Beachfront "Round" House - Dive, Snorkel, Swim, Kayak, Leisure

• Great Utila Location

  Great Utila Location

  • Guest Susan
  • Date of stay 02/23/13
  • Review Submitted 03/03/13
  The Round House was an excellent location for all things Utila. The diving right outside the front door was superb. It was just a short walk, drive or bike ride into Utila Town and the people could not have been more welcoming. There are kayaks available for your use and the Mangroves are a "must see".

  Recommended for: Tourists without a car, adventure seekers, age 55+, romantic getaway, girls getaway, sightseeing.

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• Charming Round House

  Charming Round House

  • Guest A and J
  • Date of stay 11/05/12
  • Review Submitted 11/30/12
  My husband and I stayed in the Round House for 5 days in November and found it to be everything we anticipated! This charming and cozy house is truly someone's home. It has everything! We found out that Sue's parents had it built many years ago and that it has been lovingly maintained by Sue and her family. The location is perfect, with enough distance from Utila town to be private and quiet, yet the town is easily accessible by bicycle or walking. We recommend shopping at Bush's supermarket for your staples, and then checking out Roni's produce for daily specials and his mother's freshly baked banana bread. Multiple restaurants in town serve fresh fish, great local food and beef imported from the U.S.. For delicious coffee and to support a great cause, go to Coco Rio. The Round House is built with easy access to the water. Unfortunately when we visited it rained every day and was too murky to snorkel. However, I spotted an eel, multiple flying fish and flapping rays from the front porch while sipping morning coffee or an afternoon rum drink. We heard from many people in town that snorkeling from this home can't be beat! Sue is a wonderful hostess and Angel is friendly and helpful. Both of them worked to accomodate our every need. This home is perfect for a remote getaway on a beautiful tropical island. You can even access the internet with Sue's wifi set-up. Stay here! You won't be disappointed.

  Recommended for: Tourists without a car, families with teenagers, adventure seekers, age 55+, romantic getaway, girls getaway, sightseeing, families with young children.

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• Great place to relax and snorkel

  Great place to relax and snorkel

  • Guest wanda
  • Date of stay 11/18/12
  • Review Submitted 11/26/12
  Myself and a friend stayed at the Round House for 5 days, we really enjoyed our visit. The house has everything you need including kayaks and is very comfortable. It's steps away from the water and very close to the reef which is great for snorkeling. The wrap around deck offers nice outdoor relaxing with great views. This was our second trip to Utila and we plan to visit many more times, however I would recommend avoiding the rainy season if your goal is to spend time on the water. The small town of Utila is charming with lots of waterfront restaurants. Utila is rustic and affordable, still a bit off the beaten path which adds to the adventure. Sue was absolutely wonderful assisting us with our travel plans, she is very responsive to emails and very helpful. It's worth having someone like Sue to assist with those travel details.

  Recommended for: Tourists without a car, families with teenagers, adventure seekers, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

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• Our respite getaway!

  Our respite getaway!

  • Guest Katia
  • Date of stay 06/30/12
  • Review Submitted 07/05/12
  My family and I were in great need of a respite. We found the Round House and are so thankful we did! Everything was wonderful and Sue was so easy to work with. The groundskeeper was amazing and was able to take care of everything we needed/asked of him. The snorkeling was AMAZING, just walked out the door and into the water and you immediately are at the best spot on the island for snorkeling. The house is in a very quiet area, we felt like we were all to ourselves. Yet, we were a short bike ride from in town where we could get groceries, ice cream or go to a restaurant. At the end of our stay we were not ready to return home. We know for sure we will be back to the Round House, hopefully soon!

  Recommended for: Tourists without a car, families with teenagers, adventure seekers, age 55+, romantic getaway, girls getaway, sightseeing, families with young children.

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• beautiful house, awesome reef

  beautiful house, awesome reef

  • Guest burntcoffee
  • Date of stay 03/31/12
  • Review Submitted 05/03/12
  If you want to snorkel offshore, this is the place! We saw eagle rays, moray eels and hundreds of fish among really beautiful coral formations. The deck on the Round House is almost directly over the water-we spent most of our out-of-water time there. We had plenty of electricity and water --- in fact Angel and Sue went out of their way to make sure we were "loaded up" before the busy holiday.

  Recommended for: Tourists without a car, families with teenagers, adventure seekers, age 55+, romantic getaway.

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• A great vacation on the beautiful island of Utila!

  A great vacation on the beautiful island of Utila!

  • Guest Pam & Jim
  • Date of stay 03/17/12
  • Review Submitted 03/31/12
  We had a great vacation and loved the island of Utila. Everyone we met was warm and freindly. We hope to visit again soon! We would definitely, rent this house again. It is a great house with an awesome deck and beautiful views. The trade winds kept us cool all day and evening and we never had to use the air conditioning. The house was clean and well maintained and it looks like it does in the photos. It is close to town, but offers a bit of privacy too. Consider renting a scooter , ATV or golf cart as it is a good 25+ minute walk to the center of town. The only things lacking were the bath and beach towels were a bit worn out, so you may want to bring your own. Also, there were no lounge chairs to sunbathe in, just adirondeck chairs (which are more common on the island). .

