What is Belize's most interesting rain forest lodge for mood, flora and fauna. Price not critical factor - tho of course VALUE is.

I loved the Jaquar Paw outside of Belize City. Also, Frances Ford Coppola's place in the interior - Blancaneaux Lodge. We also stayed at the Pine Ridge Lodge which has no electricity but lovely thatched cottages - the only problem was we had bed bugs and do they bite!!! Took me three weeks for the swelling and itching to go away. However, in the rain forest this is not something that can reasonably be avoided - it is part and parcel of that climate - we could have had them anywhere. Feel free to email me. Cheers. Denise

BL is great, but also take a look at both Chaa Creek Cottages and duPlooys Jungle lodge, both on the Macal River in the Cayo distrcit of Western Belize with more to do in a tropical setting: caving, ruins (Tikal, Caracol and more) caving, horses, canoeing, birding,l hiking, kayaking, etc. <BR> <BR>Katie Valk <BR>Belize

Dnorrie, <BR>Did you really say bedbugs are, for all practical purposes, unavoidable in rain forest conditions?

We travel frequently to Belize and stayed at these jungle lodges: Chaa Creek, Lamanaii, Chan Chich, Hidden Valley and never ever we had any problems with bedbugs. We heard some not vey pleasant things about the Pine Ridge Lodge and I think this lodge has a problem and blames it on a tropical climate. <BR> <BR>Ron: <BR>the three lodges I mentioned (Chaa Creek, Lamanaii and Chan Chich) are wonderful. Everyone is differently beautiful and if you like birds you can't go wrong with Lamanaii and Chan Chich. For the setting Chan Chich and then Lamanaii are the best. Chan Chich has a fantastic swimming pool which could be a little cold during January but who cares if you are surrounded by jungle all around. Only howler monkeys may keep you awake at night. Chan Chich is also oriented towards birders which means that guests go to bed early and get up very early so don't count on much night life. But it is so romantic, what a great setting. All three lodges have own websites so check them out and do search on this forum. They also book months in advance.

Maybe I am naive about the bed bugs - that is what we were told by a good number of native Belizians - They were very bad and not an experience I would want to repeat so maybe it is just the Pine Creek Lodge. Having done little travelling in the rain forest, I just believed what I was told. Oh well - a good warning for others. Cheers.

I heard from a doctor that I know that there is a resort, so to speak, in the interior of Belize. It is supposed to be in the middle of the Mayan ruins in the Jaguar Preserve. Does anyone know it's name or a web page or what? I left a message on it on another site and the daughter of the people who owned(?) it and she told me all about it. Only problem was that I lost it somewhere in Cyberspace. If anyone knows of it let me know. Also has anyone ever heard of a couple who do retirement tours in Belize with the last name of Gray? They wrote a book about it and we tried to contact them but it was always sent back with an error message of some kind on it.Thanks, Vicki

Are you talking about Lamanaii Lodge. If yes, they do have an extensive web page. No wait a second Lamanaii is not in Jaguar Preserve. the best bet is to call your doctor and ask him what place he had in mind. <BR>About your other questions I am not clear what are you asking about. Grays retired people?

Vicki, <BR> <BR>You're probably thinking about Chan Chich Lodge. It's built directly on a Maya site near Gallon Jug. I would rate it one of the top lodges in Belize, along with Chaa Creek, Blancaneaux, Ek'Tun, Lamanai Outpost and duPlooy's. <BR> <BR>The Grays you are asking about are Bill and Claire Gray (that's not their real names). They wrote a book about retiring in Belize and live in Corozal Town. It's called Belize Retirement Guide and sells (a bit pricey) for US$29.95. <BR> <BR>(By the way -- my new book on living/retiring in Belize is being published by Avalon -- they do the Moon Guides -- in a few months.) <BR> <BR>--Lan Sluder <BR>Belize First Magazine <BR>http://www.turq.com/belizefirst/ <BR>(I also updated the Belize section of the new Fodor's Guide to Belize & Guatemala)

Vicki, <BR> <BR>In re-reading your question about the jungle lodge at a Maya site, I see now you say it is in the Jaguar Preserve. Rather than Chan Chich (which, while not in the Jaguar Preserve is where you are most likely to see a jaguar) your doctor friend was probably talking about Mama Noots Backabush lodge which is at the Mayflower Archeological site and near the Cockscomb Jaguar Preserve. The lodge is a few miles off the Southern Highway south of Dangriga. The owners are a couple who recently got in trouble over an unlicensed gun, but at Belize First we get good reports on the lodge itself. It opened maybe 18 months ago. It has a Web site so you can check it out. <BR> <BR>--Lan Sluder

Lan this message is for you. <BR>Please do not try to sell your book here. This forum has a different format than Belizean forum where you very frequently answer many question. Until know I had a respect for you for trying to help. Please do not do this anymore. You see, Katie Volk tried to also promote her business and many people objected.

We very much liked the Jaguar Reef Lodge, which is very clean, pleasant and interesting.

Georgette, <BR> <BR>Yes, I agree, but Jaguar Reef isn't a jungle lodge -- it's a beach resort. <BR> <BR>--Lan Sluder