Vacation Rentals by Owner

Trip of a lifetime

Guest: kk (Waukesha,WI)
Date of Stay: 01/26/12 Review Submitted: 02/02/12

Not sure where to begin, other than saying, being home for only two days now, it's still difficult to look at the photo's without wanting to turn right around and go back. It was a slice of heaven... a surprise 40th birthday party for my husband, made possible by 13 of our closest friends willing to make the trip- we couldn't have asked for a more serene, picturesque location. Jimmy was our guide... for tours, meals, transportation - you name it. He somehow knew exactly when we needed him... The location was a quick golf cart ride from town and even closer to Joe's where we often dined or had drinks, however, none topping the meals prepared for us on site by Jimmy and his family...amazing local cuisine! The Blue Hole/Half Moon Caye snorkeling trip is an absolute MUST. We also had other memorable visits to Lamanai Ruins, Hol Chan, Shark Ray Alley, Caye Caulker and Fly Fishing for Bonefish - all set up by Jimmy with the best guides around. We dined at Blue Water Grill in San Pedro and had a most memorable cab ride back to the villa enjoying the 'Scorpions'. We wouldn't even change the stormy boat and golf cart rides back on our last night. If after reading this review you are still wondering if this is the place for you, We promise, 'you'll have a great time'. Until next time Jimmy...we thank you for everything, it was truly one of the greatest memories of our lives.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway.

Most amazing vacation ever

Guest: Nettie (Green Bay, WI)
Date of Stay: 01/26/12 Review Submitted: 02/01/12

This place is well maintained, has a fabulously slightly remote location, gorgeous views and is under fantastic management. Jimmy takes great care of you and definitely have his wife cook some local cousine for your group. Bedrooms all have room a.c which was above and beyond in my opinion. The security was fantastic as we had a guard there each night plus there are 2 safes in the villa. Some planning is required due to the 15 minute golf cart ride into town, so I'd definitely suggest having the villa stocked for your first day/night until you make it into San Pedro. Mr. Joe's place is close by for food, drinks and groceries....we prequented his place and enjoyed reasonable prices and great service there. Do the excursions...the Lamanai ruins tour and snorkeling in the Blue Hole were two of the most fantastic experiences of my life. This was a vacation of a lifetime....we had 15 people, 6 couples and 3 singles. The villa is set up perfectly for a large group such as ours. I would highly recommend it and will speak very highly of Jimmy, the villa and the gorgeous country of Belize. GO, you will not be disappointed.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car.

Awesome

Guest: Island Hopper (Tigerville, SC, USA)
Date of Stay: 01/14/12 Review Submitted: 01/30/12

My wife and I took our entire family to Villa Incommunicada. This was my 10th visit to Ambergris Caye and first in a house. Of all the houses that we have stayed in around the world this one rates right at the top. The web site clearly showed the house as we found it. Being a very laid back family the neighbor everyone talks about never came into play. In fact we had great conversation with them. The highlight of this stay was Jimmy the property manager. He was helpful before we arrived and unbelievable when we landed. Everything he said he would do he did. We took the boat ride to and from the main land, this is the way to go. We only asked for a few food items ahead of time, as we love to eat out, but he had them there waiting for us. He advised us on all the places to go for groceries and for fresh meat he actually took us to a meat market. Nothing like you find in the states, but awesome cuts of steak and chicken,,,FRESH...We rented the golf carts, and we needed them. The house is 3.8 miles from town and that was great, enjoy the hustle and noise of the town and as soon as you get off the cobblestone road you are in the quietness of the island. We highly recommend this house for the family, not so much if your crazy party animals. It has plenty of room, clean and well maintained. We have stayed at homes costing a lot more and not nearly as nice. We only took two of the three floors, but once I saw the penthouse, we should have taken that too. The owners and Jimmy have gone out of their way to make your stay a pleasant one. Now as far as tours, use Jimmy, he sets up everything start to finish, they are better priced then other tours, and on the mainland you are transported in an air conditioned 15 passenger BUS not van. Was it worth it-Yes, get your monies worth-Yes, do it again- absolutely

Owner response:Thanks for taking the time to review and yes we have new neighbors that are great. To our future guests we now have great neighbors please help us keep that good relationship going by being as courteous as possible. Thanks Villa Incommunicada

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

What a fantastic place to spend a week!

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 01/07/12 Review Submitted: 01/23/12

We just returned from a great week at Villa Incommunicada. We rented the entire villa including the penthouse and loved it. I am a "planner" and it was especially nice for me to have what amounted to an on site 'concierge' in Jimmy, the caretaker. He had our golf carts there when we arrived (and when one broke down, he was right there to make the call to get it fixed in time for us to head out for dinner!). He checked in with us each morning to see what we wanted to do the next day and set us up with the BEST snorkeling guide ever! Also called to make dinner reservations in San Pedro for us one night. I would definitely suggest setting up a few dinners at the villa with his sweet esposa as the cook. You'll get very authentic, very yummy local food with the added bonuses that a. you don't ever have to leave the pool and b. she does the dinner dishes! (lol, this is a BIG bonus when you're with 10 people on vacation who definitely DON'T want to do dishes!) Regarding the wind turbines mentioned in an earlier review, they were loud, but we mentioned it to Jimmy and he took them down on our first day and no more problems! We spent the majority of our time at the pool and (my personal favorite), the end of the dock and went out to Hol Chan twice. I'd have gone out there everyday if I hadn't wanted a little relaxation time. The fish and coral are absolutely incredible and its about a 5 minute boat ride from the villa's dock. I'd also suggest Mr. Joe's Lone Star Grill for great food that is really close. We had breakfast there a LOT, and I'd suggest the Belizean breakfast or the pancake omelet. They also have delicious homemade chocolate rum cake which made for a great after dinner treat. Many thanks to the owner for the user of your home for the week!

