Kimpton Grand Roatan Resort and Spa

I stayed at the Kimpton with my girlfriend for 5 nights and we had a great experience. The location is outstanding - beach is beautiful, and while definitely busier on cruise ship days, still feels more private and quiet than other areas just a few minutes' walk up the beach. Snorkeling from shore is fantastic - caverns and valleys of coral, great variety of fish and wildlife. We stayed in the spa building which was beautiful, and felt a bit more private and secluded than the main area while still being less than a 5 minute walk to the beach or the main building. Breakfast was excellent, and I would recommend adding it to your booking. Beach chairs do go fast, usually claimed by 8ish in the morning, but pool chairs are easy to come by at all times. It's good to come with some cash for tips for the beach chair attendants, bag porters, etc., but otherwise all tips can be added to the checks you sign for any food/drink orders beachside, in the restaurants, etc. They have standup paddle boards, clear kayaks, and snorkel gear available to borrow, but the snorkel gear does go fast at times as well, so recommend getting that first thing in the morning if you can. There is a free wine happy hour at 5-6 each day which is a nice perk. Hotel-arranged shuttles to and from the airport run $55, but taxis were just $35 and easy to get from the airport. Similarly the hotel will not arrange any taxis into town, only their own service, which is more expensive, so it is helpful to have the number for a taxi service or a driver if you plan to travel from the hotel and want to save a little money. Our one complaint was with the excursions/activities. I worked a lot with the concierge prior to arrival to arrange a catamaran snorkeling tour and catamaran sunset cruise two days later. When we went for the snorkel tour, we were told by "Pinky" who seems to run the activities that it was actually cancelled, and could be done two days later. He said we could do the sunset cruise that night instead. When we showed up later for the sunset cruise that night he said now that was cancelled as there weren't enough people, but we could do the snorkel tour now, just not on a catamaran, and could do the sunset cruise in 2 days as previously scheduled. When we showed up for the sunset cruise we were again told it was cancelled. The communication throughout was on-existent, no one ever called or notified us ahead of time of the cancellations, and we had never been told that these bookings were dependent on other people booking as well and could be cancelled. If you book an activity with the Kimpton, take it with a grain of salt as to whether it will actually occur. Other than the issues with activity bookings, we loved our stay and would definitely spend another vacation at the Kimpton in the future.

This was our first stay at the Kimpton Grand Roatan Resort & Spa, and given IHG’s positioning of the Kimpton brand as “luxury” — along with an average nightly rate exceeding $800 USD — expectations were understandably high. Unfortunately, this property suffers from a significant disconnect between its branding, pricing, and actual service delivery. You pay for “luxury,” yet receive service more consistent with a mid-scale hotel. Prior to arrival, I attempted to contact the property multiple times by phone with no success. Calls went unanswered, which set an early tone of inaccessibility and lack of responsiveness. At check-in, my partner informed the front desk that we were visiting for his birthday weekend. The response was indifferent and unenthusiastic. As a Diamond Elite member, one expects recognition and thoughtful engagement, particularly when celebrating a special occasion. A simple gesture — even a card in the room — would have demonstrated attention to detail. This was a clear missed opportunity. Diamond Elite status should also translate into thoughtful room assignment within the booked category, especially when upgrades are unavailable. Despite the property having our reservation for over a week, we were assigned what was arguably the worst-located room in the category — directly facing the property’s dumping area. The view consisted of a large green trash container, maintenance equipment, pipes, and scaffolding. Paying over $800 USD per night to overlook trash and storage grounds is unacceptable and reflects a lack of basic guest consideration. It also calls into question whether guest loyalty status is reviewed or valued at all. The room itself was clean and comfortable inside; however, walking past dumping grounds each time we entered or exited significantly detracted from the experience. The pool experience further reinforced the property’s operational shortcomings. The environment was chaotic, with excessive noise and little management presence. Service was disorganized and unprofessional. Food and beverage orders took an unreasonable amount of time, staff appeared unfamiliar with the menu, and we were repeatedly told the kitchen was “busy.” At a property charging luxury rates, operational challenges should never become the guest’s burden. Most concerning was when, while placing a drink order, a staff member interrupted mid-sentence to respond to her walkie-talkie and walked away. Basic hospitality standards dictate that the guest in front of you takes priority. That interaction made it clear we were not experiencing luxury-level service. While a manager later apologized and attempted to address concerns, the overall experience had already been compromised. Throughout the property, employees were frequently on personal cell phones, often disengaged and not greeting guests. At this price point and brand positioning, attentiveness and proactive hospitality should be standard — not optional. Beach service was similarly inconsistent. Orders were slow, staff appeared distracted, and both the beach bar and restaurants being open to the public created a lack of control over who was entering the premises. As guests, we felt uncomfortable leaving our belongings unattended. Street vendors were also allowed onto the property, disrupting what should have been a relaxing environment. When one of our wrist keys detached, beach staff initially instructed us to go to reception — despite my having identification on hand. At a luxury property charging $850 USD per night, staff should resolve such issues seamlessly rather than redirect guests unnecessarily. Only after further discussion was the key brought to us. The beach manager did later make a thoughtful effort by arranging a birthday cake, which was appreciated. We also attended the Valentine’s dinner at $95 USD per person. The experience turned out to be buffet-style, which was unexpected at this price point and positioning. While the food was acceptable, popular items ran out repeatedly and were not replenished in a timely manner. Breakfast service presented similar inefficiencies. After ordering eggs, we were told we needed to retrieve them ourselves from the egg station, where a long line had formed. Again, paying premium nightly rates should not involve standing in extended buffet lines. Only after we expressed concern were the eggs brought to the table. The overarching issue with this property is the fundamental disconnect between what it markets itself to be and what it delivers. The staff are generally friendly and pleasant, but friendliness alone does not equate to luxury hospitality. At this level, guests expect professionalism, attention to detail, proactive service, recognition of loyalty status, and an experience that feels elevated and seamless. Instead, we found ourselves repeatedly identifying service gaps and advocating for basic hospitality standards. What was meant to be a celebratory weekend became a $3,000 lesson. We left disappointed, stressed, and regretting our choice. Based on this experience, I would not return and cannot recommend this property. There are other resorts in Roatan where the experience more closely aligns with the rates being charged.

If looking for a stay in Roatan, this location combined a scenic cove with great food and even better service. We enjoyed guided snorkeling and lounging by the ocean. Staff were lovely and warm.

Joshua from Roatan Activities was wonderful!!! He was so friendly and helpful with the kids. He helped us plan several excursions from the resort, all of which were top notch! The kids loved the monkeys and sloths! Leah, the concierge, arranged easy and safe transportation to all animal parks (Mayan Jungle and Gumba Limba).

Joshua from Roatan activities was top notch a blast. We told him exactly what we were interested in doing and he made it happen. It was our first time here and will definitely be returning in the future. The staff and appearance of the resort 10/10. Highly recommend.