Victor Bodden "Best of Roatan Private Tour"

[Oz9591]

Hi Oz9591 I also mentioned other names but he said they booked. Does Victor write back prior to the cruise to confirm the reservation we leave next saturday?

 

Yes, he will send a price quote that asks that you "confirm." Once you confirm, you receive another email with a confirmation of your tour, the meeting instructions, etc.

 

We've always received a Tip Sheet, too (about a month before each cruise)

 

If you didn't receive the confirmation, I'd definitely contact him... If I were you, I'd drop him a quick note to be sure that you were still on the list!

[Tony O]

After reading the reviews we booked Bodden tours and was able to request who we wanted. Thanks to all who wrote some really good reviews.

[Cruisegirl6]

I think he sent that back in june but wouldn't he send a reminder one just before my cruise?

[Oz9591]

I think he sent that back in june but wouldn't he send a reminder one just before my cruise?

 

He has a sent a Tip Sheet with a reminder of the tour you booked, where to meet, etc. and lots of info about the island a month before our last few visits. If you didn't get this, I'd guess that you're not confirmed yet.

 

 

My advice is to write him and ask, or review the email that you received in June and make sure that you're "confirmed"! Is anyone else on your Roll Call going with Bodden Tours?

You could always ask if they received the tip sheet/confirmation.

[packedandready]

Thinking of booking a private tour. How far in advance do you recommend reserving? Cruise isn't until april.

[Cruisegirl6]

I wrote to them and Alfonso wrote me back!! :) all good

[lovevacadays]

Thinking of booking a private tour. How far in advance do you recommend reserving? Cruise isn't until april.

 

Since you don't have to put a deposit down I would book now. That way you can request a specific tour guide (many good ones listed on this thread) and have a better chance of getting that guide. If you decide to do something else you can just email Victor and cancel your tour.

 

I will also say that since cruisers don't have to put a cash deposit down for Victor's tours if cruisers decide to not go on a reserved tour give him the courtesy of letting him know. I have heard many book these tours and then decide not to take them and don't let the tour operators know. This leaves a tour guide without a tour for the day. Think about it, would you like it if you went into work and then found out you couldn't work that day and therefore couldn't expect the income from that day? It is just common courtesy. (not directed at you - poster) Just a little thought I wanted to add.

[brifor]

Bite the bullet and book the private tour. It is a stunningly beautiful island that is still fairly pristine. The snorkeling at West Bay Beach is some of the best you will find and zip lining is fun. You can skimp at one of the other ports :)

 

Thanks for the advice :) I am trying to not skimp anywhere this time around except for the private island (Half Moon Cay). I think we're going to just hit the beach that day. So I should do the private tour at Roatan. Where should I go? The iguana farm looks cool - have you been? What is the best place for ziplining? Where at West Bay Beach is the best snorkelling or fewest people found?

[Guest 2000]

Thanks for the advice :) Where at West Bay Beach is the best snorkelling or fewest people found?

 

This thread has heaps of info, with maps and pics, about snorkeling West Bay.

[texancruzer]

@ brifor: where you go really depends on what you like to do. There are tons of things to see and do but only you can decide how you want to spend your day. We were there for a week in July and our last day we couldn't dive since we would be flying home the next day......so we booked a tour to see the island. We really didn't want to see iguanas or monkeys or zip and we had the beach the whole week (along with some amazing diving) so we asked to see the "real" Roatan. We went way up the island (from West Bay) and had a wonderful lunch and learned all about Roatan. See just keep reading and looking around and you will find exactly what you want to do. We are headed back for another week at Christmas but will be leaving the day you start your cruise.......

Edited September 23, 2012 by texancruzer

[lovevacadays]

@ brifor: where you go really depends on what you like to do. There are tons of things to see and do but only you can decide how you want to spend your day. We were there for a week in July and our last day we couldn't dive since we would be flying home the next day......so we booked a tour to see the island. We really didn't want to see iguanas or monkeys or zip and we had the beach the whole week (along with some amazing diving) so we asked to see the "real" Roatan. We went way up the island (from West Bay) and had a wonderful lunch and learned all about Roatan. See just keep reading and looking around and you will find exactly what you want to do. We are headed back for another week at Christmas but will be leaving the day you start your cruise.......

 

Ok, can I just say I'm jealous. My friend Teri and I cruised to Roatan in 2009. We keep talking about going back but end up booking other vacations. I think we are going to have to just find some time and extra money to just go back!

 

We really, really enjoyed just driving around the island for hours and stopping at scenic points. It was such a fabulous day. Definitely one of my all-time favorite days on vacation.:)

[Athankfulheart]

Are the monkeys or birds aggressive and do they scratch or bite?

