LOST, Can't decide on excursion, Help!!!!!

[Magum]

Help! We can't decide on our excursion. We are a group of 10 from 4 yrs to 50! Love the beach, water activities and snorkelling! Would prefer to stay a little away from the crowds. Arriving Jan 1 2013 on Norwegian. Need some advice! :confused: Can anyone make some suggestions!

[Dalton51]

Help! We can't decide on our excursion. We are a group of 10 from 4 yrs to 50! Love the beach, water activities and snorkelling! Would prefer to stay a little away from the crowds. Arriving Jan 1 2013 on Norwegian. Need some advice! :confused: Can anyone make some suggestions!

 

Little French Key hands down I wouldn't even look anymore. If u email them, they might be able to help on the price sence it is 10 of Yall. Well worth the money in my mind.

[#1TravelMom]

Schedule a "freestyle tour" with Ronystours dot com. He is great - we've used him many times. You can tour the island, play with monkeys, zipline, snorkel, visit a breathtaking beach - all at your own pace. We really like South Shore zipline. Rony will drop some off there and take the rest to the beach. He will pick up those who zip and take them to meet the rest at the beach. Very convenient for a group with a variety of ages. Rony will make sure you have a great day. He can also make suggestions as your day goes on. His prices are comparable with a taxi ride to the beach and you get so much more!

[zounds]

I'll second what Travelmom wrote, as we used Rony 2 yrs. ago and had a great day shopping, zipping, visiting an orphanage, lunch, etc. Driver spoke good English and the price was right. steve

[Guest 2000]

The request I see is "Love the beach, water activities and snorkeling'"

 

One needs to take a boat out to the reef at Little French Key, and being it is on the wind ward side of the island there may be some issue with current both in the water and from the wind pushing waves against the island. I agree the area may be less crowded.

 

 

West Bay Beach is on the lee ward side of the island, it is generally bath tub calm. The easy access to reef snorkeling is steps from your lounger at Tabyana along with plenty of shallow sandy bottom water for the very young. There are water toys and activities. The sad news is.... West Bay is the most popular beach due to the very things you request.

 

I believe one need make a choice, easy access to all the things they seek or less crowd.

 

A tour with a driver of any kind would be a waste, being you seek beach, snorkeling and water activities.

[texancruzer]

I agree with Guest....... on all points.

 

But I will say, West Bay Beach is one of the prettiest beaches I have been to and I have been to ALOT !!!! We are divers (but snorkel sometimes too) and the reef there is not only healthy, diverse and gorgeous but it is right off the beach. Even the young ones can snorkel the inner reef and the more experienced can go out further. And, because of those things, this is where many people head for a beach day. But the beach is a tad over a mile long and room for everyone as long as you don't expect a large expanse all for yourself :roll eyes:

 

There are lots of little restaurants/bars (open kind) all along for meals, snacks, drinks and even ice cream for the little ones. You can rent a chair for $5.00 and if you eat somewhere and buy drinks you are welcome to use the restrooms etc.

 

Some will say buy a day pass or excursion to a resort there, but it really isn't necessary and in my opinion ties you down to one section of the beach. All of the beach is open to the public but you must use a public beach ACCESS. There is one right next to Bananarama so very convenient.

[#1TravelMom]

But, considering Ronys Freestyle tour costs the same or often much less than an excursion or just transportation straight to a beach - it makes more sense to use him and have flexiblity to stop where you like. Sometimes on the way to a beach or sight, you may see something you'd like to photograph. Even though they are interested in snorkeling, they may enjoy a quick stop to see the monkeys. Going with Rony just is more practical.

[eandj]

If the OP uses cruisett.com and finds out how many ships will be in port on the same day, that will give them an idea too how crowded things will be.

 

I agree...spend the day at West Bay. Maybe sign up for the "private driver" if the ride and stops are reasonably priced. Certainly will be less than a cruise ship "Excursion" to Tabyana.:rolleyes:

[ottasha]

Little French Key hands down I wouldn't even look anymore. If u email them, they might be able to help on the price sence it is 10 of Yall. Well worth the money in my mind.

 

FYI - we are a group going in December and just contacted them. There prices have went significantly up. Granted it looks absolutely beautiful but seems a little steep for our group. Here's a copy of email from them to me:

 

Kids under 11 are at 50% discount.

 

I) Super Fun Day Package $188 per person:

Includes

1) One Tank guided Reef Scuba Dive for certified divers

2) Zip-line through the Roatan Jungle Canopy

3) Entrance and comfortable boat ride to Little French Key Private Island

Resort

4) Great and Delicious Fresh Island Style Lunch served on the private

Island, which includes Brochettes of Fillet Mengion, Lobster, Shrimp,

marinated chicken

breast, fresh home made Yucca chips, fresh home made salsa, rice and bean

and all

drinks of choice (all you can eat and drink)

5) Use of all our facilities and equipment, motorized and non motorized,

Jet Skies,

Banana Boats, Kayaks, water beds, water chairs, chase lounges, etc...

