Las Rocas Resort and Dive Center — Hotel in Roatán

Las Rocas Resort & Dive Center is the most amazing place to stay. Make sure to take a driving tour of the island, it is a must-do, go with Winson.

This is my 4th time to Roatan staying at this Resort in West Bay. It is clean, friendly, quiet and just gorgeous. You meet fun people from all over the world who stay and dive at this Resort, and you can snorkel right off the beach. Taking a drive around the island with someone who lives there is an experience you don't want to miss, and I've done it on two trips with Winson, who works at the bar/restaurant onsite at the Resort, called Trattoria Da Puerto Restaurant Bar. They have nightly dinner specials that are delicious with generous portions, like shrimp skewers. The lobster tails and drinks are incredible. Happy hour is two for one from 3-6 p.m. EVERY DAY!

TAKE A CAR TOUR: Again, the car tour of the Island. If you want to see how the "locals" live, Winson is the most knowledgeable guide for a private car tour, and you can find him working at the resort bar. If he's not there, just ask where you can find him, someone will know how to get in contact with him. We use WhatsApp to communicate over WiFi, that's a good way to reach him. Ask him if he can take you to Punta Gorda, the location of the Garifuno village. There is so much kindness in the local people, interesting history and great food there. The bonus includes the historically significant stops along the way that Winson will explain, and an amazing ocean view from most of the restaurants in the Garifuno village. There are handcrafted items to buy that are one-of-a-kind, not mass-produced tourist junk. This is a MUST DO if you want to fully experience Roatan. I've attached photos that represent the type of style you'll travel in with Winson, and a photo of the happy man himself.

THE RESORT: Las Rocas Resort is small (a big plus), and right on the water with its own private beach. The people are great, the turquoise water is warm but refreshing, and the white sand beaches are incredible and easy to walk on barefoot. The sunsets are so gorgeous, and to me, it is the perfect place for the best ever beach vacation.

It's also relatively easy to get to Roatan, just a three hour flight from some U.S. cities, like Dallas. Easy direct flights also from Miami.

SUGGESTIONS: Keep in mind that the cost of living is high in Roatan, most food and other goods are imported, so don't plan on a super cheap vacation. Make sure you tip well, the people rightfully depend on it. Take crisp bills, no writing or rips on them, or you won't be able to use them. I always tip in cash to make sure the server gets it--don't leave the tip on your hotel bill or credit card, if you can avoid it. You'll get great service regardless, but you'll get to know people better if you tip them directly, it's just more personal and polite. We always tip the housekeeper daily, for example.

FINAL THOUGHTS: This is my all-time favorite kick-back beach destination. And Las Rocas Resort & Dive Center has great rooms, plus fabulous scuba diving packages, snorkel gear, and the best onsite restaurant around. Lobster tails are currently prepared in your choice of four different ways, and you get 2 two side dishes (salad and baked potato, anyone?). I'm not going to lay out the price, you'll be amazed by the good deal! All of the food is outstanding, and the drinks are fabulous. Everything is reasonably priced. Their dive packages are epic. There's also a free shuttle to and from the airport, we each tipped him...

