Reviews for San Pedro Vacation Rental - VRBO 3001208ha - 2 BR Ambergris Caye House in Belize, '18 Degrees North' a Private 1st Class Beach House

Paradise, once again.

Guest Danielle
Date of stay 02/02/13
Review Submitted 02/10/13

This is our second trip to this beautiful home. I hope it won't be our last. We love the laid back vibe of the entire area. We spent more time at the house than doing tours this trip. We had an extra stressful year and really needed the R&R. The home was fully equipped with anything we needed and the caretaker, Ernesto and his beautiful family provided anything we asked for. We were sad to hear of Betsy's passing, but Rojo and Brisa were wonderful beach companions. Samantha is an amazing cook and I recommend you take advantage of her culinary skills. She is also a good listener and sweet person. Ernesto knows what to do, the best time to do it and where to go. I could have easily spent another week just hanging out at the house and on the beach. If you have the opportunity, book this home and experience true paradise. We will return as soon as "real life" permits. Thank you.

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

Owner response: Dear Danielle, It's so good to hear that 18 Degrees North has not lost it's magic for you. Hope to have you back for a 3rd time in the near future. Thanks for taking the time to share your experience with our future "guestas". Bob & Tracey, Owners 18 Degrees North

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 3/3

Paradise Found

Guest Joan
Date of stay 01/26/13
Review Submitted 02/10/13

18 Degrees North will resonate in our minds as a "perfect vacation" for a long time. The setting and comfort of the home allowed us to enjoy the view, the sunny days by the pool, the hammocks under the palapa, and long early morning walks. Samantha's great cooking added immensely to an easy vacation. Snorkeling with Ernesto was amazing as he stayed with us and guided us to the best spots. We loved Ernesto,Jr. and Krystal. The dogs, and the Iguana family all added to a delightful vacation. The short distance from Dallas, easy money exchange, English speaking, and friendly people made this trip uncomplicated. We plan on returning to take in all of the activities. Thank you for this great opportunity.

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

Owner response: Thanks Gals, Thanks for the kind words. It is always good to hear that our staff is taking good care of our guests. Hope to see you and those you speak to at 18 Degrees North in the future. Kind Regards, Bob & Tracey, Owners- 18 Degrees North

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 4/4

Amazing property

Guest angelt
Date of stay 01/19/13
Review Submitted 01/29/13

We had an excellent adventure at 18 degrees. Ernesto is key to this Belize expereience. The owners of this home are super helpful and I would recommend this location of San Pedro, Belize and 18 degrees to anyone who a wants a TRUE island experience w comfort. The home was beautiful, clean and had all we needed to be comfortable as a family of 4. The diving was the best I've ever done, what a treat that the reef was 5 mins from the dock. Ernesto took us spear fiishing and we ate home made ceviche and he took us to Ruins and Caye Caulker, all of which I would recommend. Have NOTHING but GOOD, to say about this place. Best keep secret of all of the islands I've traveled. I never thought I could beat the BVI, but if you love the ocean then THIS IS IT!

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

Owner response: Angel, It's always good to hear that our guests have found our place to be "The Place" they have been searching for and that our staff is taking good care of our "Guestas". Hope to see you again in May. Kind Regards, Bob & Tracey Owners, 18 Degrees North

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 3/3

Very disappointed

Guest Diane
Date of stay 12/09/12
Review Submitted 12/24/12

Our 12 day stay in Belize was good but the home did not meet our expectations. Several things were either broken or just worn out. The AC in the kitchen did not work. The remote for the AC in one bedroom was missing. Three of the four remotes had dead batteries and no spares were provided until our last day. The dishes, pots, and pans were old, damaged and generally worn out. There was an infestation of bugs in the kitchen and in the pantry. We had to throw out some food because of the bugs in the pantry. They are trash. The beach was not kept clean, full of trash. A person did start cleaning the beach in the last few days of our stay. Not a swimming beach by any means, very shallow, full of sea grass and trash. The house is supposed to have a cleaning service every 3 days. The cleaner came twice in 12 days. These things may be attributed to the house being for sale and owner cutting back on maintenance/expenses. The caretaker has two dogs that were very nice to us but chased and barked at the locals riding by on their bikes, They bit and popped tires on two bikes that we saw. They made two guys on a motorcycle crash. On a couple of occasions the locals became angry with us which was not pleasant. The caretaker/guide sign on the wall with his guide service list and associated charges. It says he charges $135 per person to go to the Mayan ruins. He charged our son and his wife $325 each! His explanation was he cannot do the trip for just two people so he had to charge for three and the additional charges were for food, park fees and other incidentals. I'm OK with this but the sign on the wall is misleading and the charges should have been explained in advance of the trip. Two of us went spearfishing with the caretaker and one person went snorkeling and did not fish. He charged us for three people fishing. We were disappointed. We went diving 8 days with White Sands Diving. They were great and highly recommended. There are a lot of great reviews for 18 Degrees and I'm sure they were well deserved. I believe the home has been better cared for in the past. There are lots of nice places to chose from in the area. I would not stay at 18 Degrees again and based on our experience could not recommend it to others.

