Jade Seahorse Hotel - Utila, Honduras — Hotel in Útila

If you want luxury or cheap accommodation this is not the place for you. However, if you enjoy staying somewhere truly unique with friendly service then come to Jade Seahorse. The decoration of the gardens, rooms and restaurant really do need to be seen to be believed. Someone described it to me as Gaudi meets Dr Zeuss, which is as good enough description as any but neglects the natural beauty of the gardens. The artwork will amaze you but the trees and plants are also well tended. We stayed in Fantasea which also had upper decks, the final one above the canopy where you could look out to sea or watch the stars. ||Unfortunately only dinner is served not breakfast or lunch but there are lots of good eating options in the area (Mango Inn or Thompsons Bakery to name two). Dinner is vegetarian and excellently spiced and seasoned. You can also eat appetisers in the bar which serves well mixed, well priced cocktails. The cocktail of the day is usually a bargain. The bar area is up in the trees and is made of dark wood. It is sometimes busy which can make the gardens noisy but you can block out the noise if you need to by closing the windows and putting on the air conditioning. The bar does not stay open late and often there is enough natural ventilation through the screened windows to not need air conditioning.||At the end of a week you will still be noticing small interesting details in your room and about the property. Somewhere for people who enjoy the unusual and can appreciate the care and attention that the owner has put into creating this, ongoing, work of art.||Even if you don't stay here do come and have a look, visitors to the gardens are welcome and are encouraged to leave a donation to enable further development. Come late afternoon to see the gardens in daylight and then have a cocktail in the bar as the...

You might think my review is biased because I worked at the bar whilst living in Utila, but I don't care I just wanted people to know about the bar. I have lived in Utila nearly a year now, and I'm always surprised when new people come onto the island and ask where the best bars and restaurants are and then tell me they have never heard of Treetanic (The Jaded Seahorse) It was voted one of the most beautiful bars in the world and I can see why, Neil has worked tiresome hours/days/weeks/years to produce one of the most spectacular bars, every part of the establishment is covered in beautiful decorative art, most of it recycled materials on the island. I recommend people to walk round during the day so you can see it in the light. At night the bar is alive, it does not play the same songs on repeat (like pretty much all the other bars on the island) The drinks are slightly more expensive (like $2 dollars instead of $1) but it's worth it for the amount you get. The place itself is massive and sometime they would organise DJ event's there - If an event like that is happening whilst you are on the island - I highly recommend you go - those were some of the best nights I have had in Utila. It also host the Instructor (IE) parties at the end of month - again I recommend you go to those. The place is busy but not rammed, and the atmosphere is unforgettable. The one thing I will mention is the banana spiders, DON'T FREAK OUT. They don't do anything and are high enough in the trees that you wouldn't notice them. The restaurant cooks some of the best food - all the produce is fresh and the staff are welcoming...

This is the coolest place to stay, it is gorgeous! Our room was perfect. We stayed in the Fantasea, it was our own little treehouse with three levels of fun! A door way led up to two balconies one covered with a seating area and an eating table for 4, and above an eagles nest with a gorgeous view of the town and ocean. Both were so nice to sit on in the evenings when it was raining or having a glass of wine and looking at the views. Our bathroom and room were very nice with A/C and hot water!! We were so happy. The grounds are something out of disney's fantasia/alice and wonderland, every detail of the whole place has a quirky aspect to it in a fun way, for instance our bathroom door had Utila inscribed in it backwards but when the sun would shine through it, it spelled Utila on the floor, which was kind of washed to look like an ocean such fun little details really made the experience even better. As other people have commented yes, we saw the spiders but they were by the front entrance in their own little area in between the trees and were actually pretty cool to see and didn't bother us at all (which I am extremely afraid of spiders). We've told our friends about the trip and they can't wait to come back and stay here. Thank you so much we had...