Owner response:Thanks Amy for taking the time to comment on the house

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, sightseeing.

Needs attention

Guest: Deanna A (Lafayette, LA - USA)
Date of Stay: 01/01/12 Review Submitted: 01/09/12

Need to update photo of Villa. There are three huge wind turbines on roof which sounds like a helicopter landing on the roof when the wind blows. Of course, the wind blows most of the time and the sound keeps you awake most of the night. The mattress are very old and makes for very poor sleeping when the turbines are not keeping you up. The house itself was nice, but there is much that needs to be maintained. When we arrived the house was not really clean and there was water on the floor from leaks in the windows and etc. The top floor was not prepare for our arrival and had alot of water in the floor. The second floor was the only one without leaks or water on the floor. This property is overpriced for what enjoyment you receive. It was similar to camping with the ants invading.... The property is situated 3.9 miles from the city on a very bumpy road. Seclusion is the only thing going for it.

Owner response:Unfortunately, This guest was not happy even before they arrived at the house and we were never given a chance to make them happy. The guests missed their plane coming to Belize and did not call us to cancel the private boat pick up we arranged for them in Belize City. In addition to being unwilling to pay for the boat, they also wanted their money back for the first night of lodging as they missed their flight. So even though we didn’t end up charging them for the boat trip, they remained sore and unwilling to work with us the rest of the stay as they felt we owed them for the first night stay. Water: If you read the review the weather is most of their complaint. Belize experienced an unseasonal record rainfall during their stay. So yes, it was windy and very rainy, and with over 3” of wind driven rain in an hour we can get some leakage under the door and in the windows. The first we heard of this issue was in her review, and in a subsequent call she could not quantify the amount of water or verbalize the cause of grief due to the water. Since this review we have had the windows re-caulked to prevent this in the future. I explained if she had let us know we would have fixed it. Ants: Yes if you leave food out or don’t clean up you will get the sugar ants found all over the tropics. Best way to get rid of them is to clean up the food they are after. Wind Turbines: We have wind turbines on the roof in an effort to make our business more environmentally friendly, and to provide a back up power source to the house. The wind turbines can be shut off very easily, and had she let us know they bothered her, we would have shut them off immediately. Again, all she had to do was to tell us she had a problem and we would have taken care of it immediately. Beds: We replaced the mattresses that were complained about with new ones as of 1.30.2012. This was a valid complaint and we fixed it as soon as it was brought to our attention! We would have fixed during the stay, had she told us! Overall if you read the review it is more about circumstances that were out of our control, or that we were not given the opportunity to make right, and more about circumstance of the stay. For any of our future guests please call me while we can fix the issue, and we will do our best to fix it and make your stay as pleasant as possible. Please don't do as this guest, and be mad the entire stay, then tell us you are mad after your stay.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers

Pictures Don't do this house justice

Guest: Holly (Denver, Colorado)
Date of Stay: 09/10/11 Review Submitted: 10/10/11

We had an amazing time. We stayed during the off season in September and the weather held up. Had a little rain a couple of the days but it goes through quickly and even showered on the pier during the rain because it's so warm. The water is amazing and warm and we spent so much time hanging by the pool. The house is perfect layout since we travelled with 7 couples and it allowed for privacy as well as great group get togethers. The house staff cooked for us most of the days and the food is amazing. Some of the group went diving and the staff took care of everything even when we went zip lining and cave tubing. This is the second year we have stayed at this house and it gets better every year. This year we had a 20 year renewal of vows on the pier (again staff helped arrange everything) and then a great reception on the upper level. It was perfect and beautiful looking out over the water during the ceremony. I can't wait to stay here again.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

August Stay

Guest: TC (Massachusetts USA)
Date of Stay: 08/20/11 Review Submitted: 10/03/11

My family rented the entire villa for a week in August and had a wonderful time. The weather was perfect and actually almost too hot on some days but the house stayed cool and sitting on the dock in the breeze was lovely. Jimmy is fantastic as a house manager and set up everything that we wanted to do and every guide he put us with was great. Our only regret was that it would have been nice if the house had not been set up as three seperate apartments as it made congregating in one place difficult. Also everything is expensive in Belize so keep it in mind when planning your stay. The house is a great place overall for large groups and it's a beautiful setting. I would highly recommend for anyone.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, families with teenagers, families with young children, sightseeing.

Great Rental for Group of 12 Friends - Just as Amazing as the Listing Sounds!

Guest: Allison (Boston, MA)
Date of Stay: 07/09/11 Review Submitted: 08/03/11

Villa Incommunicada was a perfect rental for 12 friends in their late-20’s/early-30’s looking for vacation that would combine local activities and sightseeing with plenty of relaxation. We went in July, rainy season, but found that the storms passed through quickly and it was nice to have the island and excursions free from hoards of other tourists. The villa is gorgeous and we loved the pool area, horseshoe pit, air conditioning, private pier and general lounge space. Provided computer and wi-fi on personal laptops worked well (though wi-fi was slow). Electronic code entry on the doors was the perfect way to be able to keep the house locked up but have 12 people come and go at different times as they please. One safe wasn’t working but we kept passports and valuables in the other and felt that everything was safe and secure even if not locked in the safe. Jimmy, the villa caretaker, was an amazing and always seemed to be there at just the right moment for any assistance we needed or even just recommendations and general questions. Having Jimmy so accessible allows you to take your mind away from worries or logistics and just enjoy your trip. He contacted us prior to the trip to answer any questions and ask if we wanted the villa stocked with food or beverages. He even went to the Ambergris airport to pick up and deliver all 10 of our late-arriving suitcases. He set up a van transfer for all 12 of us from the international airport to the marina and then took us by private boat to the villa. We had arranged to rent 4 four-person golf carts and Jimmy had them ready for us when we arrived. A couple of the carts had problems over the week but Jimmy took care of repairs/replacements immediately. The ride to town feels brutally longer than it is due to the bumpy roads but as long as you’re wearing plenty of bug spray you can call it part of the adventure. And we mean PLENTY of bug spray. We recommend seeking out a night or two of island karaoke (we liked Road Kill Bar), having breakfast at Estel’s, dining at Elvi’s, grabbing drinks at Cholos/Wet Willy’s/Fido’s and hitting up the unique Chicken Drop at Wahoo’s. Jimmy arranged excursions for us: a full-day mainland tour including cave tubing Mayan ruins, snorkeling at Hol Chan and Shark Ray Alley, and reef fishing. All were incredible experiences and we were fortunate to have some amazing local guides. They knew something about everything!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Good Times with Friends & Family

