HELLO I AM PLANNING TO GO TO BELIZE FOR THE FIRST TIME NEXT MONTH. MY HUSBAND IS A DIVER I AM NOT. I WOULD LIKE TO STAY SOMEWHERE WITH A POOL AND JACCUZI NICE BEACH. I HAVE HEARD ALOT ABOUT SEAGRASS WHICH TOTALLY TURNS ME OFF. PADI DIVE CENTER RECOMMENDED RAMON'S, BUT I D NOT KNOW IF IT IS NON-DIVER FRIENDLY. I AM RATHER PICKY SO RIGHT NOW I AM CONFUSED FOR I HAVE HEARD ALOT ABOUT THE VICTORIAN HOUSE ALSO. PLEASE HELP. THANKS

We stayed at Ramon's last September and it was very good. Victoria House is more upscale than Ramon's but at the very end of the beach sort of away from everything including town with all the restaurants. I walked by Banyan Bay but did not go in. It looks very nice. The dock at Ramon's seems to be a center for booking excursions including diving. They seemed to have a lot of dive equipment (we are not divers, only snorkelers). I don't think that Ramon's had a jacuzzi per se but it has a very nice pool with jets at one end in a secluded area (kind of hard to explain). Hope this helps.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. HOW WERE THE BEACHES???? HAVE YOU EVER BEEN TO BONAIRE??? IF SO WHICH WAS NICER.

We just got back. I agree - Victoria House or Ramons Village. Banyan Bay is not as welcoming or interesting.

All three places (Ramon's, Victoria House and Banyan Bay) are on the same beach which makes for a very healthy walk (I did it). The beach is pretty good...as I recall the one in front of Ramon's is a little wider and better for laying around on... I have not been to Bonaire's so I can't really help there....sorry. We also met a lot of great people while we were at Ramon's... a couple who were staying there and some people who were staying down the beach - we met them on a day trip....so no matter where you are I think you will have a good time.

I personally would choose Banyan Bay over Ramon's. Banyan Bay has two-bedroom, two-bath suites -- pretty large, about 1000 square feet. Full kitchen with mahogany cabinets, beautiful hardwoods on the ceiling. Tastefully furnished. Balconies with a sea view from most units. The bath in the master bedroom has a whirpool. There's a huge pool and a good beach.

Banyan Bay is about 1 1/2 miles south of town, so you would probably want to have a golf cart.

Ramon's is fine, and popular, and the larger suites are beautiful, but the more basic cabanas aren't nearly as nice as accommodations at Banyan Bay or many other places on the island. It does have a great location near town, and it attracts a more partying oriented crowd. Like virtually all resorts on Ambergris, divers and non-divers are equally welcome.

Victoria House also is terrific. It has a spectrum of accommodations, from motel like rooms to beautiful (and pricey) owners villas. It's a little south of Banyan Bay, about 2 miles south of town.

You might also look at Portofino and Mata Chica (both on North Ambergris) in the full-service resort category and, inthe condotel category, Xanadu, Banana Beach, The Palms and Belizean Shores (of these only Belizean Shores is North Ambergris).

Seagrass is present along most beaches on the island -- it's a result of the wonderful barrier reef just offshore -- but most hotels remove an area of grass for swimming.

--Lan Sluder <author of San Pedro Cool, the guidebook to Ambergris Caye, and a half dozen other books on Belize>

If you really are picky and want a nice beach and resort type atmosphere, pick another location. A good friend just returned from Belize. He is a diver, she is not. He loved it, she hated it: poor beaches (compared to the Virgin Islands, etc.) due to LOTS of seagrass. It is also very underdeveloped, which some people like and some don't. Be prepared for dirt streets and "stuff" all over. He loved it - she didn't. How about the US Virgins, St. John in particular? GORGEOUS beaches and water. Stay at the Westin in a poolside room and be steps away from a jacuzzi. Great dive shop on site. I enjoyed my dives there immensely!! My favorite island by FAR. Skip St. Thomas. Don't go to Aruba - crummy diving.

You're right -- Belize is definitely not for everyone. I've been to almost every island in the Caribbean, and Ambergris Caye is right up there close to the top of the list for me ... but again not for everyone.

--Lan Sluder