In January, I will be doing a bit of traveling. My wife, son, and in-laws will be departing Galveston, Texas, on the Carnival Magic for a Caribbean Cruise. Because of work, I cannot get away until Tuesday evening. So, I will be joining the ship on Wednesday as it makes its port-of-call in Roatan, Honduras.
I have found transportation from Austin to Roatan, but it involves a layover in San Salvador. The first leg of the trip takes me to Los Angeles (in the wrong direction!), then a red-eye from LAX to SAL. I will then have seven hours to kill in San Salvador.
What might this be like? I would be arriving at 7:25AM, so the airport should be coming alive around then. I depart at 2:30PM. Looking at various websites, the airport looks to be fairly substantial, though not as big as LAX or even Austin. Am I likely to find a place to sit and rest? Would I be able to find a bite to eat while I am there? Will my credit cards work, or will I need to find some El Salvador money before I go? If I fall asleep while waiting in the terminal, will I be reasonably safe, or can terrible things happen?
I have a valid US passport, so there’s no problem there. I have no plans to ever leave the airport until my flight to Roatan (RTB) departs. What sort of paperwork might I need for El Salvador immigration? I will be able to show my passport and my ticket for RTB, so will that be enough?
I had this same problem with a cruise this year. (My wife’s family insists on going on these trips during the school year, which poses a problem for me, but that’s a whole 'nother discussion.) This recent cruise, however, stopped in Freeport, Bahamas. Getting to Freeport was no problem at all. I had an overnight connection in Ft. Lauderdale, but I just went to a nearby hotel and slept. Bahamas is very nearby, the locals speak English, and they were happy to receive my American money. El Salvador and Honduras worries me a bit more.
The only hitch I had in my trip to Freeport was that the gate agent at Bahamasair would not let me board without purchasing a return ticket. Even though I explained that I would be joining a cruise ship, he insisted that I purchase a ticket. So, I bought the ticket and had it refunded when I returned home. The airline guy said that Bahamas immigration would ask to see my return ticket. When I arrived in Freeport, immigration did ask how long I would be staying and my plans for leaving. I told the lady, honestly, that I was joining a cruise ship. She was satisfied and waved me on my way. Will Honduras be as understanding?