay (in West End). I have never seen anything like that before... a beautiful beach with such diversity of life just a couple of swim strokes from the shore.

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derekmi
derekmi

Spent a week on Roatan last winter and had a good time. Decent night life on the west end. Happy hour is big, check out sundowners. A number of other bars have later hours with live music or dj. Usaully dies down around 11-12 on weekdays, a little later on Friday and Sat. There are a couple of places that offer hostel dorm rooms for cheap. Check out the Rotiserie Chicken shack in the west end, great meal for $5.

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fluffy_bunny
fluffy_bunny

I sort of disliked Utila a whole lot. Check out my blog post

Follow my travels on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/joestrippin/
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gorski
gorski

Wow, Joe... why don't you tell us what you really thought of Utila?! ;-)

OP... for the views of another experienced and highly-opinionated traveler... Smartcookie posted a trip report specifically dedicated to her comparison of the two island experiences.

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/thread.jspa?threadID=1887869

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hopefulist
hopefulist

Wow is right - glad that isn't the Utila I visited! Here's a good budget option on Roatán you can reserve in advance if you're diving (which I HIGHLY recommend): Chillies/Native Sons Diving. We love both islands (and Guanaja!) but I find myself recommending Roatán more because there's simply more to do (great hiking in the Carambola Reserve, for example) and it's more interesting from a cultural standpoint imo. Lots of photos and recommendations below. Good luck deciding and have a good trip!

My photos w/ blog & travelogue links on the main page of each collection: http://www.flickr.com/photos/staceyholeman/collections
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steve486435
steve486435

smartcookie, "a highly-opinionated traveler" is putting it mildly. she could get down right mean with her name calling if you dared disagree with her over the slightest thing.

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