Kimpton Grand Roatán Resort and Spa

Kimpton Grand Roatán Resort and Spa is a luxury beachfront resort at West Bay, a short walk from West Bay Beach. The resort's own site lists 122 rooms, suites, bungalows and villa suites, while other listings show around 119 rooms. It describes four restaurants including Alera, Vos Café and Bar, Sea Cat beach bar and The Drop Off, plus sunset dining and private dining. There is a beachside infinity pool, a children's pool and a swim-up bar, and the Kao Kamasa Spa has outdoor treatment rooms and a wellness center. Activities include beach volleyball and yoga, and the front desk can help with tours and tickets. Pets are allowed according to the listing, and free parking is available.

Location and getting around: the resort sits on West Bay Beach, with the sand and Tabyana Beach within a few minutes' walk. The listing puts Roatán International Airport at about a 36-minute drive. The beach, restaurants and dive operators are easy to reach on foot, and taxis and tour vans collect from the hotel for the reef, the gardens and the cruise ports.

The rooms and the feel: this is a polished, design-led resort, with more variety than a simple room block, from standard rooms to bungalows and villa suites. Guest scores are high, around 9.4 from nearly a thousand reviews on the booking page. It suits couples and families who want a full-service base, and the swim-up bar, kids' pool and beach activities mean everyone has something to do.

Good to know: breakfast is available for a fee rather than included, and the buffet is not cheap, so compare prices and consider nearby cafes. Check-in starts at 4 pm and check-out is at noon. Rates are at the top of the island's range, particularly in the winter cruise season, so book early. Because it is a large resort, ask for a quieter room if you are sensitive to noise from the beach bars. Check the current room and villa options before booking, since the product mix is broad.