 

 

We had a spectacular day with Frankie from VB this past year and plan to use him again in 2014. I am very conflicted about bringing my kids to the monkeys and birds for a few reasons. My husband and I know parrots. The macaws at VB were not tamed birds. They have them perch on your head vs your hand for a reason. They can't do much damage from the top of your head. The tour guides ( not Frankie) had to constantly "manage" the birds and give them treats as they jumped from head to head. We felt like the guide was constantly on guard. Being "bird people" we found this to be no fun. As for the monkeys, we didnt get any spiel on how to act around them. I found the smallest ones to be very innocent and fairly calm. The larger ones were not so trustworthy. At one point I moved my hand a little faster than slow and a monkey lunged toward my hand with teeth bared. Nobody told us that we should move slowly, but this seemed to be important with this particular monkey especially.

 

I just don't know if I would bring little kids inside the enclosures for those reasons.

[shadoweyeone]

Just booked a VB tour that includes a couple hours of fishing, got Big Al. Carnival Liberty Dec 28 2013

[shoppingfever]

Just booked a VB tour that includes a couple hours of fishing, got Big Al. Carnival Liberty Dec 28 2013

 

 

I didn't realize fishing was an option! My husband would love to do that but wonder if there is enough time to see Roatan and go fishing too. Where do they take you fishing?

[shadoweyeone]

This is the info on the tour that we are taking if you want to look it up... also don't forget to join the roll call if you haven't already

 

Mahogany Bay Isla Roatan

Mahogany Bay Private tour with Big Al from Victor Bodden Tours - 25PP all day

Fishing during the tour - 80PH (not PP)

Monkey interactive 5PP

Botanical Garden Tour 15PP

 

http://www.boddentours.com/bestofroatan.htm

 

also doing some reef fishing with Capt Marvin's in Grand Cayman

 

Fishing with Capt.Marvin's

550 up to 4 people

650 up to 6 people

on Miss Anna

12:30-4:30

 

https://www.captainmarvins.com/reef-fishing

https://www.captainmarvins.com/files/Fishing-Charter-Prices.pdf

Edited October 21, 2013 by shadoweyeone
add info

[51Frazer]

Has anyone in this forum thread been to St Kitts, St Thomas, Aruba or Curacao and experienced anything like a Bodden Tours there? If so, what was it? We had an incredible tour with Bodden Tours and Tex when we were there in 2012.

[tfox1018]

Has anyone in this forum thread been to St Kitts, St Thomas, Aruba or Curacao and experienced anything like a Bodden Tours there? If so, what was it? We had an incredible tour with Bodden Tours and Tex when we were there in 2012.

 

In Curacao I highly recommend Irie Tours- they are awesome!

[slcouple]

Bodden tour was great in Roatan, had fun and our guide was Annie, she was willing to do anything or stop anywhere the group wanted to go. Highly recommend them.

[Okcjones]

Just returned from cruising on RCI Navigator of the Seas. We booked the Best of Roatan private tour for our family of four, ages 53,52,24 and 19. Victor Bodden's had sent instructions on how to find their kiosk. It was very easy to locate them and were immediately escorted to our driver/guide for the day. We were able to customize our tour which included a visit to their Mayan Jungle Canopy Zip Lines, Monkey Business, the Iguana Farm, a brief island tour and lunch and Parasailing on West Bay Beach. This excursion was the highlight of our cruise. All communication prior to the cruise was prompt and informative and they did not require a deposit or prepayment. I would highly recommend Victor Bodden's and hope to have the opportunity to do business with them again.

[Ronaldo807]

For anyone who has recently done the private tour with Victor, what resort/beach club did he direct you to at West Bay?

[Okcjones]

We went to Beachers for lunch and had drinks at the Thirsty Turtle.

[canuck in fl]

This is the best deal in Roatan, we got a driver and a nice air conditioned van for 4 people for $25 a apiece, (reserved for 6 but 2 got too drunk the night before). Our driver was Olee, one of the best I've had on all of the excursions I've been on. Took us were we wanted, very knowledgeable about all aspects of the Island. Knew where the best local food was and all of the clean bathrooms too. The ladies really appreciated this. He had a great spot for us to snorkel but the weather that day had other plans, oh well. This is 2nd time I have used Victor Bodden tours and will do so in the future. Oh and see the the monkeys at Victors place well worth $5. (Ask for Olee you won't be disappointed!)

[deadmoney]

We have booked with Bodden twice before and will be booking again for our May cruise.

[ano]

We took a Victor Bodden tour several years ago, and it was good, but in the last few years, things there have gotten bad crimewise. In 2014 there were 10 Americans killed and Honduras has the highest crime rate of any Caribbean island. If you haven't read the State Department travel warning about Roatan and Honduras, make sure you do before venturing out with a third party travel company. I personally won't be going to Roatan until the problems settle down. Be safe.

[Ronaldo807]

We took a Victor Bodden tour several years ago, and it was good, but in the last few years, things there have gotten bad crimewise. In 2014 there were 10 Americans killed and Honduras has the highest crime rate of any Caribbean island. If you haven't read the State Department travel warning about Roatan and Honduras, make sure you do before venturing out with a third party travel company. I personally won't be going to Roatan until the problems settle down. Be safe.

 

Never a reassuring thing to read shortly before leaving on a cruise that stops in Roatan.