When the Tourists are Away, the Expats Will Play
Summer deals abound on Roatan; everything from vacation rentals to activity specials are available because summertime is a slower season for the region. While many other Caribbean islands are dealing with hurricane season, Roatan luckily avoids that path and is safely nestled into the southwestern part of the Caribbean. With statistically only one hurricane every 26 years hitting Honduras directly, we can rest easy knowing our boats and homes are safe and sound.
But the summer is still a slower time even without the constant threat of storms, mostly because the weather in North America is finally tolerable. With that in mind, now is the best time to visit Roatan! Take advantage of fewer tourists on the beaches and a more laidback vibe from locals and expats as they enjoy a well-deserved break after the busy season. Summer is the time to play!
Rental Property Highlights
Summer is a fantastic time to rent from Roatan Vacation Rentals! With our extensive inventory of vacation rental properties, you are guaranteed to find your dream vacation rental available. And during the summer, you might even find a great discount to go along with it! Whether you’re coming to Roatan for a week or a month, be sure to check out our full listings online.
Here are a couple of properties we want to highlight this month, with both short- and long-term rental options available.
Villas del Playa #6 (Penthouse)
Villas Del Playa 6 is a Penthouse condo located right on the beach in a residential section of West End. Sleeping up to 8 people, this condo is a fantastic choice for you to enjoy the sun, sand, and island luxury while on Roatan.
This comfortably furnished, 2-story condo features 3 bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms and an open concept kitchen, which is fully stocked with appliances. As you walk out onto the oval patio facing the ocean, you can follow the spiral steps up to your very own rooftop patio that has lounge chairs to sit in the sun, a dining area to enjoy a nice meal, a fully equipped kitchen, a stainless BBQ, and an infinity pool. There is also another bathroom on the patio with an outside shower.
The location of Villas Del Playa is perfect, being right in the middle of everything you would want to do while on Roatan. West Bay is a short 5-minute water taxi ride away and is home to one of the most beautiful beaches on the island. The main area of West End is just a short 10-15 minute walk, with bars and restaurants along the way. The best part about Villas Del Playa is that at the end of the night, you can reach home and enjoy the peace and quiet of this beautiful island.
Rates for Villas del Playa #6
Holiday – $2,495/week
Spring Shoulder – $2,195/week
Fall Low – $1,795/week
Winter Low – $1,795/week
High Winter – $2,195/week
For bookings within 30 days of arrival for a 2 bedroom (1 bedroom locked out)
Holiday – $2,095/week
Spring Shoulder – $1,795/week
Fall Low – $1,595/week
Winter Low – $1,595/week
High Winter – $1,795/week
Long-term rental option in Lawson Rock: Seahorse 205
This fully furnished 2-bedroom luxury unit, Seahorse 205, is located in the coveted Lawson Rock community in Sandy Bay. It is a large, luxurious condominium with amazing ocean views. The interior consists of 2 master bedrooms with ensuite baths (both with King Sized beds), powder bathroom off the entry, and a large L-shaped open concept living and dining area that opens out to an oversized covered patio with BBQ and lounge area.
For your enjoyment, you can take a swim in your own private rooftop terrace pool or take a stroll along the beach. There are kayaks for your use so you can go and explore the reef.
$1,500/month plus tax and utilities
Concierge Corner
Are you wondering what there is to do on Roatan? Let us take care of all of your activity planning for you! Our Concierge service at Roatan Vacation Rentals provides the most thorough information on any and all amenities Roatan has to offer. Be sure to download our app (Roatan Vacation Rentals) to access more information anywhere you go. You can also check out our website or contact us directly for more information.
