Question Hi there. We have reservations to fly into San Pedro Sula airport, arriving in the pm. Where can you recommend we stay, where we can have transportation waiting for us, and it will be safe. MY husband and I will be traveling with our 3 young kids,making our way to Roatan the following morning, by a Hedman Alas bus, which we have tickets booked on. I am getting anxious as we have nothing set up yet as far as a place to stay and it appears travel from airport can be unsafe? What are the current ferry times to Roatan? Thanks so much for any advice...
Answer Kerry,
I hope you have fun in Roatan. It is beautiful.
I am going to recommend that you change your travel plans if possible. Instead of taking a bus to La Ceiba and then taking the ferry, you should fly from San Pedro Sula to Roatan (or look at just booking your flight straight to Roatan which me cheaper than buying the pieces seperately. Have you looked at the flights? It would probably cost a little more, but it would be MUCH safer and much more convenient. Taking the bus in Honduras is not fun and the safety is questionable. It is not uncommon for the buses to be pulled over by gunmen and the people on them robbed or worse. There are often no bathrooms on the buses. If you do stay with the bus, make sure you pay the extra for the express luxury bus. That is your best bet for getting there safely.
The other part to worry about it the ferry. If there weather isn't good you could be stuck in La Ceiba until it is safe to make the crossing. There are definitely days when it does not make the crossing.
I would highly recommend trying to take the plane over to Roatan. I know TACA offers flights and there might be another local airline that does as well. And think of the extra time you would have to spend in Roatan in instead of traveling with three small kids.
As for the hotel in San Pedro Sula, it depends on how much you are looking to spend. If money is not an issue I would recommend the Intercontinental or the Crowne Plaza for about $150 a night. If you are looking to spend less, let me know and I will see what I can dig up. I would also arrange transportation from the airport to the hotel through the hotel. They will definitely arrange the transfer - it may be included in the room price even. You can take a taxi, but unless you speak Spanish it can be an unpleasant experience when you walk out of the airport and 50 taxi drivers ask you all at once if you need a ride. And then you get to negotiate the price with them -- they will usually try to over charge you.
I don't know the ferry times. Sorry.
I am not trying to scare you from going. It isn't like traveling in Europe or somewhere else though. You do need to think about safety. Sometimes saving a little money is definitely not worth the added risk and that is especially true in Honduras.
Let me know if you have other questions and I hope you enjoy your trip. Where are you staying in Roatan?
