Hotel at a Glance: Clarion Suites Roatan

Clarion Suites Roatan sets the stage for a relaxing tropical vacation. There are five pools on the property, and Roatán’s white-sand beaches are just a 10-minute walk away. The resort also has one of the best spas on the island—La Piña Spa & Health Club, which features an outdoor pool with cascading waterfalls, a salon, and six treatment rooms where you can get a massage, facial, or nourishing avocado body wrap.

• Suite amenities: fully equipped kitchens, large patios, and tropical decor
• Drink this: a frozen beer-garita at Herby’s Sports Bar
• Keep fit: The health club has a three-tiered pool, cardio and strength-training equipment, and a sauna.
• Surf ‘n’ turf: The Pineapple Grill serves certified Angus steaks and local lobster.<p>

Roatán, Honduras: Diver’s Paradise with Dense Jungle Interior

Though Roatán—the largest of Honduras’s Bay Islands—used to be plagued by pirates looting the gold of Spanish galleons, most of the popular shipwrecks were purposefully sunk for divers. But that doesn’t make the many dive sites surrounding the island any less appealing. Walls of coral and more than 800 species of fish have turned them into natural wonders. Starfish, sea turtles, and eels are common sights during scuba-diving and snorkeling trips. The crystal-clear waters contain a wealth of Mayan, Paya, and Garifuna artifacts as well.

Farther inland, dense jungles and grassy hills stretch across the surface of the island. From the secluded bays of Roatán’s East End, you can get a change of scenery by taking winding dirt roads to smaller villages. The towns of Coxen Hole and French Harbour in particular provide a taste of local culture in the form of street vendors, an iguana farm, and shrimp fishers working the docks.