Owner response: Dear Nick, We are sorry to hear that your stay did not meet your expectations, and we will use it to make some changes. We wish you would have contacted us by email or with the cellphone we left behind for your use, we might have been able to assist at that time. We have been in contact with our staff and offer the following input: - We will no longer leave extra batteries in our cabinet for our guests use. I have asked our caretaker to keep control of them. It appears that previous guests had taken some out and put the old spent ones back in their place. Lesson learned. - We supply tupperware and the refrigerator to our guests to store contents of any open containers, especially those containing sugar. As you experienced the local ants will find it. We have an exterminator do PM every 3 months. -Beach Cleaning- The rule is to rake the beach every morning. The exception to that is when the wind is strong or it is raining. I have spoken to our caretaker and he understands this rule. - The Barrier Reef brings many adventures and much beauty, but the waves do not crash on the shore. They are broken up on the reef . Because of this the shore line of the entire island is coral sand, and the 1st 300' or so of water is a combination of sand and turtle grass. This can be seen in the photos on our web page. This is a critical part of the eco-system and is protected by Belize Environmental Laws. We will check more closely for debris. -The Kitchen A/C's new blower motor came in last week and is now in operation. - The property has been listed for sale in a quiet fashion for 3 years....no signs on the property, just internet listing and a realtor on the island who occasionally shows it. Our belief is that everything is for sale@ the right price. So far we have not had any offers that we feel are acceptable. We are very happy to use our 18 Degrees North for our family and offer it to guests . In the past 4 months we have invested $14,000 US in paint, windows, linens, appliances, siverware, etc. and will continue to make such investments. -Regarding the "Maya Ruin" trip, your son and his wife took. We would suggest that you talk with them & look at the web site for Maruba Jungle Spa. That is where they spent a majority of their time with Massages, Spa Treatments and Cocktails. Our Caretaker warned them that it was a expensive side trip, but they insisted. We will continue to work on exceeding our guests expectations. Bob & Tracey

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 3/5

Be Happy in Paradise

Guest Greg
Date of stay 09/29/12
Review Submitted 10/10/12

How does one put into words an experience that defies words? Beautiful Caribbean waters, swinging in a hammock over waters teeming with spectacular fish, rays, crabs and creatures that glow in the dark under a full moon. An amazing man named Ernesto that makes the entire experience seamless and carefree. A personalized tour of the Mayan site Xunantunich that truly brought the place to life. The thrill of the ocean at night in a blowing rain. Home cooked meals with fish and lobster that you have caught through Ernesto's expert guidance. Swimming with and touching sharks, cruising with Leatherback turtles, going face to face with a grouper that seems nearly as big as you are. Laying by your own private pool, beer in hand, sun shining and laughing with your best friends as the wind courses through the palms. No better way to celebrate your 30th wedding anniversary!!!!

Recommended for: Age 55+, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Owner response: Greg, Thanks for the kind words and the pics which we will incorporate on our Facebook page.....we hope you left some seafood in the Caribbean for our future guests. When you go out to forrage for dinner with Ernesto you can be sure you will eat that night. We look forward to your return. Kind Regards, Bob & Tracey

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I Own The Place

Guest Bob
Date of stay 04/21/12
Review Submitted 05/04/12

I'd love to send you a review, but as the owner of the property I would be acting like a candidate up for election

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 4/4

We were living a dream!

Guest 2 couples from MN.
Date of stay 01/21/12
Review Submitted 02/08/12

We pinched ourselves every day to make sure this wasn't a dream! The facilities were in excellent condition. The real thing is even more beautiful than the listing photos. We had no surprises. We especially liked the speaker system because we could connect our ipod and listen to good music inside and outside the house. Lister and caretaker are courteous and attentive. I would recommend this place to anyone who desires a quiet, private and relaxing vacation. Take advantage of all excursions: you are very close to the best snorkeling!

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

Owner response: Judy, It's alwats good to hear that our guests had a good stay at 18 Degrees North. We think we've set it up so that most folks will have a good time and fond memories, but it's nice to get such comments. We hope to see you again. Kind Regards, Bob & Tracey

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 3/3

Great Time in Paradise

Guest Blue Jay Fans
Date of stay 01/07/12
Review Submitted 01/22/12

Randy, I and another couple were really pleased the way we found property. It was everything it was described in the listing. The house was very beautiful with all the local artwork on the walls. The rooms were very spacious and the air conditioning worked great. Ernesto was the greatest. He took very good care of us. Giving great ideas for us to do. He took us fishing, lobster spearing, snorkeling, cave tubing, Maya ruins and swimming and snorkeling in shark alley. His family was beautiful also. We enjoyed seeing the kids get on their school boat everyday. Really different than seeing our kids getting on the big yellow bus in our area. We had Samantha (Ernesto's wife) fix our catch of the day (lobster and fish), was very good. We highly recommend anyone to come here if you just want some good rest and relaxation this is the place to come. You could walk down the beach to a very nice restaurant call Portafina and had a wonderful meal and drinks. You can also have Ernesto take a boat trip into town to enjoy the local food and drinks. Fido's is also a great place to eat in town. You set on the beach so you can watch the boats and people come and go. In all, the people are very friendly. I almost forgot to commit on the most important fixtures at the house. That would be Risa, Rojo & Betsy. They are the dogs that live at the house. They were great guard dogs to have around when you were on the dock or they were great to take with you as you walk down the beach. They bark at anyone who walks by or rides by on a bike. Funny they only barked at the locals. :) We thank you Bob and Tracy for letting us stay at your house. Also thanks for the FULL MOON. Made for some great pictures. Randy, Tori, Jeff and Renee Go Blue Jays !!!!