There are so many activities to do during your visit to Roatan! Some of the more popular excursions that guests have been enjoying lately include:
· Dolphin Encounter/Snorkel at Anthony’s Key Resort
· Old Port Royal catamaran tour out of Oak Ridge with Free Radical
· SCUBA diving
· Zip line tour with South Shore Canopy
· Visit Gumbalimba Park
· 18 holes of golf at the Black Pearl Golf Course
· A snorkel/sail catamaran tour to Big Bight aboard the Stray Cat
· Day trip to Maya Key to explore replicas of Mayan Ruins and the animal park
· A fishing adventure for a full or half a day with Captain Lonnie
· A guided stand-up paddle board tour from Steve’s Paddle Shack
· Snorkel/fishing tour to Cayos Cochinos with Ruthless Charters
· A guided walking tour of Blue Harbor Tropical Arboretum
· Kayak and snorkel tour at Upachaya Eco Resort
· A snorkel/sail tour on Galumbo
· A fishing trip or an island tour with Aaron
· …and much, much more
Providing us with some details about your group allows us to better assist you in planning your stay. Let us know the number of people in your group, plus their ages, interests, etc, so we can direct you towards activities that you might enjoy. Other things to consider include:
· Whether or not you would like to rent a car for your stay. We can provide you with available rental vehicle options.
· Whether or not you would like to have your rental unit already stocked with groceries upon arrival. Just send us a shopping list and we can do the shopping for you for just a 15% fee.
· Whether you would prefer to have a personal chef come to your rental unit to prepare and cook your dinner, and even clean up afterward! You choose the menu and Chef Susan will do all the shopping and then come into your rental unit to make an authentic Island-style meal.
Any activities that you book through Roatan Vacation Rentals Concierge can be charged directly to your rental unit. We just send you with a voucher to your excursion and you pay later, after the service is provided! This is especially convenient so that you do not have to carry around large amounts of cash or use your credit card at multiple locations. It is our policy to never mark-up the excursion cost; you will always pay the same price as if you walked up and booked on your own. At the end of your stay, you just let us know how you would like to settle up – cash, credit card or a mix of both.
Welcome to Roatan! We hope you enjoy your stay!
Roatan United
Each month we feature an organization on Roatan that is providing services to our local community. These programs are ones we support as a company, so we hope you will see the great work they are doing and support them, too.
This month in Roatan United, we are featuring SOL (School of Life) International Foundation. And what a perfect month to feature this amazing organization, as June 6th marks the finale of their annual Golden Buoy fundraiser!
The mission of SOL Foundation is to initiate and support community-based programs designed to promote education and to increase the quality of life in developing areas. Through athletics, extracurricular activities, and more educational opportunities, SOL focuses on improving the lives of local children in order to better the entire community.
SOL Foundation’s annual Golden Buoy fundraising event is actually a month-long competition between local SCUBA dive centers to see who can raise the most money for SOL and therefore win the coveted Golden Buoy trophy. Throughout the month of May various events and online auctions have taken place, each organized by a Roatan dive shop. But on Saturday, June 6th, the competition will come to a head as dive shops face off in hand-to-hand combat…usually in the form of tug-of-war competitions and beach races. This day is known as the Dive Shop Olympics and is held at West Bay Beach in front of Bananarama Resort.
You can attend the Dive Shop Olympics to partake in the fun and support your favorite local dive shop, or you can go online to www.solroatan.org to donate to your favorite dive shop and help them to win the 8th Annual Golden Buoy award.
SOL Foundation’s work is year-round, so if you’re planning a future trip to Roatan, you can still support their work in person or online at www.solroatan.org. SOL International Foundation is an independent, nonprofit, 501(c)(3) Public Charity. All donations are tax deductible.
Real Estate Highlights
Once you’ve experienced the magic of Roatan, you may find yourself hooked. We frequently have our rental guests contact us again – this time to tour properties. If you’re thinking about a vacation home in paradise, or even a permanent move away from the hustle and bustle back home, we are happy to help. Many of us at Roatan Life have made the decision to move our lives and our families here because we know this is paradise. We know exactly how you feel: Roatan just makes you feel like you’re home.
