They give new meaning to the word, slow. Obtaining a retiree residency on Roatan is very straightforward. * The people: the people are generally nice, especially if you go to La Ceiba or Roatan. It goes without saying what the pros of oceanfront living are but, just in case…O.C.E.A.N.F.R.O.N.T! I was excited to visit this place. i'm a serial expat, but right now i'm back in canada on hiatus for a while. In Roatán, we waited an average of 45 minutes to 1 hour after ordering to get our food at restaurants. We stayed in West End for nine nights at the Beach House Hotel. I would have preferred a full kitchen to cook the island’s fresh seafood on our own. The animals seemed well taken care of and happy. Usually, we head to Mammoth to ski for winter break, but this year we wanted to spend a week in tropical, sunny weather. More on Little French Key in a bit. It is a very touristy place that receives many visitors throughout the week, not to mention that cruise ships such as Carnival, MSC Meraviglia, and Royal Caribbean, among others, dock. Retiring in the Philippines: Pros & Cons. I saw so many pictures of Roatan Little French Key on-line before the trip. So there you have it. Winter is the rainy season in Roatan, but we lucked out with great weather. If you’re not on a strict timeline for moving here, the cost of construction in Roatan might be more appealing than current inventory for real estate. i left my cubicle in 2012 and haven't looked back since. Potable Water. Here’s a little video my son, Justin put together from his Go Pro footage. Their currency unit is called … There were local casual restaurants selling plates for $5. For example, one dive costs $40 including equipment. The cost of living in the Caribbean is rarely a topic that gets as much coverage as it should, so before you dive too far into your new life or give up on your dreams altogether, here’s some clarity on just how much it will cost you to eat, drink, be merry and enjoy all the activities and nightlife the Caribbean has to offer. Living and visiting somewhere different experiences. And the footage does not translate the extraordinary beauty of the coral and fish! Wouldn’t let go of him. We loved it. Much of the dramatic eastern end of the island is accessible only by boat. Food and housing may be reasonable, but the same cannot be said when it comes to utilities. Utila is a diving and party mecca. But the lower cost of living is seen in your everyday expenses, too. Your email address will not be published. You can walk most places in Utila, where on Roatan, you will need to hire transportation to get around. Utila is cheaper (if only slightly). My husband says he is happy we stayed in a hotel to be in the heart of town and have the free breakfast each morning. By Nanette Witmer. Roatan is one of the best paradises in the Caribbean. We ended up eating mostly at local places with $5 plates of classic Honduran food with beans, plantains, and chicken/beef/fish. Have you ever considered a Roatán vacation? Roatan has better (easily accessible) beaches. But even then, I find once I see things for myself, the information is skewed. [This post has been adapted from a contest entry I wrote for, Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window). Rent. If you haven't lived in a … We would have gotten both of our kids scuba certified during our trip, had we known how easy and inexpensive it would be. They loved swinging off the boat and doing flips off the stairs. Would you want to vacation in Roatán, Honduras? These animals did not look happy and should not be living on the tiny island. Roatán West Bay reminded me of a Cancun or Ft. Lauderdale resort during Spring Break. Our 12-year-old son was PADI certified in Los Angeles in November with two ocean dives and several hours of class. The perfect place to relax for a vacation or to live. These sea creatures were much more significant in person than what they look like on video. Rates for 2-3 BR home rentals are about $300/night! Roatán is the biggest of Honduras’ three Bay Islands, 40 miles off the coast. For instance, Little French Key Island is a popular destination for tourists. It took only 10 minutes to get there. There is so much I can say about our vacation in Roatán, but rather than make this a post about our itinerary, I will focus on the Pros and Cons of the island. The boys tried parasailing for the first time and loved it. Topics covered include the health care system, where to live, and also some general information about the natural beauty of Costa Rica. Finally, we weren’t crazy about the mosquitos and sand fleas which were hard to avoid despite applying insect repellent. Right now the average cost per square foot in Roatan is between $90 and $120. If you enjoy scuba diving and snorkeling and the Caribbean, this is a great destination. We hopped on the water taxi to the West Bay for the water sports. With that being said, living in Roatan is much cheaper than many of its Caribbean counterparts, which