AmbergrisCaye.com Home Forums The Cayes Ambergris Caye Urgent Caribe or Banane Beach?

I plan to make my reservations today and have got the plane on hold. ..Hopefully if I can make up my mind! There are many nice places! Could you place compare these two resorts? I'm just looking for just the overall experience. Thanks, this forum is very helpful and people respond quickly! Have a wonderful day!

just got back from 10 days at banana beach and we loved our stay there...the staff, the rooms, the restaurant, the pool, the view...all top notch...

we also carted over to caribe island for lunch and a tour and fell in love with that place!

since you are choosing between two places which are not close to town...you will be taking a shuttle, biking or golf carting to experience the rest of the island. banana beach is within walking distance if you like a long liesurely walk up the beach (we did it quite a few times...but opted for taxis and golf carts when the heat and our fatigue won out!) the walk from there is spectacular tho!

words can't describe the beauty of caribe island tho...you will have the feeling of being on your own island! the beachfront is breathtaking. the pool area will make you feel like a millionaire! the restaurant and food is fantastic (as is el devino's). we didn't tour the rooms...but those with balconies overlooking their grounds and beach looked absolutely stunning!

the only complaint we had about banana beach was the lack of a truly open beachfront. the area in front of the hotel is small with rows of lounge chairs ...and there is a breakwall (beach on either side for swimming).

caribe island might be a little too far out of the action for some...but if that doesn't bother you...you will be in heaven there!

The San Pedro Social Club is raffling off rooms/suites at both Banana Beach and Caribe Island. Values up to $2100.00 per week ! Check our thread under "General Chat Area".

Maybe you should consider reserving a place a little closer to town for a couple days and when you get there rent a cart for a day and do some shopping around for the remainder of your stay.
If the occupancy is low at the time , the prices can be very competative, such as low season, after May1. :rolleyes:

Mikell...we will be spending our time at BB in a little over a month. Which oceanfront suite would you recommend..1st level or 3rd? Also...what beach had the best swimming and where would you recommend snorkeling? Looking forward to your trip report which will answer most of our questions

i would definitely recommend the 3rd floor suite...much more privacy and better view!

when we arrived, they had us in a 2nd floor suite in the middle...we spent the night there and asked to be moved to the 3rd floor if possible...

as luck would have it, someone was moving out of a corner suite that day...and the people who were supposed to arrive to claim it had not specified the 3rd floor...so they let us move in! the staff was so good to us!

we absolutely loved the 3rd floor south corner...lots of light in the suite from the south windows...and being up a bit higher made a huge difference. even the second floor felt less private...as there were always people hanging out just below the balcony...and the night security people til 6 a.m. i can't even imagine being on the 1st floor!

i thought we would regret having to walk up 3 flights several times a day...but even for 2 50 something smokers...it wasn't a problem...

the walk up thru the courtyard and view down to the pool is quite pretty...and we really loved the privacy...

there is no beach directly in front of BB...but just walk a few steps to the north and you can easily wade and float around in the sandy shallows in front of the property next door...or to the south in front of mata rocks. a few patches of sea grass...but nothing to spoil the swim. or you can go to the pier just to the north of BB...and go off the end there...walk out to a very cool sand bar...lots of people swimming out there each day. down a bit further, the locals take their kids to swim on a pretty nice beach too...mar del tumbo beach, i think it's called... one of the better beach areas on AC...you'll find it easy and inviting to get in the water anywhere along this stretch.

you don't go to AC for the fabulous beaches...we were suprised to meet people who were disappointed by the lack of great beach areas...guess they didn't know what to expect...should have done some homework. we aren't really "beach people"....so we knew we wouldn't mind...and they were still lovely to walk along anytime...night or day! picture postcard views!

my favourite snorkeling spot was tres cocos...shallow water...coral and fish in front of your nose...and a great variety to look at! alan loved mexico rocks...saw squid, rays, schools of blue tang and hundreds of other species. of course...shark ray alley...can't beat the experience...and hol chan and coral gardens were both very nice too. you must try to see both areas...snorkel trips to mexico rocks/tres cocos and shark ray/hol chan...at the very least!

also...don't miss a couple of times at ramon's pier...just walk on out and jump in...once you get into the water...head under the dock and palapa area...you will see WALLS of fish that will take your breath away! and often rays and the odd really spectacular fish...saw a huge black and yellow angel fish our last time there. it's quick, free and worth an hour several times during your visit!

i have so many things i want to share...if i keep answering posts...i may not even have to write a trip report!!

Thanks Mikell...for all the wonderful recommendations We are so looking forward to our time in AC and it looks as if we chose a great place to be at BB and we'll be sure to experience Mexico Rock, Hol Chan/Shark Ray Alley
etc. Welcome Back...and hurry up with your trip report

Come on Mikell, the 1st floor can't be that bad! No place at Banana Beach is bad, is it....

they aren't bad - just different

just my opinion based on what we like...and that's privacy! we love to sit out on a balcony very early in the morning...fresh coffee...watch the sun rise...feel like we are in our own world! and ditto for late at night...

unlike many people...we do tend to hang out in our room early and late every day...we aren't much for the night life parties...we make our own!

even on the second floor...it felt less private...people wandering around, talking just below us...the security people with walkie talkies up all night in the beach area...

now...none of this would bother many people...but up on the third floor...with that treetop view....that was our idea of heaven!