Sitting at the quieter end of a stunning white sand beach, the Kimpton Grand Roatán is one of those places that feels like a bit of a secret. It’s on Roatán, an under-the-radar Caribbean island that still flies below most people’s travel radar. The resort has everything you’d expect from Kimpton—thoughtful design, great service, and a relaxed but polished vibe. There’s a top-notch spa, clear blue water steps from your room, and yep, it even made an appearance on Love Is Blind. If you’re looking for a low-key luxury escape somewhere a little different, this spot is worth knowing about

Location and How To Get There

The Kimpton Grand Roatan is located on one of the lesser known Caribbean islands, called Roatan, and while it’s technically part of Honduras, it feels worlds apart from the mainland. You can reach Roatan either by sea or air. The island has its own international airport with mostly daily flights from the United States, Central America, and a few other Caribbean islands. If you’re coming from Europe, you’ll likely need to route through the U.S., often with an overnight layover.

From the airport, it’s a quick and easy 30 minute drive to the hotel. You can arrange a private or shared shuttle directly through the Kimpton. At the time of our visit in June 2025, it was $55 per reservation one way for a shared shuttle. If you’re arriving by ferry from La Ceiba on the Honduran mainland, the port is about 40 minutes from the hotel and easily reachable by taxi.

The Kimpton is tucked away at the far end of West Bay Beach, a stunning stretch of white sand with calm, turquoise waters. Being at the end of the beach means it feels quieter and more secluded, and it even has its own reef just offshore for snorkeling right from the beach.

Check-in Process

We contacted the hotel ahead of time to organise our transfer from the airport, and even though our flight landed late and we ended up waiting over an hour for our luggage, our driver was still at the airport, all smiles and ready to whisk us off to the hotel.

When we arrived, we were warmly greeted by the bellboys and escorted to reception to check in. While it wasn’t the friendliest check-in experience after a long travel day, we were grateful for how quickly we were sent off to our room once all the paperwork was signed.

A few of our requests and questions weren’t addressed at check-in, including the surprise you’re supposed to receive if you say the secret Kimpton password. We circled back later and another staff member took care of it.

We were then driven to our room by golf cart and left to settle in.

Rooms

There are a number of different room types at the Kimpton, from ocean view condos to bungalows to three-bedroom beachfront suites. The bungalows, while a little older and located farther from the main buildings, offer more privacy and larger decks than the ocean view rooms. I had the pleasure of staying in both a bungalow and a premium king with a balcony in the main building. They were both modernly decorated and functional, in true Kimpton style, with a wardrobe complete with a safe, yoga mat, and robes.

The beds were incredibly comfortable, like falling asleep in the clouds, and featured side tables with multiple outlets and charging ports. The air conditioning was fantastic, and after spending a few hours outside in the Honduran sun you’ll be very glad to have it.

There’s also a water dispenser, mini fridge, and mini bar. You do have to pay for the snack and drink items, and just like any hotel mini bar, they’re not cheap by any means. But in a pinch, it’s nice to know you’ve got something on hand.

The bathrooms are clean, functional, and spacious, featuring luxury toiletries, an overhead rain shower, and in the case of the bungalows, a wonderful outdoor shower that is completely private.

The bungalows have a very spacious deck overlooking the canopy with a dining table and chairs and an outdoor sofa. I loved watching the wildlife from the deck in the morning. There were tons of lizards and a creature I had never encountered before called an agouti. I was told locals refer to them as “jungle rabbits,” and honestly, my first thought was that they looked like mini capybaras.

While the bungalows don’t come with a coffee machine, you can request one from reception, which we did. There’s also complimentary coffee and tea served from 6 a.m. at Vos if you choose to skip the in-room option.

The rooms in the main building are a little more modern and have their own Nespresso machine with pods, although ours unfortunately didn’t work.

Food and Drink

There are a number of different eateries onsite, including a couple with stellar locations right on the beach. In the main building, and on the same floor as Reception is Vos Cafe and Bar, which serves up light bites and delicious drinks. It’s also the spot where you can grab free coffee and tea in the morning starting at 6 a.m., and it’s close to where they host “social hour” — an hour in the evening when you can enjoy complimentary wine or rum punch and some snacks every day.

On the bottom floor of the building is Alera, the Mediterranean restaurant where the main breakfast buffet is served and dinner is offered in the evenings. The breakfast buffet is incredibly extensive, with a large selection of hot and cold items, an omelette and eggs station, a huge selection of bakery goods, and even a bar if you’re in the mood to kickstart your vacation with a morning mimosa.

Sea Cat is the beachside California-inspired eatery offering a delicious lunch and dinner menu, including a pretty impressive cocktail list at surprisingly affordable prices (especially for a Kimpton). I highly recommend the carne asada tacos — they were fantastic. The Drop Off offers a similar vibe and menu and even has swing seats which are always a hit.

Make sure to check out Taco Tuesday at Sea Cat where they have live music and a great taco and tequila menu special. We ordered a sample of a lot of the tacos and they were all delicious. Still slightly regretting not trying the pizza taco though.

