Ahhh, the scent of autumn is in the air. The leaves on the trees getting ready to put on a show of glorious colours of crimson and gold, before falling to the ground leaving a stark landscape of grey until the spring buds appear again.
It’s time to pack away flip-flops, t-shirts, and bathing suits, to be replaced with winter boots, sweaters, and long-johns. That’s okay though, as my summer tan fades I’d rather cover as much of my pale skin as I can.
It is still warm enough to spend the majority of my time outdoors without having to take the extra time to put on gloves, a hat, and scarf. And when inside, the windows can be wide open, with no need for an extra blanket on the bed, socks or slippers on my feet, or a Snuggie (you know the blanket with sleeves) while I watch TV.
Wait a minute…I live on Roatan! The tropical Paradise Island nestled in the Caribbean Sea.
Sounds like I’m bragging, doesn’t it? That’s not my intent…really!
Living on Roatan for more than three years now, I do miss the changing seasons—the fall colours truly are glorious. I used to have a few favorite sweaters and a pair of suede boots that I was happy to see again after being tucked away all summer. And even though I’m not a fan of cold weather, nothing is as beautiful as that first blanket of snow sparkling across the landscape.
I must also admit that I’ve become accustom to not wearing shoes or socks, at any time, or the weather being chilly enough to wear a shirt that has actual sleeves. I love waking every morning to a Caribbean sunrise peeking through the lush jungle foliage, while listening to birds singing their morning song through the always open balcony doors and windows. Well, I’d rather the roosters didn’t join in, but you can’t have everything.
Sounds like I’m bragging again, doesn’t it? Really my intentions are pure. The reason for this story is to entice YOU to take a break from those things that will elude you this winter and come on down to Roatan!
It will soon be that time again when getting to Roatan from Canada (well, Toronto and Montreal) is easier and cheaper than any other time of the year.
Starting Dec 13 until May 2 Sunwing offers a direct flight every Monday to Roatan from Toronto, and Dec 20 until Feb 28 to Roatan from Montreal.
The rest of the year requires no less than one connection when flying to Roatan from either of these locations.
The price is pretty good too!
If you opt for the flight only option it is almost half the price of flying to Roatan with commercial carriers. And the extra savings can be huge if you take the chance and wait to book. Last year, the week leading up to each flight—every 24 hrs closer to the date of travel the price dropped $100. Now, I have no way of knowing this will be the case this year, and all-inclusive packages don’t drop that drastic.
All-inclusive offers a few choices for accommodations, but there is some confusion too.
If you sign up for all-inclusive “Roatan Roulette” you will be booked at one of the following resorts:
• Paradise Beach Club
• Las Sirenas
• Henry Morgan
• Mayan Princess
The roulette is that you don’t get to choose and you don’t know which one you’ll be staying at until a few days before your trip, but you save some money.
If you’d rather know for sure which resort you will be staying at you do have the option to choose. This is where the confusion comes into the picture. In addition to the resorts listed above, for this option two more are available:
• Turquoise Bay
• Media Luna
While Turquoise Bay is known, nobody has heard of Media Luna. I looked into it and apparently it was scheduled to open in-time for last year’s charter season…but it didn’t. The scheduled open date is now October 31, 2010.
All the other resorts have websites you can check out with details of what they offer. As for Media Luna, it sounds great, but I have no idea if it will be open or how accurate the information (so far) is.
Originally from Ontario, Canada, Genny Ross-Barons moved to Roatan, Honduras in 2007 where she shares a cabana with her husband and island dog Mona in Sandy Bay, Roatan.
She spends her day-to-day life and ‘positive initiatives’ on Roatan, sharing untold stories through her blog ‘Life & Writing, on Roatan’
