Villa Helen's Hotel & Restaurant, La Ceiba

Villa Helen's was a welcome respite from the hustle and bustle of San Pedro Sula. Sure, we could have spent our two nights prior to taking the ferry to Roatan in La Ceiba, but we chose to rent a car and go to this beachfront delight instead. Once you make it down the standard Honduran rutted dirt road, Villa Helen's is to the left (and right) of the road. The lush tropical foliage surrounding the two pools and restaurant, pet bird, turtle puddle, and beachfront hammocks make this a great choice for people looking to relax. The only thing missing was other guests! (We were there in March.) Sambo Creek is within easy driving distance of La Ceiba and the popular (and well worth it) 1.5 hr hike to a waterfall in Pico Bonito, just through some pineapple fields. Not to mention, of course, the beautiful beach right out front of the place. We would recommend spending the extra bucks ($38 vs. $48) for a second floor beach view "luxury" room. They come with their own lovely porch, hammock, and outside table, and the rooms are quite large. All in all, if we return to the La Ceiba area, I'm sure we'll be staying at Villa Helen's again.