Kimpton Grand Roatan Resort and Spa

Family vacation to Roatan for our first time visiting. Did a lot of research before choosing this hotel. Stayed a full week. Pro’s: *Location! The best snorkeling is steps off the back of the property. However, it is located at the very end of the West Bay which makes it farther away from anything else on the island. Make sure you don’t intend to leave the resort much if you don’t have a rental car. *The rooms are good size and comfortable to accommodate our family of 4. * Guests are provided towels, loungers, sunscreen, water and some beach accessories. *Pool overlooks the ocean and has multiple areas… *Modern hotel, newly constructed. * Most staff is friendly and hard-working people. All seem to be bilingual. *Walking distance to some other West Bay restaurants and shopping. *Access to water taxis to take you to West End, but beware this will cost $5/person each way. This adds up fast. * I personally loved the beachside vendors. Fresh fruit, massages cheaper than spa, sunglasses, jewelry. Have cash on hand. Be prepared to negotiate because prices will change from day to day. Con’s: *Every time you turn around, they are looking for a way to extract more money from you above and beyond your nightly fees. This was extreme compared to many other high end resorts we have patronized. Pretty much everything is extra and at a higher rate than necessary. More than just typical tourist situations. *Housekeeping was horrible. Pretty much had to find them each day to restock towels and clear trash. They seemed to come at odd hours which limited our own access to the room. *Make sure to ask if the resort plans to host a wedding. This will entail blocking off half the beach loungers for the whole day. It also means the party will be yelling outside your room balcony until 11pm. Happy for the couple but it shouldn’t usurp the hotel premises for all other guests the entire day. *Only 1 true restaurant onsite and will run about $60/person. 1 bar/cafe. 2 beachside bars/dining options. The convenience was nice but the prices were excessive for the value and creativity of the food. You are left with eating average food or spending more money to go off site to find better cuisine. * Guest relations will up charge you twice as much to get to airport. There are plenty of drivers on the island trying to earn a living, but the hotel won’t help you with that unless you want to pay their exorbitant prices for their own people. They also do not have free shuttle services from the resort to local attractions during your stay. *Beware the concierge who will arrange your tours with much higher tour companies in price. Lots of other options to find reputable tours on Tripadvisor or even on the beach with vendors for a better value. * Your room key is a bracelet. It seemed convenient at first, but we realized this served to mark you to every local on the island to upcharge you because you must have plenty of money if you can stay at this resort. Overall, we had a decent stay at Kimpton but I don’t think their prices are justified with the value provided. Check out other resorts just down the beach. You will still be able to snorkel in the same beach without being stuck farther away from the rest of the island.

First big brand hotel on the island. Resort consists of a couple of big buildings and bungalows scattered around the property. I stayed in one of the bungalows. Booked thru AMEX Platinum so they let me check in early (usual check in is at 4) and I had free daily breakfast. Room was spacious with a sunken living area and an elevated bedroom. Bathroom was small and had only one sink which was fine for me. Bathroom also had an outdoor shower. There was a patio with a table, a chair, and a sofa. Big TV in the room, furniture still in good shape. Be aware the bungalows are on steep hills so if you have mobility issues you may have a problem, especially since it was also very hot outside. Nice spa which I did not use. Decent gym which I did use daily. Small game room for the kids. Inside main building a restaurant serving breakfast and a bar. Breakfast was meh. Nothing special especially for a five star property. They were hiding bacon. No joke. You really had to ask for it. Selection was limited. Price was 40.00USD with tax and tip but like I said free for AMEX Platinum members. On the positive note they had a social hour from 5 to 6PM daily so free alcohol and snacks. Outside you had a cafe with pretty good food and an outdoor bar. Property had one big pool, a hot tub, no swim up bar and easy access to the beach. No seaweed in Roatan. Water was warm and crystal clear. Overall I would recommend this hotel especially if you get a good rate and some freebies.

Our family had an absolutely incredible stay. The water, food, grounds, rooms, and staff were impeccable. Staff standouts included Christopher, Dania, Dinia, Franklin, and Sheyla. Everyone made us feel so welcome and at home. The rooms were beautiful with perfect views of the water. Amenities were top tier. We will be back to see our new friends at the Grand Roatan resort soon!! Thank you again!

Everything from the view to the service to the spa was perfect. We visited this time with our friends. We have been coming to the Grand Roatan before Kempton bought it. Back then they were just a little bungalows on the hill. I was not sure about the new additions, high-rise, etc. I am sold now! It didn’t take away from the ambience, it actually added a new dimension. They still have the best pool in Roatan and the absolute best location. The attendants are top-notch. Carson is Awesome! He took care of us every morning and made sure our chairs were ready when we came down to the beach. The bar staff was always nearby whenever we needed a drink or snack. Breakfast is our favorite. The selections changed daily with the exception of the staples and the quality of the food and service was top-notch. The snorkeling in front of the hotel is amazing. I really like how they are protective of the reef. Another thing I liked was the fact you didn’t have to bother with a key during your stay. When you check in they supply you with a wristband that unlocks your door. We will be back with the rest of our family. This is our “go to” place for central America.

A hotel is just a building. The staff are the ones who make the building come alive. This is my second time coming here with my wife. It’s a short trip from Miami, and I first visited two years ago. Since then, I have been talking about this hotel to my friends and family nonstop. It was my wife’s birthday during this trip, and we decided to make a quick return to the island. The minute we walked in, we were warmly greeted. Tariq at the front desk welcomed us with a smile and provided excellent service. He even used our names several times during check-in, which made the experience feel personal and genuine. Karla followed up during our stay to make sure everything was going well, and Carson at the pool constantly checked in to make sure we were taken care of. But I must say, “Uncle Byron” has that unforgettable smile, voice, and style of hospitality that you simply cannot forget. I recognized him immediately from my visit two years ago. That alone says something special. In an industry where people meet thousands of guests over the years, it is the people who create genuine moments that leave lasting memories. Living in the USA can often feel like a nonstop rat race, so it was nice to simply relax. I have been a General Manager in the hospitality industry for 39 years, working with the big three hotel brands as well as smaller independent hotels. For once, it was nice to just be a guest and not the GM. What stood out most was watching the staff genuinely smile while effortlessly taking care of guests — even while handling some crazy requests I overheard during the stay. No one missed a beat. They simply made it happen. There was no frustration, no hesitation, and no loss of professionalism. The team worked together naturally, and you could feel that the culture here is built around taking care of people. Hospitality takes special people — people who truly love helping others. You may never become rich in money in this industry, but you become rich in memories and self-satisfaction, knowing you helped families and friends create meaningful experiences together. Once you understand that hospitality is not about weekends off or holidays free, but about creating moments where families can connect, relax, laugh, and make memories together, you realize how rewarding this profession truly is. Don’t get me wrong — this industry can absolutely test you at times. Long hours, weekends, holidays, demanding guests, and the pressure to always deliver can wear people down. But seeing hospitality performed so naturally and sincerely at this hotel was refreshing. It reminded me why I am proud to be part of the hospitality family. Thank you to everyone at Kimpton Hotel for all that you do for your guests and for everything you did for my wife and me during her 55th birthday celebration. This hotel now holds a very special place in our hearts. My wife and I have traveled to more than 70 countries over 28 years together, and without question, this hotel ranks in our top five experiences anywhere in the world. And the reason is simple — the staff. The staff are what make this place special. Without them, it would simply be another beautiful building near the water. But because of them, it becomes a place where people feel welcomed, cared for, remembered, and connected. That is true hospitality, and every single member of this team should feel proud of what they create every day.