Guest: mc2la (san francisco)
Date of Stay: 05/09/11 Review Submitted: 05/16/11

we stayed here with 11 adults & 2 toddlers. There's plenty of room to spread about without being on top of each other and the location is great for those wanting to get away from the hustle & bustle of San Pedro. Jimmy the manager was easily reached for all our needs. He picked us up @ the airport, stocked the fridge/pantry and helped organize some trips for us - all without a hassle. I recommend using them for tours since you can leave directly from the dock from the house boat which is great.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway.

Fantastic Wedding at the Villa!

Guest: Nicole (Minneapolis, MN)
Date of Stay: 04/28/11 Review Submitted: 06/30/11

We had a 45 person wedding at Villa Incommunicado and it was the perfect location! 16 of our friends stayed at the house with us for 4 days and it was a great space to relax on the dock, cook dinner together and relax. The apartment upstairs was new and needs some finishing touches but was the perfect place for the bride to get ready for the big day and a secluded location for the wedding night. Jimmy took care of EVERYTHING for us. He was practically our wedding planner and made sure we had everything that we needed. He made us feel incredibly comfortable and relaxed for our stay. The only downside is the neighbor who complains about noise level at every opportunity. We had a noise permit and it was no problem at all, but it's unfortunate to have to deal with his complaints. I would highly recommend the villa for a group of friends getting together or a family gathtering. It's relaxing, beautiful, and truly is paradise. I would also highly recommend having a wedding here. Our guests had the best time, our pictures are amazing, and we couldn't have asked for a better day!

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway.

Fantastic Easter Weekend at Villa Incommunicada

Guest: ayeroof (Missoula, MT)
Date of Stay: 04/21/11 Review Submitted: 05/03/11

Our family rented the Villa for a week during our vacation and wedding in Belize. The Villa is beautiful and spacious. The two level design of the house is great. We put the families with small children downstairs and upstairs was for the families and couples that wanted to sleep in and have a quieter space. It worked out perfect. There is so much space to relax, whether on the decks, the rooftop, on the beach or by the pool. The bedrooms are air conditioned which is nice for sleeping and the common areas stay cool as long as you keep doors shut and fans on. The pool is nice and cleaned daily. We spent most of our time poolside and there were a variety of rafts and balls to use. The house by itself is well worth the value of the cost to rent. In addition to the house, each group has the on-site manager, Jimmy, at their disposal. This is very nice and convenient. Jimmy does a great job of being available without being intrusive. He is open to communicate with you prior to arriving and can answer questions and help arrange activities. We arrived in Belize City late in the afternoon and had Jimmy pick us up in the boat. The boat ride is nice and was scenic, but it is a fast ride for about an hour and a half. It was also nice to drink rum punch and catch up with family members. Collectively it was less expensive than if we had all flown. Prior to the trip we asked Jimmy to buy some groceries and arranged for cook services a few nights. Jimmy did a nice job buying what we initially asked for and stocked the fridges with beer. The cook services are a great deal. The food is served family style and is really good. We liked doing a mix of going out and cooking our own meals, but found the cook services to be well worthwhile. Depending on the size of the group it worked out to be about $10 US per person. Pretty reasonable for good authentic food and the clean up as well. We had Jimmy arrange a few tours for us as well- snorkeling, mayan ruin, zip lining, etc. He takes care of all the arrangements and guides. All tours leave from the house, whether a pick up at the dock or a taxi pick up for transfer to the mainland. The prices are very good as well- I noticed they were cheaper than other outfits offering the same tours. Overall we were very happy with our experience at the Villa. I would recommend it to others. The Villa is a great value and having Jimmy at your service is great- you can use him as much or as little as you need to.

Owner response:Thanks for taking the time to write us a review. We host about 10 weddings a year and I understand from Jimmy that this was one of the best!

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children.

Nice Home but...

Guest: GeorgiaGuys (Dahlonega, GA)
Date of Stay: 01/29/11 Review Submitted: 06/18/11

Home well represented by the pictures. Good price for size and location of home. Construction noise for owners suite went unmanaged for several days despite assurances it would not. Finally got it stopped on day 3. All day cook did not work out. Only wanted to work occasionally and not do the dishes. On site management need to be more dedicated and service oriented. Internet worked half the time only. Safes did not work most of the time. Place and towels not well cleaned on arrival.

