With more and more people on Roatan having to do visa runs, finding affordable options to get off the island for a few days is a hot topic of conversation these days on my rock. Just getting out of here takes either a lot of time (by boat and bus) or a lot of money (by plane), so the idea is to go as close as possible to places that can be enjoyed cheaply for a few days. I've taken two trips so far this year that could work well for visa runs - you can read full rundowns of my Miami Beach, ...
Life
Roatan Review: La Casita
The latest addition to my Roatan Review series is: La Casita!I was really bummed when one of my fave restaurants, Bay Islands Original Cafe, closed just a few months after I did a review. Such is life on Roatan though - as people come and go, so do businesses.After a couple months, I found out two of my friends had taken over the space and had something really special planned for it. Slowly but surely, La Casita was born.Alejandra and Andres have created a zen little oasis just a few ...
Roatan Visa Runs: Ambergris Caye, Belize
[See the rundown of Visa Run #1: Miami Beach here.]On the long list of things I say and then never do, 'leave Roatan permanently before being forced into visa runs' was close to the top. I have my Honduran residency - so these are trips that could be used as visa runs. One day I'll write a post about it. Today is not that day, so please don't ask. Short version: you need an immigration lawyer and lots of time + money.I've spoken quite a bit on the blog about visa runs/residency/etc. and ...
Ten Truths About Being 30 & Living Abroad Solo
We're gonna get straight into the nitty-gritty here folks. I turned 30 this year after three years of living the expat life solo, and I've learned a thing or two (or 10). Sometimes it fucking sucks and sometimes it rocks my socks. So I made a list for you, because I'm a nice person. Or because I'm a bit snarky sometimes. Who knows.me turning 30 abroad solo credit: jackson photographyHere are five shitty truths about being 30 and living abroad solo:1) You will check Facebook daily, ...
Roatan Review: Sundara Wellness Center
The latest addition to my Roatan Review series is: Sundara Wellness Center!After going back to diving full-time, my body was exhausted and sore after a few months back in the water (hey, I had been out of practice for a while!). Luckily for me, my friend Mariela Garcia suggested that I spend a day at her wellness center in French Harbor.Sundara Wellness Center follows an organic and healing philosophy, and it certainly showed in the serene setting, caring staff, and natural products. I ...
{GIVEAWAY} – Personal Planner: Never Forget Your Mom’s Birthday Again
Guys, this is not the first time I've raved about Personal Planner [ Facebook / Twitter / Insta ] and their dayplanners with incredible customization options. Actually, it's the third - I was the lucky winner of a giveaway on Andi's site (and she actually just finished running another Personal Planner giveaway - check out her beautiful 2016 planner she created), and wrote about my 2014 planner here. I also wrote about my 2015 planner here. So I'm sure you can guess what today's post is ...
Roatan Roundup: Months 35 + 36 – THREE YEARS!
Uhhhh.... WHAT? I've been on this island full-time for three YEARS? I don't even know what to say.One place I haven't been lately is on this blog. And this is why:I have (very happily) returned to diving and have been doing nothing but eat, sleep, dive and repeat. It doesn't leave much time for blogging, or anything else really, but just know that I'm underwater and smiling. And I'll be back around here soon.This isn't much of a traditional roundup, since I have had zero posts to recap. ...
Roatan Month 34 Roundup
Yeah! 34 months! Haven't died or had an island baby yet, so all in all a great success.I have been taking some time off as it's been a month of big changes. Jump and the net will appear, right? I moved to a new house which I love so much that I sometimes just stay in it all day, and I am taking on some projects and part-time stuff as I had a lot of time open up. However, I have spent a lot of that free time on watching the entire new season of Orange is the New Black (talk to me about it if ...
The Snorkeling Trip That Changed My Life
Kind of a bold title, isn't it?It's 100% true.That blurry photo is me. It's me during the second time I ever snorkeled in my life. (The first being a very sketchy set up off a catamaran in Cuba in 2005. Now that I think about it, I'm surprised I made it out alive.) I know it's hard to see, but my face is full of joy. I am at home in the ocean!I even know what day this was - February 5, 2012. I was on my very first trip to Roatan with my friend Steph, and it was our second day on the ...
Guidelines for Tipping on Roatan
Short version: yes, you're supposed to tip on Roatan. 10%-20%. There ya go!Long version:Tipping is expected on Roatan for various services. If you're visiting or moving to the island, you should have a quick read through these guidelines to make sure you're tipping appropriately! We don't like people who play the "we don't have to tip in our home country so we're not going to here" game. Labor laws are very different from many other countries and you need to remember that the legal minimum ...