Roatan with layover in Sam

[Jandee]

I'm going to spend a week on the Roatan Aggressor. We board on December 2 and I started to look for decent flights. A great flight is available if I want to leave on a Saturday December 2 but I want to get there 1 day early to be sure I have my luggage and am not snowed in at Ohare Airport in Chicago. The best flight I can find is through San Salvador with a 13 hour layover. I'm concerned about the safety of arriving after dark and taking a taxi to a hotel. I've looked at hotels on Expedia and found a few that are close to the airport. The reviews mentioned feeling safe while at hotel. I'm wondering if any one has some knowledge of what I can expect. Any recommendations on hotels. A 3 star hotel is fine. My luggage has beeen delayed a few times in the past.
I thought about flying to Miami on Friday, retrieving my luggage and the heading to Roatan on Saturday on a non-stop from Miami to Roatan.

 

[USdiver1]

If you are uneasy of an evening layover in Central America, take the Miami option and spend the evening there instead. It is your vacation, not a time to add stressors.

I lived for more than a decade in Central America, and still visit the area. Some of my family and friends have refused to visit, citing unease. Life has enough stress without having to add more, especially if other viable options exist.

 

[KatieMac]

If you are uneasy of an evening layover in Central America, take the Miami option and spend the evening there instead. It is your vacation, not a time to add stressors.

I lived for more than a decade in Central America, and still visit the area. Some of my family and friends have refused to visit, citing unease. Life has enough stress without having to add more, especially if other viable options exist.

I agree. The safest places on Roatan are the more touristy areas and are 1/2 hour away from the hotel. I've been to Roatan many times but would not choose to stay in Coxen Hole. My choice would be to stay in Miami overnight.

 

[diversteve]

There really aren't any hotels in Coxen Hole worth staying in. I wouldn't stay overnite there either..lol

Aggressor suggests the Clarion Suites which is a few minutes away from their dock in the French Harbor area - a few miles east of the Airport. (Coxen Hole is west..)

 

[Bali1]

In Roatan at least American Airlines seems to have developed a reputation for NOT sending checked bags with the passenger. One couple waited 2 days to get their gear bag they checked flown in and delivered and I was told by the dive shop operator that this was not a rare occurrence. Having this happen on a liveaboard trip would definitely suck.

You can fly through Houston and Atlanta as well. The couple I have personal knowledge of flew in from Dallas. I was there 2 weeks ago and I always get to the gateway city (Houston or Atlanta) the night before and find a hotel close by to avoid the Midwest weather. All these flights are under 3 hours.

 

[KatieMac]

In Roatan at least American Airlines seems to have developed a reputation for NOT sending checked bags with the passenger. One couple waited 2 days to get their gear bag they checked flown in and delivered and I was told by the dive shop operator that this was not a rare occurrence. Having this happen on a liveaboard trip would definitely suck.

You can fly through Houston and Atlanta as well. The couple I have personal knowledge of flew in from Dallas. I was there 2 weeks ago and I always get to the gateway city (Houston or Atlanta) the night before and find a hotel close by to avoid the Midwest weather. All these flights are under 3 hours.

My sister had this happen but she was connecting through Miami as opposed to flying in directly from Miami. I can't imagine how an airline can lose bags on a direct flight!

 

[victorzamora]

Having lived in El Salvador for nearly half my life, I'll say that your hesitation about spending the night there is justified. There aren't any hotels near the airport, public transportation is an ABSOLUTELY NOT in my book, and staying in the airport isn't really an option. You're looking at ~1hr from SAL (Comalapa) to anywhere I'd deem safe enough, and getting there and back isn't trivial.

 

[Streydog]

My sister had this happen but she was connecting through Miami as opposed to flying in directly from Miami. I can't imagine how an airline can lose bags on a direct flight!

Now you guys are making me nervous. In two weeks I fly DFW to MIA to RTB I know there is a direct flight but am using miles and this route was much fewer miles. I do have a direct flight back. I guess for piece of mind I will carry on everything possible.

 

[KatieMac]

Now you guys are making me nervous. In two weeks I fly DFW to MIA to RTB I know there is a direct flight but am using miles and this route was much fewer miles. I do have a direct flight back. I guess for piece of mind I will carry on everything possible.

If you stay overnight in Miami, then you have a direct flight in. And there is no worry. The real worry is staying overnight anywhere around Coxen Hole.

 

[tridacna]

I trust that when you guys write "direct" you mean "non-stop".

Not the same...