Tropics Hotel is a two-story beachfront hotel with under-20 rooms, each of them spacious enough to enable one to easily spread out and pack up dive gear. A veranda has a lounge chair and great ocean views. The bathroom has a large shower area with hot and cold water (not all places have hot water). Lots of large windows and a ceiling fan will keep you cooled off. The hotel is located half a block from the nearest dive shops and a convenience store.
In front of the hotel is a beach area with more lounge chairs and a small building with refreshments, suntan lotion, and snorkeling gear for sale. Guests receive a 10% discount on tours booked there. Both the location and tourshop discounts really make this hotel worth recommending; aside from the Lazy Iguana Resort on the other side of the island, the island’s accommodation is primarily limited to small hotels and guesthouses.
If you desire more of a party atmosphere and/or the cheapest room, try Tina’s Backpacker near the split at end of the island. Unfortunately, when all three beds in all three rooms are occupied, the fact there's only one bathroom/shower can be a problem--much like the hammocks filled with dope smokers. Large billboards by the ferry dock let visitors know that drugs are illegal and instruct you not to listen to anyone who tells you they're okay on the beach or at your motel. The large beach area and large kitchen are the draw here, the latter especially for those staying for long periods.