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When Americans are craving a beach getaway, they tend to search their favorite travel apps and book a flight to Mexico.
Mexico is great and all, but there are so many more gorgeous places across Latin America for a sunny beach vacation… and a little more adventure.
While Cancun, Puerto Vallarta, and Los Cabos are all perfectly fine for booking a beach vacation, Mexico has few islands for an exotic tropical escape.
With winter travelers seeking sunny destinations, neighboring Central America is the perfect alternative. One island in particular has seen a surge in popularity yet still remains overlooked as a premier beach getaway.
Welcome To Roatan
Honduras is a trigger word for some travelers who immediately view this country as a danger zone. While it’s certainly not known for being the safest place, the stunning island of Roatan is perfectly safe to visit.
Roughly 40 miles away from the mainland, where a majority of crime reports occur, Roatan is the antithesis of what you may have heard about Honduras.
Central America alone is a backpacker haven where most galavant around Honduras unscathed despite the reputation of being unsafe.
For the record, the U.S. State Department currently lists Honduras as a whole as Level 3: Reconsider Travel with no mention of Roatan.
The island is a safe space for tourists and is easily accessible. Those who have been before know it’s extremely underrated, where as first-timers will fall in love as soon as they step foot here.
New Luxury Resorts
Honduras is a very diverse nation, but luxury wouldn’t come to mind to those who have never paid a visit.
Travelers will find lavish hotels in the major cities of San Pedro Sula and Tegucigalpa and even better options on the island of Roatan.
Among the latest additions is a name you will recognize – Kimpton. Oozing luxury, the 5-star Kimpton Grand Roatán Resort & Spa opened doors in recent months and is enough reason to stop reading this article, switch tabs, and book a trip right away.
Set beachside with an amazing pool overlooking azure waters; you will wonder why you didn’t visit Roatan sooner.
For now, Kimpton is the only hotel with name-brand recognition until the under-construction Margaritaville resort opens its doors in 2025.
Despite unfamiliar names, there are still plentiful, immaculate beachside accommodations with rates rivaling common vacation hotspots.
If you’re dreaming of a luxurious escape to Roatan but worried about splurging, travel credit cards with generous rewards points can help you offset the cost of luxury stays and unlock exclusive perks, turning your Roatan getaway into a truly VIP experience. Here are some of our favorites.
Let The Good Vibes Roll
The island aspect of Honduras’ diversity is one you’ll want to experience. This slender stretch of land spanning about 5 miles wide and 40 miles long offers a ton of sights and a mix of vibes between fishing villages, small towns, and various beaches.
Of course, the most tempting of all is to spend your time here in pure opulence at a nice resort, but cozy Airbnbs and hostels are perfectly suitable for the right traveler as well.
Roatan is home to a plethora of pristine beaches, with many tourists’ favorites being Tabyana Beach, West Bay Beach, and Half Moon Bay – each with their own personality.
If one thing is for certain, Roatan is a diver’s paradise. The crystal clear waters are perfect in every sense to see the Caribbean teeming with life.
The country is home to the second-largest barrier reef on the planet, making Roatan even more of a draw.
Australia may steal the shine away from Honduras with the Great Barrier Reef, but Honduras is a much quicker trip from the U.S.
Whether you spend your day exploring or recharging, Roatan becomes alive at night with tiki bars, beach gatherings, and late-night clubs.
Nonstop Flights To This Underrated Paradise
How far would you travel for a dreamy beach vacation? Some choose Maldives on the other side of the world, while others choose to stay closer to home.
If the latter sounds more like your style, nonstop flights to Roatan are entirely possible depending on where you live.
Roatan is the only Honduran island with an international airport, in fact. Americans can fly direct via Delta, United, American or Sun Country, while Canadians are limited to WestJet.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
Georgia
Wednesday 17th of January 2024
Beautiful! We are going to cruise, again and again to this beautiful country 😎