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Guest Services |
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Guest Services Information
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There are no phones in the guest rooms. We have a phone that guests may use in the Front Desk/Gift Shop. The number of this phone 504-445-3020. From the US, please dial 011 first. Calling out from the office is $2.00/min. We charge a $2.00 connection fee for busy signals, operator-assisted calls and non-connecting calls.
Satellite phones usually receive on the island. GSM cell phones will usually work as long as you have activated an international roaming plan.
For incoming calls:
The Honduras ring tone is a long beep. If you hear a short, fast series of beeps, the line is busy. The person calling will reach our front desk staff who will be happy to take a message. Because guests are usually out on the dive boats or exploring the island, we suggest that the caller leave a good time for the guest to call back.
Airport Arrival/Departure and Taxes
As part of your package, we will meet you at the airport. We will have a sign saying Bay Islands Beach Resort & will be waiting for you just on the other side of the baggage scanner. Once everyone has cleared through customs, the resort van will take you to the resort. We will take you back to the airport at the end of your stay. Let us know if you would like assistance with checking in for your flight. The driver will be happy to help you check-in. As of January 2008, the departure tax is $34 per person. The departure fees & airport fees change frequently, so please look at your confirmation letter for the latest details. This can be paid in US dollars or lempiras.
We will collect your return tickets at check in & reconfirm your flights from Roatan. If you are flying Continental or TACA, we will get your boarding passes in advance. If you choose to hold on to your ticket, you will need to do your own reconfirmation & boarding passes.
We have a safe in the office for guest use. You will not need any cash during the week unless you are going into town or buying something from a beach vendor. We suggest keeping your wallet & any other small valuables in the office safe.
We have a gift shop at the resort, but if you need medications, special toiletries or special gift shopping needs, we offer two different shopping services. You can leave a list with us. We will purchase the items you need & bill them to your room. Or, we provide a guided shopping service. The guided shopping service is perfect if you are looking for a special gift to take home. Guided shopping is fun but not necessary! If you like to explore you can head out on your own around the island. Ask at the Front Desk for names and directions to the places with the best deals. Guided shopping is also available for trips to the mainland including the San Pedro Sula & La Ceiba markets & the craft towns around Tegucigalpa. Please ask at the front desk for more information.
The Gift Shop carries variety of items to make your life easier. We carry film, batteries, suntan lotion, bug spray, cactus juice, soap, toothbrushes, feminine products, and simple pharmacy items. If you need something other than what we have stocked, we will be happy to pick it up for you in town for no extra charge. We may not be able to get the brand you prefer, so please consider bringing your toiletries with you. Contact lens solution is very difficult to find, so pack your solutions in your carry-on!
The Gift Shop also carries t-shirts, sarongs, hammocks, carved wooden boxes, cigars, souvenirs and other craft items. If you don't see what you would like, just ask. We can arrange to get it for you- or we can set up a personalized shopping trip for you.
When available, we carry sudafed, benedryl, immodium & ibuprofen in the gift shop. If you need to pick up other medications, we can get them from the local pharmacy. These medicines are in generic form & are not priced or packaged the same as in the US. We suggest bringing along any over-the-counter medications you might need. Please don't assume that you will be able to find your prescription or OTC medication on the island. We recommend that you bring your medications with you.
The stores on the island will accept both US dollars & lempiras (the Honduran currency) We suggest working in US dollars during your stay. Most of the gift stores have their items priced in dollars. If you spend dollars, you could be given either dollars or lempiras in change.
Exchanging money at the bank is very time consuming. It is better to bring travelers checks in US dollars in small increments. Most places will not take traveler's checks over $50. Many places will not be able to make change for anything larger than a $20. American Express Traveler's Checks are considered the standard. VISA or Mastercard travelers checks are accepted at the discretion of the shop owner. Credit Union travelers checks are very rarely accepted.
At the resort, we accept American Express, VISA, Mastercard traveler's checks only. With 24 hours notice, we will be happy to get them cashed in town for you for a service fee of 6%. We will try to cash your checks into US dollars, but if US cash is limited we will only be able to cash your checks into lempiras. You can use your traveler's checks to pay your bill or to leave a tip without cashing them first. We do not add a service fee if you pay with US traveler's checks or credit cards.
You can use traveler's checks around the island in place of cash. You may get your change in US dollars or Lempiras. Be sure to bring your passport along for identification. You must sign the traveler's check exactly as you signed the first time.
Credit Cards at the Resort
We accept VISA, Mastercard, American Express, and Diner's Club at the resort for purchases, paying your bill & tips. Sorry, we do not take Discover at the resort. You can only use your Discover card in the US office.
We do not add a service fee for using credit cards. We do not make cash advances, but we will be happy to help you get a cash advance from the bank in town.
Many of the businesses on Roatan will charge a fee of 6-12% for using a credit card- esp at restaurants. Check first if you don't see the rate posted.
We will happily schedule your activities for you. We have an activities scheduling sheet to help you plan your week. Once the Front Desk has your list, we will make the arrangements & confirm them with you. We will help you arrange transportation if needed.
Mailing Letters & Postcards
We have postcards in the gift shop or you can pick them up in town. We will stamp & mail a postcard for you. Mail service from Honduras to locations outside of Honduras is very unreliable & extremely slow. Expect at least 4 weeks for delivery. The longest delivery time we know of is 2 years! Please check with the Front Desk for costs.
We have a computer with internet access available for guest use. Cost for using the internet is 0.25 per minute. You can also buy a week package for wireless connection in the bar using your own laptop for $10 a week.
We have a fax available for sending and receiving. The guest fax number is 011-504-445-3064 Please make sure that all incoming faxes have the guest name clearly marked at the top. We deliver faxes to the guest rooms in the afternoon. If you need your fax sooner, you may come by the office at any time. Faxes cost $1.00per page to send & $1.00 a page to receive.