makes it a highly attractive option for many expats. At 2 pm, the cruise people left the island (which turned out to be about 80% of the crowd). Baleadas are handmade tortillas filled with refried beans, cheese, shredded chicken and fresh avocado. In Hawaii, it costs $100. Excursions were inexpensive relative to other places. People everywhere and music blaring! I usually scour Trip Advisor reviews. But if you are expecting a Four Seasons experience, you’ll want to go elsewhere. It was between Belize (my choice) and Roatán, Honduras (my husband’s). And if it was run by a family, the service was quick. They have everything you can ask for on the beach – kayaks, floaters, straw-thatched tables in the water, swings to jump off, bars and restaurants, even horseback riding. When we had the place to ourselves (like in pics below), it was beautiful. How did we feel about our Roatán vacation in a nutshell? I was apprehensive about planning a trip because I read Honduras has one of the highest murder rates in the world. In Roatan, there is no potable water except maybe in the larger hotels with filtration systems. We chose the West End for it’s more authentic “island feel” compared to the resort area in West Bay. While a retirement visa on Roatan requires you have at least $1500 each month, a couple could live off of $1,200 a month here, per the Global Retirement Index for cost of living. Roatan certainly has a lot going for it! The Cons of Living in Belize Utilities cost more than the average rates in US. This tourist destination with all its beauty became a somewhat difficult place to live. Who said alm, 3 pages in South Bay Magazine’s Style Guide May/. Dave and I would sit on the dock sipping cocktails, watching. But remember, the real estate agents want to sell you on the pros. The reefs begin in as little as 20 feet with drop-offs up to 100+ feet. It did rain for most of one day, but otherwise, there were short, heavy showers here or there with the rest of the days being sunny and perfect. Our kids loved their trip, and we hope to return one day to re-experience Roatán’s magical marine world. Reply. Also, the island is for marine life lovers. Each year, InternationalLiving.com’s Global Retirement Index ranks the top 25 retirement destinations in the world, based on factors like climate, healthcare, fitting in, benefits and discounts, and cost of living. Google "americans who live on Roatan." Rather than going to the crowded and pricey Gumba Limba Park, which I read was not worth the visit, we visited a local monkey/bird sanctuary and zip line center for $10/person and an iguana farm for $10/person. Not only is the island fun and beautiful, but it’s extremely affordable and accessible as well. Residency Is Easier Still. The Piatts found that in many other places they’d looked, it cost money to stay fit … And the Dream. Expat Life in Honduras. The beers are $2. We passed on having our 10-year-old son do the same due to the cold ocean dives. We made wonderful memories on the island and are glad we visited this slice of marine life paradise! They are delicious and sell for $1.50 each. Either Dave or I would go with Justin for Scuba, while the other went snorkeling from the shore with Jake. The heaviest cruise days are Monday-Thursday. islanders speak English as their first language. For dining, we enjoyed Baleadas, a Honduran dish frequently prepared at makeshift stands on the beach. We knew from our research for our Roatán vacation that there was a possibility of rain, but I would say it is safe to expect isolated showers during one part of the day/night rather than consecutive days of rain. A Traveler’s Perspective on Planning a Vacation to Africa, Invisalign Experiences – What They Don’t Tell You, Showing off my birthday sneaks today! Dave and I ran from West End to Wests Bay on New Year’s Day (about 3.5 very hilly miles). If you come to Honduras, you have to absolutely try the famous baleadas. i'm a canadian paralegal-turned-scuba diving instructor-turned EFL teacher-turned digital nomad. Live band on the beach for NY Eve with fireworks at the Locals’ joint, Sundowners, next to our hotel. We loved the crystal clear water and white sand on the beach. Cost of Living in Roatan. Cost of Construction in Roatan. While Roatan offers retirees a high quality of life, the cost of living compares very favourably to North America and other islands in the Caribbean. Workers were kind, but they were in no rush, AT ALL. Many homes have private docks and swimming pools. Being deep under the sea transports you into a different world. West Bay beach was beautiful, but the area of sand was more narrow than I expected. All Rights Reserved. The Pros of Living in Belize Belizean government offers a Qualified Retired Persons or QRP program. We took a 2-hour private snorkel tour on a small boat with JC of JC Adventure Tours for $30 per person (book through him directly, not the hotel, to avoid paying more). In under 4 hours you can be there. The