Recommended for:Age 55+

Noel Nirvana

Guest: Charles (Rio Rancho, NM, USA)
Date of Stay: 12/19/10 Review Submitted: 12/28/10

Ten of us (7 adults, 3 children [5, 7, 13]) enjoyed the villa from Dec 19 - Dec 26, 2010. Wow! What a lovely place and location! From the dock with it's wonderful hammock and chairs to the 2.5 story home, I couldn't imagine a nicer place to spend a vacation with extended family. As nice as the location is, it's truly the amazing service that Jimmy (the caretaker) provides that makes Villa Incommunicada worth the cost. From pick-up services, to tours, and provisioning, the man is fantastic and he works very hard to make sure you have a magical stay. Oh, and make sure to schedule atleast one meal to be prepared by Leslie, Jimmy's wife. We had two different meals and both were great!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Fun with Family

Guest: Hugh M. (Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA)
Date of Stay: 11/27/10 Review Submitted: 12/13/10

There was much to enjoy during our stay at the Villa. The pier is awesome. We loved the palapa. The water is beautiful and we loved watching and swimming among the fish in the shallow water. We even caught fish there! The private pool is delightful. We appreciated having plenty of towels, and the kitchen was well-stocked with pots and pans. The bedrooms are very nice, but the sleeper sofa was uncomfortable. The golf carts are not very reliable so we ended up renting one in town. There was construction on the roof which was annoying, but when we complained they stopped. Of course we couldn't use the rooftop. but there are plenty of places to enjoy the views and to relax. There is a play structure for kids and a volley ball court that were fun. Be sure to bring binoculars as the shore birds are amazing and take a walk south of the villa where I saw a tapir and lots more birds.We had no problem with neighbor Steve and nothing was stolen (we locked up).

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, tourists without a car.

Unbelizable 30th birthday

Guest: tmh30 (Houston, Tx)
Date of Stay: 09/08/10 Review Submitted: 09/22/10

What an amazing property, vacation, and memories. The webpage does not lie! It is perfect! A group of 14 of us went for a 30th birthday celebration ranging in ages from 28-58. Villa Incommunicada did not disappoint. Not only is the house amazing, Jimmie makes your experience more than you could ever imagine. He makes the place even better. What ever our needs were, he met them, no matter how outrageous they were. What a great host! The only con: you have to go home and back to work. Thanks so much for the best vacation ever Jimmie and Villa Incommunicada

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Jimmy the house manager makes the experience amazing

Guest: Gerardo and Annie (salt lake city, UT)
Date of Stay: 05/14/10 Review Submitted: 05/23/10

This house and location was AMAZING!! We went with a group of 13 people majority in our 30's and rented the whole Villa. We had Jimmy the wonderful and amazing house manager pick us up from Belize City by boat. We had plenty of room for all our luggage and everyone of us. Jimmy and his crew had Rum punch and beers ready on the boat. Excellent ride in, the crew was very friendly. Once we arrived we realized that renting golf carts is a must to be able to get into town, so Jimmy gave us a great deal on renting both golf carts on the property. The golf carts did give us some issues, but Jimmy answered our phone calls for help asap and took care of us right away. During the 9 days at the Villa we booked all our trips with Jimmy, since he was able to give us the best deals available ( we price compared ), and we were able to take off directly from the house. He took us out snorkeling ( in which we swam with stingrays, sharks, eels, lots of fish), took us to the Lamanai Mayan tours ( plan for a whole day trip for this amazing, but must do trip ), set up fishing trips, scuba diving trips, and even set us up with a cook for 1 night of amazing food. Overall we were all very impressed with Jimmy's service quality, professionalism, and attitude. We truly believe his service and how he took care of us and our needs is what made this trip so amazing. The house is wonderful and very safe as long as you follow the rules of making sure you lock up before you leave. We brought laptops, a projector, at least 5 ipods, multiple cell phones, speakers, snorkeling gear, kite boarding gear, and lots of cash and never had any issues with items being stolen. There is 2 safes in the house, one on each level and they are easy to use. The house had one working computer that was easy to access the internet with ( the other computer was being fixed). The rooms are spacious, and stay nice and cool all day long with the AC units. The kitchens have everything you need to do plenty of cooking, as we all took turns cooking for 13 people and never ran out of any equipment. Overall I would highly recommend renting this Villa and using Jimmy for all your needs. He will make the experience amazing, stress free, and will give you the best deals available. We loved our time in Belize and look forward to going back as soon as we can. I will be posting a youtube video of our experience very soon.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, families with teenagers, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Great place but use the safe!!

Guest: ktma (Arlington, VA, USA)
Date of Stay: 05/01/10 Review Submitted: 05/13/10

I do agree with the posts found on multiple vacation websites that this is a beautiful villa in a quiet area on the island. I chose to rent Villa Incommunicada (both levels) based on amenities and reviews. The pier and rooftop deck are wonderful places to relax and take in the spectacular views. However, based on several disappointing discoveries that were not taken care of when brought to Jimmy's attention, I'm unable to rave about his service the way the others have. We arrived late on Saturday and we were told that Sunday is Jimmy's day off but we could still reach him by phone if we needed anything. We tried calling twice on Sunday to find out how to work the safe as well as plan an excursion for Monday but he did not answer either call or respond to the voicemail left for him. The two computers were not working when we arrived. We didn't plan to spend a great deal of time on the computer, just wanted internet access to stay in contact with children back home. We brought this to Jimmy's attention on day two and we were told that he would have someone fix them. One computer was fixed the day before leaving. The guest book entry before our stay mentioned that the computers were not working during their stay either. If this had been brought to our attention prior to our arrival we could have brought a laptop. I am use to traveling in Central America and the Caribbean. I understand and enjoy the laid-back environment, that's what keeps me coming back. However, when renting a villa with a manager on-site I would expect an effort to be made to either correct the nonworking/missing items or at least acknowledge that an effort has been made. MAKE SURE YOU FIND OUT HOW TO WORK THE SAFE AS SOON AS YOU CHECK IN!! We had money stolen from each of the 5 bedrooms and the money was hidden in clothes in drawers. I also had my iTouch stolen from the coffee table in the downstairs living room. Jimmy mentioned to us, after the fact, that prior guests have had issues with missing money and that the owner has also had his laptop and cell phone stolen from the house. The owner tells me that he has never had anything stolen so I'm left not knowing who to believe. I do understand that the owner is not responsible for lost or stolen items; however the safes should be explained to guests as soon as they arrive to prevent situations such as this from happening. If the safes are explained and the guests choose not to use the safes then

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, pet owners, sightseeing.

Great place but put money/electronics in safe!

