floridadventurist

After several vacations to Guanacaste Costa Rica we are up for a try at the Caribbean and Belize. Victoria House looks like a real dream...and pricey too. We like simple, air conditioned, comfy beds, and lots of quaint restaurants to try. Is Caye Caulker too small for this? We want to dive and snorkel and fish and kayak....and sleep.
To explain: In Tamarindo in 2002, we stayed on the beach for $40/night...walked out to the pangas, fished, surfed, snorkeled...it was heaven. Then on our return last year the town had exploded...the Palapa we stayed at was overrun with in-town overgrowth and noise. We stayed in a friends apartment and never got to sleep because of the partying surf crowd. No offense...but we wanted romance!
So....Ambergris Caye? Caye Caulker?

seldre

Stayed at Caye Caulker several years ago. Hotels were not first rate at that time. However the people were friendly, almost no cars and lay-back was the name of the game. Took a day trip to Ambergis. More touristy, also better restaurants. Cannot snorkel off the beach from Caye Caulker. Go out by boat and then the snorkeling etc was great.

LA_FadeAway

We spent 3 nights on CC and 2 on AC last week and much preferred Caye Caulker. It was much more laid back and had a better feel too it.
I found AC to be overrun with tourists and just as pricey as L.A. Caye Caulker had a nice mix of people from many countries and nice, reasonably priced restaurants. We stayed at Seaside Cabanas which is quite pricey by CC standards ($110 U.S./nt), but they are brand new, with a great view and the only pool on the island. Highly recommended, get cabana #1! Rasta Pasta was our favorite restaurant. Don't forget to go for a nice swim at the Split and the snorkeling at the reef is awesome. Enjoy!

LA_FadeAway

I forgot to mention that we visited Victoria House while in San Pedro. Although we weren't so fond of AC as a whole, I would definitely stay there if I ever go back (which is doubtful). The place looked really nice and had the best "beach" around.

JeanH

I'm a huge fan of Ambergris Caye, but, Caye Caulker has a lot going for it as well. I haven't stayed on Caulker, just done day trips. There were several more restaurants, and quite a few more people there this past May than on previous trips. That said, I still prefer AC. I suspect it's a matter of San Pedro being the first place we went to in Belize, and simply falling in love with the place. After several visits, we have our favorite hangouts, and it simply feels like home.

There are some wonderful condotels on AC that cost a heck of a lot less money than Victoria House. VH does look absolutely awesome though.

Have a great trip.

Shanah

I would say AC, we stayed at the VH and it is all to expect and more. Cool town to go to and very few people there in August anyway. We stoped at CC and stores seemed just as pricey, seemed safer and like more to do at AC.