Anybody have insight based on personal experience on 3 Cayes in Belize; Ambergris, South Water, and Tobacco. Obviously interested in snorkelling, beaching, and fishing, but I was wondering if Ambergris is too commercialized, and if South Water and Tobacco are too small to find seclusion from other island guests. Any info would be greatly appreciated.

I honestly didn't find Ambergris too commercialized (we were there a couple of years ago). I actually like to ahve a few amenities around (restaurants, etc.) and so it suited me. People are very friendly. We stayed at a small budget hotel in San Pedro (Ruby's) and enjoyed it. I haven't been to other 2 cayes. <BR> <BR>Ambergris doesn't have great beaches (to be honest, I don't think that's really possible in Belize), but snorkeling was great.

Ambergris is our most socailly active destination, but saying that, keep in mind you can still walk into restuarants without shoes and you'll know more of the island by the end of your stay. Both SW Caye and Tobacaao Caye are right on the reef, 10 miles off the coast of Dangriga. SW Caye has a a selction of 3 different accommodations, with BlueMarlin Lodge being the most upscale. I love the little cabanas on the water edge at Pelican. Tobacco Caye is more for backpackers and has a larger slection of mid prices-budget hotels, but less elbow room on the island. Or these two, SW Caye will offer more privacy, but be more expensive. Both are walk in snorkeling islands. <BR> <BR>Katie Valk <BR>Belize

Ambergris is so small that it would be hard to imagine it being to commercial. It does have some night life and good restaurants but there are only really 2 main streets. The snorkeling is great but the beaches are so-so. Don't pay in advance for your snorkelling trips - sometimes they aren't there the next morning! Pay when you get there and they are there too. Food is pricey.

There are no beaches on Ambergris so I wouldn't count on any beaching. Yes, snorkeling is fantastic. Be careful when booking any trip with Katie Valk who is a travel agent. We thought she was so nice and friendly so we used her to book our accommodation and when we got to Belize we found out how much we overpayed. We could easily make our own arrangements and so much cheaper. We are going back to the same places this February and we faxed our requests to a hotel on Ambergris Caye and a lodge on the mainland. We got reply next day.

San Pedro is too Americanized if compared to the rest of Belize, it is a friendly place, lots of comfortable places to stay, but expect to pay. It is fun to spend a few days there, I prefer the quieter Caye Caulker and would like to try some of the more remote cayes.

Dear Don, <BR> <BR>Overpaid? I don't think so. People who have honest comments to contribute to this site use their correct email address and don't mask their identity as you have now and other times you've objected to my presence on their boards. i would think most visitors to this board appreciate viewing appraisals from someone who not only lives in the country, but participates in all the activities/tours and stays in the accommodations people are asking about. <BR> <BR>You may not, but others do. And I respond for them. If you think you were overcharged, let me know how and where and you'll get a refund. But I believe this is a fabrication, so this will be interesting. <BR> <BR>I would have responded to you personally, but you always refuse to use your real email address. So it's public. <BR>Email the bill and I'll refund every cent you 'overpaid'. <BR> <BR>Best wishes, <BR> <BR>Katie Valk <BR>Belize

Jeff and All <BR>I too went to Belize and had Katie help me with all the details. This was in Oct of 1999. Went inland and to Placencia. I found Katie to be VERY HELPFUL and the prices I got from her were the same prices quoted to me via e-mail from the places we visited. I will use Katie when I return to Belize this year or next. If anyone has questions they can email me at [email protected]