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• The Round House ie the Very Best place to stay

  The Round House ie the Very Best place to stay

  • Guest nisswavic
  • Date of stay 12/23/11
  • Review Submitted 01/15/12
  My family stayed in the Round House for 12 days over the Christmas/New Years Holidays (2011/2012). The owner, Sue, is very responsive and genuinely cares that you have a good vacation. She will help make arrangements and provide suggestions. Her caretaker, Angel, is invisible but always around when you need him. He too is willing to help or provide suggestions. The house is fantastic. There is something about it that allows you to truely feel comfortable in it, as your own, during your rental period. The beds are comfortable and the towels are soft. You are provided all of the amenities you could need. Because the kitchen was well stocked we found ourselves cooking some meals instead of just heating leftovers from our restaurant meals. The diving/snorkeling out front is fantastic. The health of the reef here is like we saw in Bonnaire. We snorkeled and dove to 100'. We saw: moray eels, stingrays, queen angel fish, french angel fish, barracuda, parrot fish, indigo hamlet, grouper, squirrelfish, basslets, butterfly fish, filefish, blue chromus, tangs, sergant majors, drum fish, french grunts, trumpet fish etc. Sue recommended that we use Coral View Dive shop for tank rental. They were very accomodating and we were very pleased with their services. Sitting on the deck, diving our front, eating some great meals in, visits from Salsa-meant that we actually saved a lot of money. We didn't seem to need oustside entertainment. Contentment... This is the best VRBO we have ever rented. You can't go wrong! Vicki. Ed, Eric and Andy

  Recommended for: Tourists without a car, families with teenagers, adventure seekers, age 55+, pet owners, romantic getaway, girls getaway, sightseeing, families with young children.

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• We just keep coming back

  We just keep coming back

  • Guest Squid & Grunt
  • Date of stay 02/26/11
  • Review Submitted 06/19/11
  My husband and I along with another couple have been visiting Utila for several years now and staying at Miss Sue's Round House so I was dismayed when taking a look at the calendar for our next visit to see the recently posted unfavorable review regarding water and electricity. In all the times we have stayed at The Round House the four of us NEVER, EVER ran out of water or electricity, however we recognize the limited resources of the island and take quick, short showers and only turn on the fans or sometimes the air conditioners in the evening. It was also disheartening to see Miss Sue's and Angel's character questioned. They are the most direct, honest and helpful people you could ever desire and have gone the extra mile for us on many occasions. The Round House has the best location on the entire island with an outstanding reef right in front of the property and a really easy get in with a nice bar and sun dock just 100 yds away. The porch is a great feature and we spend the majority of our out of water time in the hammocks and swing swilling beer, reading and relaxing with a great view of the ocean and mountains off in the distance. A good and sometimes downright brisk breeze keeps all cool and refreshing. The bathrooms are large and clean, the house is clean and well stocked and Miss Sue always has complimentary beer and soda waiting for us. Angel and his wife are wonderful and have always taken great pains to accommodate our every wish. He arranges for our bikes, has taken his own time to show us the caves, attended to any problems quickly and with no complaints and hauls us back and forth to and from the airport. Utila is not for the faint of heart, you MUST have some of the adventurer in you to fully appreciate the vibe and culture of the island. This is not a luxury destination!!!!!, but you will never find better diving, a more eclectic people scene, and just generally warm hearted, laid back environment for a forget-about-it-all vacation. I highly recommend staying at the Round House we were there for two weeks in February 2011 and we are already planning our next visit. Squid & Grunt

  Recommended for: Tourists without a car, families with teenagers, adventure seekers, girls getaway, families with young children.

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• The Round House -- excellent location, great owners, super staff, Unbeatable views, reef, comforts!

  The Round House -- excellent location, great owners, super staff, Unbeatable views, reef, comforts!

  • Guest Anonymous
  • Date of stay 05/02/11
  • Review Submitted 06/18/11
  I have both rented the Round House, and been a neighbor in Blue Bayou for over 15 years. I was shocked at "Dee"'s review. When I have stayed at the Round House, there has never been a water problem, and power is used only as quickly as we used air conditioners and hot water, watch TV, do laundry, etc. Angel is a really great guy who tries very hard to keep guests happy and Sue is one of the best and longest time "landlords" on the island. Angel mets the guests and takes them to the Round House, I'm sureh e shows everyone around the same way, showing them meters, etc. He has done this for years. I now live just down from the Round House in Blue Bayou. "Dee" and her husband asked to rent our kayaks for 2 days and keep them at the Round House. As a favor to Sue, because we trust her, we said "ok". Then "Dee" changed her mind and decided just to take one double kayak because it was cheaper (L150 / day for single; L225 / day for the double -- a total saving of about $8 US for a favor to keep the kayaks for a couple of days and nights, and have Angel deliver them to the Round House). Again, as a favor to Sue, we said "ok". Just before arriving, "Dee" rather rudely cancelled the kayaks as they were sure they could find a better deal. They didn't. I was here in my Blue Bayou house the week "Dee" and husband were in the Round House. There were lots of power problems with the town power and it was HOT and STILL. No one was too happy, but the local power company was trimming the trees over the power lines for safety, so the power was off and on during a couple of daysl. With pressurized water systems (so for example The Round House's eco on-demand hot water heater works), when the power goes out, so does the water. Angel has worked at the Round House about 15 years, he is very knowledgeable and honest. Sue has been on the island longer than that and a volunteer teacher, sits on local boards, etc. To hear her described as dishonest is ridiculous. Sometimes renters are so awestruck by the beauty in Blue Bayou and the view from the Round House that, although they have all instructions written, they don't absorb all --power is .45 cents US per KWH and the air conditioners just sucks down the power -- that eco measure should be taken. Utila is not for everyone, It's a Caribbean Island with all the good and bad -- located on the lovliest reef system around, The Round House is comfortable, and the owner and staff honest and lovely

