I have been traveling the Caribbean since the 70s and have had many different experiences at numerous hotels and resorts. Many were good, some not so good.

Today, I’m extremely happy to report that I have “been to the mountaintop” and discovered the “Mecca” of customer service. No Hilton, no Marriot, no Sandals, no Ritz-Carlton, no anything is even in the same league with the Sante Day Spa and Island Retreat Bed and Breakfast in Roatan. It is going to be a challenge to describe all the incredible things I experienced the past seven days, but I encourage you to stay with me and read the entire review. Five minutes of your time now could end up with your experiencing the Caribbean vacation of a lifetime that heretofore only dreams were made of.

Food
I’ll start by discussing food, since that is so important to most of us. You won’t find food of the caliber of that served at Sante at any restaurant or resort. (Perhaps not even your own kitchen). There is no mass produced or outsourced food preparation here. Angela and Leon are both excellent chefs and the food is prepared just a few feet from where you will be eating it on a beautiful veranda overlooking the sea, cooled by gentle breezes. You can actually chat with the chefs while they are fixing the meal. Try that at the Hilton or the Marriott. We had Shrimp, Grouper, Wahoo, Portobello mushroom ravioli, and similar such delightful entrees for dinner. Leon grills the shrimp while you are eating a wonderful salad. The breakfast omelets were great and the continental style breakfasts were wonderful as well. They consisted of freshly baked muffins and a variety of fresh fruits such as sliced apples with cinnamon, grapefruit slices, plantain, and papaya. We didn’t eat any lunches at Sante since we were out diving daily, but I’m sure that the lunches would be the same high quality as the other meals.

The Spa
Sante’s main focus of business is their Spa. They offer a variety of body scrubs, massages, facials, etc. I have been in lots of such places and I have to say that none compares to Sante. They have an outdoor area under a very nice, private Palapa that allows you to relax and listen to the waves of the ocean just a few feet away while you get your massage or scrub. If you opt for indoors, the treatment rooms are also very nice and private. They have three therapists that Angela has trained and they all do a wonderful job. I recommend trying the four-handed massage under the Palapa. You might keep a margarita under your table with a long straw. Prices are very reasonable.

The Privacy
The occupancy max at Sante is three couples at any given time. This permits not only maximum privacy, but unprecedented individualized service. We were the only couple there during our stay, so our ratio of staff to customer was 5/2. Try to get that level of personal service at any other resort in the world for under a K per day.

The Pool, Hot Tub, and Outdoor Shower
Sante also has a nice pool and an outdoor shower. Even hot and cold running water. I showered outdoors every day very early when no one was around..try that at a Hilton or Marriott and you’ll get arrested…what a hoot!! They also have a new hot tub right on the beach. The hot tub is large and has a palapa over it to protect you from the sun and for privacy.

The Snorkeling
The entire island of Roatan is one big dive/snorkeling site. We are divers and we dove several dive sites. Some of the finest snorkeling is available a few feet from your door at Sante. Ask Leon or Alberto for directions. As you are facing the ocean, enter at your left and exit right to go with the current. Wade out beyond the reef to the drop-off and snorkel to the channel marker. It is a wonderful snorkel with lots of great stuff to see. Warm water also!

The Rooms
We stayed in the Sedonna Suite which I highly recommend. It has a private bathroom with shower and coffee maker, powerful air conditioning, Satellite TV, NFL Sunday Ticket, an ice cold refrigerator, a king bed and a futon. Everything you need. You will be within 6 feet of the edge of the swimming pool. (note: no phone in the room..yea!!!)

Who is Sante For?
Sante is not for everyone. Leave the kids at home. Sante is designed for the more mature traveler who has learned that there is more to life than hanging out at bars half the night. Twenty and Thirty something’s who like to do this won’t like Sante. Sante is all about rest, relaxation, incredible personal service, attention to detail, and getting to know your significant other again. A very romantic place with lots of privacy. Did I tell you it was very private? It is very private on its own private cay. You park at Parrot Tree Resort and Leon comes and gets you on his boat. Usually with Rufus (one of the friendly resident doggies on board…what fun!). Three minutes later and you will be in Paradise at Sante!

Caveats
Not every place, not even Sante, can be 100% perfect in every area. I must be honest that Sante does have some issues.
1.Take mosquito repellent. The entire island has more mosquitoes than the Mosquito Coast. Sante has fewer mosquitos since Leon installed the Mosquito Magnet and it does a wonderful job of eliminating most of them. But some will get through. Angela has some cactus juice that you can rub on that will help. Of course, this isn’t really a Sante issue, this is a Roatan issue. There are actually fewer mosquitoes and sand fleas at Sante than the other resorts we visited.
2.I can’t really think of any other issue. Sante is as close to perfection as I have experienced in my 30 years of Caribbean travel.

Conclusion:
If you are a person who likes to travel the Caribbean and you would like to take your honey to a romantic wonderful hideaway where you will be pampered in grand style by the staff, get to eat wonderful food, get great massages, swim in your private pool, relax in your private hot tub and also watch football on TV, Sante is the place. Enter Sante Wellness Center Day Spa Roatan in to your search engine and their site will appear.

A small health spa and hotel tucked away from the main tourist spots on Roatan.

Sante is run by Angela and Leon, ex-pats from California, who are happy to share their home with the world weary and those seeking a little pampering away from the hustle and bustle.

Sante is inaccessible by road but this is not an inconvenience, it merely emphasises the tranquility. Leon picks you up at the key in his boat and five minutes later you are stepping into a beautiful home, of dark wood and terracota tiling that exudes a coolness that defies the ambient temperature. This is not a hotel with crisply dressed waiters but more like someone's home and you are immediately made to feel a part of the family.

There is no vast menu but Angela creates excellent meals from locally sourced produce complimented by wines from a local vinery.

Sante offers a range of spa treatments at very reasonable prices and the local staff are knowledgable, attentive and highly skilled. Outside, there is a small pool and a jacuzzi right by the sea's edge, an absolute delight for the romantics among us.

If you want to enjoy the delights that Roatan has to offer - the diving is first class - but prefer to stay a little distant from the growing commercialism of massive hotel complexes, then Sante is a fantasic alternative.

My boyfriend and I came from the cruise terminal to spend the day here. We had spa services, lunch and snorkeled. The place is wonderful and has unbelievable prices. The friendly staff and beautiful grounds made the short 20 min ride worth it. It's a wonderful retreat from the ordinary tourist adventure in Roatan.

This was absolutely the perfect place to go for our honeymoon. All of the wedding stresses instantly melted away. My new wife and I landed in Roatan the day after our wedding and were instantly whisked away by the waiting taxi and boated over to this little slice of heaven. With peace and serenity maintained in a private, safe and friendly setting, we were quickly absorbed by the Caribbean breezes and the sounds and sights of nature. Leon and Angela are there ready to tend to any needs and help with anything as they treat you like family . We stayed three nights, ate all of our meals there and were so absorbed by the peace that we never felt the need to venture off even for any day trips. The rest of our self-planned two weeks took us to the mainland, Coxen Hole, and West Bay. Our only regret is that we should have planned to stay longer at Sante during our time in Roatan.
Thanks!
Bart and Amy