Before you go: 

Some helpful information

--Please pack your swimsuit, medications & a change of clothes in your carry-on just in case your luggage goes astray.

--If you are a diver, make sure that you have DAN or a similar recompression chamber insurance plan. www.dan.org

--Please buy trip insurance!  

Trip insurance will reimburse you for expenses due to lost luggage, missed days at the resort for airline problems, lost days of diving due to illness or injury, and even include medical evacuation if needed.  We are happy to help you reschedule your trip in case of illness, airline problems or change in circumstances.  However, within 45 days of travel, your package is non-refundable and can not be re-rated to exclude missed days due to airline problems or missed dive days due to illness/injury.

Trip insurance is available through DAN, Access America, Travelguard & many other companies. Costs start around $60/person depending upon your package price.  You may be eligible for insurance at a discounted rate through your credit card company.

What else will I spend money on? 

We know that the more information you have, the easier your trip planning will be.  Below is a list of some things that you will want to add in to your trip budget.  The list is by no means complete!  Don't forget to allow money for  souvenirs, t-shirts, hats, additional toiletries/medications, etc.  Prices listed below are subject to change.  

Bar Tab

Your package includes water, iced tea, hot tea, coffee & juice (at breakfast).  You are welcome to run a tab for additional drinks throughout the week.  Below is a guideline to prices at our bar to help you estimate your expenses for the week. 

-- mixed drinks $3.00 - $7.00 depending upon the drink.  Plan on $4 for most mixed drinks including daiquiris, margaritas, and rum punch.

-- Fancy drinks from $5-7.

-- wine $4.25/glass; $20/bottle

-- sodas  (Coke, Diet Coke, Fanta Orange, Fresca, Sprite, Tropical, Ginger Ale) $1.25

-- beer $2.50 - 3.00

-- gatorade , milk shakes, smoothies, slushies $2.50

-- virgin mixed drinks $3.00

-- bottled water  $1-2

Side Trips
There are lots of wonderful activities on the island.  Please take a look at our side trip page for current prices.

Transportation to Side Trips (add to side trips)

Many side trip prices do not include transportation from the resort to the activity location.  In general, the only side trips that include transportation are the canopy tours. If you use our resort transportation, the cost is $5-7 per person, round trip for most trips.  Some shorter trips are $2.  A few longer trips can cost as much as $20.  At the resort, you will receive an Activity Sign Up sheet with the transportation costs listed for each activity. 

Other options include catching a taxi (anywhere from $2-20 per person, one way depending upon the destination)  or renting a vehicle for the day $45+ plus fuel.  Because of changing fuel prices, the rates quoted here are estimates.  If you have any questions about trip specifics including transportation costs, please give us a call before you go. 

Videos at side trips

Videos at excursions are not included in the price.  Videos can run from $50-75 a piece.  Please note that BIBR has no control over the quality or cost of the videos.  We do have a DVD player if you would like to check your DVD before you leave the island.  Please remember to bring cash or travelers checks to pay for the videos.

Extra Dives & Private Divemasters

A weekly dive package includes 5 days of boat diving & unlimited shore diving as long as your stay within the no-fly time constraints.

If your flight schedule allows for diving on the 6th day, extra boat dives are available for $20/tank. 

A private divemaster is $35/dive.  Special package rates: $285/10 dives  or $500/15 dives. 

Laundry

Laundry is $10/load. 

Marine Reserve Fee

We add the $10 marine reserve fee to your reservation before you travel so that you don't need to budget for this at the resort.   We will do our best to provide people with their first choice of tag or bracelet, but we can't guarantee availability.  Tag & bracelet production is determined by the Marine Park.   

100% of the money collected goes to support the Sandy Bay/West End Marine Reserve. Thank you for supporting conservation & management of our precious resources.  The money will go to placing mooring buoys, preventing poaching & illegal fishing/hunting, monitoring reef health, community education and other important programs.

Dive Gear including Night Dive Lights

Your package includes tanks, weights & a weight belt.  You are responsible for providing all other gear.  We are happy to provide rental gear if needed. We have added all new SCUBAPRO BC's & regs  as of June 2008.  Please click here to see our rental rates.

Rental of a dive light for the night dive is $15 with batteries & $10 without batteries. 

Batteries

Batteries on the island are VERY expensive & may not be as fresh as you would like.  We suggest that you bring your own batteries with you.  Please check with airlines about limits on lithium rechargeable batteries.

Tips

Tipping is a personal matter between you and the staff.  Over 40 employees work to make your vacation special! Many guests have asked that we provide guidelines to make tipping easier.  Hopefully, the following will answer any questions you have.  If not, please feel comfortable speaking with the US office or with the owners at the resort.

--Please wait until the end of the week to tip any staff member.

--Tips for the dive staff are collected at the dive shop in cash or traveler's checks.  An average tip for the dive shop is $50-60/week per person with special trips given directly to divemasters, instructors, personal dive masters & captains who were particularly helpful. 

--Tips for the house can be left in office in cash or traveler's checks-- or they can be charged to your room & put on a credit card. An average tip for the house staff is $65-95 for the week with directed tips left for individuals who made your stay extra special.  The house tip is divided between the restaurant/bar staff, the front desk, maids, kitchen staff, grounds, maintenance and security. 

Thursday Night Pig Roast Crab Races

Your package includes admission to the Pig Roast & Tequila Downs Crab Races.  In addition to the great food, we have live music, dancing and a free tequila shot (for people of age).  Also at the Pig Roast, we host a charity crab race to raise money for improving education on the island. We'd love for you to join in the fun & help the island kids at the same time.  We run three heats in the race with a run off between the winners.  If you would like to participate in the crab race, you can buy 3 crabs for $10. 100% of money raised goes to Partners In Education-Roatan, a Honduran NGO that runs 3 learning centers on the island & that supports community education & schools.

Optional donations: 

The Clinica Esperanza is a local clinic that provides quality medical care for the island.  www.clinicaesperanza.org

As a service to our guests & as a thank you for the many people who donate to the clinic, the staff at the clinic will come to your aid at the resort outside of clinic office hours.  During clinic hours, the doctors are available at the clinic.

At the resort, we ask people to donate $1.00 a day to the clinic.  This will be automatically added to your bill, but you are welcome to increase, decrease or remove the charge all together at check out.

Airport Departure Taxes

Airport departure taxes are collected in cash at the airport prior to leaving the island.  After checking in for your flight, you will stop at immigration, stop to pay your taxes & finally go through security screening to the gate lounge.

To leave from Roatan for a local destination (such as San Pedro Sula or Tegucigalpa): $2 in cash

To leave from Roatan to the United States:  $34 in cash

If you are stopping in a mainland city and transferring to another airline, you will need to pay both taxes for a total of $36

Other Taxes

Alcohol and Tobacco are taxed at 15%.

All other purchases are taxed at 12%. 

Please give us a call if you have any questions or would like more information for budgeting your trip.

Have a wonderful time!