TJ's BuyRoatan.com Blog

Roatan's Good Friday 2012 Celebration… the Busiest Day of the Year!

Well.. it's here again.. or should I say "hear" again... cause the sites and SOUNDS of Semana Sante 2012 are once again AMAZING!!  If you've experienced it.. you'll know what I'm talking about... if you haven't... watch this!

 

Hot N Sunny on Roatan These Days…. Come on Down!

If you've been waiting for the weather to change... wait no more!! It's amazing here right now... and getting hotter every day!

 

A Night Out for Only $20? Yes You Can!!

The great thing about Roatan is that it's not been "discovered" like so many of the other touristy Caribbean islands.  It's still relatively inexpensive here to buy property, vacation and live.  I mean, where else in the tropics can you go out and have a nice evening, complete with dinner and drinks, for twenty bucks?  Check out Roatan's West End... tons of food establishments, tiki bars and more!!

 

Karma Jewelers - The FINEST in Hand-Crafted Silver Gems on West Bay Beach!

For more than 10 years now, Karla and Marco have been hand-crafting the finest jewelry I've seen, and selling it on West Bay Beach!  They have a little stand set up in front of Emerald Beach - next to the Henry Morgan Resort and are the busiest shop on the island!  They use only the purest silver, precious gems and unique designs that you'll not find anywhere else!  Well worth the trip to see.. and buy! Check them out here... Jewelers Extraordinaire!! 

 

Roatan Sunsets… You Just can't Find 'em Anywhere Else!

This time of year is one of my favs... and the sunsets are spectacular!!  The rains have almost stopped for the season... and the sun is out!  Take a look at this from West Bay Beach...

 

TJ's New Real Estate Company… Serving Buyers who Expect the Best!

For the past 15 years I've been setting the standard for Real Estate on Roatan!  As a founding member of the Roatan Realtors Association, I helped developed the MLS system, Code of Ethics, and pioneered the sharing of listings between the island's REALTORS!  I believe that cooperation between agents is paramount to better customer service AND satisfaction!  As a licenced agent for more than 22 years, I've sold more properties than anyone on  Roatan and even ranked the #6 Agent in the world by RE/MAX International a few years ago!!  As a Buyer's agent, my job is to use my experience here to guide you through the jungle and make sure your experience is as painless, smooth and enjoyable as possible!

 

Takin' a Ride on a REAL Pirate Ship!! - Only on Roatan!

Built in the same shipyard in La Ceiba as the ORIGINAL Black Pearl... THIS replica is available for tours, shows, weddings and the fun of the open seas!!  WOW!! This is a really cool trip.. complete with stuntmen, sword-fighting and of course... plenty of Grog!! (and it's for sale if you want to change your life...for the better!!)

 

West End Gets NEW Sewage System… and the Road?

Finally, they're doing something about all the crazy misfit septic wannabe systems in the West End.  They've hired a company to build a sewage treatment plant (eco-friendly I might add) and another company to actually install the sewer pipes to bring the sludge to the plant.  The best place to do this so that all homes and businesses can tie in?  West End Road.  And tonight, we will see the progress after many weeks of construction, which, by the way has been brutal (business-wise) on the local merchants there....

 

The No. 1 Reason People Come to Roatan...

Buying real estate, diving, the warm waters, friendly locals - these are all reasons for peeps to blow their wad and vacation (or move) to Roatan!  But the truth is... there's a bigger reason.... and here it is! 

 

Ok… so the Sun IS Shining on Roatan After all!!

I KNEW it was there... and today is a good day for a tan... or a beach walk... or a fishing trip... or a zip line adventure... or a snorkel.... or a swim with the dolphins... you name it... the climate is perfect!!

 

Roatan's Unusual February Weather….

Since our rainy season began earlier this year (October) it is certainly not normal for it to still be raining this far into the new year.  Usually, we're seeing drier times about now... but not this year!  Hmm.... must be that darned Obama again!!!

 

Can I Bring Foods in My Luggage into Honduras?

This is a question often asked.... "Can I bring meats with me in my luggage?"  Honduran agriculture laws are strict, but loosely enforced at times... nonetheless, you need to know this before you go...

 

TJ's 2011 Roatan Real Estate Review & 2012 Predictions!

For many, 2011 was a banner year... and for Roatan, just bouncing back from the country's 2009 abrupt changes in Government, it was indeed an important year as well!!  Real Estate sales were brisk, mainly due to a US stuggling economy - with many who do have money looking for investment outside the country.  2012 is already showing strong signs of more development, more sales and more tourists travelling to our little paradise in the Carbibbean!  Here's my predictions...

 

January on Roatan - Not too Hot.. Not too Cloudy...

In fact, it's JUST RIGHT! for those of us who live here.  Sure, there's a few rainy stints, some overcast skies, but that warm sun still shows up everyday!!  Take a look for yourself...

 

Driving on Roatan… Kinda Like a Video Game!

