Belize is a great travel destination for couples and families that love the tropical feel but also want adventure and plenty of activities. Ambergris Caye, just a quick flight or boat ride from Belize City, is a perfect “home base” for your Belizian vacation. You get the laid back island feel with access to amazing snorkeling, diving, water activities and quick access to mainland adventures like exploring Mayan ruins. 

When I traveled to Belize, I knew Ambergris Caye is where I wanted to stay. There are plenty of options for accommodations all over the island. I wanted to be a little farther away from the main city, but still with easy access. I wanted a nice pool, beach, and a room with a kitchen, so we didn’t have to eat all our meals out. Once I figured out everything I wanted and my budget, it wasn’t hard to find the perfect hotel! 

After visiting Belize, I believe one of the best places to stay on Ambergris Caye is Grand Caribe. 

Location of Grand Caribe on Ambergris Caye

Grand Caribe is located just outside the main town of San Pedro on Ambergis Caye, Belize. The resort is located 2 miles north of San Pedro. It is easily accessible by a paved road by golf cart (15 minutes) or by taxi (10 minutes).

How to Get to Grand Caribe

There are quite a few options on how to get to Grand Caribe:

1. By Airplane
   You can take a small plane from Belize City to San Pedro. It is about a 15-minute ride and I highly recommend it! The views are beautiful and it’s a very unique experience to sit on a 14-seater airplane! Once you arrive at the San Pedro Airport, Grand Caribe offers complimentary arrival and departure taxi rides to and from Grand Caribe. Just notify them of your arrival and departure times and they will be there to escort you.
2. Helicopter Transfer
   You can take an even more unique experience to get to Grand Caribe and take a helicopter transfer. Grand Caribe partners with Astrum Helicopters to offer this experience. You can add in a tour of Belize Barrier Reef or the famous Great Blue Hole on your way. Work with the resort to arrange this transfer. 
3. Water Taxi
   The most affordable way to get to Grand Caribe is by water taxi. There are regular public water taxis from Belize City. This normally takes 1.5 hours and departs every hour. From the Belize City Airport, you will have to catch a taxi to the water taxi terminal.

Rooms at Grand Caribe

Grand Caribe is a luxury vacation home rental in Ambergris Caye, Belize. The rooms are labeled as condos because they include kitchens, which I liked because then you can cook some meals at home instead of going out for every meal. Some condos are owned by families and others you can rent like a regular hotel room.

Since this was my husband and my 3rd wedding anniversary trip, I wanted a nice room overlooking the ocean. We went with the One Bedroom Oceanfront room. It was very large with 1000 square feet of living space. There was a kitchen, living area, bedroom, bathroom with tub, a large walk-in closet, and a large balcony overlooking the ocean. I absolutely loved this room! We spent most of our time on the balcony. They also decorated our room for our anniversary. A very special treat!

There are a lot of different size condos on this property, from studios to 4 bedrooms to villas. This is a perfect resort for families of all sizes. One thing I really liked is that even though there are a lot of different room sizes and it is a larger property, it was still quiet and peaceful.

Amenities at Grand Caribe

• Dock – There is a dock on-site for easy transfers to excursions and San Pedro.
• Restaurants – Grand Caribe has two restaurants on-site, Rain and Aqua. Rain is a rooftop restaurant and bar. It is the perfect setting for a romantic sunset dinner or drink to end the evening. They have great food! Aqua is an Asian influenced restaurant. We didn’t get to try it but they do have sushi nights! There are also plenty of restaurants within golf cart driving distance of Grand Caribe. Make sure to definitely check out Stella’s Sunset Wine Bar and Restaurant for half off bottles of wine during happy hour!
• Spa
• Grocery Store – One very convenient piece of Grand Caribe is the onsite grocery store. Before your trip, you can have them stock your fridge with all the food you want, or you can walk down and pick up what you want throughout your vacation. The prices are very reasonable, too. 
• Golf Cart Rentals 
• Water Sports Rentals 
• Gym on site. It is small but has all the necessities, like weights, machines, treadmill, elliptical and bikes.  
• Beach
• Freshwater Pools – There are 6 freshwater pools onsite. 

