we loved ambergris when we were there last feb., but are interested in checking out other places, too. has anyone spent time on roatan, and if so, how does it compare? my son wants to dive frequently, and snorkling from the beach is appealing to all of us. we all agreed that our vacation on ambergris was the best family vacation ever...that's saying a lot since our kids are 14 and 16! thanks, leslie

If you're into diving, Roatan is a wonderful destination. You can be there for a month and never hit the same spot twice.

If you are not a diver, there is more to do on AC than on Roatan. Day trips like those offered on AC are nearly nonexistent. However, the beaches, West Bay in particular, are better than those on AC. There is also decent snorkeling right off the far western end of West Bay beach. I had been to AC twice and decided to try Roatan. I’m glad I went, but I’d go back to AC before going back to Roatan.

I've been to both and will second BrianH's observations. Belize has much more to do in terms of excursions such as the Belize Zoo, Mayan sites, cave tubing etc. (although we greatly enjoyed Roatan's butterfly farm & iquana farm). AC also offers far more variety in terms of restaurants, bars, etc.

Both are great for snorkeling. If you want to swim off the beach a lot Roatan's West Bay is a far superior swimming beach than any place I have swam in Belize (San Pedro, Corozal, Dangriga & Hopkins), although I've not yet experienced Placencia.

A short water taxi away from West Bay is West End, where most visitors go for restaurants, bars, shops etc. It's nice, but again nowhere near the scale and variety of AC.

I love both places and have booked return trips to both over the next 12 months.

heatherack... The other posters have pretty well summed it up, but if you and your son want to dive alot and don't care much about trying restaurants and nightlife, then there are some GREAT dive resort/lodges on Roatan. We have been to CocoView several times and it is FANTASTIC for diving your brains out and meeting divers from all over. (I know they had some troubles in the last year, but I have read they are all resolved). Also, Anthony's Key Resort is very cool and has a dive-with-dolphins program. Both places are all-inclusive as they are not near townships. They are quite rustic (no phones, TV etc). You pretty much spend all your time diving, reading, eating, talking about diving and then more diving! And there is alot to be said for a week of that!
Scott

My husband and I were at Anthony's Key in Roatan last month. We are avid divers and did the dive-eat-dive-eat-dive-eat-sleep routine for a week and loved it. We had a wonderful time in Roatan and loved the diving. I agree that there is much variety in the dive sites and beautiful coral reefs. We are also very connected to San Pedro and even had a difficult time making the decision to go "somewhere else." What we missed in Roatan was the close connection to the culture and the people that we get in San Pedro. Roatan is a much larger island and being at an all-inclusive resort didn't allow for connection to the town or the culture. Perhaps staying at a resort near West End would have given us more variety and connection. O.K., so we proved we could go somewhere else and have a great time. Now we're booked for a trip to San Pedro for November. Something about that island just keeps drawing us back for more, as is the mantra of many on this message board. Once bitten, you can't be cured.

We spent two weeks at Cocoview Resort. Absolutely wonderful diving. A short wade through the water and you're at a wreck located in 75' of water. Just beautiful. They have the system perfected. First dive at a wall, second dive a drop off. They literally drop you off on the wall and leave you there to float in the current back to cocoview where you end up at the wreck again and then a gradual swim up to shore. Their dive lockers are the best. Just 5 feet away from the boat you're assigned on day one. Unique center hull ladder. Easy to get in boat in rough water. Mary's Crack is a must do. Food plentiful. It is all inclusive and since you're on a small spit of an island with no other places it works perfectly. They offer excursions by boat to the other areas for dinner and supply free transportation. We will be back. Book the over water bungalow. Just $50 per person per week. We used Pat at Roatan Charter. Enjoy. Our first trip to Belize, next February so we can't compare yet!

//ambergriscaye.com/message/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=3;t=001303

...for another discussion on the same topic (with a little bit of drift as usual )

FWIW, because I'm not a diver, we've decided to come back to San Pedro.

Hon

thanks everybody, i just found an old thread from islenutt and seaislegirl who visited and seemed to have had a good time. another thread somewhere advocated the bocas del toro islands in panama...seems to be too many islands to visit and so little time...and $!! i still seem to be fixated on roatan; maybe it's the idea of lush vegetation and hills. sandflies don't sound appealing however! thanks again, leslie

Roatan and all of Honduras is great...but since you've been to AC first you will probably find that it doesn't compare. I went to roatan last december and have returned to AC four times since for a total of 6 visits as AC has so much more to offer an appreciate. Perhaps you should do what I did, fly to Roatan for a little while and then head to Belize to end your trip!
KE