STX vs Roatan

Couldn't disagree with you more on your opinion of Stx and Roatan. One thing you didn't include in your analysis is the cost of living. Real Estate on Roatan is less than half the cost of the same on Stx.

Both islands are beautiful with wonderful people. Now that's out of the way: Roatan is has lush green hills from one end to the other. No desert landscapes.

It's the way Stx Croix was 40 years ago, except it has Internet, paved roads and a/c. Roatan has no strip malls or K-Mart. Shopping is better in Stx. Stx has better old architecture. Roatan has better new architecture.

Roatan has a less grand colonial history, mostly pirates. Both islands speak English.

Everything is less expensive on Roatan. Meals run from $5 for breakfast to $15 for dinner with drinks.

You can buy a fine architect designed house with sea view on Roatan for what a small condo costs on Stx with the same view. Building costs are less than $100 per sq. ft. for top end construction. On Roatan almost everything has a fantastic sea view. The island is only 2-3 miles wide.

Infrastructure is better on Stx. More paved roads. But the "old Caribbean" charm of Roatan's sand streets can't be be beat by black asphalt.

It all depends on what you want. But if you want the charm of the old Caribbean plus modern conveniences and with out a tacky commercial element - at half the price - consider Roatan.

I have been to Roatan and have thought it to be a nice place to escape to. Having been there as a tourist on a cruise obvilously has a disadvatage. I didn't see any armed guards at grocery stores nor poverty stricken areas or banks allowing only one person at a time.

Ken, what do you have to say in regard to those issues? Did you see that as well or were you there like me as a tourist for a day?

RL

Ronnie,

I was just in Roatan last week for a week. We felt no less safe than when we used to visit our condo at Villa Madeleine. As for armed guards at grocery stores, didn't see any of it. But, all islands have crime. Roatan is no different.

Banks, however do have lines at peak times. We were struck by how little extreme poverty visible on Roatan compared to other islands. About the same as St. Croix.

The main difference between Stx and Roatan is the "old Caribbean" feel on Roatan. It made much of Stx seem a little like an island version of Florida.

No strip mall commercial boxes on Roatan. Also, the cost of living difference. Roatan is half the cost of Stx for everything from food and house staffing to construction costs and real estate. Maids/cooks and gardeners run about $150 each per month/six day a week. That makes living overhead much lower on Roatan than Stx.

You can build a beautiful high-end architect designed house on Roatan for less than $100 per sq. ft. The same house on Stx would run $250-$300 per sq. ft. Plus the cost of land is much less than Stx. Every place in Roatan has a sea view!

As I said, it's all in what you like.

Ken, did you get off of the main road? The poverty in places like Pollity Bite where exrterme, as were places along the ocean front on the north side. No plumbing, just out houses or dumpimg into the ocean.
As far as land prices, some of them were cheaper, but some were as high.Our friends paid $110K for a .6 acre lot 1/2 mile form the beach, but it does have a nice view.
We saw new condos that started at $179K to the ones at Parrott tree at $240k that you could only use 6 months out of the year, and HAD to let them rent it the rest of the time. These were a small studio type where you would have to lie on the bed to watch tv. The rental you would get money only when the entire project was at 50% capacity. People we talked with that knew of this promoters other condos said that owners hardly ever saw any rental money.
We didn't look at any used condos.
The armed guards were at the main store at French harbor.

Terry,
We went all over the island including Politity Bight. And while there was poverty, we never saw it to the extent it exist in the Dominican Republic and other third world countries. Parrott Tree Plantation is a top-of-the-line gated development. Stx doesn't really have anything to compare with the 3 or 4 deluxe projects in Roatan because no high-end gated developments have been built recently in Stx because of the very high construction costs.

With the exception of a few high-end condo projects in the East End nothing is happening in Stx - only individual houses.

As far as the hotel-condos concept, it is what it is. Probably doesn't live up to its promises anywhere.

While we didn't pay particular attention to the stores, we never saw armed guards.