Guest: ktma (Arlington, VA, USA)
Date of Stay: 05/01/10 Review Submitted: 05/13/10

I do agree with the posts found on multiple vacation websites that this is a beautiful villa in a quiet area on the island. I chose to rent both levels based on amenities/reviews. The pier and rooftop deck are wonderful places to relax and take in the spectacular views. However, based on several disappointing discoveries that were not taken care of when brought to Jimmy's attention, I'm unable to rave about his service the way the others have. We arrived late on Saturday and we were told that Sunday is Jimmy's day off but we could still reach him by phone if we needed anything. We tried calling twice on Sunday to find out how to work the safe as well as plan an excursion for Monday but he did not answer either call or respond to the voicemail left for him. The computers were not working when we arrived. We only wanted internet access to stay in contact w/ children back home. We brought this to Jimmy's attention on day 2 and we were told that he would have someone fix them. One computer was fixed the day before leaving after contacting the owner. If this had been brought to our attention prior to arrival we could have brought a laptop. I understand and enjoy the laid-back environment of the caribbean, that's what keeps me coming back. However, when renting a villa w/ a manager on-site I would expect an effort to be made to either correct the nonworking/missing items or at least acknowledge that an effort has been made. MAKE SURE YOU FIND OUT HOW TO WORK THE SAFE AS SOON AS YOU CHECK IN!! We had money stolen from each of the 5 bedrooms. I also had my iTouch stolen from the coffee table in the downstairs living room. Jimmy mentioned, after the fact, that prior guests have had issues with missing money and that the owner has also had his laptop/cell phone stolen from the house. The owner tells me he has never had anything stolen so I'm left not knowing who to believe. I do understand that the owner is not responsible for lost or stolen items; however the safe should be explained to guests as soon as they arrive to prevent situations such as this from happening. In spite of our disappointments we did enjoy the 8 day trip which included Jimmy setting up excursions to Laminai, Altun Ha, cave tubing, zip lining and a day of snorkeling with a beach cookout. We left with some great memories and great pictures. Unfortunately, the owner has not responded to either of my emails since returning as he stated he would.

Owner response:As this guests states we do provide the best electronic safes for our guests use that can be easily programed for use with a unique combination that only the guest can know. The instructions to the safes are on the safes and are easy to follow. These instructions are now included in the pre-rental information we send. So blaming us for not giving instructions for there use is a real stretch. This guest left the house without closing any of the windows for the entire day leaving money and valuables in easily accessible locations, and then spent the rest of the time mad at us because the house was broken into? While we regret the incident we can not control how they secure the house or the items/money that they bring, and are not responsible for lost or stolen items. On on the subject of response to her complaints, which were outrageous and numerous and only appeared after she had things stolen, we spoke to the guest and responded to all of her complaints as soon as she brought them up (while they were still staying at the house) including fixing the computers that were fixed within 24 hrs of notifying us (me the owner not Jimmy responded to her). We even have an email record of the responses. She then states in this comment that the computer was fixed and then goes on to say that we didn't respond to her? We are puzzled? One more statement of questionable integrity is that Jimmy stated that guests have had things stolen and that I (the owner) have had a laptop stolen from the house. Again I have not had reports of items taken from the house and I can say without a doubt I have never had anything taken from the house, but I do lock the house and shut the windows when I leave so maybe that is the reason for my good fortune. Going forward: We recommend to all of our guests that they lock the house just like they would lock their hotel rooms if they were staying in a hotel. Seems easy, but is the best way to keep stuff from being stolen. Since this incident we have installed new electronic locks on the outside doors that have specific codes issued and are unique to each of our guests. We can now, via the internet, see what codes are opening doors and know who is in the house by the code use. We have also added to our pre-rental information a warning that this house is located on the earth and in a world where thieves may be present and that the doors and windows should be locked upon leaving valuables scattered about!"

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, pet owners, sightseeing.

Guest: Kelly & Debbie Repp (Hanna City, IL)
Date of Stay: 01/17/10 Review Submitted: 01/17/10

We were picked up by Jimmie and our friends in Belize and taken to the villa by boat. We soon arrived in paradise and began a dream vacation. Jimmie told us everything we needed to know about the island. He was always available when we needed him, but never invasive. We felt like we were his family and he wanted the very best time for us. The snorkeling was out of this world. We will have beautiful memories of our time at Villa Incommunicado. Kelly & Debbie Repp

Recommended for:

Guest: Chris 17 (St. Louis, MO)
Date of Stay: 01/16/10 Review Submitted: 01/16/10

Just returned from a fabulous vacation in Belize. I was part of a large group of friends celebrating a 50th birthday. We had the entire house for 10 days. The house was fabulous - the nicest vacation home I have ever stayed in. Jimmy, the caretaker, makes the trip. He takes care of everything - arranges all your tours and transportation, makes suggestions for tours/restraurants/shopping and then accompanies you to make sure everything goes well. His wife, Leslie had a wonderful dinner waiting for us when we arrived. Jimmy was a big factor in making our vacation a huge success and worry free. I never thought our entire group would drive ATVs, cave-tube, zip-line and snorkel, but we did it all. By the way, the wireless internet was great for keeping in touch with home. The house was in a very quiet area and about a 15 minute golf cart ride or bike ride into the town of San Pedro. Jimmy showed us around town on our first day and suggested restaurants and which stores to shop at for groceries, souvenirs, etc. He always knew the plane schedules, water taxi schedules, and would make all the calls and reservations you needed. I would highly recommend this house for a great vacation destination.

