AmbergrisCaye.com Home Forums The Cayes Ambergris Caye Yet another accommodation question....

Hi,

My first trip to Belize got pushed back to May (on a plus side, hotel rates are lower). I'm debating among The Palms, Banana Beach and Exotic Caye. My b/f and I are in late 20's, early 30's, both active (plan to snorkel, kayak, canoe) and love the beach & sun. I'd like to stay in a cabana/bungalow-like room rather than a hotel/motel that's why I'm leaning towards either the Palms or Exotic Caye (I was also looking at Xanadu, but they only have 2 & 3 bdrm available). However, I heard all the good things about Banana Beach and their prices are great (including, breakfast!!), but it's quite a walk from town. Which one is the best choice in term of location (beach, good restaurant, bar)? I think there's no restaurant at The Palms - are there any resturants close-by for breakfast & lunch? If I chose to stay at Banana Beach, is there a limited choice for lunch & dinner? I still have to do much more research, but what's there to do in town? I mean if I were to stay at Banana Beach and not going to town, am I missing anything? Another question is there's an addition service fee at the Palms - does it mean tipping is included? Thanks in advance all your help.

Yes, you are definately missing out of you do not go to town. If you enjoy beautiful walks, Banana Beach is only a 20-25 minute walk which goes SO fast there with the beautiful walk along the water and sand. Also, there are restraunts everywhere on between town and Banana Beach. I would not choose somewhere just because it includes breakfast, however, as you can get amazing breakfasts at Ruby's and Celi's for under $5 US and quite filling. The food is WONDERFUL. So again, if you like a short walk don't let the walk or the breakfast make your final decision. When are you going? I'll be there in May, too, and in my 20's.

I love The Palms... There is no restaurant, but breakfast on your own veranda is wonderful and you can do it in your pj's. If you want to go out for any meal, it only a few minutes (and I do mean less than 5 minutes) to anywhere in town. You won't need a cart unless you want to go island exploring. Even tho it is close-in, noise has NEVER been a problem for us at The Palms. The apartments are tastefully furnished and you feel "at home" instead of in a "motel/hotel room". It is right next door to Ramon's which has the nicest beach area of any close-in resort. Also, some of the best close-in snorkeling is from Ramon's pier. Ramon's also has alot of people in your age group hanging out there, but so do many other spots in town. We have been to AC numerous times and I always make a point to check out other condo/apartment style accomodations and have yet to wish I had stayed somewhere other than The Palms. If you want total seclusion and don't plan on many trips to town, then stay up north. If you want to be close to everything (restaurants, bars, live music, people watching and enjoying the sights and sounds of San Pedro) then, IMO, you can't beat The Palms.

Thank you so much. You have made my decision so much easier. I'll be there the 2nd wk of May. Do you happen to konw what's the diff. bet. Casita and 1 bdrm at the Palms? Is Casita like a studio? (It's only 2 of us).

we will be staying at the palms may 20-25 and i recommend it to anyone. it's a great location for everything.
the casita is adorable, but it's in back by the pool...not on the beach like the other condos.
the casita has a bedroom, living, bath and a small kitchen w/ table. smaller than the others, but plenty of room for 2.
the condos on the beach are just like fully furnished/equipped apartments. nice.

ktny... Like mimi said, the Casita is in back and poolfront - no ocean view. It is cute but the ocean view from the second or third floor (tho I believe the 3rd floor is all 2 bdrm) is the best! Try and get one of the inside rooms rather than the outside one's as I think the veranda is a little larger. If you dive they have a rinse area and pegs for drying dive suits, etc. Wish I was going soon! I'm sure you'll have a great time!

Check out Banyon Bay or Ramones, both are fantastic and closer to town. You can walk the beach to all the resorts and use their pools. Fun and relaxing thing to do in the am, all you see is the guys cleaning the beach and afew joggers. Try JamBel resteruant (never could spell that word) for great Jamaican and Belizean food. Another great place (local) is Papi's. Lots on your plate and very reasonable!

droone, are you saying that Banyon Bay is closer to town than the Palms? Are you thinking of Royal Palms? Ramons is next door to the Palms.

I am sure you cannot "walk the beach to all the resorts and use their pools"!

There are some hotels with pools that allow you to have a dip if having a drink/snack at their bar.

