To our friends that will be staying in the Casa Rara, we consider you like family because you are staying in our home away from home. We only wish that we were there to join you. Here are a few tips that will help you prepare for your trip.

Good things to pack with you (aka things you might not want to live without):

• Passports: Make sure your passport is good for 6 months after your date of entry because otherwise you can be refused entry. If you stay on the island or more than 30 days you must get an extension on your visa, which can be purchased in the municipality for about $30. The fine is about $70 if you don’t obtain the extension and immigration will catch you and assess the fine when you are leaving the country.
   

• Quality Honduran textiles

  Money: This is probably the trickiest item. The easiest form of payment is cash. Travelers cheques, particularly those in large denominations, may require a trip to Coxen Hole to change. Island businesses accept US Dollars or Honduran Lempiras equally. Be sure to carry smaller US bills as sometimes even a mere $20 can be hard to change for small businesses.
  
  Gone are the days when you lived in search of a money changer. There are two convenient and reasonable ATMs in West End; however, oftentimes they are out of money or down for some reason. Make sure you have at least 2 ATM cards with PINs so that you have a back up. There is a maximum of L3,000 per day that you can get from the ATM, so don't wait till the end of your trip to try to get a lot of money. You can get cash advances off your credit card without a PIN by standing in line at the bank and paying the associated fee. Make sure you keep your cash well out of sight (under your clothes) or hidden in the house. The bedroom door has a key in it that you may take when out of the house.
  
  Very Important!!! Be sure to set aside $35/person for the exit tax payable at the airport on exit. There is an ATM at the airport that has saved us many a time.
   
• Bug Spray: You can buy Deep Woods Off and other herbal sprays on the island. For those of you who want to bring repellant along, there are a variety of repellants that are well worth the effort. I use Avon Skin So Soft oil mixed with baby oil and Deep Woods Off . The "no-seeums" really hate greasy stuff so, you may want to slather on Vaseline or udder cream if going to West Bay. I have also heard that Bert’s Bee’s Lemon Grass Insect Oil works well. Additionally, it is a good idea to have a light long sleeve shirt and sarong to wear in West Bay.
   

Crazy monkeys!

• Sun Screen: Use the one of your choice but remember to apply frequently. Sun screen is readily available on the island but it is more expensive.
   
• Malaria Prophylaxis: You may want to see a doctor before coming and get on malaria prevention. Usually this is a once a week pill that you can start the week before travel.
   
• Medication: something for pain, itch, diarrhea and sour stomach. I recommend bringing hydrocortisone cream or diphenhydramine cream for bites. You can get medications at the grocery in West End, but you may need to have something right when you arrive or at night when stores are closed. You can stock up on your favorite prescriptions while in Roatan. Antibiotics and other controlled medications are easy to buy on the island without a prescription, but these must be purchased in a major pharmacy in Coxen Hole or French Harbor.
   
• Flashlight: We leave flashlights in the house but find that the sea air quickly corrodes them. It is useful to bring a table lantern as well, as power outages can be frequent.
   
• Snorkle Gear or Swim Goggles: The house has one set of adult snorkel gear and you can rent gear in many places. If you want your own gear, it is best to bring it with you.
   
• Cereal or Other Foods: If you have foods of a certain brand that you like to eat, you may want to bring them. You can get American foods at Eldon’s in French Harbor or Warren’s in Coxen Hole, but they are almost twice the price as in the States. Warren’s will also change money for you and cash big traveler’s cheques. I like to bring cereals, snack foods and coffee. It is also a good idea to bring any essential ingredients for cooking your favorite dishes, especially rare spices and items that are preserved.
   

Relaxing in Half Moon Bay

• A Portable DVD Player or Laptop: Down the hill in West End are a few places to rent DVDs. You can use computers at any internet café or you can bring your own laptop and plug into their high speed connection. Wireless signals are virtually unavailable. The Casa doesn’t have an internet connection or cable. Electric items are compatible with US items. Roatan suplies 120 volts at 60 cycles just like the US. Protect your electronics because there are frequent power sags and surges as well as outages.
   
• An MP3 Player: We have a stereo in the house that will play your MP3 files via its USB port. The stereo is on a shelf in the dining room and has speakers to the patio. There is a small MP3 player with some nice island music that we have left for your listening enjoyment. The CD player on the stereo does not work.
   