I've said it before and I'll keep saying it... there's more people killed by traffic accidents than anything else here on Roatan!! Well.. maybe it's true and maybe it isn't... but if anyone can get a license if they pay the $10 fee... no test, no qualifications.... then there's not a lot of hope for common sense on the roads...

 

Drink Your Water People!!!

After witnessing a tourist fall face down in the sand the other day and then finding out it was as a result of dehydration, I thought it necessary to include this video for those of you coming down to Paradise! Roatan is hotter and more humid than you think... so listen up!

 

Cooler Temps and Overcast Skies.. Chillin' in the Caribbean!

January usually brings cooler temps and less direct sunshine to Roatan and this month we're experiencing temperatures in the 70's and low 80's for sure.  At night, it drops to the low 70's and that makes dressing up and going out... that much more bearable!!  But that doen't mean the beaches are any less inhabited... tons of fun going on every day!!

 

Recycling Begins on Roatan!!

Who'd a thunk?  In a country where even the police throw trash out the window, there is FINALLY some hope!! Roatan now has recycling bins placed along the roadside throughout the island.  Now, the next step is to educate the peeps on how to use them... 

 

Roatan's Potholes Could Swallow You Up!!

If you've ever driven on Roatan's road system... if that is even the best name for it... you'll come to realize that it's about dodging, stopping suddenly, driving in the oncoming traffic lane, and unavoidably hitting a LOT OF POTHOLES.... today... I tell you why!

 

TJ's Favorite 2011 Roatan Moments...

I got to tell you.... living on Roatan is far from boring.... mundane or anything you may believe stuck on a big rock in the middle of the ocean is cracked up to be.  Between the thousands of ever-changing tourists -- to the amazing, quirky misfit residents who call Roatan home, there is always something to look at, admire, laugh to, buy, repair, build and stare at here!  Here's a few of my memories from this past year... enjoy!

 

Roatan's World Famous Beach - West Bay!

If you like soft velvet sand between your toes... if you like clear shallow, calm and warm water.... if you like fun activities at your fingertips... then you'll LOVE West Bay Beach!  There's ONLY one on Roatan.. beach that is... that is anything short of spectacular... and this is it!  Usually dead calm.. sometimes this time of year brings in some waves.. which all adds to the fun!!

 

Roatan Offers a lot of Choices in Building Materials

If you're building a home on Roatan, or maybe just fixing up something you bought here, there are a lot of inexpensive touches you can do to "personalize" your place.  Today, I'm going to show you a few ideas that may help you make some choices... and the tradespeople in Honduras ROCK!!!! They can do almost anything... and at $30/day, you won't find a better deal anywhere!!

 

What's That Smell in my Hotel Room?

Coming to Roatan?  Get used to the humidity.. and what it does to rooms.. HOTEL rooms!!  Anywhere in the tropics, not just Roatan, you have to be aware that stale, humid air causes funky smells.... and our island is no exception.  But have no fear... relief is here!!!

 

Love the Beach? Stay on Roatan's West Side...

Hotels are filling up now for Christmas.. so if you want to be on the beach.. you'd better book sooner than later... and West Bay IS THE PLACE to be if you like beaches!

 

Cruise Ship Season Begins - Important for Roatan!

From the moment you land on this beautiful island you'll see the vast sea of smiling faces -both locals and imports- and one can't help but wonder what is going on inside their minds.  Is it just the Caribbean island lifestyle that is so amazing?  Roatan's amazing sunshine and warm water?  I tend to think it's two-fold... 1) the tourists are smiling because of the GREAT value they're recieving for their money spent... and 2) the locals are smiling because they are making money supplying services for the tourists that come to the island. --either way, I know you'll feel it too...

 

Cheap Canadian Flights to Roatan this 2011/2012 Season!

Canadian charter flights have begun again to Roatan! Check out the website and BOOK NOW!!  Or, you can wait until the last minute.. the day before travelling and save even more!!  Check out www.redtag.ca for all the specials from up there.. to down here!!

 

Cold Enough to Wear a Shirt? Really?

There are certainly times throughout the year here.. especially during the rainy season.. that the temps drop down in the 70's here.. and even the 60's!!!---if you can believe that?  Right now, it's in the mid 70's and it does seem cold actually.  So much so that I'm having to wear a shirt these days...

 

Roatan's Crappy Fuel Can Ruin Your Car!!

I'm not exactly sure why or how, but some of the worst, dirtiest, lowest octane gasoline and diesel is sold right here on Roatan!!  And that can cost you $$thousands in repair bills if you're not savy to the tricks of the trade.  I'll tell you more....

 

Cooler Days in November and Less Rain...

November is typically the start of the rainy season here on Roatan.. but with most of it coming early in October this year, we're really only experiencing temps in the low 80's and high 70's at night.  A few showers here and there, but the sun certainly is not letting us down neither... time to book for Christmas!!!!

 

Dog-Gone Happy on Roatan!

If it's a sunny day and life is good.. you're probably on Roatan!  Even the animals are appreciative of the sun this time of year!!