US$25–50

Georphi’s (tel. 504/445-4205, www.roatangeorphis.com [1]), located next to Rudy’s restaurant [2], is named for owners George and Phyllis. The rambling grounds, dotted with tropical plants, feature a number of individual wooden cabins with spacious porches. Prices start at US$25 for one room in a two-bedroom cabin with fan, and go up to US$50 for cabins with more space and air-conditioning; most have kitchenettes. There is even a small chalet available, with a king bed in a bedroom and a twin bed in the loft, and extra beds can be added for more kids (US$125/night, or US$1,500/month). One cabin has been converted into a dorm, the best low-budget digs in town, for US$10 per person. Internet is available in the lobby (US$3/day or US$10/week), there is free wireless Internet on the grounds, and laundry service is available too.

Half a block north from the entrance to West End [3] is the highly recommended Posada Arco Iris (tel./fax 504/445-4264, www.roatanposada.com [4], US$36–48 s, US$42–54 d), run by an Argentinian couple. The spacious and clean rooms in the wooden house are each decorated with colorful artistic touches. The top-floor ocean-view rooms facing Half Moon Bay [5] are the more expensive rooms, and some have kitchens. The individual wooden cabins, with ample front porches, rent for US$66 (one bedroom) and US$78 (two bedroom) for two people during high season. All accommodations cost US$15 more per day with air-conditioning. Out front is a very good Argentine-style restaurant [6].

The Sea Breeze Inn (tel. 504/445-4026, www.seabreezeroatan.com [7], US$25–70 d), at the entrance to town, has a variety of room layouts including studios and suites that can accommodate larger parties with a little bit of privacy. The standard rooms are fairly charmless, and the grounds are rather cramped, but there are a few rooms with porches, hammocks, and kitchenettes. Kayaks and snorkel equipment are available for rent.

In a rambling three-story wooden house built atop a small hill a couple of hundred meters back off the main road, behind Pura Vida dive shop [8], is Mariposa Lodge (tel. 504/445-4450, www.mariposa-lodge.com [9], US$40 s/d, US$55 t, two-night minimum for all rooms), with four simple but spacious apartments with a homey feel, all with private kitchens, TV, fans, and hot water, as well as a breezy porch to relax on. In addition, there’s a small house with three rooms that rent for US$26 d, with fan, hot water, and shared bathroom and kitchen facilities—a bit worn, but decent. The Canadian couple who own the place also offer professional shiatsu, therapeutic, and reiki massage service (very popular with the diving crowd) for US$40 an hour.

Located on the second floor, above the restaurant of the same name [6], the rooms at Pinocchio’s (tel. 504/445-4466, or 504/9837-7287, US$35 s/d, US$10 each additional person) are a good value. Each has wood floors and walls, two double beds, and hot water. Breakfast at the restaurant downstairs is included, and the dinners there are top-notch. Don’t worry about noise from the restaurant, as it closes by 10 p.m. at the latest.

Another good choice for cabins is Hidden Garden Cabins (tel. 504/445-4131, www.hiddengardencabins.com [10], US$45 s/d, US$250/week), also set back from the road in lush vegetation, each with hot water, a kitchen, and a porch. Ceiling fans help keep the island breezes moving through the slat windows.

At the edge of town along Mangrove Bight is Posada Las Orquideas (tel. 504/445-4387, www.posadalasorquideas.com [11], US$36–60 d, plus an extra US$15 for a/c), with absolutely lovely rooms in a large wooden building set along the iron shore, an excellent deal if you are looking to get away at the end of the day (although it’s only about a 10-minute walk, it’s can feel like a bit of a hike, particularly late at night). The PADI-certified Seagrape Dive Shop [8] (tel. 504/445-4297) is just steps away (and charges a few bucks less for its fun dives than its competitors in town).