Anyone been to Honduras?

[letele]

Lee, I think I remember reading that you've been to Roatan. Has anyone else been?

I am considering a trip to Utila next summer (it looks a little more budget-friendly than Roatan) and it looks very cool and laid-back. What I want to know is, how do the Bay Islands compare to Tulum in terms of stuff to do (snorkeling, etc.), friendliness of the locals, food and culture? My friend wants us to go to Jamaica (Negril) next summer but I've read far too many accounts of people who feel unsafe there, and I don't want to spend my time on the beach being hassled, so I'm looking for alternatives! :p

Any other ideas that are similar to Tulum price-wise?

[AdGuy]

As you've gotten zero responses, I'm thinking I'm the only loser that doesn't head to Tulum each time I have some time off.:) That said, let me try and provide some options. I agree you should pass on Jamaica as you really get hasseled on the beaches to buy drugs/trinkets. As for Rotaan, it wasn't really that expensive but I'm not sure what your budget is. The Caymens are nice but they're pricier than Tulum. For something very cheap you could also explore Nassau or Grand Bahama Island...not as magical as Tulum but it's like 1/2 the price and faster to get to from JAX. Okay...onto Utilla versus Rotaan. It might be a bit cheaper but WOW is it boring. Unless you're a serious diver or beach enthusiast you'll be pulling your hair out within 48 hours. Some folks love to just veg at a place and if that's you, you might be okay. For me, I'd go out of my tree! :eek:

[minniemex]

The only time I have been to Roatan was on a cruise and we were only there a short while. The sand on the beach we went to was not that powder white, but the goldy yellow sand that gets hot. We snorkeled and that was kinda cool. Most fish we did see were colorful, but small and the reef was deeper than I am used to, so seeing was a bit of a problem. I did see my first cottle fish there, so that was cool. The area was more hilly than around Tulum.

The people we saw there were very poor ~ by my standards ~ yet they all seemed very happy with what they had.

Take it with what I had ~ a few hours from a cruise ship.

[letele]

Thanks for the replies, guys....lots to think about! I am considering going for scuba certification, and I've read that Utila is the cheapest place to do that. Also (shhh) you can rent a private island with a 6-bed house for $100 a night and I must admit, that sounds appealing. This would probably be a group vacation, so not having a lot to do might be okay. We're also considering Belize or Costa Rica. Decisions, decisions! :)