Hi again, The Palms is near Ramones, The Royal Palms is way South. You can walk the beach from Banyon Bay South to the Palms. I stay in a lovely guesthouse, next to Banyan Bay and each morning walk the beach and rest myself in each pool from Banyan to The Royal Palms.~~~Joi~~~

only one hotel with pool in between those 2 places

and a longgggggggggggg 350 yd walk between them as well..phewwww wears me out just thinking about it

Yes, I checked out both Banyan Bay and Ramon's. They're sorta over a few bucks over our budget.

I too have had a hard time trying to decide on two places to stay one being the Bananna Beach and the other Paradise Villas. Now I have never been to AC so I am relying heavily on this site and the hotel feedback comments on the tripadvisor. I am torn myself over the saving you gain at the Bananna. MY fear is that I will get there and kick myself because it may feel like some cheesy hotel and not that ISLAND feeling that I think Paradise Villas will offer...I seem to remember checking out the Palms because of reviews like these and they were more than Paradise Villas.

We stayed and are staying at Paradise Villas in two weeks, we loved it. If you want to be close to things in town, this would be better than Banana Beach, in my opinion. We rode bikes down there one day, just too far to walk to town for us. We really liked the convenience of the supermarket, the bank, the rum house, cholo's, elvi's, etc. BB did look like a nice property, and we hope to eat at El Divino's, I read somewhere that they have excellent eggs benidict!

let me say you can not go to wrong at bananna beach .they have a loyal following of repeat clients ...I have stayed a week there , and was very happy.. they have great staff and on site owner/management team so place runs tip top 24/7 .. .fun ,clean, tropical feel . good eats on property.

Banana Beach is wonderfull (imho). We stayed there last year for 9 days and are returning in 10 days for 14 days. My wife insisted on Banana Beach ocean front. Try it, you won't be sorry.

"Cheesy" is, IMHO, a slap in the face to BB - I hardly think either place will turn you off of that "island feeling" though.

Wow!

First they call me Tom Bodet now I'm a Mennonite making cheese...

Wonder what will be next! ;-)

Don't stop the carnival!

PV is closer to town than BB but BB has far superior accommodations (IMO) and is much newer. Both of these plus The Palms are condo type places and not individual cabana/bungalows. Exotic Caye is more "cabana type" looking but inside the room is condo type as well. If you want the thatched roof cabanas, the price goes up and what you actually get for your $$ goes down. Depends if you want value or tropical "ambiance."

Time between slipping on a peel and smacking the pavement: 1 bananosecond

Yikes, cheesy is the last word I'd use to describe Banana Beach!! Hey, to each their own, but Banana Beach is a great place to stay, in every aspect!

Paradise villas looks nice, but I found out that there's no beach at PV because of seagrass....just my 2 cents.

WOW I think I chose the wrong word...Sorry ALL no bad intentions on the 'Cheezy word" I have read a lot of good feedback on them! Maybe someone can give me some feedback on the lowest price room with a Veranda or Balcony...which is a better room etc... Oh and PV has a dock you can swim from is this an added bonus or not?

why not contact BB directly? They'll give ya the straight scoop. info@bananabeach.com (of course you might have to apologize first ) Ask them if the floorplan the have at the front desk is scanned & can be emailed - then you can see ther entire layout, if it is.

The verandah rooms are on the first floor and have no real view due to the foliage that grew alongside. The balcony rooms are on the 2nd & 3rd floor and have an oceanview from the balcony.

PV has a beach - seagrass is in the water! There is a low seawall in front of both places (PV and BB) but plenty of swimming areas all around, from docks or adjacent beaches.

I have stayed at both Banana Beach and Paradise Villas. I am coming back in June and staying at PV simply because I don't get a golf cart and the pool is nice because it is not shaded. Banana Beach would be great if I had the rooms right in front on the water and was using a golf cart. But, it was quite a walk back at night. there's my 2 cents.

I'm planning to spend most of my days relaxing/tanning on the beach & pool area, hence it's important to me to have a nice, clean beach. Comparing between the Palms and PV, which one has a nicer beach & pool area?

If I were to reserve a 1 bdrm, can I request Unit # ( I opt to get the 2nd or 3rd fl)? If so, which one is a good choice?

Palms has a better beach, PV has a better pool area.

You can request but usually not guarantee a particular room.

OK! I have had enough of this... I happen to LOVE cheese and am prepared to trade cheese for room nights. After all the summer months are coming up! When I first came to Belize a place on the mainland called duPlooy's offered a free night for icecream! Cheese should be much easier!! We can't get good Brie, Mozzeralla or even Cheddar. Pedro place your order. NO SALMON- only cheese please.

