Where to Stay....Ambergris Caye??
Mar 21st, 2009, 09:39 PM
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Where to Stay....Ambergris Caye??
We aren't gonna be there til November, but i am starting my research now.....So far i am liking the Victoria House...it looks very nice...I like the Casita's....Anyone have any other ideas....we prefer cabana's/casita's/bungalows as opposed to condo's/hotels??
Of course we also want clean, ocean front, very tropical..good restaurants...and not overly expensive....and a friendly atmosphere!!
Of course we also want clean, ocean front, very tropical..good restaurants...and not overly expensive....and a friendly atmosphere!!
Mar 22nd, 2009, 07:18 AM
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You will get good information if you post on The Belize Forums...
http://www.belizeforum.com/belize/
or from the Lonely Planet forum.
Make sure you mention your budget.
http://www.belizeforum.com/belize/
or from the Lonely Planet forum.
Make sure you mention your budget.
Mar 23rd, 2009, 07:35 PM
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We stayed at White Sands 2 years ago but it was expensive. I found everything on AC very pricey but when you compare it to the US mainland it was okay. My wife and I ate out 2 meals a day and it cost us about $200 a day. The food and wine were excellent. We just got back from Caye Caulker a week ago. Most meals were under $40. We stayed at Panchos and bargained $30 off the nightly rate. It was just a little off the front street. It was very new had a small kitchen (No Stove) Slept up to 6 with 2 beds and a futon. I found it was so nice that I could walk to everywhere in a matter of minutes. Lots of restaurants. I'd go back to Caye Caulker in a second. From everything I read I thought it would be very run down but it was not. Just my 2 cents worth.
Mar 23rd, 2009, 09:40 PM
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Hmmm Stairgod, originally i was thinking Caye Caulker as well, but never really heard anything too exciting or positive that would convince me to go there..
Maybe i will look into it again...as the less money we spend on this holiday the more money we will have to go somewhere else next year!!
What did u like about it?? Did u see any nice little cabanas that looked beautiful??
Maybe i will look into it again...as the less money we spend on this holiday the more money we will have to go somewhere else next year!!
What did u like about it?? Did u see any nice little cabanas that looked beautiful??
Mar 24th, 2009, 06:18 AM
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Caye Caulker is tiny, you can see every store and resort there in an hour.
IMHO, Ramon's is a better location than Victoria House. Ramon's is within walking distance of shopping and restaurants and Ramon's has the best beach and pier.
IMHO, Ramon's is a better location than Victoria House. Ramon's is within walking distance of shopping and restaurants and Ramon's has the best beach and pier.
Mar 24th, 2009, 07:58 AM
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Yes, i really think i have it narrowed down between Ramon's and Victoria house..I am sure we will be happy in either, they both look lovely, but Victoria House looks a tad more upgraded..but i do like the location of Ramon's..
RBCal..have u been in the rooms at Ramon's??
RBCal..have u been in the rooms at Ramon's??
Mar 24th, 2009, 08:02 AM
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Here is my take on Ramon's--we just returned and were at Ramon's for 3 nights. I'd choose it again--for us and our preferences.
Positives: the town is right there--I loved that; we enjoyed
spending time in town and choosing restaurants.
Ambergris really doesn't have beach as most of us
think of "beach". It's mostly piers and boats and
some of the beach has a concrete retainer from the
water, etc. However, Ramon's had the nicest
short stretch of beach in the area.
The showers had WONDERFUL water pressure and were
a delight after a day of snorkeling or bicycling.
This is uncommon, or so I've been told.
SO: if you like exploring the town and its restaurants, your own little beach, and a good strong shower, Ramon's it is!
Negatives: They were the ONLY place we found that listed
restaurant prices in US dollars. This tricked
us once--first morning, breakfast. But we never
ate there again. For one thing, that $22
breakfast wasn't that good. For another thing, I
considered the practice to be a bit deceitful
since Belize $$ are 2 times US. Everywhere you go
the prices are in Belize. For example, $10 is
really $5 US. So when we noticed the breakfasts
at Ramon's were $10, we assumed $5. After that,
we opted for some other places, excellent meals,
that advertised breakfasts for $14 Belize--or
thereabout.
