Roatan/Utila -August 2016 Newsletter
Topics Included in This Month’s Newsletter
• CEMESA Hospital
• Prepaid Telephone Cards
• New Retail Locations
• East End Vacation Alternative
• The Blues and Discovery Investment Tour
* Utila News & deals
* Roatan News and Deals
• Roatan Rentals
* Educational & info links
CEMESA Hospital
Recently, I met with the President of Hospital CEMESA Roatan (HCR), and the director of the hospital, Dra. Diana Suaza. Dra. Suaza is bi-lingual and very hospitable.
Dra. Suaza informed me that both full and part-time residents of Roatan may preregister for services at HCR. The benefit of preregistering is that the hospital will have all of the information they need to quickly connect you with the service you need. Preregistering is something, which could be very helpful in an emergency situation. If you are interested in preregistering, contact Dra. Suaza by phone at 9898.6675 or email direccionmedica@cemesaroatan.com, and she will be happy to assist you. HRC’s website: www.cemesaroatan.com
Prepaid Telephone Cards.
In order to obtain a permanent phone line in Honduras, phone companies here require customers to have permanent residency or be a citizen and have a bank account.
However, another option is to obtain a Pay as You Go phone Sim card. This type of card does not charge users a monthly fee, but allows people to add coverage for both minutes and data. However, it is often inconvenient to buy a card or go to a location to add minutes.
Recently, I discovered Ding (https://www.ding.com/). Ding is an online service in which users can use add minutes from their home. There is a small service fee to add the minutes, but I find it much more convenient than going to the store to purchase minutes.
New Retail Locations
Bam Bam’s Boutique is the newest boutique on Roatan. Bam Bam’s Boutique carries lingerie, potions, lotions, baby clothes, and much more. New stock arrives weekly, shop for a gift or for yourself.
Ladies, while you are out, you may also wish to check out a new clothing store that opened about three months ago directly east of Jackson Plaza called “Junk Botique”
East End Vacation Alternative
It is no longer a surprise that the East End of Roatan has everything to offer for those in search of nature, peace and beauty.
What may still be a surprise is the presence of the newly reopened Camp Bay Lodge, which is now operating under new management. Camp Bay Lodge is a charming coastal hotel and restaurant. Visitors will be amazed after a week or even just a day, spent in this remarkable place.
The owners and their friendly local Camp Bay Village staff share the same ambition, offering a unique stay to every guest. The simple rustic style, and soothing ambiance invites visitors to connect with nature and rejuvenate.
For those in search of deeper connection with nature, kayaking, snorkeling, kitesurfing are all part of the journey at Camp Bay Lodge. Also available is a memorable yoga session or a deeply relaxing massage.
Camp Bay Lodge also offers fresh food, local seafood, homemade bread, and fruits. They love to take care of their guests and therefore, offer visitors vegan-vegetarian or lactose free options. Check them out here: http://campbaylodge.com/
Blues + An Island Tour? It cannot get better!
Most people who love music understand a great deal of music has its roots in the blues. B. B. King, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Muddy Waters, Lonnie Brooks, Robert Johnson and many others all contributed to much of what we listen to.
Why am I mentioning this? On March 13, 2017 the 2nd Annual Roatan Blues Fest will take place.
Check out the old photo I have of Muddy Waters on stage with the Rolling Stones at a bar I used to enjoy in Chicago, many years ago (photo taken by a friend Alexander Watkins).
The same week as the above mentioned Blues Fest is also our annual Discovery and Investment Tour, a perfect opportunity to obtain all the information you need to investigate the Bay Islands as a place for you to retire, relocate, or find your very own little piece of paradise (http://www.roatanbayisland.com/discovery-investment-tours/ )
You really could not ask for more! The Discovery and Investment Tour is the perfect way to get out of the late winter months “up in the tundra” of the U.S. and Canada, obtain all the information you need about the island, and have all the fun you can imagine. Education, information, tropical island, white sand, aqua waters, and the blues!
We already have three people who are signed-up, and we limit the venue to 10 clients for the ultimate experience.
News and Property options on Utila –
SKID ROW – Utila’s famous/infamous Skid Row Sport’s Bar/Restaurant (https://www.facebook.com/SkidRowBar/) will be changing owner sometime in late Sept/Oct 2016. The current owner – Ryan Rother – expat from California and Texas – has owned and operated Skid Row for around 9 years making gradual and incremental improvements. He wishes everybody to know he will still be involved in the business – just not as the owner – maybe as a ‘celebrity/guest bartender’ and the ‘ideas/events guy’. Ryon wants to be able to spend more time with his family. Ryon will be working closely with the new owner who is NOT planning to change a thing, but is able to invest in the business, and in particular is bringing new/improved commercial quality kitchen equipment from the US to Utila, including ‘proper’ pizza ovens and a commercial ice machine. Good news for Skid Row patrons – the pizza – best and least expensive in Utila – will only get better, and patrons will continue to get double/triple cocktail pours and the price can be maintained at under $2.00 per beverage because of cost savings resulting from the commercial ice machine.