boys spent a few hours each day hanging out on this abandoned ship about 200 meters from our hotel dock. As long as you plan your trip correctly, you will have a great time. It’s also easy to reach other places from Roatan like Belize and Cuba, a huge plus! welcome to the place where i say things. But that doesn’t negate the fact that taking a 2.5-hour flight to the U.S. costs as much as (and often much more than!) When I learned Roatán lies in the Caribbean by the second largest barrier reef in the world after Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, I was excited. An active lifestyle. Roatan-Testimonials Hear from Our Clients and What Our Clients Say about our Agents and Company! Pros and cons of Roatan appreciated!!! This can really negatively impact our feelings about things like body image and what our lives should look like. Living in Utila, Honduras – What’s it like? hiya! There was jet skiing, kayaking, SUP, Parasailing; you name it – they had it! And FYI, Zika is an issue on the island, so it’s not for pregnant women. Buying Real Estate for Your Retirement & Applying for Residency. DIY Mother’s Day Gifts to Say I Love You, Mom. If you love watersports, a Roatán vacatin is totally for you. When we visited Costa Rica (read my blog post), we noticed the service was slower than in the states. I’d say pass on this place if you visit Roatán. Litter of kittens just outside our hotel; the boys would visit them each day. Roatan Expats reside in many areas around Roatan, ranging from West Bay to Camp Bay, to Port Royal (on far east end). The Pros and Cons of Living in Panama. Have you heard of Roatán, Honduras? All Rights Reserved. This spider monkey, Lola, loved Dave as much as I do! You'll find sites that speak to expats with pros and cons on living in "paradise." You know how you avoid driving during rush hour when you can help it? I find when I research travel, it’s tough to get objective views. Working on Roatan is quite different than being retired on Roatan. Retiring in the Philippines: Pros & Cons By Jean Folger | Updated August 23, 2016 — 12:00 PM. The cons. If you go in the morning, you won’t be happy. Certain items such as electricity and imported food products are expensive, but the overall cost of living is relatively low. We walked this main West End street daily, with the beach on one side and stores/restaurants on the other. When I bump it up against our hit list, it’s almost perfect. Roatan does offer the ferry to the mainland as an alternative means to travel. He was knowledgeable and friendly. Easy to get to – Roatan is easily accessible from the US. We chose to stay at the hotel, but given the service issues on the island, the benefits of staying in a hotel are not there. And it would have been more enjoyable to do the ocean dives in the Caribbean than in cold Catalina and the Channel Islands. Staying in the Roatán West End allowed us to get a sense of the island life as many locals hung out in this area. Roatan Expats. But the first hour with the crowds and the mediocre food left an impression. We arrived at 1 pm and it was a zoo. Everyone knows everyone and everything. The island is surrounded by a barrier reef, which is vibrant and full of life. Copyright © 2018 Ounce of Salt. Local restaurants offer delicious and filling meals for around $6 a plate. Living There Is Easier. Buying a house in Roatan is much cheaper than buying a home in the majority of North America. But after 2 pm you will feel like you are in paradise! Crowded, people everywhere, all-inclusive wristbands and generic. Our hotel was considered one of the most expensive on the island at $350/night. View from our room. I visited the Great Barrier Reef in my 20’s, and it is one of the most beautiful places I’ve seen. Oct 30th, 2008, 02:45 PM #2 CaymanSue . In a real sense, Roatan is a prime example of an ancient observation: We do without doing and it all gets done. I hadn’t until my husband suggested we go there for a family scuba diving/snorkeling trip. A guide walked us through the park and into each cage to say hi to the animals. But after some research, I learned that the crime is in mainland Honduras and not the islands. But there are some things to note before planning a trip. https://www.ozofsalt.com/should-you-vacation-in-roatan-honduras Because we were in a house, and not a hotel, things were a little different. Island life is like small-town living. The payoff for a less convenient lifestyle is peace, tranquility, and uncommon natural beauty. Pristine Roatán dive sites offer canyons and the Caribbean’s most extensive variety of coral. No regrets there. An expat living in La Ceiba, Honduras warned, "This is a city in a third world … Had I known what I know now, we would have rented a house on the beach (with a pool) in the West End. Almost. West End is a very affordable place to be, with a variety of food and accommodation options to cover the full range of budgets. Naturally, we started with Belize (you know what they