Hi Guys,

I've been reading all the posts and researching Belize, wow, what an amazing country offering so much! At first glance, I had planned on trying to stay on Ambergris Caye, however, now I'm wondering if I should look at Placencia from all the posts. My husband & I will be traveling with another couple in July this year. We want snorkeling, beginners diving, visit a ruin and a cave. I planned on being able to take excursions from wherever I'm staying.

So, what do you all think, we want a nice place to stay 4-5*, beachfront. All the talk of AC w/no beach has me concerned, I do love a great beach to get to walk out to off my room, and swim in when hot. I dont have to be able to snorkel off it since I plan on taking an excursion for this.

Please help. I've just started researching and have decided on Belize, so any input would be great. Accomodations on AC would be appreciated as well. We could either share a condo w/our friends or have our own rooms, no matter. I would like a nice place though.

Thanks a lot!

Jeannine

You could go to both. We were in Ambergris Caye last June and had a great time. But, I want to see Placencia, so next month we're off to both. Three nights in Placencia, then four nights in San Pedro (and another week in Mexico after that).

Two very different destinations in the same country. San Pedro, Ambergris is our most visited destination with the larger selection of hotels, restaurants, bars, shops and people. That being said, it's still laid back by most standards. Start by taking a look at Victoria House, a wonderful inn and then at the two bdrm/two bath condos at Banyan Bay. In Placencia, the Inn at Roberts Grove. You'll be able to do trips to the mainland from either.

I agree. Both are very nice destinations, but they are different:

AMBERGRIS CAYE (often referred to as San Pedro):

* The biggest island in Belize (originally a peninsula jutting down from the Yucatan) -- northern Belize

* Settled by Mestizos from Mexico

* Most popular destination in Belize (for many good reasons)

* 5,000 residents on the island

* Mostly sand streets, no building over 3 stories

* By FAR Belize's widest selection of restaurants and hotels

* Best hotels include Victoria House, Mata Chica, Ramon's and Portofino and condotels Villas at Banyan Bay, Banana Beach, The Palms

* Some shops, sizeable groceries, lots of bars and places to hear live music

* Very nice beaches though like all beaches inside the reef somewhat narrow and with some goop bottoms and a good deal of seagrass

* Beaches along most of the Caribbean side (20+ miles)

* Reef just a few hundred yards offshore

* Decision about locations -- more remote North Ambergris requires water taxi, south end or in/near town

* Lots of snorkel tours and day trips to the mainland to visit ruins

* Good diving locally and excellent diving on day trips to Turneffe or Lighthouse atolls

* Get there by flights from international (US$47) or municipal airstrip (US$26) or by water taxi (US$14)

* Safe and friendly (though usual cautions are in order)

* Transportation on the island -- bikes, rental golf carts, cabs, water taxis

* Hotels from US$15 to $500+ a night

* Small condos and vacation rental houses available US$100 to $500+ a night

* Golf available on nearby Caye Chapel (but expensive -- US$200 a day)

* Tennis available at sports club and at a couple of hotels

* Water -- safe to drink from municipal system or RO/wells as remote resorts

* Good fishing -- tarpon, bonefish and other

* Very little snorkeling from shore (best snorkeling requires a short boat ride to Hol Chan Marine Reserve (including Shark-Ray Alley)

* About the same amount of rain as Atlanta, Ga.

PLACENCIA:

* 16-mile long peninsula in southern Belize (Stann Creek District)

* Access from Belize City via road by rental car (3 1/2 hours, US$55+ a day), bus (6+ hours, US$8), air (40 minutes, US$70 from international, US$59 from municipal)

* Placencia village is 25 miles from the Southern Highway on an unpaved road

* Two villages on peninsula -- Placencia (Creole) and Seine Bight (Garifuna)

* Peninsula population about 3,000

* Wide choice of hotels from budget hotels in Placencia village to upscale resorts farther north

* Hotels from around US$15 to $400+

* Among the best hotels: Inn at Robert's Grove, Turtle Inn, Luba Hati

* Some restaurants in Placencia village and elsewhere, though most of the better restaurants are at hotels

* Transportation on peninsula -- taxis or your rental car

* 15+ miles of very nice beaches along Caribbean side -- best beaches on mainland but not much different from those on Ambergris Caye

* Day trips to mainland to visit Cockscomb jaguar preserve and to Maya sites near Punta Gorda

* Day snorkel trips -- reef is 15 miles out, though snorkeling is also available at islands and patch reefs closer in

* Little snorkeling from shore

* Few shops, only small groceries

* Safe and friendly (though usual precautions are in order)

* Water from municipal system safe to drink

* Good fishing for permit, bonefish, tarpon and other

* Access to small islands offshore for day or overnight visits

* Good to excellent diving on day trips

* Limited nightlife

* More rain than Ambergris Caye (especially during rainy season June - November)

* Sandflies can be irksome

--Lan Sluder <Fodor's Belize & Guatemala, San Pedro Cool, Adapter Kit Belize, Belize First Guide to Mainland Belize, etc.>

Wow, thanks guys for you input, expecially you Lan, great summary of each area, I sure appreciate it! I'll keep in touch with you all for additional questions.

Thanks again!

i really enjoyed placentia for relaxation and laying on the beach with an iced margaretta. i think the beaches are much more enjoyable here then on ambergris. went on a snorkeling trip to laughing bird caye which isn't too far away.
enjoyed ambergris for more active days. lots of restaurants and bars to choose from. close to the reef for good day long snorkeling trips. short boat ride for a visit to caye caulker.
you don't say how long you will be there but if it's over a week, i'd try to do both. there are flights between the two so transportation wouldn't take up that much time.

We went to Ambergris Caye with our 2 kids and another family of 4 and had a great time (2 years ago). One of the best vacations we ever had. We stayed at Banyon Bay and it was lovely. Nice pool, right on the beach, a bit out of town so not too noisy at night. Nearby restaurant down the beach. Lots to see and do in town. Good food. Friendly people. Great snorkeling -- we took an all day trip that included a grilled lunch on the beach. We made a deal for the trip with something like Sea-rious Adventures (?). Felt comfortable swimming on the beach off our resort because it was away from town. Don't know if town beach is clean for swimming. Loved the fact that no cars are allowed and everybody gets around with rented golf carts or walking. We often let the 4 teens just hang around town and they got to know quite a few of the locals, even learned we had dealt with somebody's brother in San Ignacio (small world and all). Can't say enough good things about this trip. If you have the time a visit to Tikal is a must! I don't know anything about Placencia but the only thing I didn't care for on Ambergris was the fact that every hotel/resort seemed to have it own dock jutting out into the sea so you couldn't swim or snorkel out too far for fear of being run over by boats and jet skis. But you could walk all the way into town along the beach from where we stayed. Have a great time and enjoy the friendliness and beauty of Belize!