GOLF – There are two or three avid golfers living in Utila who have been starved for a good game of golf. Utila has a mini-golf course – which does not work well for these three. Traditionally Utila golfers go to the mainland of Honduras and play at the notorious D’Antoni golf course in La Ceiba or other courses nearby Tela. Now with a convenient Utila/Roatan ferry schedule and reasonable ferry prices a group of intrepid Utila golfers recently ventured forth. They were pleasantly surprised by the reasonable Black Pearl green fees, could tolerate the golf cart and club hire fees, and raved about the PGA quality course. They have since discovered a Real Estate Agent from the RE/MAX Bay Islands Office is a member of the Black Pearl Golf Club and are eager to make his acquaintance and a return visit. See TRIPADVISOR here
Real estate on Utila or general information contact Mark.Smith@UtilaRealEstateAgent.com or our other quality RE/MAX Bay Islands Agent Julie Shigetomi realestateinutila@gmail.com
Julie is an ABR (Accredited Buyers Representative ) as designated by NAR (National Association of REALTORS), the only one in this country
Highlighted Utila properties-
From Mark-
MLS# 15-193 -9 Bedroom,6 Bathroom, 4,300 sq ft Beachfront home in Utila with separate rental apartments on 0.58 acre lot with 100 ft of sandy beachfront and private dock.
The same spectacular home! MLS# 15-192 – but includes additional 1.16 acres of vacant land with additional 200 feet of beachfront. Plenty of room for expansion and ideal for a boutique fishing or scuba diving resort development.
From Julie this hot property – BEACHFRONT!
Priced for a quick sale this dropped to $44K. Nothing beats this sandy beachfront property.
Featured Roatan properties!
A gorgeous, gorgeous luxury beachfront home, in a non-tourism area with little for neighbors and lots of privacy, rarely comes on the market but it has and it is your opportunity to live the dream. (Also would make a great B & B, expandable with additional space adjoining to make it a commercial venture).
Just a 10 minute drive from this luxury community will get you to all the shopping and restaurant choices you could ask for. (plus the brand new hospital, golf course!). A ten minute walk to a medical clinic headed up by a U.S. doctor or the beach. Tough to beat this location.
ONLY $95,000 this almost new home!Great Views/Great Value- Non- Tourism area, no HOA fees
4 BR/4BA West End, excellent rental with options possible.
Great spot for residential or commercial building, or maybe both? Right on the main road.
How about a nice beachfront home site that you “land bank” for the future? Buy it now, build when you retire and scoop up a nice lot in quiet area just for you. This is something you could also do with your IRA that you cash in when you build. A lot cooler investment than a stock, right?
A beautiful little ocean view home site at a very nice price!
Some great rentals for you to consider when headed our direction-
Pineapple Villas – 2br/2ba well done, pool side condo. Near the center of the island, (the golf course, shopping restaurants, and new hospital). Great location with quality amenities. (Long Term -Seasonal monthly pricing)
BLISS 2 : Price per night ( 2 pax ) $95.00 any additional person $50.00. price plus 19% sales tax. ( MAX 4 PEOPLE )
Is a one bedroom condo in West Bay , at only a few steps from the crystal clear waters of West Bay Beach, this unique condo is fully furnish , with a nice private balcony overlooking at the Mediterranean court yards, in a very exclusive complex, all restaurants and bars within walking distance.
INFINITY BAY SUITE 1509: Price per night ( 2 pax ) $95.00/nt any additional person $50.00. price plus 19% sales tax. ( MAX 4 PEOPLE )
This 2 bedroom luxurious condo is located in one of the most popular and exclusive resorts of Roatan, INFINITY BAY knows for his amazing infinity pool and service is one of the most go to if you come to Roatan.
CORAL VEW VILLAS: Price per night $150.00 for the WHOLE HOUSE plus 19% sales tax. ( MAX 4 PAX )
Located on the East Side of the Island , on its own Cay , this very private cottage villa … is perfect to come and disconnected from everything and just be taken by the sounds of the ocean, fully furnish with dinning, leaving and kitchen areas. 2 bedroom, 2 bath.
LEAVING WATERS: Price per night ( 2-4 pax ) $300.00 any additional person $69.00, plus 19% sales tax. ( MAX 4 PAX )
A very exclusive home , located in a small town named CAMP BAY , with the most amazing virgin beaches of Roatan, in this 4 bedroom, 5 bath home you will have unforgettable memories from an unforgettable gateway , this luxurious home has a pool, Jacuzzi and is located right on the beach, with the most amazing sunrise and sunset you will ever see.
9- Educational materials links
Want to visit the MLS on your Mobil device? Visit it, bookmark/save to favorites!
Need to generate a geography lesson of Roatan? Visit this video link-
New to the site? Visit our Buyer’s link and FAQ’s
Visit us and “Like Us” on Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/RoatanRemax/
Can’t make the “Discovery & Investment Tour”? Ask your RE/MAX Agent to set up an appointment for you to view all the speakers right in our main French Harbor Office! All the experts are waiting for you!
That’s if for this month folks, sorry so late but we really have been busy!
Best to all….Larry
Your new Profession – Beach combing!