This is my 4th time to Roatan staying at Las Rocas Resort & Dive Center in West Bay. It is clean, friendly, quiet and just gorgeous. you meet great people from all over the world who stay and dive at this Resort. You can snorkel right off the beach. Taking a drive around the island with someone who lives there is an experience you don't want to miss, and I've done it on two trips with Winson, who works at the bar/restaurant on site, called Trattoria Da Puerto Restaurant Bar. They have nightly specials that are delicious with generous portions, like shrimp skewers. The lobster tails and drinks are incredible. Happy hour is two for one from 3-6 p.m. EVERY DAY! ||TAKE A CAR TOUR: Again, the car tour of the Island. If you want to see how the "locals" live, Winson is the most knowledgeable guide for a private car tour, and you can find him working at the resort bar. If he's not there, just ask where you can find him, someone will know how to get in contact with him. We use WhatsApp to communicate over WiFi, that's a good way to reach him. Ask him if he can take you to Punta Gorda, the location of the Garifuno village. There is so much kindness in the local people, interesting history and great food there. The bonus includes the historically significant stops along the way that Winson will explain, and an amazing ocean view from most of the restaurants in the Garifuno village. There are handcrafted items to buy that are one-of-a-kind, not mass-produced tourist junk. This is a MUST DO if you want to fully experience Roatan. I've attached photos that represent the type of style you'll travel in with Winson, and a photo of the happy man himself.||THE RESORT: Las Rocas Resort is small (a big plus), and right on the water with its own private beach. The people are great, the turquoise water is warm but refreshing, and the white sand beaches are incredible and easy to walk on barefoot. The sunsets are so gorgeous, and to me, it is the perfect place for the best ever beach vacation. ||It's also relatively easy to get to Roatan, just a three hour flight from some U.S. cities, like Dallas. Easy direct flights also from Miami.||SUGGESTIONS: Keep in mind that the cost of living is high in Roatan, most food and other goods are imported, so don't plan on a super cheap vacation. Make sure you tip well, the people rightfully depend on it. Take crisp bills, no writing or rips on them, or you won't be able to use them. I always tip in cash to make sure the server gets it--don't leave the tip on your hotel bill or credit card, if you can avoid it. You'll get great service regardless, but you'll get to know people better if you tip them directly, it's just more personal and polite. We always tip the housekeeper daily, for example. ||FINAL THOUGHTS: This is my all-time favorite kick-back beach destination. And Las Rocas Resort & Dive Center has great rooms, plus fabulous scuba diving packages, snorkel gear, and the best onsite restaurant around. Lobster tails are currently prepared in your choice of four different ways, and you get 2 two side dishes (salad and baked potato, anyone?). I'm not going to lay out the price, you'll be amazed by the good deal! All of the food is outstanding, and the drinks are fabulous. Everything is reasonably priced. Their dive packages are epic. Get out and...

DO NOT RECOMMEND 😔 EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTING 😞😞😞

I wish I was leaving a 5 star review, as the location is stunning and the little cabañas are very cute albeit shabby, but our experience was very VERY poor.

On the first night of our arrival, after eating at the hotel’s restaurant, my husband and I got one of the worst food poisonings I’ve ever had in my life - I am not exaggerating. We had shrimp and lobster and we don’t know which of the two gave us the poisoning.

The morning after we let the hotel administration know about the poisoning and we were told that they will “look into it”.

Quick note - in our state of constant vomit and other bodily evacuations, we delivered the news in a very civil and respectful manner. I hate confrontations and try to always be as cooperative and understanding as possible.

After the restaurant waiters asked why we are not eating breakfast that morning, and we explained, we were told: “you should have ordered shrimp with lime, this wouldn’t have happened”. It was the first “it’s your fault” of many to follow.

The same evening a supervisor came by our room to “investigate” the complaint. I explained once again what happened and was met by “strange, I also had the shrimp, but we will take that off the bill, I will speak to the owner and will let you know about taking off the lobster too”.

In any other normal hotel this would have never even been a conversation. When the hotel makes its guests ill, the guests should not be expected to pay for the said meal. I thought this was the most standard hotel hospitality rule, considering the first 24-48 hours of our stay were completely ruined.

During the rest of our stay no one came back to update us on their “investigation” and we never had the courage to go back to eat dinner at the restaurant, fearing another intoxication. I saw the supervisor a few times over the following days, but he ignored me, although I was told he will speak to me the morning after our conversation.

The time came for us to check out and the bill we received had the full dinner of the first night. The supervisor explained that since I had mentioned that the shrimp wasn’t particularly nice, it was our fault for eating it and we are liable to pay for it. Of course, no mention of the lobster or writing off the whole meal - they had decided that even if it was the shrimp (even if nobody truly knows what exactly in the dinner made us so ill), it was simply our fault.

Once again, it pains me to write this, as in another scenario, we would have most likely marked this hotel as a place to come back to and to be recommended.

Perhaps nothing will happen to you during your stay and you will love it. But know that if it does - you will be the one in the wrong, even if you are throwing up all through the night and day because of the food...