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Guest: John173 (-)
Date of Stay: 12/16/09 Review Submitted: 12/16/09

PARADISE FOUND! We stayed at this beautiful place with three other couples in October 2009. It was one of the greatest vacation experiences of our lives. The house is large, beautiful, comfortable and well equipped. Flat screens for football, great pool for lounging, rooftop deck is a terrific place to read, especially in the morning. You will find unbelieveable snorkeling at the Hol Chan marine preserve only 7 minutes by boat from the villa's dock. Ziplining in the rainforest, cave tubing, scaling the Mayan ruins, spear fishing...we never ran out of things to do. San Pedro is a laid back town with some really good restaurants (our favorite was Hidden Treasure). We had two golf carts which made it easy to divide and conquer (i.e. women shopping, men in beach bars). Last but certainly not least, what can you say about Jimmy? HE IS THE MAN! If you need it, he'll get it, if you want to go, he'll take you, if it's broken, he'll fix it. He made all the arrangements for our tours, and came along with us to make sure everything was perfect. He and Felix were not only great fishing guides, they along with Jimmy's wife Leslie cooked our fresh catch right on the beach! All agreed that the Ceviche and baked lobster were the best we ever had. AN INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCE!

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Guest: Jonathan Lange (LaSalle Colorado)
Date of Stay: 12/08/09 Review Submitted: 12/07/09

I had the pleasure of visiting this exotic location November 7-14, 2009 with about 15 other people. All I can say is WOW!!! Great location, close to town (just a mile or 2 by golfcart)and the dock over the water was an amazing place to watch the Belizian sunsets. The host of the property who was the icing on the cake was Jimmy. I cant say enough about him. From finding the best deals on local scuba/snorkeling sites, taking us on the boat to wherever we wanted to go, and advise about what to do in San Pedro, This guy Jimmy does it all. He has the most beautiful daughter who came out to play with us time to time, and a very nice wife. Jimmy you are the best dude. YOU NEED A RAISE!!!!!!! The only negative about the trip was the retard next door "Scuba Steve" who consistantly yelled on the phone during the day at people and told us to be quiet at 10pm. DUDE we are on vacation and we are having fun. Any guest going to this house will have an awesome time, Jimmy will keep you completely satisfied and make your trip a dream. Just tell "Scuba Steve" to go get eaten by a crocodile.:) Thanks again for the memories Jimmy!!

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Guest: Rich Miller (Denver, Colorado)
Date of Stay: 11/13/09 Review Submitted: 11/12/09

In my 37 years I have NEVER stayed in a more relaxing, amazing, incredible, gorgeous, exotic place. First things first, Jimmy is an amazing host and incredible source of information. If we needed anything Jimmy was on it. We've decided Jimmy needs to make a T-shirt...One call does it all! If you have ever had elite concierge service, Jimmy will put your past experience to shame. He hooked us up with Alberto and Felix and can tell you that our first diving experience with these three will be one that will be hard to top. We went on 4 dives and every dive was different yet amazing. Alberto knew just where to take us to top the last dive. The house was incredible, clean and so much fun. Just got back but HAD to write something about this amazing place. If you need to get away from it all, THIS IS THE PLACE!!!

Owner response:Thank you for taking the time to comment. We are always trying to improve the house, and our level of service. We think this is the best place in Belize to vacation and we are trying hard to keep it that way. Thanks Again Pat Roemer

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Guest: Tim & Cera Austin (El Paso, Texas)
Date of Stay: 09/09/09 Review Submitted: 09/08/09

We have been to Belize five times including this last trip. We are all visual people—meaning we want to have the ability to be on the beach, with white sand, our own dock and palapa with hammocks to lounge in. We searched and found the perfect get away vacation home--a beautiful home called Villa Incommunicado. We called Pat on a holiday and he was gracious enough to help set up our vacation in one phone call-it was a no brainer! The home was a three story; it had a palapa with hammock on the third floor, to rent for a week. When the six of us arrived at the San Pedro airport we were greeted by Jimmy, the caretaker extraordinaire! He helped us with our luggage and off we went to the house. We were excited that the house was exactly what the web site said it was--actually it was exceptional and exceeded our expectations! What a dream vacation, and to start it off Jimmy’s wife Leslie had cooked us a fabulous lobster dinner that first night to enjoy along with the Belkin beer that they had stocked the house with! The house was perfect with a full kitchen and the beds were exceptionally comfortable. There were patios on both floors so we could sit outside and have meals, especially breakfasts! The breezes were so nice that the house was cool and the pool was used several times a day. The house has its own beautiful white beach and we spent a great deal of time at the end of the private dock in anorak chairs—sipping our rum punches, drinking our Belkin beers while eating our Lobster cerviche. The views were extraordinary and we spent hours lounging in many different locations of the home; on several patios, balconies, Palapas, by the pool or on the dock. The colors of Belize were absorbed and appreciated so much by our grand local. Yes, the house had internet and televisions but we did not use them—the ocean and beach was what we were there for! Jimmy did help us with phone calls back to check on mail, but it was rare we needed this. Jimmy was so organized and on top of things he helped us set up a golf cart rental, snorkeling, sailing with SEAduced and much more. He set up our Scuba Diving with our private dive master and he went along with us. He helped make reservations for dinners; called taxi’s and helped us find the best Key Lime Pie on the island. He gave us recommendations and gave us directions as to where to go, what to do, and how to do it in town. He was there if anything was needed including fishing poles for our chi

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Guest: Mary104 (Blacklick, OH)
Date of Stay: 07/21/09 Review Submitted: 07/21/09

We stayed at the house from 6/16 to 6/26 with our kids and their friends aged 18-24. The house and grounds are beautiful, especially the roof deck, dock and porches. It's remote from San Pedro which is great for privacy, but be warned that the trip to town is very rough and bumpy in a golf cart. A taxi is $20 BZ and a little more comfortable. We packed as many activities into the trip as possible. Jimmy made all the arrangements for the scuba,snorkleing, Mayan ruins, cave tubing, etc. The divemaster and private guides were all excellant and made our trip even more enjoyable. We loved exploring the shops and streets of San Pedro. My advice is to pack very carefully. Take double the amount of sunscreen and bug repellant that you think you need. Pack as many "American style" snacks as will fit in your luggage because these items cost 3-4 times as much as at home. Embrace the local foods. The fresh seafood, stewed chicken and rice, and roadside produce are delicious. Put away your watch, get up with the sun and sleep when you're tired. We ate most of our dinners out. Our favorite places were Hidden Treasures (fancy), Elvi's and Sunset Grill (casual) and Mr. Joe's, 3/4 mi from the house, was a real hidden treasure. Their chef, Rinaldo, prepared just one selection for lunch and one for dinner each day and they were excellant and inexpensive. He also baked and decorated a wonderful cake for our daughter's 22nd birthday. Overall I would highly reccomend Villa Incommunicada and Ambergris Caye.

