Roatan Bed & Breakfast Apartments

Roatan Bed & Breakfast Apartments opened in 1995 and feels every part the rustic mountain retreat. The 4,300-square foot home was originally built by the effervescent -- and multilingual -- Italian owner to attract her parents to winter with her in Roatan (they declined). Over time, friends started renting the rooms and the home became Roatan Bed & Breakfast. It’s surrounded by lush jungle and the entire building -- inside and out -- is made of rough-hewn Honduran Pine that adds a sweet, woodsy aroma. (The building’s structure is cement and built to withstand hurricane-force winds.) Blossoming pink and violet bougainvillea flowers climb up the hotel’s exterior. A spiral staircase winds through the hotel’s three floors and leads to a fabulous rooftop deck with lounge chairs and tables and amazing ocean views. There’s also a huge covered balcony with lots of plush couches and hammocks next to the dining room. It’s a laid back spot for sure, and attracts mostly nature lovers and divers between the ages of 18 and 35. It’s also a friendly hotel and guests usually sit together during morning breakfasts and share conversation. 

The hotel's secluded, hillside location has its plusses and minuses. It’s a bumpy (at times, seemingly impassible) six-minute taxi drive to the main road, or a 10-minute walk to the heart of West End’s buzzing tourist strip. At night, it’s a dark walk and seems slightly ominous. The main road in West End is lined with bars and clubs, a pharmacy, dive shops, an ATM, and small grocery stores. Nearby restaurants -- a 10-minute walk from the hotel -- include Thai, rotisserie chicken (arguably the best on the island), Honduran, and international cuisines. A bicycle and scooter rental shop is a 15-minute walk from the bed-and-breakfast. 

The closest beach is West End Beach. It's a 10-minute walk to the sand, and there's great snorkeling just offshore. Another great beach option is West Bay Beach, which is a 20-minute drive away and lined with big resorts and restaurants, though it gets crowded when cruise ships are in port. Coxen Hole, Roatan’s commercial hub, has banks, restaurants, and two western-style supermarkets. It's a 25-minute drive from the hotel. The ferry to Utila is a 10-minute walk from the hotel while the terminal to La Ceiba is a 35-minute drive, followed by an hour-and-15-minute ferry ride. Juan Manuel Galvez International Airport is a 25-minute drive from the hotel depending on traffic.

Rooms at Roatan Bed & Breakfast are big and rustic, and come in a mix of traditional guest rooms and apartments. While all are spacious and have slatted wood walls, floors, and ceilings, the two-room apartments stand out. These have kitchenettes, mini-fridges, coffeemakers, gas ranges, and exposed-beam ceilings. Even better, their garage-door sized front doors swing open onto private patios. All rooms have either king, queen, or twin beds with gray, quatrefoil-patterned sheets, TVs with satellite channels, ceiling fans, and simple, hardwood end-tables and lamps. They can get hot, as only room CB is air-conditioned. Additionally, it's worth noting that there's no backup generator, so if the power goes out (which it does), the hotel has no electricity. Overall, bathrooms are bit tired, with small vanities and tiled showers or tubs. Bar soap is included with all rooms. DVD players are also available to borrow, and all rooms have free Wi-Fi.

The amenities offered here are simple and straightforward. There’s no restaurant, but the included breakfast is delicious and the menu changes daily. Free purified water is also available 24 hours a day. The hotel can assist in arranging tours and taxis and sets up rooftop yoga classes (for a fee). It's also available to rent for weddings. There’s a big DVD library, free parking, and Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel. Keep in mind that while apartments have cooking facilities, there's no shared kitchen available for those staying in standard rooms.