6) Tour of our Private Zoo with guide, friendly and tame Monkeys, Macaws

and Parrots

7) Round Trip Transportation to and from our facilities

 

II) Fun Day Package $148 Per person:

Includes,

1) Your Choice Zip-line through the Roatan Jungle Canopy or a one tank

scuba dive

at the second largest Barrier Reef in the world for certified divers

2) And All items 3 through 7 in option (I) above

 

III) Full Island Package $88 per person:

Includes,

1) Entrance and comfortable boat ride to Little French Key Private Island

2) Great and Delicious Fresh Island Style Lunch served on the private

Island, which includes Brochettes of Fillet Mengion, Lobster, Shrimp,

marinated chicken

breast, fresh home made Yucca chips, fresh home made salsa, rice and bean

and two drinks of

choice

3) Use of all our non motorized equipments, Kayaks, water beds, water

chairs, chase lounges, etc...

4) Tour of our Private Zoo with guide, friendly and tame Monkeys, Macaws

and Parrots

5) Round Trip Transportation to and from our facilities

 

IV) Full Island Package PLUS $98 Per person:

Includes,

All of the items included in “ III, Island Package above PLUS a guided

snorkeling Tour of the Adjacent REEF, the second largest in the world, a

truly MUST SEE!!

 

V) Entrance Only and Round Trip Transportation to the Private Island @ $55

Per Person

 

Motorized water activities Jet Ski tour @ $70 per half hour, Banana

Boat tour at $15 per person, guided Reef snorkel tour with boat and

guide @ $20 per person as well water ski, knee board and floater bed

is also available ala carte.

[lovevacadays]

But, considering Ronys Freestyle tour costs the same or often much less than an excursion or just transportation straight to a beach - it makes more sense to use him and have flexiblity to stop where you like. Sometimes on the way to a beach or sight, you may see something you'd like to photograph. Even though they are interested in snorkeling, they may enjoy a quick stop to see the monkeys. Going with Rony just is more practical.

 

I agree. We toured with Victor Bodden's tour company and had so much flexibility. Even if someone just wants to go to the beach and snorkel if they see something along the way they can easily stop as there are no others in your tour group. Plus, you can spend a few minutes chatting with your guide and ask them if there are any places that he/she might suggest stopping prior to getting to the beach. With Victor's company, you can send him an email of what other things you like to do and he will make suggestions.

 

FYI - we are a group going in December and just contacted them. There prices have went significantly up. Granted it looks absolutely beautiful but seems a little steep for our group. Here's a copy of email from them to me:

 

Kids under 11 are at 50% discount.

 

I) Super Fun Day Package $188 per person:

Includes

1) One Tank guided Reef Scuba Dive for certified divers

2) Zip-line through the Roatan Jungle Canopy

3) Entrance and comfortable boat ride to Little French Key Private Island

Resort

4) Great and Delicious Fresh Island Style Lunch served on the private

Island, which includes Brochettes of Fillet Mengion, Lobster, Shrimp,

marinated chicken

breast, fresh home made Yucca chips, fresh home made salsa, rice and bean

and all

drinks of choice (all you can eat and drink)

5) Use of all our facilities and equipment, motorized and non motorized,

Jet Skies,

Banana Boats, Kayaks, water beds, water chairs, chase lounges, etc...

6) Tour of our Private Zoo with guide, friendly and tame Monkeys, Macaws

and Parrots

7) Round Trip Transportation to and from our facilities

 

II) Fun Day Package $148 Per person:

Includes,

1) Your Choice Zip-line through the Roatan Jungle Canopy or a one tank

scuba dive

at the second largest Barrier Reef in the world for certified divers

2) And All items 3 through 7 in option (I) above

 

III) Full Island Package $88 per person:

Includes,

1) Entrance and comfortable boat ride to Little French Key Private Island

2) Great and Delicious Fresh Island Style Lunch served on the private

Island, which includes Brochettes of Fillet Mengion, Lobster, Shrimp,

marinated chicken

breast, fresh home made Yucca chips, fresh home made salsa, rice and bean

and two drinks of

choice

3) Use of all our non motorized equipments, Kayaks, water beds, water

chairs, chase lounges, etc...

4) Tour of our Private Zoo with guide, friendly and tame Monkeys, Macaws

and Parrots

5) Round Trip Transportation to and from our facilities

 

IV) Full Island Package PLUS $98 Per person:

Includes,

All of the items included in “ III, Island Package above PLUS a guided

snorkeling Tour of the Adjacent REEF, the second largest in the world, a

truly MUST SEE!!

 

V) Entrance Only and Round Trip Transportation to the Private Island @ $55

Per Person

 

Motorized water activities Jet Ski tour @ $70 per half hour, Banana

Boat tour at $15 per person, guided Reef snorkel tour with boat and

guide @ $20 per person as well water ski, knee board and floater bed

is also available ala carte.

 

These prices seem steep to me.

 

If you google Victor Bodden's tours, you can send him an email. Tell him what you want to do and he will get you prices for your tour with him and any extras you want to do.

 

Enjoy Roatan. It's beautiful!