Accommodations

Honduras offers every type of accommodation from luxury hotels to backpackers' digs. You'll find the familiar names of the international chains in Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula, and most of those offer a few local touches to make you feel that you're in Honduras rather than Hartford. Out-country, though, the chains are nowhere else to be found. No matter which category of lodging you select, you'll find prices to be less expensive than for corresponding offerings in the United States.

In heavily touristed locales—Copán Ruinas, the Caribbean coast, and, especially, the Bay Islands—lodgings observe high-season rates during the dry season, essentially Christmas through Easter. A second mini high season takes place during July and August, prime vacation season for North Americans and Europeans. On the topic of Christmas and Easter, expect to see much higher rates during those two weeks, both of which are prime vacation time for Hondurans as well. In the rest of the country, lodging rates remain fairly constant year-round. Hotels in Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula cater overwhelmingly to business travelers and, as such, often discount their rates on weekends.

Thankfully, visitor numbers to Honduras are picking up again following the double whammy of the worldwide economic slump and the country's 2009 political crisis that caused tourism to nearly evaporate the last half of that year. Many communities have only a smallish selection of decent hotels—and many midrange lodgings get booked by the many volunteer groups who come to Honduras—making reservations a good idea no matter what time of year you're here.

Apartment and House Rentals

Home Away. 512/493–0382; www.homeaway.com.

Bed-and-Breakfasts

Reservation Services

BedandBreakfast.com. 512/322–2710; 800/462–2632; www.bedandbreakfast.com.

Bed & Breakfast Inns Online. 615/868–1946; 800/215–7365; www.bbonline.com.

Hostels

Hostel Info

Hostelling International—USA. 301/495–1240; www.hiusa.org.