The rooms were a little on the dark side (dark
wood) and could use some updating. That said,
they were comfortable, and we were hardly in
them.
For that type room, you don't expect to pay $225
per night, so you're paying for the positivies
listed above (as is usually the case). Give up
those 3 things and you can find lots of less
expensive places to stay.
Hope that helps. As I said, we'd choose it again. We liked the proximity to town and the little beach (makes the beachfront area less crowded) and affords a bit of a view. People with kids can easily let them play in the water here.
Positives: the town is right there--I loved that; we enjoyed
spending time in town and choosing restaurants.
Ambergris really doesn't have beach as most of us
think of "beach". It's mostly piers and boats and
some of the beach has a concrete retainer from the
water, etc. However, Ramon's had the nicest
short stretch of beach in the area.
The showers had WONDERFUL water pressure and were
a delight after a day of snorkeling or bicycling.
This is uncommon, or so I've been told.
SO: if you like exploring the town and its restaurants, your own little beach, and a good strong shower, Ramon's it is!
Negatives: They were the ONLY place we found that listed
restaurant prices in US dollars. This tricked
us once--first morning, breakfast. But we never
ate there again. For one thing, that $22
breakfast wasn't that good. For another thing, I
considered the practice to be a bit deceitful
since Belize $$ are 2 times US. Everywhere you go
the prices are in Belize. For example, $10 is
really $5 US. So when we noticed the breakfasts
at Ramon's were $10, we assumed $5. After that,
we opted for some other places, excellent meals,
that advertised breakfasts for $14 Belize--or
thereabout.
The rooms were a little on the dark side (dark
wood) and could use some updating. That said,
they were comfortable, and we were hardly in
them.
For that type room, you don't expect to pay $225
per night, so you're paying for the positivies
listed above (as is usually the case). Give up
those 3 things and you can find lots of less
expensive places to stay.
Hope that helps. As I said, we'd choose it again. We liked the proximity to town and the little beach (makes the beachfront area less crowded) and affords a bit of a view. People with kids can easily let them play in the water here.
Mar 24th, 2009, 08:53 AM
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Hi
It is Stairgod,
Just have a different work ID then at home. What I liked about CC was that it was small. We ate at a different location for every meal we had in our 6 night stay. Most were price very reasonable. On AC you had to water taxi if you stayed at a resort or use their food services. In San Pedro I didn't think there was enough food choices. I may have not looked hard enough. In CC there are many places to go to a supermarket or gracery store, all within walking distance. The only bad thing is noise. Where we stayed was great because there was no bar rocking out tunes till 2AM. On CC there are a lot of places on the south end that are far enough from the action to avoid the noise but close enough to walk. And there are Taxis which you can phone or wave down as there are only 3 streets. You can take a water taxi to AC or fly. Most of the same tours are offered on both islands. In 2007 we spent over $1200 U.S. for three nights food and lodging. This year on CC we spent under $750 for 6 nights food and lodging.
It is Stairgod,
Just have a different work ID then at home. What I liked about CC was that it was small. We ate at a different location for every meal we had in our 6 night stay. Most were price very reasonable. On AC you had to water taxi if you stayed at a resort or use their food services. In San Pedro I didn't think there was enough food choices. I may have not looked hard enough. In CC there are many places to go to a supermarket or gracery store, all within walking distance. The only bad thing is noise. Where we stayed was great because there was no bar rocking out tunes till 2AM. On CC there are a lot of places on the south end that are far enough from the action to avoid the noise but close enough to walk. And there are Taxis which you can phone or wave down as there are only 3 streets. You can take a water taxi to AC or fly. Most of the same tours are offered on both islands. In 2007 we spent over $1200 U.S. for three nights food and lodging. This year on CC we spent under $750 for 6 nights food and lodging.
Mar 24th, 2009, 08:58 PM
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Thanks Stairgod..u have good points..but i somehow wanna go to Ambergris Caye..i am not sure why??
Shillmac, i am very happy to hear u just got back from Ramon's..i picked them out first..but then saw Victoria house which looks way nicer...But as i said earlier..being close to town is very suitable for us, as we are not big beach people/skuba divers/snorklers!! We are just passing through and wanna tour around a bit!!