  Recommended for: Tourists without a car, families with teenagers, adventure seekers, age 55+, romantic getaway, girls getaway, sightseeing, families with young children.

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• Renters Beware- dishonest owner

  Renters Beware- dishonest owner

  • Guest Dee
  • Date of stay 05/21/11
  • Review Submitted 06/13/11
  My husband and I travelled to Utila May 21-28 for a diving trip. The only problem we encountered was with our rental home, "The Round House" near Blue Bayou, which we had pre-booked with the home's American owner, who also owns Oyster Lagoon Beach House. She was pleasant via email and all seemed to be in order. We paid half of the weekly rate via paypal before leaving, and the second half and additional security deposit upon arrival to her housekeeper (who spoke English). The evening of our 2nd night on the island at appx. 11pm, all electricity went off. We assumed it was off on the island, but the next morning I discovered we also had no running water. We called the housekeeper to investigate, who told us we had apparently "used all of our electricity" that was prepaid for by the owner, and we had used "all of the water" that was stored in the >1300gallon tanks. We told him this was impossible, but he offered no solution. I then called the owner, who told me she had certainly put "enough" on the meter and that we must have exceeded our allowance and that there was nothing she could do. She also said that her housekeeper told her the water tanks were full the pevious day, so we must have "used all the water up". We told her that this could not possibly be true as we had been diving the whole time and had only actually been in the house for about 6 hrs each night. She offered no solution, and accused us of choosing to ignore all the signs posted around the house about conserving water and electricity. I told her that we needed water, and to do whatever she had to do to get it and electricity back running, A few hourse later, the housekeeper arrived and put 59 kilowatts on the electric meter. He then proceeded to siphon water from the tanks of a neighboring home unto our water tanks in the utility room in the basement. After he left, we confirmed that 59 kilowatts of power were now on the meter.This lasted us the next 3 days with 5 kilowatts to spare. If the owner was honest, there should have been at least 200 kW on the meter, and certainly enough to last the week. We returned to the US to find that 25% of our security deposit was being kept for "extra electricity" and "water refill", which, as I mentioned, had been siphoned from a neighboring home. The owner sent us an email accusing us of being careless with the island's "natural resources" and said that we were verbally abusive. Renters should stay clear!

  Owner response: I invite potential guests to read other Round House reviews and reviews from my other properties (listing 125837) to see the positive comments about the owner and Angel, caretaker. Utila is a small island which adds to its charm and attraction. Small islands have limited (and therefore expensive) resources. Most visitors respect this and practice simple conservation techniques. Uitila utilizes prepaid keypads for purchasing electricity and most houses have large cisterns or water tanks. Consequently, all vacation rentals limit the amount of electricity paid for by the owner. To my knowledge no guest has every used 1300 gallons of water in 2 days, so no property owners have had to consider charging for additional water. In the afternoon 3 days following the arrival of these guests, my caretaker informed me they were out of electricity. At this point he did not think they were out of water because he assumed their was no running water because electricity is needed to run the water pump. I gave him money to buy more electricity and told him to inform the guests that this and additional electric would be deducted from their damage deposit in order to not impact their cash on hand during their vacation and per the rental rules they had received. When contacted by phone by my guests I informed them that Angel was on his way to put more power on their meter and Angel also showed the guests the receipt for the power that had been placed on the meter just prior to their arrival to assure them that they were provided with what they were due. Concerning the water usage, I told my guests that they had used 1300 gallons in 2 days and we would have to pump water from a private well. In the interim Angel siphoned water from another property to get them some water asap. He also checked for possible leaks that may have caused them to run out of water and found none. After receiving $27 (500 lempiras) of additional electricity and the same amount for additional water, and knowing they were being charged for it and any more, they were easily able to reduce their usage to a reasonable rate. They did not need any more for the rest of the week. Please email me if I can answer any questions or clarify any points in this response.

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$145/night (4 night minimum), $920/week, $3400/month
plus a $200 refundable damage deposit.
All rates subject to 16% Honduran tourist tax.
50% deposit to hold reservation, 50% due before or on day of arrival.
Cancellation & Refund: 45 days written notice, $100 cancellation fee.
Credit Cards & Personal Checks accepted via PAY PAL.

Note: Until confirmed, rates are subject to change without notice.