Travel Tips for Belize

• Make sure to bring bug spray! The mosquitos are vicious in the very early morning and at dusk. 
• Get a golf cart rental when staying on one of the islands. That is their main mode of transportation. 
• Bring USD. They widely accept the USD and the exchange rate is very easy. 2:1 (2 Belizian Dollars for 1 USD)

For a full travel guide on visiting Ambergris Caye, Belize, click here.

When you are ready to plan and book your vacation to Belize, email me at hello@thekeystotravel.com. I am here to help you travel more and stress less!

When I visited the Guanacaste Province of Costa Rica in December (I highly recommend going to Costa Rica in December!), I was able to tour multiple hotels. I was pleasantly surprised with the variety of hotel types in this region. There were all-inclusives, boutiques, and eco-friendly off the beaten path lodging. Costa Rica really has it all for any type of traveler!

Planet Hollywood Beach Resort Costa Rica

Planet Hollywood in Costa Rica just opened at the end of 2018. If you want to be treated like a Star on your vacation, head to Planet Hollywood. When you arrive, you are greeted with a cool towel and a delicious purple drink. It is all about experience here. You walk the red carpet, have your photo taken and everyone claps for you. It’s a great experience when arriving at a resort after a long day of travel.

With a great all-inclusive program, you have many options from food and drink to activities. I luckily got to stay as a Star Class member, which I would recommend. You get additional benefits like a private pool and bar area (quieter and more relaxing than the main pool area), complimentary access to the hydrotherapy pool, upgraded room service, and more. You can’t go wrong staying at Planet Hollywood!

Hotel RIU Guanacaste

Hotel RIU is another all-inclusive option in the Guanacaste region. The RIU and the RIU Palace are right next to each other and both are great options for group or family travel. This resort is affordable and has the option of connecting rooms. RIU’s are known for their great locations on pristine beaches and this one did not disappoint. This resort is a large one with 3 pools, activities for kids and adults, all-inclusive 24 hours, large beachfront access, and so much more. If you’re looking for an affordable all-inclusive option, RIU is a good option.

Andaz Costa Rica Resort at Peninsula Papagayo

Andaz is a lifestyle brand of Hyatt and you definitely feel their slogan “come as a visitor, depart as a local” the second you walk inside. Andaz is not an all-inclusive option, but don’t let that hold you back from visiting. Their unique architecture seems to be one with nature. They have four pools, one being an adults-only pool, and access to three beaches. They also have a private beach house! Being so intertwined with the natural environment, this hotel instantly calms and relaxes you.

El Mangroove

El Mangroove is part of the Marriott Autograph Collection. It is a modern hotel right on the Gulf of Papagayo. One of my favorite parts of this hotel was the spa area. The spa is incredible with outdoor spa stations, private relaxation pods, and all the services and treatments you could need to unwind and relax on your vacation. The hotel is surrounded by the forest and beautiful mangroves that Guanacaste is well known for.

Secrets Papagayo Costa Rica

If you want all-inclusive luxury, Secrets is the way to go. Their Unlimited Luxury program works to exceed your expectations of all-inclusive, and they do just that. This is an adults-only resort and is perfect for a couples getaway, honeymoon or destination wedding. Who wouldn’t want to relax with their honey with a view like that?

Drift Away Eco Lodge

If you’re looking for a hotel off the beaten path away from tourists, definitely stay at the Drift Away Eco Lodge. This beautiful eco lodge is located south of Tamarindo and very much in with the locals. The beach is right across the road, just a short 3 minute walk. With no tourists around, the beach is basically your own private beach! I cannot recommend this hotel enough if you’re looking to get away, relax and rejuvenate.

Are you interested in going to Costa Rica and need help deciding where to stay or what to do? Send me a message at hello@thekeystotravel.com, and we can start planning your trip!