We are going to Belize in February and a tour operator suggested the Aquamarina Suites as a good place to stay. We had wanted to go to Victoria House but it is full. Any thoughts on this hotel? Also, as an alternative, would anyone know of a great villa/house to stay as there could be 3 couples.

Never heard of it. Email [email protected], they rent houses on Ambergris.

AquaMarina Suites is the former Fountain Blue Suites, at the north end of Front Street, in town. It was built by island businessman Simon Harmouch, opened in late 01 as the Fountain Blue, then closed a few months later under a financial and political cloud. It just reopened a few weeks ago, under new management.<BR><BR>The rooms in the three-story building are all suites, on the small side but nice, all with sea views. There's a little pool. The beach is fair, though being in town there's a good deal of pedestrian and boat traffic.<BR><BR>Rates are around US$150 double in-season.<BR><BR>It has a Web site at www.aquamarinesuites.com<BR><BR>Compared to Victoria House, I would say that the accommodations are as nice or nicer than some of the VH rooms, but that it doesn't have the full-service resort atmosphere or flair of Victoria House, and I like VH's beach and pool much better.<BR><BR>--Lan Sluder

On the Web site address, I should have written<BR><BR>www.aquamarinasuites.com

We just returned from our honeymoon in Belize, and stayed just north of San Pedro on Ambergris Caye. The resort was called Portofino ( http://www.portofinobelize.com/index.html ). Fantastic staff and great accomodations. I would highly recommend the honeymoon suite, and if thats not available, a treetop suite is very nice! <BR><BR>Have fun!