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Guest: Megan Hicks1 (Chicago, IL)
Date of Stay: 05/29/09 Review Submitted: 05/29/09

One of the best vacations I've ever had! I was on the same trip as Lori. Just 10 friends having an amazing time thanks to the gorgeous Villa Incommunicada and all it had to offer and especially to Jimmy and his family, who are there to take care of you and make sure that you are having the best time possible. The quality of the accommodations and the outstanding personal service that Jimmy provided made this a carefree and, therefore, incredibly fun trip. I cannot recommend this place enough - the house, the rooftop, the pool, the beach volleyball court, the pier, the boat and, of course, Jimmy. What more could you want? Just book your stay already!!!

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Guest: Lori Bolas (Libertyville, IL)
Date of Stay: 05/28/09 Review Submitted: 05/28/09

An amazing retreat! Just returned from a 5-day excursion to this fabulous home. Our group included 10 adults. I cannot say enough about the accommodations but also the service of the house manager Jimmy was OUTSTANDING. He was kind, resourceful, patient, as well as a pleasure to be around. His suggestions for activities were spot-on for all of us. He took care of booking everything. We went snorkeling, diving, fly fishing, hiking to the ruins, cave tubing and boating. We also enjoyed dinner in San Pedro -- the food was even better than we expected. Jimmy went above and beyond as I imagine he does on a regular basis. This is an incredible find -- you won't want to miss it!

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Wonderful Vacation Rental!

Guest: sunnybeaches (San Francisco, CA)
Date of Stay: 03/18/09 Review Submitted: 03/17/10

his house is simply amazing! A group of friends and I stayed at this villa last year for a week and it could not have been a better trip! There is an amazing balcony that wraps around the second floor and a fantastic roof top area with comfortable seating and hammocks for swinging in the ocean breezes. The bedrooms are spacious, bright and comfortable. It really feels like home. The house has both air conditioning and ceiling fans to keep it pleasant. With all of the options, we were able to eat outside for every meal. There are dining tables in both kitchens, on the second floor balcony, on the main patio in the back and areas to eat on the roof top. Everything faces the beautiful ocean views. From the back of the house, there is a great pool on the patio area which steps down to the sand. There are gorgeous native trees and palms on the property, including coconut, banana and other fruit trees. As you head toward the ocean, there is a volleyball net and a fire pit. We sat out at the fire pit a few nights and had a blast! There is a house on one side of the property and the other side is an open sandy lot.here is a great pier that extends from the back of the house and ends in a open thatched roof hut with more hammocks for swinging and beach chairs for lounging. We sat at the end of the pier for hours on end, day and night, watching the fish that hang around the supports to feed. I couldn't believe the variety! The water here is only a few feet deep so you can walk down the steps off the pier into the water. The water is a beautiful clear turquoise, it was breathtaking!!! You can look out and see where the waves break on the reef and dolphins jumping out of the water.immy and Leslie are the caretakers of the property and you couldn't meet two nicer people! Jimmy runs all of the tours and will take you wherever you need to go in one of the two boats that are on the property. Make sure you hire Leslie to cook for you! The restaurants in town are fun but eating out everyday can get expensive. Leslie makes the most AMAZING, authentic dishes I have ever had! Breakfast, lunch or dinner, she hooked us up! We had tostada eggs and fresh fruit for breakfast, honduras shrimp, wonderful chicken dishes for dinner...the food was one of the best parts of the trip! Overall, our trip was definitely a 10 out of 10, it simply could not have gotten any better. The house and location are amazing and having Jimmy and Leslie as a resource is so helpful!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, people with disabilities, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 02/01/09 Review Submitted: 02/05/09

We just returned from a fabulous week at Villa Incommunicado. My husband and I stayed at the villa with a group of friends - a total of 8 adults. The villa is extremely spacious and homey. The kitchens are very well equipped for cooking; but, most days we enjoyed the cooking of Jimmy and Leslie - the house manager and his wife. They prepared amazing meals for us - Honduran shrimp, grilled fish & lobster; Breakfasts were delicious with plenty of food. We went into San Pedro for several meals. The restaurants were all very good with good service. We went to Fido's several nights for the night life - great bands playing each night. We spent our days scuba diving at many great locations. The Blue Hole is a 2-hour boat ride - but worth the trip for very experienced divers. On the boatride, we spotted a humpback whale and a pod of dolphins. The best part of the villa is the service provided by Jimmy & Leslie. Jimmy will assist you with arrangements for diving, boating, tours, etc. Leslie is a great cook and keeps the house very clean. They provided great service with a gracious, friendly manner. We will definately return to Villa Incommunicado with our family.

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Wonderful Vacation Rental!

