How Roatan Changed Me | Meganotravels
Author: http://www.facebook.com/meganotravels1
Description: Aside from the once-yearly trips we’d take to the beach when I was a child, I’ve never been much of a beach kinda gal. I mean, I love the sound of waves rolling in over the beach, watching storms gather over the water, and indulging in copious seafood, but there are also plenty of things
Date: 2014-07-09T13:00:42+00:00

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#### HONDURAS

# How Roatan Changed Me

Aside from the once-yearly trips we’d take to the beach when I was a child, I’ve never been much of a beach kinda gal. I mean, I love the sound of waves rolling in over the beach, watching storms gather over the water, and indulging in copious seafood, but there are also plenty of things I’ve always disliked about beach.

I hate sand, with a passion. I don’t like the way it gets in everything and stays there for weeks even after you’ve left, I don’t like how it burns your feet, and I don’t like how it’s lumpy and uneven when you’re just trying to get comfortable. The sun–also not really my friend. I’m pasty white and I kind of dig my transparency. Even with loads of sunscreen, plenty of coverups, and a giant hat, I can get burnt in almost any situation. And it’s not like that burn then turns into a tan. Oh no, it goes from being bright red, to orange, to pale again in about a week and a half’s time. Also, that relaxing thing that everybody seems to dig? Again, it’s not really a thing that happens for me. I might be able to spend a day or two max just lying around reading and feeling good, but then I start to get antsy and dream up the million productive things I could be doing.

So, why then, given my general distaste for the beach, did I book a week in Roatan in a resort? Two words: Pennsylvania winters. When the arctic blast was in full force and I was hunkered down all hibernation style, I saw photos of the Caribbean and got the warm fuzzies and booked myself a trip. While the trip took place after the weather had already begun warming up in Pennsylvania, I still found myself growing very excited about the prospect of doing nothing but hanging out on some white sandy beaches with some crystal clear waters for a whole week.

My youngest sister and I hopped on a short flight down to Roatan where we spent a week doing exactly what I’d avoided for years: relaxing on a beach. And I’ve got to tell you–Roatan changed me. Maybe my dislike for beaches was because I’d always visited some pretty crap ones as I was growing up, but I had the best time ever in Roatan.

On the days that we wanted a bit more action than lying around and reading, we took advantage of having an activity center right in our resort. We booked trips to other islands, snorkeled the coral reef that was just down the beach from our hotel, snorkeled around a shipwreck, found a spot where we could see tons of starfish, went on some awesome boat rides, hung out with monkeys and macaws, and walked along suspension bridges in the jungle. Roatan is easily one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever visited–I had no idea that places could actually look like that. The sand was so white and the water so many shades of blues and greens. It honestly looked like a postcard.

I think it’s safe to say that I’ll be returning to Roatan. I don’t know when, but I absolutely adored it. For seven days I wore flip flops, giant floppy hats, a bathing suit, and sarong, while I sipped frozen drinks, dove into books, and listened to waves crash in. I felt my skin get sticky and my hair get wavy while most of my worries melted away. Life on that small island seemed so easy and relaxed, and for once in many, many years, I allowed myself to just go with the flow and enjoy every minute of it.

### Author: Megan

Megan is an ordinary girl who outgrew her small town and decided to try the world on for size. She's on a mission to travel, photograph, and write about the world.

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- Yayyyyyyyy! Love that you had such a great time here.
  Rika | Cubicle Throwdown recently posted..10 Steps to the Perfect Dive Vacation

  Reply

- Roatan looks so beautiful. I’ve wanted to visit ever since discovering Rika’s blog! And I hear you about Pennsylvania winters. Is it just me or was this last one the worst one in all of human history ever??
  Karisa recently posted..Fearless Female: Jo, Dirty Paws

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  - This winter was awful, Karisa! I’m glad to have survived it! ;) You should get to Roatan though, I think you’d love it there. I can’t wait to get back.

    Reply

- Megan you have summed up my exact feelings and concern with the beach!!!!! “And it’s not like that burn then turns into a tan. Oh no, it goes from being bright red, to orange, to pale again in about a week and a half’s time.” LOL. That is so me, not to mention my exact concerns of wanting to just get up and move and get going. This post makes me hopeful that, I too, would be able to enjoy a beach vacation :)
  Alli recently posted..That Time When Toronto Was In Love With Niagara Falls

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  - I hope you’ll enjoy a beach vacation too, Alli! I found that going the every other day route (one day on the beach, one day on an excursion) worked really well for me! Maybe you can give that a shot so that you get a bit of that “get going” mixed in with your relaxation. :)

    Reply

- Good post. We fell in love with Roatan back in 2007 and then went back in 2013. It’s certainly a lot more developed now.
  Lance recently posted..Experience Africa on Foot – A Safari Adventure

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  - Thanks, Lance! And yeah–I can imagine! I can’t wait to get back there. I had such a lovely trip and it was so beautiful.

    Reply

- Roatan is definitely on my list! I’ve heard a lot of good things. Can I ask which resort you stayed at?
  Amanda recently posted..Flying High Over Niagara Falls

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  - Yeah! I stayed at Bananarama and highly recommend it. The people who worked there were really friendly, the location was amazing, and the room was really nice. The only thing I didn’t care for was the “entertainment”. A couple nights were great: fire dancers, a pretty good cover band, etc., but the rest of the nights, yikes. Definitely catered towards the older crowd.

    Reply
- Pingback: 3 Things to do in Roatan - meganotravels

- If you loved Roatan you will enjoy Utila too! A bit more difficult to go to but upcoming and lots of fun bars and people. It’s almost all a 20’s-30’s crowd and even more budget than Roatan.
  Angelica @BkChickTravels recently posted..Enter to Win Trips to Paradise This Month!

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  - I’ve heard that Utila is amazing, Angelica. Sadly, I just didn’t have the time to visit when I was in Roatan! Next time! :)

    Reply

- Hi Megan,

  Looks stunning! Can’t beat the beach, we just got back from Jimbaran in Bali. Loving the tropics!

  Ryan

  Reply

  - Nice! I’m headed to the beaches in FL this weekend (need to escape the cold!).

    Reply
- Pingback: A Look Back at 2014 - meganotravels

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### Who is Meganotravels?

Hey, I’m Megan! I’m a full-time consultant and run
a non-profit on the side. And when I’m not doing those
things—I’m traveling! I’m on a mission to travel,
photograph, and write about the world.

Hope you’ll follow along!

### What is “Megano?”

An “Italian” name (rhymes with “Figaro”) given to me
by a friend before I studied abroad in Rome. I had to be
more Italian, you see. It’s stuck ever since.

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