say, “happy wife, happy life!”). Expats groups are not officially named, but groups closely associate based on the region where they live. We honestly didn't notice too much of a difference. Compare Roatan with: We need more contributors for Roatan to … It is important to plan your excursions for popular sites to start after 2 pm to avoid the crowds. That’s what it’s like with planning around the masses of cruise people visiting the island. One of the major problems with social media is the fact that people can post idealized versions of their lives. The other thing that was off-putting was the large caged up animals (lions and tigers and more) the Little French Key island had for show. My Month On The Island: If there’s one thing I gathered from my month of living in Utila, Honduras – it would be if Fatboy Slim wrote the song ‘Eat, Sleep, Rave, Repeat’ in Utila, he would have added an extra category of ‘Dive’ to the list. It cost about $1000 including the equipment we had to purchase. There are some challenges to consider when living in the Virgin Islands, but those issues are more related to its location in the Caribbean and the logistical issues that come with that problem. Panama’s popularity has much to do with its modern infrastructure, proximity to the U.S., beautiful scenery and mild climate. But restaurants that catered to tourists were everywhere too, and they were expensive ($15-$20/dish). The water is warm year round and has clarity to over 100'. In Roatán, you can get the same PADI certification in a few days for $350 with the same level of teaching. I’d love to touch base with you with new posts and give you access to my new freebie resource library where I’m adding new goodies to each day. Example of one dive site we visited – Melissa’s Reef. Renting or buying a home in such a beautiful location in Roatán is a fraction of what you pay in North America or other Caribbean islands. Let’s break down the pros & cons as they pertain to us: Pros. So its preference again, I suppose. It’s clear, however, the the benefits of living on Roatan far outweigh the challenges. We could take a water taxi (left boat in the picture) to West Bay for $3 a person. We dove or snorkeled every morning. It is a small, skinny island, about 45 miles long and five wide. Roatan is a destination that is made for expat living. As a result, this part of the island is better suited to the more self-sufficient adventurer. The word “hurry” has no use; life is run on island time. We found the food tasted best at these joints! Little French Key closes at 4 pm, and it costs $25/per person to access. The entire island is surrounded by a shallow reef offering a spectacular view of thousands of marine creatures for divers and snorkelers. As I’m writing this, I’m making stewed chicken and rice … In Hawai’i you can live beachfront which just as the name suggests, has a beach fronting your property or you can live oceanfront. The real currency used in Panama is the US Dollar. What do you think? my 6-hour flight from Europe to the U.S. costs. But most people stay in the West Bay and not the West End like us, so it is likely a matter of preference. The food quality? It’s necessary to plan for Belize at least six months in advance if you’re looking to go during peak times. Pros: * The food: the food is truly amazing. There are plenty of remote places on the island to explore. The Government of Aruba welcomes foreign investment and there are no restrictions on foreign buyers buying property on the island. It is the largest of a chain of Islands in the western Caribbean called the Bay Islands. Roatan, from a personal perspective, is a beautiful place. Its tourism sector involves a lot of high priced hotels and tour companies. But it felt more like a rowdy hotel resort rather than a peaceful island. Some people live for months at a time, then go "home" to another paradise. The boys walked on their own to get ice cream and snacks. ... was knowledgeable about all aspects of purchasing a home in Honduras and extremely informative about island living. Iguana Park by the French Key departure dock. As a visitor, you don't really experience electricity costs, rainy season, travel costs, difficulty in having family visit, the problems of maintaining a building and all the cultural differences. It has been the best-kept secret of divers for years. Conclusion of the Pros and Cons of Living in the Virgin Islands. Dollars as Currency. Let’s just say if you are a foodie, you may want to cook for yourself during your stay. Let’s go through the pros and cons of construction in Roatan. We are proud of what we do & you will be 100% happy. Join Date: Jun 2004. Retiring to Roatan Honduras was different than we expected. Each year, InternationalLiving.com’s Global Retirement Index ranks the top 25 retirement destinations in the world, based on factors like climate, healthcare, fitting in, benefits and discounts, and cost of living.

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