My fiance and I are planning our honeymoon in Belize in April 2006. We have decided on Hidden Valley Inn for the jungle portion of our stay and are debating between a gardenview cottage at Turtle Inn in Placencia vs. a beachfront casita at Mata Chica in Ambergris Caye for the beach portion (those are the rooms available at this point). Any recommendations?

What a wonderful dilemma. I've never stayed at either, but have wandered through the ground at Turtle Inn. The beachfront units are breathtaking. Turtle Inn isn't really very far from the village of Placencia, certainly walkable during the day and easy to go into town to different restaurants if you like at night.

I love Ambergris Caye, we're going this coming Monday and again in March. But, we're the type of people who like being in town, with easy access to bars/restaurants and music. We're also 30 years away from our honeymoon, so our priorities are certainly differnet than yours. I've never been as far north on AC as Mata Chica, so can offer no opinions at all. Other than to say, if I was looking to spend significant cash for a place to stay, I'd be looking at Victoria House. Three miles south of town, but still a long walk or an easy cab ride if you want to party. As opposed to a $20.00 water taxi ride. If you just want to hang at the resort, I'm sure either property will be absolutely lovely.

San Pedro has no beaches. And what ones they are they are manmade. Trust me on that been thier several times. Most resort have nice piers guests use 2 swim off of. They have cleaned the grass off at the end for a sandy bottom effect.

I wouldn't say that San Pedro has 'no beaches'. They are narrow, generally hard packed sand (but it's white and doesn't burn your feet) and the water is that wonderful shade of blue. The swimming off the beach isn't great in most places because there is sea grass. That's because the reef is only half a mile off shore and there isn't wave action on shore.

The beaches are wider in Placencia, but the sand isn't as white, and I don't think the water looks as blue.

If truly stunning beaches are your priority, head to Tulum. Now, that's a beautiful beach.

Mata Chica has a decent beach. Secluded on teh north part of AC, it's a typical but greta looking honeymoon palce. great restuarant.

we are considering AC area vs. Turtle inn or kanantik resort for a 1 week trip in february. We're hoping for nice accomodations, good beach, snorkeling, scuba and also good trips for exploration into the interior... any advice? What advantages do the AC resorts hold over Placencia?

Ambergris Caye has a larger selection of hotels and restaurants. Along with that, there are also more people. The reef is only half a mile from shore, which makes for short rides for diving and snorkeling. It also makes for more sea grass in the water and not the greatest swimming from shore.

I really like the looks of Turtle Inn when we wandered by a couple years ago. The beachfront units were truly beautiful.

I've only been to Placencia once, we had a wonderful time, will certainly return one day, but we were only there three days and didn't do any inalnd touring from there. I think it's probably easier from Placencia than from AC.

We're heading to Belize tomorrow, CAye Caulker and San Pedro. This trip we're going to take the trip to the ruins at Lamanai, every time we go down we say we're going, then the days slip away and before you know it, it's time to go home.

If you don't mind moving, it's pretty easy to get from Placencia to AC by plane.

April is our hottest month, so you might want a/c, which TI doesn't have, but does havde ceiling fans. Also look at Portofino and Victoria House. HVI is a great choice, wonderful property

a/c is definitely important. You may want to consider Belize Yacht Club or Banyan Bay in San Pedro.