My brother goes there for scuba diving. The one thing you may want to consider is taking anti-malarial pills before going. My brother didn't and one one of his trips he contracted a nasty case of malaria. He was quite sick for a number of weeks.

tom42 - Can you tell us when this was and where your brother was staying?

This was 3 years ago. They were staying at an all-inclusive. I want to say it was Anthony's Key Resort but I am not 100% positive. I don't know the prevalence of malaria in that area or if my brother was just extremely unlucky but something to think about.

Thanks.

Hello,
My husband and I took our first trip to Roatan last November. It was amazing! We love to snorkel. We decided upon staying in West Bay. It was perfect! We stayed in West Bay Village in Casa Martin. You really can't get better than that. Snorkeling out in front of the house was amazing! We also took a day trip to Cayos Cachinos that was so fun. We did so many things in the short week we were there and made so many friends. It is a wonderful place to visit and safe if you use common sense:) We took the anti-malaria meds, just a fyi. And best of all we are currently planning our return trip this fall. My anniversary gift:) Ya me! I know that we only plan on staying in West Bay again. I hope you fall in love as we did!

toofunnie - how much did it cost to go to Cayos Cachinos? We are avid snorkelers and would like to explore the different places around the island to snorkel. Did you rent a car?

My sister and boyfriend has traveled to Roatan several times and never had a problem with crime.

Just talked to someone who just got back from Roatan. (They loved it). But i see that the US State Deoartment has a travel warning about Honduras. So that warning isnt valid?

It isn't that simple. Travel warnings are usually for entire countries, the state dept can't be so specific as to individual places that much. Or sometimes you have to dig deeper to see the specifics regarding a country and assess your comfort level. For example, I just went to Mexico City and found detailed warnings about each state in Mexico, as there are definitely warnings for some of them but not others. I imagine it's the same for Honduras but you may not find as detailed info. Even in Mexico City, the dangerous areas (as for many cities) are certain bad neighborhoods (mainly to the east there), not usually the historic center where tourists are.

The warnings are not based on nothing, surely you have heard in all the to-do about the immigrant children that Honduras is one of the most dangerous areas in the world, and that is why they want out. I"m sure living there in certain neighborhoods is different form going on a snorkeling vacation.

HEre is the detailed warning, it talks about Roatan in a couple places specifically http://travel.state.gov/content/pass...l-warning.html

I have travelled to Roatan in January 212 and January 2013 with my family including my 5 and 6 year old daughters. We have never felt like we were in danger although we did notice a more heavily presence of armed security guards on the beach our last trip.
I will admit, reading some of the latest incidents involving armed robberies of families travelling in cars on beach access roads since Jan 2014 is a little unsettling when we travel with our girls.
We rented a car and stayed just beside Gumbalimba park right on the outskirt of West Bay Beach. We travelled often for groceries to either West End or back towards the airport and have never had a problem.
We have travelled to almost all of the Caribbean islands and Roatan is by far my favourite destination because of the snorkelling. The offshore snorkeling in pristine right out from the house we rent beside Las Rocas dive shop. I can swim out to it as many times as I want every day and love it! To see coral and fishlife like this in most other islands, you would have to pay $25-$65 just to get there and swim for an hour.
Use common sense, if there are still similar reports, stick to the West Bay Beach Area.

Roatan & the Bay Is in general are totally different from mainland Honduras. I felt very safe there, & we were 2 women alone. I even walked the beach at night alone several times. We stayed on West Bay. As far as malaria - anthony's key, if that is where they stayed, is rather rustic & some of the villas are in the rainforest & do not have AC. It's quite different from most of the other modern condos, etc.

Roatan is very safe and beautiful. Also easy to get too.