Guest: sunnybeaches (San Francisco, CA)
Date of Stay: 06/05/08 Review Submitted: 03/17/10

This house is simply amazing! A group of friends and I stayed at this villa last year for a week and it could not have been a better trip! There is an amazing balcony that wraps around the second floor and a fantastic roof top area with comfortable seating and hammocks for swinging in the ocean breezes. The owner of the house handles the scheduling and could not have been more helpful in getting us set up for our dates. Make sure you plan ahead though, the house is very popular and the place books up very fast! There is a great pier that extends from the back of the house and ends in a open thatched roof hut with more hammocks for swinging and beach chairs for lounging. We sat at the end of the pier for hours on end, day and night, watching the fish that hang around the supports to feed. I couldn't believe the variety! The water here is only a few feet deep so you can walk down the steps off the pier into the water. The water is a beautiful clear turquoise, it was breathtaking!!! You can look out and see where the waves break on the reef and dolphins jumping out of the water. Jimmy and Leslie are the caretakers of the property and you couldn't meet two nicer people! Jimmy runs all of the tours and will take you wherever you need to go in one of the two boats that are on the property. Make sure you hire Leslie to cook for you! The restaurants in town are fun but eating out everyday can get expensive. Leslie makes the most AMAZING, authentic dishes I have ever had! Breakfast, lunch or dinner, she hooked us up! We had tostada eggs and fresh fruit for breakfast, honduras shrimp, wonderful chicken dishes for dinner...the food was one of the best parts of the trip! Jimmy is a terrific tour guide! We hired Jimmy for multiple trips. The trips were so fun and cost effective! It's also super convenient to hire Jimmy because the boats are right there at the house and we didn't have to try to find someone in town to take us on trips and worry if we were being overcharged. We went to Caye Caulker Island on a day trip, we went snorkeling at shark ray alley and mexico rocks, I HIGHLY recommend both! Mexico rocks has really cool "coral blooms" and there are hundreds of fish. Shark ray alley has turtles, sting rays and nurse sharks...so cool! Jimmy also took us zip lining in the jungle which was really neat and we went cave tubing...a definite must! A very unique experience! Jimmy also arranged for us to go diving at Hol Chan, Esmerelda, Tuffy and a few p

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, people with disabilities, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 06/01/08 Review Submitted: 06/17/08

May 10th, 2008 Wow! What a great experience! Our trip was perfect with our 4 boys ,ages 22, 20, 14, and 8. From the time Jimmy picked us at the airport,rented a golf cart, went with us snorkling,cave tubing,zoo, and zip lining ,he always was thinking of how to serve and help out with everything. It was 93 degrees and HOT when we arrived Saturday, however , the AC in the bedrooms did a good job. EVERYONE in town referred to where we were staying as "THE BIG HOUSE", which it lived up to its name. Staying with "JIMMY" is like going to Disney World in Orlando; he makes all the calls and tours. You sit back, relax, and enjoy your vacation. We will never forget "chicken man " sitting on the crocodile. Kevin SOUTH CAROLINA

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Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 05/27/08 Review Submitted: 05/27/08

5/19/2008From: Dallas, TXWow! What a fabulous house. My husband and I just returned from our vacation in Belize and we stayed in this beautiful Mediterranean style house. From the pool to the white sand beach and the volleyball net to the roof top deck, everything was perfect. The living areas, bedrooms, two kitchens (one up and one downstairs) and bathrooms were all plenty spacious, nicely decorated and equipped with the best modern appliances. There is also a 42” flat screen TV in each living room. We also have to give a huge thanks to Jimmy, the on-site grounds keeper, and his wife Leslie. They took such great care of us. Jimmy picked us up at the airport, helped us get around the island and make reservations for tours and flights. Leslie cooked us the most fabulous shrimp dish and took care of the dishes afterwards. They kept the house looking beautiful and will help assist with anything you need. We felt it was appropriate to leave a gratuity for their service upon departure.We can’t wait to go back and stay at this fabulous house again!! We are going to take some friends with us next time because this house is so big, it can sleep about 16 people.If you decide to visit San Pedro Belize, we highly recommend renting this house – you’ll love it!!

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 05/01/08 Review Submitted: 05/26/08

5/19/2008 From: Dallas, TX Wow! What a fabulous house. My husband and I just returned from our vacation in Belize and we stayed in this beautiful Mediterranean style house. From the pool to the white sand beach and the volleyball net to the roof top deck, everything was perfect. The living areas, bedrooms, two kitchens (one up and one downstairs) and bathrooms were all plenty spacious, nicely decorated and equipped with the best modern appliances. There is also a 42” flat screen TV in each living room. We also have to give a huge thanks to Jimmy, the on-site grounds keeper, and his wife Leslie. They took such great care of us. Jimmy picked us up at the airport, helped us get around the island and make reservations for tours and flights. Leslie cooked us the most fabulous shrimp dish and took care of the dishes afterwards. They kept the house looking beautiful and will help assist with anything you need. We felt it was appropriate to leave a gratuity for their service upon departure. We can’t wait to go back and stay at this fabulous house again!! We are going to take some friends with us next time because this house is so big, it can sleep about 16 people. If you decide to visit San Pedro Belize, we highly recommend renting this house – you’ll love it!!

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 04/01/08 Review Submitted: 04/23/08

We had a delightful stay at this villa this Feb-March. The home is newly constructed, and comfortable slept ten adults. Although there is no beach to the water, there was a great little pool and deck area. They were finishing up a palapa on the roof top of the villa when we were there.The kitchens were well equipped and we cooked quite a few meals at the house,and felt that the local food prices were generally reasonable. We did bring provisions down with us, but also did a bit of shopping each day. One of the best things about the Villa, was the house keeper, Jimmy and his family. He was always working and making sure the beach area was clean, would make phone calls for us to arrange activities, and even went out with me to show me the local fishing hot spots. There is bone fishing right off the sea wall, and it is the same area that people pay big dollars to have a fishing guide take them to..The snorkeling trips were fantastic, and four of us even got in 18 holes of golf at Chapel Caye..Lost 44 balls between the four of us!!! The Villa is probably a 20-25 minute golf cart trip to San Pedro, which was a nice little town with plenty of resturants and shops.

Owner response:Thanks for the great first review. We are directly on the ocean and now have a new peir with direct access to the ocean and swimming. Thanks Pat

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