So how many ounces (sorry Pedro just called me and said pounds) of cheese is fair in trade for a free night?

No more summer's of love. Let's have a summer of cheese!

Special note for our good friends in Minnesota- Aren't you close to Wisconsin? ;-). Kaleh, Kathy, Lynn, Jim and Cheryl!!

how long is this offer good for Tim?
http://www.babyswiss.com/catalog.html

Place your order,Tim ,and say "CHEESE"!!

I vote you stay at the Palms, owing to its proximity to town, good beaches, good snorkeling, clean and pretty accomodations...have a great trip no matter what you decide!!!!

I stayed at Banana Beach on feb 1 for a week and loved it!! the rooms and kitchen living area are very good sized, you have a great ocean view from the pool area, thru the arch,, the beach is always clean and has ample room with both sun and shaded areas and a superb staff. breakfast is included and you can rent bikes for 50.00 bcks for the week to go back and forth to town and the cabs are only 5 bucks any where south on the island. i am returning with my wife the 27th of april for another week at banana beach and as far as i am concerned, bang for the buck, it doesn't get much better than B.B. and Tim I like cheddar!! and don't leave the lite on for me either!! john in denver

Greetings from Minnesota! Almost the cheese capitol of the world.
The Brie is on the way.
A chunk of cheese & a Belikin Beer - paradise!
Leave the light on for us.

have fun JID - and don't forget to watch out for those nekkid ladies on da beach!

klcman, i b lookin but just for topless!! besides i'm with my lady and don't want to get in any trouble with rovin eyes ya know!! ha ha in any event plan on spending a lot of time in the water scuba/snorkel so don't have much time for much else...just chillin' and enjoyin' banana beach and the environs...be cool jrs john in denver

We'll be taking our 1st trip to AC in late October...any tips from anyone that's been there that time of the year ? Also really interested in the Mata Rocks Hotel.. would love to hear from anyone that's stayed there.... Tks !

Hit the search button at the top of the page and put in mata rocks. Lots of information and the posters will tell you the most.

Placidguy, stayed at Mata Rocks twice, they have nice units, the junior suites are the nicest with a well stcked if smallish kitchen area, combined with the sleeping living area. Lovely view from all the rooms of the ocean and pool area/beach bar. they have a nice beach with both shaded and sunny areas and a nice continental style breakfast on the beach., and a great staff. was there in nov. and the weather is nice...not so hot but can be iffy as you are getting closer to the rainy season and nov. of course starts hurricaine season. I found smaller crowds tho and very nice weather all around very good time to go. john in denver

as usual, john is right on, but.....Nov is the end of hurricane season, not beginning

Thanks all.. am looking for smaller hotels in the area.. not really into the party scene.. any other suggestions ??

OOOPS sorry june starts hurricane season and november ends it! sorry for the mistep there john in denver

Placidguy... I'm also looking at Mata Rocks, but am not yet sure of the dates. Will probably end up being late October or early November. It'll be my first visit to the island and I'll be travelling alone... maybe I'll see you and your group around the pool!

LIL E........ see my reply on your accommodation question... reservations are booked for Mata Rocks 10/29 for 2 weeks...

I will be staying at Banana Beach 10/26 though 11/2. Maybe I will run in to you in town....

Or at the beach bar (Squirrel's Nest?)

In the end I decided on Banana Beach for my 1st trip... will be there from Oct 8-18 before heading off for a few days in San Ignacio.

I am new to this board...we are planning trip in May and getting ready to made reservatons at Banyan Bay Villas....6 of us...5 divers. None of us have ever been to Belize.....anyone have experience with the resort? What beach front units best? Also, we usually go to Cayman and buy all of our groceries upon arrival. Is it best to let the service offered do the shopping and deliver or can you get everything you need at the grocery stores...we like to cook breakfast in...sandwiches for lunch...and out for dinner. Thanks for any advice....

Banyan Bay is a terrific place. Pretty much all of the beachfront units would have similar features. There is a good provisioning service on the island which may make things easier or there are several grocery stores nearby. I highly recommend having breakfast at the restuarant on site (Rico's) at least some of the time. I had Lobster eggs benedict there 2 weeks ago that was out of this world! My kids raved about the coconut french toast and banana pancakes too.