Head to Head: Kimpton Roatán vs Kimpton Seafire

Pam

I’ve used credit card points to stay at two amazing beach resorts within the last year. The Kimpton Roatán vs. the Kimpton Seafire is on tap today. Who will emerge victorious in this battle of the Kimptons?  Head to Head: Kimpton Roatán or Kimpton Seafire—which comes out on top?

 

How to Book

Both of these resorts are bookable with IHG points. They both run a standard 70K points/night with the fourth night being free if you have an IHG credit card and book with points.

 

Location

The Kimpton Roatán is located in West Bay. Roatán is an island off the coast of Honduras. It is literally steps to the beach, where incredible snorkeling is available. The hotel provides the snorkel equipment as part of your resort fee. Additionally, the Park Ranger will take you on complimentary day and night snorkels (you tip him only).  The hotel also provides glass-bottom kayaks. You can walk down the beach to other restaurants or catch a water taxi ($3-$5/person) to different parts of the island.

 

Boat on a beach

The beach area is steps away from the Kimpton Roatán.

 

The Kimpton Seafire is located in the Grand Cayman Islands. It is on the popular 7-mile beach, which is gorgeous and one of the most popular beaches in the Caribbean. The hotel is, too, steps from the beach. The hotel provides paddle boats, kayaks, and other non-motorized water sports. I don’t think the Seafire is within walking distance of many other establishments, but you can take a taxi.

 

Kimpton Seafire Grand Cayman pool view

The beach is also steps from the Kimpton Seafire.

 

Winner: If snorkeling is your thing, the Kimpton Roatán is slightly the winner. If you prefer a long, gorgeous beach with clear water and water sports, the Kimpton Seafire wins.

 

Food

Both resorts served great breakfasts and had good-quality restaurants. The one area where Seafire shines is its Pantry, which lets you grab quick items, especially treats.

Winner: The Seafire because of The Pantry. Both resorts have great food, so you can’t go wrong.

 

Restaurant at hotel

Ave Restaurant at the Seafire.

 

Decor

I talked to a woman at the Grand Roatán who works for Kimpton, and she said they call the vibe “barefoot luxury.” That vibe resonates with me, and is a reason that I loved both Kimptons. Both hotels were beautifully decorated, although the muted elegance of the Kimpton Roatán edged out the Seafire, but just barely.

Winner: The Kimpton Roatán

 

I liked the decor at the Kimpton Roatán slightly more than the decor of the Seafire.

 

Service

The service at both hotels was excellent. The staff must receive excellent training because they go above and beyond to make you feel welcome. We also received great welcome treats from both hotels.

Winner: Tie

 

Rooms

I really enjoyed both rooms. We were upgraded to ocean views for both hotels, and the rooms were equally spacious and had nice terraces. The bathrooms were also both large. The decor at the Kimpton Roatán was more my vibe as it was more neutral, but it wouldn’t make a huge difference to most people.

Winner: Tie

 

Hotel bedroom

Our room at the Kimpton Roatán had a great ocean view.

 

Hotel room with bright pink accents

The bedroom at the Kimpton Seafire was more colorful – what is your vibe?

Pools/Grounds

We were fortunate that we didn’t have to fight for pool chairs at either Kimpton resort. They also both had flags to let staff know you are ready to order (Alex especially loves that). Both places had complimentary water and sunscreen around the pool. The pool may be slightly smaller at the Kimpton Roatán, but it was never crowded.

Both hotel grounds, especially around the pools, were gorgeous and had many seating options. There was also plenty of beach seating.

Winner: Tie

 

Pool area with pink lounge chairs

The main pool area at the Kimpton Seafire had complimentary lotion, water, aloe vera, and swim diapers!

Kimpton Roatán or Kimpton Seafire

Honestly, you can’t go wrong. I would love to return to either (and hope to). The only thing that was a slight edge for the Kimpton Roatán for me was the vibe of Roatán. Walking down the beach or riding a water taxi to see more of the island was closer and less expensive. It was just slightly more of a fun vacation vibe for me, and the hotel felt somewhat more luxurious. This is my opinion, though; someone else might lean the other way.

They are so close in quality that you will love either of them. If you have been to both, which was your favorite? Head to Head: Kimpton Roatán vs Kimpton Seafire—which would you choose?

Sunset water view with palm trees.

Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities. American Express is a Travel Mom Squad advertiser, but we always show the best public offer even when we don’t earn a commission. Terms Apply. 

Share this post

  1. Sara Rathbun says:

    Which would be better for families?

    • Pam says:

      I saw a lot of families at both resorts. Seafire has more room, the kid’s club and more water equipment. Kimpton Roatan has the best snorkeling.

Responses are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser’s responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Want to know the most popular card for beginners? 

click here

Advertiser Disclosure: Travel Mom Squad has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Travel Mom Squad and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers. This compensation may impact how or where products appear on this site. Travel Mom Squad has not reviewed all available credit card offers on this site.

Editorial Note: Opinions expressed here are author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.