Is there a new policy at Tobacco Caye Lodge? I notice the 2008 rates are for room only -- no mention of food prices.

You might try asking this on the Belize Forum - lots of locals and expats post there:

http://www.belizeforum.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php

Keep us posted!

It certainly sounds like they've changed the way they do business. Seems odd that a double would still be almost twice the price as a single though.

We paid quite a bit more than the $80.00 it lists now for a double, and that was a couple years ago.

And the website does mention a restaurant on site.

When we were there, there were several times when people who weren't staying at Tobacco Caye Lodge would want a meal. Sometimes they were people off sailboats anchored off shore. Sometimes people camping on the island. Sometimes there was enough food to accomodate them, sometimes not. The lodge must have decided that there is money to be made this way.

I also noticed mention of a minifridge in the room. I would have loved that. Every morning I was trying to find someone to get me a Coco-cola Light....

Your Coca Cola Light comment cracked me up! I spent 3 weeks in Guatemala with a friend who is addicted to the stuff and we spent a lot of time going from store to store in small highland and lowland towns trying to find it. When we'd find it, I'd take a photo of how happy she was - like the 3rd photo in the Rio Dulce set:

http://flickr.com/photos/staceyholem...7602167525856/

Happy trails!

Great picture. I think I read some where that Guatamala is a Pepsi country, and it's hard to find Coke products. Did you find that to be true?

Her beverage of choice at home is Diet Mt. Dew, which we never saw. Both Pepsi and Coke products were available in Antigua but after that she jumped at diet anything with caffeine - I think she found Pepsi more than Coke but either was a treasure. As long as there's an ice cream store in town (and even small towns tend to have several) I'm a happy camper.

Does anyone know if Gaviotas is also planning to make the food an extra charge?