We also usually stay at 3* properties, so don't expect elaborate rooms..although, we do like nice places with tropical gardens that aren't too stuffy!!
It sounds fantastic..i have emailed each Victoria House and Ramon's and see what they come up with...
Do u happen to have a link of your photo's...either of u..would love to see them..
Is 5 nights a good amount of time to spend in Ambergris Caye??
Shillmac, i am very happy to hear u just got back from Ramon's..i picked them out first..but then saw Victoria house which looks way nicer...But as i said earlier..being close to town is very suitable for us, as we are not big beach people/skuba divers/snorklers!! We are just passing through and wanna tour around a bit!!
We also usually stay at 3* properties, so don't expect elaborate rooms..although, we do like nice places with tropical gardens that aren't too stuffy!!
It sounds fantastic..i have emailed each Victoria House and Ramon's and see what they come up with...
Do u happen to have a link of your photo's...either of u..would love to see them..
Is 5 nights a good amount of time to spend in Ambergris Caye??
Mar 25th, 2009, 06:56 PM
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We loved Blue Water Grill, but Wild Mango was our favorite. We wished we had 5 nights as we enjoyed it there so much. We liked riding bikes north across the bridge over the cut and out to the Palapa Bar over the water. Great little place to get a drink.
We just really enjoyed San Pedro and liked being close to the action. I got my photos on the computer this evening. Will upload to Kodak Gallery tomorrow and then send a link. I have good photos of Ramon's beachfront area and looking at the hotel from the end of the pier. We had a beachfront room. I'd rent a beachfront again.
We'd like to visit Caye Caulker, but virtually everyone we spoke with mentioned that it was so small you could see it all in a day. I understand it doesn't really have beaches either, but can't confirm, not having been there. I would think that if you were looking for a really slow paced area where you could just relax with a good book for a few days, it would be great.
We just really enjoyed San Pedro and liked being close to the action. I got my photos on the computer this evening. Will upload to Kodak Gallery tomorrow and then send a link. I have good photos of Ramon's beachfront area and looking at the hotel from the end of the pier. We had a beachfront room. I'd rent a beachfront again.
We'd like to visit Caye Caulker, but virtually everyone we spoke with mentioned that it was so small you could see it all in a day. I understand it doesn't really have beaches either, but can't confirm, not having been there. I would think that if you were looking for a really slow paced area where you could just relax with a good book for a few days, it would be great.
Mar 30th, 2009, 06:25 PM
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I stayed next door to Ramon's at The Palms and we visited Victoria House while we were on Ambergris. VH is very elegant and private but still more convenient than North of the cut. I think it depends on whether you are looking for something upscale vs something in the middle of things. Ramon's and The Palms were both in great locations, but not of the same caliber as VH.
Mar 31st, 2009, 09:24 AM
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Ya thanks stotz, that is the impression i am getting..we will probably go with Ramon's..mainly for the location as if it is closer to town, we will be more apt to take a walk for a drink or something to eat, whereas if we stay at VH....we will probably end up eating and drinking there and it will cost a fortune!!
It is a tough call though lol..cause price wise..there is not alot of difference...so to stay at Ramon's u are paying for location i am thinking??
The grounds at Ramon's do look lovely though..
It is a tough call though lol..cause price wise..there is not alot of difference...so to stay at Ramon's u are paying for location i am thinking??
The grounds at Ramon's do look lovely though..
Mar 31st, 2009, 09:29 AM
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The grounds at Ramon's are fairly non existent--just the buildings of the property (pool area is nice, but we never used it). The little bit of a beach is the big draw, so yes, paying purely for the location, certainly not for the quality of the rooms, although they were certainly okay and comfortable.
Mar 31st, 2009, 10:30 AM
#20
I wouldn't worry about the Victoria House being too far away. People just rent golf carts, which are kind of fun in and of themselves, because while the walk is interesting once, it would get kind of old twice a day . . . At any rate, we stayed near Victoria House (Caribbean Villas, because VH and Banyan Bay were booked), a little closer in, and found that it worked for us.
