Hotel suggestions - Ambergris Caye

Hi There,

I'm hoping for a bit of insight/recommendations on hotels on Ambergris Caye. Here's a bit of background/context on what we're looking for: my husband and I are traveling with another couple and we are all late-twenties. My husband and I were planning to stay on Caulker but our friends really want to stay on Ambergris (because of the nightlife, development, and better beaches). My husband and I are seasoned travelers and typically stay in low to moderate off-the-beaten-track hotels or camp - but our friends are hoping for something a bit more relaxing/luxurious. Thus, I'm hoping that you fine LP folk can help us find something that will fit the bill for everyone.

We're all interested in some sort of hut or cabana. Budget is $100 p/night but I am definitely hoping to find something closer to $70. On the beach is a must and our friends would prefer somewhere that feels more like a resort and that has a pool. Conversely, we are hoping for a place that feels low-key, natural and intimate. Our friends have suggested Ak'Bol Yoga Resort and I'm interested - I've read the LP and TA reviews but does anyone have additional details? It's on the top end of our budget but I am really hoping to find a hotel that is a decent compromise between our travel aesthetics - and if we find it, I'm willing to pay a little more.

The four of us will spend 9 days in the Cayes diving and perhaps visiting Lamanai and Monkey River as day trips; following, my husband and I are sailing to Palencia with Raggamuffin and will spend a few days there to round out the trip. Our friends will depart Belize after Ambergris.

Let me know if you have any ideas.... this is my first trip with more than one travel companion so we're all expecting to make a few sacrifices. I'm just hoping that we can find a hotel that feels somewhat luxurious and thatched hut cabana-y but that is also natural and doesn't feel like a big-box resort. I know that Ambergris isn't the ideal location for a small low-key hotel but I'm trying to make it work! :)

Thanks -

Claire

PS - if anyone has been to Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica, I think that Banana Azul is a perfect example of a solid hotel for all of us...

Have you looked at Tranquility Bay? No pool, though. Monkey River would be a day trip from Placencia, not Ambergris.

Going to be tough finding what you want at the price you want on Ambergris Caye. The closest thing might be Ak'Bol on North Ambergris, which has moderately priced thatched cabanas, though it is still somewhat above your budget range unless you go off-season (May-mid November) when cabanas are just US$100 to $120 plus tax and service. Nice moderate place on the water, not too far north, with a good inexpensive restaurant and bar. Very popular.

Most of the properties on Ambergris are small and low-key, but more expensive than you're planning for, and thatch is pretty rare these days.

I'd suggest reconsidering Caye Caulker. Lots of inexpensive and moderate places, though again not much thatch anymore (it's expensive to maintain and replace, storms damage it and insurance is hard to get.)

--Lan Sluder

Thanks for the insight, Hopefulist and Lan. I think that we will stick to Ak'Bol as we're traveling during off-season and will be able to snag the $100 cabanas. Lan, I definitely agree that we'd be more suited to Caye Caulker - this has been my Caye preference all along. But our friends really want to go to Ambergris, and as they were originally hoping to go to an all-inclusive in Mexico, I figure I can be flexible on the choice of Cayes.

Also, thanks to you both for all of your great ideas in the Belize forum. I've read through multiple posts and have learned quite a bit from your experience and ideas. I maintain that Thorn Tree is has the world's most awesome travelers. :)