Luckily, Roatan’s real estate market enjoys incredible variety in style, location, and price. To give you a small taste of what’s available, here are a few property options currently on the market:
Lot Available in Prime West Bay Neighbourhood
Great ocean view lot in desirable West Bay Adjacent area for only $99,000. Superior ocean views combined with first-world infrastructure make this lot ready to build. Located between the incredibly popular Lighthouse Estates and Turtle Crossing neighborhoods of West Bay, this premier location has sweeping south shore views of Cayos Cochinos and the mainland. A gentle slope insures your view will not be blocked and that you will have great access to the gentle breezes.
The lot is being sold with Honduran corporation, so lower closing costs are a bonus for any buyer.
http://www.roatanlife.com/Lot-17-Latitude-Sixteen-241
Bali-Inspired Cottage in Boutique Enclave
This turnkey, 1-bedroom loft-style, free standing home in West End is completely and tastefully furnished and decorated. In the safe, small development of Green Bamboo and placed in a quiet area of West End, you are just a short walk away from the beach and nightlife, restaurants, dive shops, and shopping. Plenty of outdoor living space and a sparkling pool make this a great investment for only $175,000.
http://www.roatanlife.com/1BD-Home-Great-Chill-Out-Area-Green-Bamboo-West-End-725
Casa Adams in Blue Harbor
Luxurious beachfront home located in the gated community of Blue Harbor. A year-round Caribbean island getaway with elegance. This open-concept home features pocket sliding glass doors surrounding the living room to merge the indoor and outdoor spaces. This modern Mediterranean design offers 5 bedrooms and 5 bathrooms, and was designed by one of the leading Caribbean architects.
http://www.roatanlife.com/Casa-Adams—Blue-Harbour-lot-22-and-23-768
What’s Happening in Roatan This Month?
Each month we share upcoming events and celebrations so you know what to expect during your stay. This is what’s coming up for events in June:
June 6th – 8th Annual Golden Buoy Dive Shop Olympics will be held on West Bay Beach in front of Bananarama Resort. Head there to cheer on your favorite local dive shop as they compete to win the coveted Golden Buoy trophy.
June 11th – Students’ Day is celebrated as an unofficial holiday in Honduras. You may see school children parading through the streets in Coxen Hole or French Harbour, so be sure to encourage them to continue to work hard in school! Many private schools on Roatan follow the North American school calendar, so this also happens around the end of the school year for those students. Public schools follow the Honduran schedule of February-November.
June 21st – The Summer Solstice might go slightly unnoticed on Roatan, given that it seems like summer all year long here. But this year the solstice also falls on Father’s Day in the U.S., so with many American tourists and expats here on Roatan, you’re sure to find some special events and celebrations happening.
Expats in Paradise
Each month we highlight an expat or expat couple who made the move to paradise. Some live here part-time, some full-time; some bought a home, others have built one. The options are infinite but the people are real!
This month, we’re checking in with Stacy Hennessey from Northern Virginia. Stacy bought a beautiful condominium home in West Bay in March 2014. Villa Joya is located right on the beach in a quiet, serene location, with only 6 privately owned condos in the development.
Stacy is a real estate agent in the Northern Virginia/Washington, DC, area, so she knows a fantastic deal when she sees one. “Roatan is beautiful and affordable, but most important to me is the people who call it home,” Stacy says.
“Everyone who lives there – and nearly everyone who visits – is extremely friendly! The island attracts people who are relaxed and fun, and the people who live there are similar. I think it is a great place to invest in as well!”
Stacy is still working so she isn’t ready to live on Roatan full-time. In the meantime, she rents out her beautiful home as a vacation rental. “I love the white sand and the clear water around Roatan,” Stacy explains. “I love the scuba diving, and just the ‘no shoes’ kind of attitude. It is easy and convenient to get to Roatan from the D.C. area, but once you’re there it is hard to leave!”
You may find it hard to leave Stacy’s beautiful oceanfront condo as well. If you’re interested in renting Villa Joya for your next visit to Roatan, contact us today for rates and availability. You won’t regret it!