• Phone: Your personal cell phone will most likely not work, or it will be very expensive. You may opt to rent the cell phone that belongs to the house from Tanja at $20/week plus $30 deposit. You can receive and make calls on this phone. The number is 9989-2926. From the States dial 011-504-9989-2926. The phone is on a rechargeable Tigo card; additional minutes can be purchased in West End.
   
• Towels and Sheets: The house is well stocked with both, but you may want to bring beach towels and/or sarongs.
   
• Laundry soap: There is a washer at the house. If you use a particular soap, you might want to bring it.
   
• Chairs: We have left four folding camp chairs at the house, but you may want to bring your own. These fit easily into large duffle bags which we purchased at Academy Sports for travel to the island. Chairs are always nice to have at the beach.
   

Other common questions:

Should we rent a car?
If you have young children or difficulty walking a hill or difficulty with the heat, you may want to rent a car. We oftentimes do rent a car on Expedia at about $200/week. The insurance is very expensive. Be sure if you don’t purchase insurance to leave the car in perfect condition. Drive very gently in Roatan, as there are lots of crazy drivers, potholes and people in the narrow streets. You can get a driver for about $50/day or you can rent cars and scooters in West End on a daily basis for island sight seeing.

How many people does the house really sleep?
There are two queen beds in the main house. One of these beds is in the great room so it is not very private, while the other bed is in the bedroom. There are two foam mattresses for floor sleepers, which are great for kids. The tower bedroom has a king size bed with a window A/C unit and a private bath. With all beds and floor mattresses the house comfortably sleeps eight.

Beautiful white sand beaches

How far is it to the beach?
Although you can see the ocean from the tower, it takes a five-minute walk down the hill to get to the water. This area is not the nicest beach, but it is swimmable. You can grab a water taxi for $3 to Westbay, or walk another 10 minutes to a nicer beach. The walk back up the hill to the house is a little harder, especially if carrying children or groceries.

When is the rainy season? Which is the nicest month?
Islanders say the nicest month is October, when tourism is down and the rains have not yet begun. The rainy season in Roatan is not like the Indian monsoons where it rains nonstop for days; rather, it typically only rains hard for 15-20 minutes before the sun comes out. Hurricane season is June to November, but peak months for hurricanes are August to October when water is warmest. Fortunately, Honduras is not in the main path of the hurricanes (they typically turn north to the United States and Mexico-- except for Hurricane Mitch). The Caribbean rainy season runs approximately from mid-November to February.

How much do things cost on the island?
Typical lunch is about $5 (not seafood) Street food (baliadas, enchiladas etc) are $1-2. Soft drinks are $.75. Honduran products are half the price of American. Honduran beer is $1.50. Most Dive shops charge $30-35/dive. DVD rental is $2.50. Dinner at a nice restaurant is $20. Tours and glass bottom boat are $15-20. Collective Taxis are about $2/per person. Individual Taxis are about $15-$20. Scooter rental is $25-$30.

How safe is the Island?
It is safer than most US vacation destinations; however, follow simple safety practices. The most common crimes are simple, petty theft. Be careful not to leave any valuables in sight. Do not wear fine jewelry. Do not flash a lot of cash. Women should go out with another person. Women should not walk on the beach alone at night. If someone appears like they are acting strange to you, they are probably not totally honest. Always ask the cost of a taxi prior to going anywhere not after arrival.

How can I prevent getting sick?
Many visitors experience food borne illness. Don’t eat anything raw that hasn’t been peeled. Even salads at nice places can be contaminated with tap water. Do not eat any raw seafood or undercooked meat. Don’t eat any seafood that smells strong or fishy. Drink bottled drinks out of the bottle not from a glass which may have a little water in it. Make sure you brush your teeth with purified water (supplied at the house) and not tap water. Bring chewable Pepto Bismol and take two tablets morning and evening. It is a good preventive.

Have a fantastic time on Roatan! In spite of all these little details, you won’t have to worry about wearing shoes, putting on make-up, ironing or doing a lot of housework. Enjoy the tradewinds, the sun, the sunset from the tower, the hammock and the freedom of island living. We will be thinking of you!

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