The Inn Of Last Resort is a dedicated dive resort located on a private peninsula on the island of Roatan, 30 miles off the coast of Honduras offering great diving, delicious food and lots of personal attention. 30 large, air-conditioned rooms with private hot-water showers and a tastefully understated decor await you in this wonderful resort. You will be amazed at the workmanship evident in all of the buildings - beautiful wooden designs completed with obvious care and attention to detail. http://www.caribbeanmag.com/search/hotels/Bay_Islands/innoflastresort/hotel/132/6/ en-us Copyright 1998 e-TravelMedia.com/CaribbeanMag.com Thu, 16 Oct 2008 00:16:23 EST From the moment you begin the assent up the road leading to The Inn of Last Resort, you will recognize that this vacation will be unlike any other you have taken. As the vehicle you ride in climbs through the trees and hills, past the cows and calves (and, occasionally, through the cows and calves), and approaches the tree-lined gate and road into the resort, you can feel your other life receding and the peace and tranquility of Island life taking control. Entering the resort's courtyard, the first thing you notice is that all of the buildings appear to have trees growing out of their stairs and roofs. The Inn's builders took great steps to ensure that the natural beauty of the area remained intact -- even if that entailed building a staircase around a huge old tree. Each room has a queen size bed, two twin beds in a corner seating arrangement to provide extra sleeping space, and ceiling fans above each bed. Screened and easily opened picture windows capture the splendid vistas and offer comfortable cross ventilation for guests who prefer ceiling fans to air conditioning. The gentle sea breezes which fill the courtyard invite you to nap in a hammock or stretch out with a good book on the spacious porches. The enchanting lodge restaurant at the water's edge serves a healthy, delicious menu for all three meals. Sunrise or sunset, the scene is spectacular! Enjoy the wonderful wood workmanship and friendly service as you relax after a full day of diving or snorkeling. We have a lovely restaurant with waiter service, no buffets. Breakfast is open menu with a variety of items to choose from, lunch and dinner are fixed menu. Dinner includes soup, salad, entree, and dessert. Samples of our entrees; chicken salten boca, beef stroganoff, seafood imperial, grouper tampenqueno, roast pork, and many others. If you have special dietary needs, such as no red meat, or vegetarian, we adjust the meals for you accordingly. From 6 - 7 pm, our bar offers free appetizers. The bar/lounge is a cozy nook for a leisurely drink or board games. You'll find souvenirs and necessities in the gift shop. As an added touch of utter luxury, let our certified massage therapist ease away stress and cares. AMENITIES: Nestled among the towering trees on a hill overlooking the ocean, 30 large, air-conditioned rooms with private hot-water showers and a tastefully understated decor await you in this wonderful resort. You will be amazed at the workmanship evident in all of the buildings -- beautiful wooden designs completed with obvious care and attention to detail. Unlike many wooden structures on the Island, The Inn of Last Resort's buildings are solidly constructed and carefully sealed to keep nature out and your privacy intact. The spacious rooms provide plenty of area to unpack and stretch out. Modern bathrooms, ceiling fans, and powerful air conditioners make your room a haven of relaxation and comfort. ACTIVITIES: - Snorkel or dive with Dolphins - Tour an original fishing village - Cruise the mangrove canals in a kayuka - Visit Marble Hill Farms to buy original batik or homemade tropical condiments - Dance with the Garifunas (we'll explain when you arrive) - Explore the Island Institute of Marine Sciences - Hike and picnic on the neighboring island of Barbaretta We often receive inquiries as to what activities are available in Roatan, and specifically for guests at The Inn of Last Resort. Below is a list of possibilities for divers and nondivers: 1. 3 dives a day for the divers. Snorkelers are welcome to go on the boat snorkeling, swimming and sunbathing. Free use of snorkel gear for our guests that are on a vacation or dive package of 5 days or more. 2. Here at the resort there are hammocks, a small library, a game room with bumper pool and board games and a large screen TV with satellite dish programs. 