Where to Stay in Utila
This week I met with some business people / travelers in La Ceiba. They had spent the night at La Villa de Soledad Bed and Breakfast a couple of nights before and then went to Utila. They were three persons. One from Canada, another from the Dominican Republic and the last one was Honduran. I asked where they had stayed in Utila, and they all looked at me sheepishly and said that they had made a mistake and stayed in a Hostel. Then they all started talking about their experience in Utila. After listening to them, I decided that I should put together a post for my blog about where to stay in Utila.
You see, one of them checked trip advisor and chose The Venue. Had he read a bit more about the reviews, he would have understood that was not a good option for him. Don’t get me wrong! The Venue is a great place, especially on the weekends if you are looking for a party scene…
It is clean, affordable, safe and fun. It is also loud and offers one of the best party scenes in Utila. But, if you are not out looking for a party scene, this is not the best place to stay in Utila!
Most travelers visiting Utila never even research where to stay in Utila. Most of them are visiting the island to get scuba certified. As a general rule, the Utila dive shop they use takes care of the accommodations for them. For many travelers, the two main reasons to visit the Island of Utila are to party and get scuba certified. Yet there is a lot more to Utila than party and getting your divers course taken care of. Are considering a visit to the island and are looking for the best place where to stay in Utila? I am happy to provide the following tips.
In Town Hotels Where to Stay in Utila:
Nightland Cabins at the Jade Seahorse
My favorite spot where to stay in Utila is at the Nightland Cabins at the Jade Seahorse. This unique property is what a boutique property is all about. Artsy, colorful, clean and actually fun. Rooms here are each different and charming. The whole property is a dream come true. Here, different elements have come together to provide a magical setting. The property has a restaurant (Jade Seahorse) and a bar, the Treetanic Bar. It can be rather loud in the weekends when the bar gets a good crowd, but other than that, is quite pleasant.
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Sea Eye Resort
Located at the far eastern end of town, the Sea Eye Resort offers the best rooms in Utila. This is a concrete building with spacious rooms and friendly staff. It is next to the Bando Beach private area, which is part of the property. This means that even though the rooms are not oceanfront, you do have access to one of the better beaches in town. This is a full service hotel with a restaurant, bar and diving facilities. Because of its location, outside of town, the Sea Eye Resort offers a nice quiet setting that is ideal to relax and get away from the party scene in town.
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Utila Lodge
This is the nicest, most upscale in town Lodge in Utila. Although it is a Diving Lodge, it offers nice great facilities and an over the water deck. A pleasant bar and restaurant area and a small Jacuzzi out on the deck will enhance the experience. It’s central location means that it is a short walk to anywhere it town. Service is tops and rooms are spacious and comfortable. The Utila Lodge is secluded property is a great alternative to stay in while in Utila.
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Mango Inn
The Mango Inn is one of the nicest properties in town. It is also one of the few places in town with a pool. Their facilities include rooms with a private bath, nice cabins and dorm rooms. The dorm rooms are usually used by the dive shops that are affiliated with the Mango Inn. The hotel has a full service restaurant serving great pizza. They also have a full service international bar. Pleasant gardens and good service are part of the charm at the Mango Inn.
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Colibri Hill Resort
The Colibri Hill is a pleasant hotel sitting in a hill just behind town. It offers great views, cool breezes and a nice pool. It also has one of the nicest gardens on the island. This is a good place to be away from the noise, and yet close to the party atmosphere. If you feel like having a few cold ones at a local bar, a short walk will get you to the action.
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The Venue
The Venue is without doubt the “in Hostel” in Utila. They offer new facilities, colorful rooms and plenty of action. The dorm rooms use shared bathrooms and showers outside of the rooms. The Venue is right on Chepe’s beach, the popular public beach in Utila. They also feature a variety of activities and tours that leave from here. Without doubt, the most popular feature at The Venue is the party atmosphere. If you are visiting Utila to join the party, you should plan on staying here!
Out of Town Hotels
Coral Beach Village
The Coral Beach Village are set away from town, on a lovely white sand beach. The complex offers full homes, ideal for families or two or three couples traveling together. They also offer some nice stand alone rooms. Their beach is so nice, that it has become one of the places to visit in Utila as a day trip. Their restaurant, Neptune offers great food to complement your stay at the Coral Beach Villas.
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Utopia Village
In my opinion, the nicest, most upscale property in Utila is the Utopia Village. This is a stand alone property that is accessible only by water. The Utopia Village is the place to stay in Utila if you are looking for peace and quiet. It is an elegant, almost luxurious beach retreat. The “Village” offers comfortable Caribbean style rooms. They feature a lovely white sand beach and a full service PADI diving center. If you are looking for a place to pamper yourself or your loved one, this is the best alternative!