We also ordered room service a couple of times and they were incredibly accommodating with my gluten free dietary restrictions. They made me a custom meal that was ready within about half an hour.

Facilities

It’s worth mentioning that the top draw for the Kimpton Grand Roatán is the spa. It’s not just a spa, it’s the spa—one of the best in the world and absolutely massive. I didn’t have a treatment during my stay (there are only so many hours in the day), but I did take a good wander through, including the meticulously curated grounds. I’m told the four-step plunge pool treatment is a must. Honestly, even walking past it made me feel a little more relaxed.

The fitness centre is also located in the spa and you get 24/7 access with your room band. I can confidently say it’s one of the best hotel gyms I’ve ever stepped foot in, and I don’t say that lightly. They had all the newest machines, including cardio equipment with Netflix built in. Yes, Netflix. So now you can rewatch your favorite episode while pretending to enjoy the treadmill. Genius. There were also loads of weight machines, a spacious outdoor section, and the whole place was spotless. They had a cold water station and staff who kept coming around like magical gym fairies, placing fresh towels at every machine. The ocean view through the floor-to-ceiling windows didn’t hurt either, and neither did the two iguanas that regularly sunned themselves right outside like they owned the place. Honestly, same.

If that’s not enough, the pool at the Kimpton is as dreamy as you’d expect. They’ve got these water loungers that make it dangerously easy to lose track of time, and there’s a separate kids pool too if you’re travelling with little ones. There’s also a games room with table tennis, foosball, and a life-sized outdoor chess set for those looking to channel their inner Queen’s Gambit.

And just when you think they’ve thought of everything, you’ll spot complimentary water stations around the property offering iced infused water, sunscreen, aloe, and bug spray. Basically, you’re hydrated, sun-protected, and mosquito-free. Now that’s luxury.

Activities 

One thing that I always get asked is “whats included in the $60 + tax resort fee?” and while I don’t like the way that this has become the norm at hotels now, there’s plenty of ways for you to get the most out of the additional add on! Here’s a list of what’s included in it:

• Yoga sessions three times per week
• Complimentary snorkelling gear and life vest rentals
• Complimentary clear bottom kayak rentals
• Try Scuba available Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 10am to 11:30am. Class takes place at Pool Deck.
• Complimentary daily pool and beach surprise and delight (Available 11am and 3pm)
• Pool towels as well as chairs at the pool and beach
• Filtered water stations throughout the property
• Coral reef safe sunblock at the pool
• Online major international newspapers and magazines
• Non-stop roundtrip transportation from the resort to West End, running at 6pm, 8pm and 10pm based on availability, reservations required. 
• Overnight Parking
• Board game library available to check out during your stay
• 24-hour fitness center equipped with Echelon bikes live classes
• Weekly complimentary activities for all ages
• Weekly live entertainment (schedule varies)
• Complimentary shuttle to Abundant Life Foundation, when a volunteering activity has been previously scheduled
• Golf cart transfers upon request (on property)
• Daily Sunset Ritual at sunset hour located at Beach Area

Honestly I feel like the majority of these are to be expected in your stay, for example, use of towels and wifi etc. but it’s worth checking out some of the other additions – you’re paying for it after all! 

What’s actually not listed here is the “Social Hour” that many Kimpton’s (including this one) run daily from 5-6pm and includes free flow wine, cocktails, drinks and snacks. During my stay they had white wine, red wine, rum punch and a non-alcoholic juice plus a range of snacks – we had various sandwiches and sliders, empanadas, ceviche, plantain chips and hummus.  It takes place upstairs just outside Vos and quickly became my favorite way to wind down while chatting with other guests and staff. It’s basically the nicest happy hour you didn’t know you needed.

Service

While the service by the pool was sometimes a little slow, overall we had a good experience. Most of the staff we met were all smiles, eager to help, and happy to share their island knowledge. The person who checked us in wasn’t the friendliest and didn’t follow through on a few requests later in the week, but the other front desk team members more than made up for it with their warm and helpful attitude.

Closing Remarks

There’s a reason Kimpton hotels have such a great reputation and the Grand Roatan is no exception. It has an amazing location at the quieter end of West Bay Beach, a fantastic selection of restaurants, a world-class spa, and a gym that probably gives most boutique hotel gyms a run for their money. It’s hard not to love this place.

Being able to book with IHG points makes it even more appealing to me since I’m a loyal IHG fan and I’m already planning my return trip.

If you’re interested in staying here for free using points, definitely check out the IHG One Rewards Travel Card (referral link). It gives you automatic platinum status, an annual anniversary free night, and room upgrades. I’ve had this card for years and honestly, it’s one of those cards I’ll never get rid of.

Ready to book Kimpton Grand Roatan Click Here!

You can find out more about my stay on my “Roatan” Highlights on Instagram @chase.the.rainbows.

Disclosure: chasetherainbows.com participates in affiliate advertising programs as a way to earn revenue. Some links to products and services are affiliate links. I will earn a commission if you click an affiliate link and finalize a purchase at no extra cost to you. Thank you for your support.