3. Fishing charters can be arranged with a local guide for a couple hours of early morning trolling. Gear is included. 4. We have a boat available for shuttle service to West Bay Beach for a minimal fee. The boat schedule is subject to change, and of course depends on the weather, but goes at least once in the morning and once in the afternoon, and sign up in advance is required. There is great snorkeling there at West Bay. 5. A car shuttle to West End is available for $1 per person, at 9am and 1pm, advance sign up required. This shuttle is also available for guests that want to go see the dolphins or go to Carambola Botanical Gardens. 6. At a nearby resort, the dolphin encounter is available with advance reservations. To swim with the dolphins is $75 and to dive with them is $100. There is also a dolphin show and an island museum there. 7. Car rentals are available for $48 to $65 a day. Usually a day is enough time to take the car and see the other end of the island. The scenery is spectacular on the drive towards the east end of the island. At Oakridge you can take a tour of the mangroves on a local water taxi. Past Oakridge is Punta Gorda where the Garifina dancers live and often come out of their homes to dance for you. Further on is Marble Hills Farm, where you can stop and see Lisa and Brian and how they make jelly from all the different fruits available on the island. 8. If you rented a car (24 hours), you may want to go out to a restaurant one night, since the taxi fares are fairly expensive at night. There is Tres Flores, a Mexican restaurant on the top of a hill, for margaritas and fantastic sunsets, or Gio's in French Harbor, well known for it's crab dinners and other seafood. At nearby West End there is Half Moon Bay Restaurant, be prepared to have a few drinks while you wait for dinner, and the Coconut Tree restaurant with a Chef from England, Pura Vida, Brick Oven Pizza, Fosters, and Eagle Ray. So you have quite a few nice restaurants to choose from. 9. There are white water rafting trips available on the mainland that only take a day. Your flight leaves at 8am, the rafting company picks you up at the airport in La Ceiba, gives you instruction, takes you rafting, feeds you lunch, finish up the rafting and take you back to the airport, and you are back on Roatan at 4:15. 10.Trips to Copan are available, but this should be planned in advance for the beginning or end of your trip to Roatan, to make the most of your airline tickets that you have already purchased. 11. At the resort, there is a 2 seat kayak available at no charge, although the cost of a lost kayak paddle is $50. 12. Bicycle rentals are also available at the resort, $9 for a day. Though there are a few prices listed in the above items, for most of them we did not mention the price, as things are always subject to change here in the islands. DINING/RESTARUANTS: The enchanting lodge restaurant at the water's edge serves a healthy, delicious menu for all three meals. Sunrise or sunset, the scene is spectacular! Enjoy the wonderful wood workmanship and friendly service as you relax after a full day of diving or snorkeling. We have a lovely restaurant with waiter service, no buffets. Breakfast is open menu with a variety of items to choose from, lunch and dinner are fixed menu. Dinner includes soup, salad, entree, and dessert. Samples of our entrees; chicken salten boca, beef stroganoff, seafood imperial, grouper tampenqueno, roast pork, and many others. If you have special dietary needs, such as no red meat, or vegetarian, we adjust the meals for you accordingly. From 6 - 7 pm, our bar offers free appetizers. The bar/lounge is a cozy nook for a leisurely drink or board games. You'll find souvenirs and necessities in the gift shop. As an added touch of utter luxury, let our certified massage therapist ease away stress and cares. The bar prices are very reasonable; juices and sodas $1, beer $1.50, mixed drinks (well) $3.00, frozen drinks $3.50, Call drinks such as Black Label, Drambuie, Cognac $5. There are some specialty drinks such as mudslides, monkey la las, that are $6 and up. Type: Resort No. of Rooms: 30 Diving: Dive Resort/Dive Operator Beach Location: Beach Front (Directly on Beach/Water Front) http://www.caribbeanmag.com/search/hotels/Bay_Islands/innoflastresort/hotel/132/6/ Thu, 16 Oct 2008 00:16:23 EST