Roatan Rent time again! Keeping in line with all the changes I've been making lately, I finally made one that's been a long time coming: I just moved to a new place!(You may remember the other posts in this series - Roatan Rent: What $300/Month Gets You and Roatan Rent: What $400/Month Gets You. These are some of my most popular posts, so I guess people are interested in this...?)I'm on move #8 in three years here which is kind of a lot, but what can I say... I've got itchy feet! The last ...
Life
Roatan Month 33 Roundup
Trying to get back into the habit of my monthly roundups! I also posted more than once this month, so there's actually something to put in the roundup.I've had a crazy month since I last posted. I had a visit from Alex in Wanderland, and it was a serious 'full circle' moment for me. I remember when I first found her blog - I was sitting at my desk in Vancouver four years ago looking up everything I could about Roatan, and found her posts about a trip there. I didn't know that there were people ...
Don’t Judge A Package Vacation Until You’ve Done One
When I was growing up, I watched as my friends’ families faithfully went on charter vacations to exotic-sounding locations like Puerta Vallarta and Cancun every spring break. They would come back with cornrows in their hair, stories of snorkeling with tropical fish, and tan lines in the middle of the cold Canadian winter. I never thought much of it, as my family wasn’t very interested that type of vacation.When I got older and started traveling solo and with friends, my backpacker buddies ...
Being a Tourist on Another Island is Weird
"No thanks, I'm not a tourist." The words fly out of my mouth on auto-pilot, as the shaggy beach vendor registers a look of bewilderment on his face and his shell necklaces clack around in his hands. He cocks his head, studying me for a second, and finally shakes his head and decides to move on.I know what he's thinking. Of course you're a tourist, lady! You're white and I've never seen you before, you clearly don't live here so you are a tourist. And you know what? He's right.I ...
What To Do On Roatan: 1-Day Itinerary
Whether you're on the island on a cruise ship call, or simply using it as a jumping-off point for further travel (full disclosure: when I first came here, I was supposed to fly into Roatan for a day and then move on to Utila to do my dive courses... it took me TWO YEARS to make it to Utila!), you can still experience a lot in a day on Roatan. Read on to see my recommendations if you have just a little time on this beautiful island...(Have a few days to spend here? Check out my 3-Day Itinerary ...
Roatan Visa Runs: Miami Beach
I have written at length both on the blog and responding to tons emails asking me about the 'new' visa regulations on Roatan. Unfortunately unless you go for your residency, it has come down to doing visa runs, which are not cheap around here. I said I would do one and if they hadn't figured anything out by then I was leaving, but we all know how many times I've said I was going to leave the island and never did it! So as I'm gearing up for visa run #2, let me tell you about the first one I did. ...
Roatan Month 28-32 Roundup
Poor, poor little roundups. Totally neglected the last 5 months! I actually haven't been posting much, as many of you have noticed, so you guys didn't miss out on much. Anyway, let's get a coffee and catch up, shall we?1. Gratuitous diving ocean photo:This is the same as month 27. I have no more diving photos! I stopped working as a dive instructor around the same time (by choice, for all of you who have been asking), so I guess this isn't very surprising. I am still trying to keep it ...
Turning 30, Island-Style
Well, some people celebrate turning 30 by drinks out with friends, or maybe a fancy dinner. As you might have guessed, I am not 'some people'.When I realized that I would be celebrating my fourth birthday in a row on Roatan (wait, what?? how and when did that happen!?) and it was my big 3-0, I decided I might as well make it one to remember.So how does one celebrate turning 30 in a memorable way?Island-style, of course:Full pig roast with all the fixins.Reef-themed birthday ...
Radio Silence
Oh, hey there. Guess what? Contrary to what many of you seemed to believe by the content of your emails, I did not die here in Honduras! I am still alive and kicking (and definitely knocking on wood). I am healthy and happy and all is well.Pardon my pause in posts for the last two months (eeeek...yikes). You'll have to trust me when I say it just got away from me. After a few weeks it just felt weird, and I let it keep going and going like when you keep watching a Friends marathon and after ...
A Daytrip to Cayos Cochinos
Once in awhile you just need a vacation. (Even if you live at the beach.) This was one of those days!Cayos Cochinos (Hog Islands) are a chain of islands and little cays located between the Bay Islands (Roatan, Utila and Guanaja) and the mainland of Honduras. These tiny islands are sparsely inhabited (the last census had the population pegged at 108), and drop-dead gorgeous. Only about an hour and a half by boat from Roatan, it makes for an easy day trip and a great way to get off the ...