Tela, Honduras
IAH - SAP March 15-19, 2019;
I had previously seen quite a few flight deals to Honduras; but I've shrugged them all off due to various news reports. But after seeing photos of a beautiful resort down in the Tela area, i said what the hell and made it happen.
Shuttle:
I had difficulty getting cash from the ATMs at the airport (3), but I was finally able to with my Wells Fargo account. Bank of America didn't work at all. So keep that in mind.
I attempted to prebook a shuttle through the resort but I couldn't get any one on the phone and I was still kind of going back and forth about booking a rental car. I ultimately decided not to try my luck with driving and got a taxi from the airport to the resort. I negotiated the price from $110 down to $80.
We left the airport in the middle of rush hour, so the city was a bit congested. Which caused extra time to get out of the main city and onto the back roads.
Hotel:
The gates have armed guards and you must be a registered guest to enter. I took comfort in this because I was definitely intending on this being a relaxing never leave the resort vacation.
The staff greets you upon arrival with a towel and a welcome drink. I checked in pretty late, maybe 9 pm so check in went by pretty quickly.
I was immediately taken in by the architecture and decor.
I booked a King Suite Ocean view. The room includes a wrap around porch, separate tub and shower and a nice sitting area.
The food at the resort is delicious. Definitely ask for the Garifuna menu. This menu features more traditional meals from the Garifuna culture. Garifuna, also known as Garinagu, are the descendants of an Afro-indigenous population from the Caribbean island of St Vincent who were exiled to the Honduran coast in the eighteenth century and subsequently moved to Belize.
The dishes on the menu are heavily influenced by coconut flavors. I must have tried most of the items on the menu and I was not disappointed.
There is a breakfast buffet, but I stayed clear of it. The food didn't look so good and there weren't a variety of choices. I opted for Huevos con queso & tocino most mornings and skipped breakfast altogether on others.
Room service was okay but limited; I definitely preferred the ambiance in the dining room and not to mention the deliciousness that makes up the Garifuna menu.
I requested a taxi to be taken into town (Tela); the resort will call you one and bill your room if you request. It was a pretty uneventful drive and I was dropped off near the beach. I agreed to meet the driver back in 3 hours, and he agreed it would be enough time to explore. I pulled out my trusty google map app to find the nearest atm to pull come cash to buy souvenirs from some of the local street vendors. The walk to the bank was hot and there was nowhere to hide from the heat. Geez.
Once I arrived at the bank there was an armed guard inside the atm area. He was only allowing 2 people in at a time. It was kind of nice to be at an atm and not have to look over my shoulder because that was literally his job. Sidenote- The atms are in Spanish; so be mindful of that. After grabbing some cash I headed back towards the beach to walk the boardwalk and figure out which restaurant I wanted to try. After walking the length of the short walk, I saw this server with this huge filet of fish. I decided that was the one for me. I ordered a little bit of everything to get a good feel of the restaurant. And of course, I got the fish :-). Amazing and everything was so fresh and flavorful.
After leaving the restaurant I set out in search of a market to buy some snacks and alcohol. The bar at the hotel was killing me. I quickly found a small non descript market. It appeared to have some of everything so I knew it would be the perfect spot. I quickly noticed they had quite a few "Great Value" products. I thought it was a bit odd, but I didn't give it any serious thought and continued my shopping. After my Bacardi tour in Puerto RIco, I've been on a bit of a bacardi kick and grabbed a bottle. Along with some limes, coke zero, chips & sunscreen. After check out, I realized the cashier handed me a Walmart receipt. I There is literally not a place where Walmart doesn't have a presence. In the littles town in the middle of Honduras, I found a walmart. Crazy
Sidebar: In case I haven't mentioned the SUN in HONDURAS is SERIOUS! Be prepared. I definitely gained about 15 shades of color on this trip. Bring sunscreen or definitely make sure you stop and get some!
I should also mention,The Afro-Hispanic presence is so strong in Honduras and I loved every minute of it. You could tell it was the norm, because everyone looked at us to speak Spanish. Unfortunately, we don't. At some point i'm going to have to put the Rosetta Stone that I purchased to good use. All in all It was truly a beautiful experience. I will definitely be bringing my kids on my next trip down. It's something I want them to experience.
I spent the last of the trip lazing around the resort. Swimming, Floating, Beaching, Eating, Drinking, Reading. Just relaxing. Something I don't typically do on any of my trips. It was truly refreshing and Hilton Indura was definitely the place to do it. It's so peaceful and Serene. I highly recommend the resort to anyone looking for a relaxing vacation. And the beach is Ultra Private, there isn't anything or anyone else around for miles. The lounge area is comfortable and plentiful; and most importantly beach service is fast. 
Indura arranged our transport back to the Airport and I bid adieu to Tela. Once at the airport I made my way to the airport lounge. I'm always so thankful for my Priority Pass. This lounge includes comfortable seating, wifi, snacks, drinks and one meal from their restaurant menu.
0 Comments