Paradise Oceanic Hotel

Paradise Oceanic Hotel opened in 2011 and is the newer, sister property of the pricier Paradise Beach Hotel next door. All hotel amenities are located at the Paradise Beach Hotel save for the hip and relaxed rooftop pool and gym with ocean views. The four-floor Paradise Oceanic is a smartly styled space with open-air hallways, bamboo accents, and a double-high lounge area with boxy rattan couches and plush lime-green cushions. Guests at Paradise Oceanic are mostly Central Americans and a mix of couples and families. 

The sister property, Paradise Beach has a tropical vibe with lush grounds, a gorgeous beachfront, and evening entertainment like Garifuna dancers and live music at the oceanfront restaurants. Be forewarned though, Paradise Beach allows cruise ship day trippers and when boats are in port, there often aren't enough lounge chairs on the beach to meet demand, so get there early. 

Paradise Oceanic Hotel is located a one-minute walk from beautiful West Bay Beach, a long and sandy stretch that's dotted with resorts and restaurants. It’s a quick 15-minute swim to some of Roatan’s best snorkeling (and diving) along the world’s second largest reef -- the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef. Within a three-minute walk of the hotel are a mini-mart, ATM, chocolate shop, and pharmacy. Many restaurants serving Italian, sushi, and Argentinian are a five-minute walk or less from Paradise Oceanic. The West End nightlife hub is a 10-minute taxi from Paradise Oceanic. It’s a 15-minute drive to Anthony’s Key, where travelers can interact or snorkel with dolphins (in open water). A popular day trip is exploring Cayos Cochinos -- a small minimally developed island with a native Garifuna community -- that’s an hour boat ride from the hotel. From the hotel, getting to Utilla requires a 10-minute drive followed by a 40-minute boat ride. Alternatively, the jetty for ferries to La Ceiba, on the Honduran mainland, is a 45-minute drive. Coxen Hole, Roatan's commercial hub, is a 30-minute drive away. Juan Manuel Galvez International Airport is a 28-minute drive from the hotel depending on traffic.

The air-conditioned rooms at Paradise Oceanic are comfortably large, with bright white walls accented by colorful paintings of hummingbirds or parrots. White tile floors and pops of lime green alongside hardwood furniture have the look of a generic chain hotel, though everything is pleasant and modern. Beds are a mix of kings or two doubles and all rooms have ceiling fans, mini-fridges, desks, safes, and flat-screen TVs with satellite channels. Bathrooms are fully tiled and include wood-topped vanities, stand-up showers, and bar soap, shampoo, conditioner, and body lotion. A nice touch in the bathrooms are the round, porthole window that let in a ton of natural light. All rooms have private balconies furnished with wicker resin tables and chairs. Some have partial ocean views. All rooms include free Wi-Fi. 

The freshwater rooftop pool at Paradise Oceanic has great ocean views and a row of wood lounge chairs with plush blue cushions underneath a sleek wood pergola. The hotel gym, with its floor-to-ceiling windows and ocean views, is also located on the roof-level and has Impulse weight machines, a treadmill, elliptical machines, and a stationary bike. The hotel’s other amenities are located next door at the Paradise Beach Hotel. The shared beach is a short walk from Paradise Oceanic and has lots of plastic lounge chairs and thatch huts. When cruise ships dock, the beach fills up with day-trippers and there aren’t enough chairs to go around. The hotel’s second pool meanders through Paradise Beach’s lush grounds and has a shallow area for children, plus fountains and a waterfall.

The four restaurants get mostly solid reviews from previous guests, though the hotel's all-inclusive plan is restrictive and more of a full-board option. Cayuco Beach Bar and Il Pomoduro have amazing beach views. Cayuco serves international and Honduran food and offers themed dinners and nightly entertainment. Il Pomoduro’s specialty is Italian cuisine and pizza. Located next to the pool is Aquarela Pool Bar, which serves a blend of Asian and Caribbean cuisines. The hotel’s buffet restaurant, La Mouette, provides buffet breakfasts, though these aren't included in rates. 

Blue Planet Divers is an on-site PADI-certified dive shop that offers courses ranging from Open Water to Rescue Diver. They also have daily dives throughout the island. There’s a dedicated massage room staffed by a chiropractor, with services including relaxation and chiropractic massages and chiropractic treatments. Hotel services include arranging tours, parasailing, snorkeling trips, canopy tours, and taxis. There’s a gift shop, meeting and event space, laundry service and free parking. A big plus is the hotel’s 24-hour generator, since the island’s power seems to go out daily. All stays include free roundtrip airport or jetty transfers, and Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel.