Potential Florida Vacation home location?

captkevin

Very nice. Makes me rethink living in Chicago when its 5 degrees today

Willhound

We are closer to retirement, about this time next year. We are also pondering whether to buy something or not, and where. We have friends and relatives in the St. Pete Beach area and have been travelling there for about 30 years so know our way around. But are looking at other areas a little further inland also, like Lakeland where real estate is less expensive and less issue with floods/hurricanes/insurance.
On the other hand, we are soon travelling to Roatan, an island off the coast of Honduras where we have friends that spend the winter. Way cheaper and warmer than Florida. Costa Rica is another possibility we are considering.
The one piece of advice someone gave me that I think we will follow is not to jump in and buy something right away. Travel around a bit and rent here and there until you get a feel for a place and once you get to know a few people in an area it will often lead to good tips on where and what to buy.

rasbury

Good to have options...another country could be a financial risk- they change owners sometimes...

Rich_

I’ll be in West Bay in February with a friend who owns property in Costa Rica. Will be first time in Roatan but I’ve spent full months in CR before wife and kids

Lake_Bum

Willhound said:

We are closer to retirement, about this time next year. We are also pondering whether to buy something or not, and where. We have friends and relatives in the St. Pete Beach area and have been travelling there for about 30 years so know our way around. But are looking at other areas a little further inland also, like Lakeland where real estate is less expensive and less issue with floods/hurricanes/insurance.
On the other hand, we are soon travelling to Roatan, an island off the coast of Honduras where we have friends that spend the winter. Way cheaper and warmer than Florida. Costa Rica is another possibility we are considering.
The one piece of advice someone gave me that I think we will follow is not to jump in and buy something right away. Travel around a bit and rent here and there until you get a feel for a place and once you get to know a few people in an area it will often lead to good tips on where and what to buy.

@Willhound let me know how you like Roatan.  We will be there in June, it's one of the stops on our cruise, and I haven't been there before.  Our other stops are Cozumel, and Costa Maya that I've been to a few times.  Looking forward to sightseeing in Roatan. 

PickleRick

rasbury said:

Good to have options...another country could be a financial risk- they change owners sometimes...

Chiquita banana would never fund the overthrowing of a government in exchange for banana discounts.

Formulaben

Rich_ said:

I’ll be in West Bay in February with a friend who owns property in Costa Rica. Will be first time in Roatan but I’ve spent full months in CR before wife and kids

Make sure you pick up the local spray for the sand lice if you plan on spending time at the beach.  It's just baby oil with essential oils, all natural and all that. 

It actually smells kind of good and definitely keeps them at bay, they can't stand the smell...otherwise you'll be quite unhappy for such a gorgeous environment.  When I was there it was a blue bottle with a yellow label and a hula girl.  Now I hear it's called "Cactus Juice" but YMMV. 

Rich_

Formulaben said:

Rich_ said:

I’ll be in West Bay in February with a friend who owns property in Costa Rica. Will be first time in Roatan but I’ve spent full months in CR before wife and kids

Make sure you pick up the local spray for the sand lice if you plan on spending time at the beach.  It's just baby oil with essential oils, all natural and all that. 

It actually smells kind of good and definitely keeps them at bay, they can't stand the smell...otherwise you'll be quite unhappy for such a gorgeous environment.  When I was there it was a blue bottle with a yellow label and a hula girl.  Now I hear it's called "Cactus Juice" but YMMV. 

Already have the 100% deer on hand with a on skin so soft on order

Rich_

Avon 

Willhound

Lake_Bum said:

@Willhound let me know how you like Roatan.  We will be there in June, it's one of the stops on our cruise, and I haven't been there before.  Our other stops are Cozumel, and Costa Maya that I've been to a few times.  Looking forward to sightseeing in Roatan. 

Will do. Do you know which port you're coming into? Mahogany Bay, Town Centre/Coxen Hole? According to my buddy parts of Roatan are almost impossible on cruise ship days. It's become a popular stop with up to a half dozen ships coming in on a single day. Happy we are over in West Bay to get more of a "local" experience. The biggest drawback to Roatan as a possible retirement destination is that they limit visits to 90 days, with an extension for another 30 days possible at the discretion of the border agent. But not guaranteed. You can apply for a residency designation but it's a long expensive process. Other people we know simply over stay and plead ignorance when they leave which results in a fine equivalent to the average daily wage of the locals times number of days you overstay but it could also result in future entry being denied. The average local wage isn't much so some visitor's see it as part of the cost of visiting. Apparently the time limits and fines were brought in because too many ex-pats were moving there and then getting bored, or start running out of money so were taking side jobs for cash which was taking jobs away from locals.

Lake_Bum

@Willhound I will have to look deeper into our itinerary and see if they list which port.  I'm definitely up for the "local experience" as we typically jump in a taxi at the ports, and head to more secluded locations, rather than the usual beaches that hundreds of cruise folks flock to.  I've discovered some amazing places over the years doing this!  I always broker a deal with the taxi driver. I'll withold all payment, until return trip.  It's sorta sketchy knowing you could get left, but it's never backfired on us haha. 

Lake_Bum

@Willhound our itinerary doesn't state which location for Port at Roatan, it only says docked from 8am-5pm.  

Formulaben

Lake_Bum said:

@Willhound our itinerary doesn't state which location for Port at Roatan, it only says docked from 8am-5pm.  

Sorry, you just gave me a funny flashback to my visit there.  While on the beach we met a very fun group who were a cruise.  After a few hours of sunny mid-day socializing at the beach, I became curious about their departure time.  After I asked, the main guy asks his wife what time it is...she gives an answer, and his face drops.  Turns out then need to be at the dock in 20 minutes!!!   They never would have made it but for my nerdy curiosity.

Willhound

Lake_Bum said:

@Willhound our itinerary doesn't state which location for Port at Roatan, it only says docked from 8am-5pm.  

Both cruise ports are about 10 minutes apart, and 30 to 40 minutes by car from West End/Half Moon Bay where we will be. It'll depend on your interests, there are some bird/monkey experiences and any number of tours that cater to the cruise clientele. Or if you just want to hang out and hit a few adult beverage salon's, that's available too. From what I understand from my buddy that spends winter's there (the reason for our visit) it's almost impossible to get away from the crowds on a busy cruise day if you want to be near any of the beach or usual tourist areas, the island's not large and on a busy day the cruise crowd can add 15 - 20,000 people.

Rich_

Lake_Bum said:

@Willhound our itinerary doesn't state which location for Port at Roatan, it only says docked from 8am-5pm.  

https://www.whatsinport.com/Roatan.htm

Not too sure when this was written or if it is still accurate

I’ll be staying in West Bay

Willhound

Interesting site, not sure how often it's updated. My buddy uses this one to gauge how busy things will be, can select by exact date. https://www.cruisetimetables.com/roatan-honduras-cruise-ship-schedule.html
The other tip he's given me is that although the local currency is Lempira, most places will take USD, but the bills have to be in pristine condition, no tears, writing, worn out bills because the bank won't take them and quite often you'll be given change in Lempira. Many of the smaller more interesting places will not take credit or debit cards although many will take PayPal or Venmo. So best to carry some smaller denomination clean bills. The other tip he gave me is to use a wifi based communication/phone app like Whatsapp because depending on your cell carrier roaming charges in Honduras can be ridiculous and cell service sketchy, but internet access is very good with even the smallest little places offering wifi for customers.

Rich_

I already mapped out how many cruisers will be in town for each day I am there a thinking of doing a charter on the busiest day just to get away from the crowd. Good tip on clean small bills, saw it on another board when researching.