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

Owner response: Randy, Tori, et al, We just got back from a week at 18 Degrees North and noticed that the dogs looked a bit plump. Were you feeding them lobster? Thanks for the kind words. We are so glad you had some good R & R. Come on back as soon as you can and bring the growing clan. Kind Regards, Bob & Tracey Owners, 18 Degrees North

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 3/3

Amazing!

Guest Dianna C.
Date of stay 12/17/11
Review Submitted 12/25/11

Our family of five (parents and three young adults) just came back from a week at 18 Degrees North, Our trip was nothing short of amazing. The property is BEAUTIFUL and the view will take your breath away. Ernesto was a wonderful guide. He took us spear fishing (so cool) and we speared fish and lobster and Samantha cooked it all for us for dinner! He also took us snorkeling and to the Mayan ruins and cave tubing. The dogs, Betsy, Rojo and Brisa were our poolside companions (they are so sweet), and they are very protective of 18 Degrees North which made us feel very safe. We loved this experience and would highly recommend it!

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

Owner response: Dianna and family, We were happy to have you as our guests. It is always good to hear that our visitors take advantage of our staff and the adventures that they bring to a stay at 18 Degrees North. We are heading down for a week away from the "Cold North" in 10 days. Hope to have you back as our "guestas" (as Ernesto would say it) in the near future. Kind Regards, Bob & Tracey Owners, 18 Degrees North

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 3/3

Not Quite What We Expected

Guest Anonymous
Date of stay 08/23/11
Review Submitted 09/13/11

We stayed at 18 Degrees North for 4 days in August 2011. For the price and compared to other rentals we've taken, we expected a place in great condition. Sadly this was not the case. First, the water situation was a disaster. The well water was badly treated by the caretaker and all taking a shower smelled as if we were bathing in sea water it was so salty, due to a terrible mix of the chlorine to treat - we think. The elevated levels of chlorine also ruined our laundry which we did the first day - 4 t-shirts, a dress, and one dress shirt were permanently stained with bleach stains. The kitchen was pretty gross, with grease on the counters and the range, many of the appliances and knives with rust stains. All the bathroom faucets are corroded from the salt air and need to be replaced. The pool area when we arrived was relatively clean, but the chairs were kind of strewn around, as if the caretakers hadn't bothered to put anything in order after the last renters. The cable in one room didn't work. On the plus side, the house is overall comfortable and has some nice local art. It is quite a ride, at least 15 minutes, by boat from the town and inaccessible by road - though having the caretaker there for the one trip into town a day is very useful. Do not rent a house this far from town without that service as the public taxi service is unreliable, as our friends who were staying at another house near us found out trying to get to the airport. The most disappointing thing about our stay however was that the caretaker, who we hired for day trips on his boat, was never willing to give us up front pricing and ended up charging us 3 or 4 times more than what we felt was fair. It's a long story but we learned our lesson, we should have insisted on pre-pricing quote rather than going with the laissez fair Belizean lifestyle. I recommend you do the same, and if Ernesto keeps avoiding it, then hire a boat from town (that will likely be nicer anyway). The owners responded to our complaints, but offered no remedy or reimbursement - saying only that they would fix the problems for future renters. Note the property is for sale, so take this into account if booking a trip far in advance. All in all, while the location is lovely and Belize is a terrific place to visit - we would not recommend staying here. There are lots of other options.

Owner response: Well, eventually a poor review was bound to happen. We have addressed the cleaning and water issue with our staff and those are unlikely to recur. Since this visit in August the islands drought has ended and our 44,000 gallon cistern is again full of rainwater. We have only had to switch over to our back-up well source a few times in our 6 years and this visit was one of them. All of Ernesto's trip rates are and have been posted in a book that is presented to all guests when they arrive. Within that listing is a request that you pay as you go after each event. We are now going to post them on the hacinda walls as well. Every September and October we schedule major projects at 18 Degrees North. This year they include refurbishing our 25' skiff, with fiberglass repair, new hardware and a new paint job. The hacienda has had some cement and stucco repairs, along with new A/C units,TV satellite receivers, energy efficient windows and a host of kitchen and bathroom appliances and fixtures replaced. Living 100' from the Caribbean salt air takes it's toll and we schedule this work to be done during the two slowest months. We cannot solve the issues pertaining to other peoples bad experiences at a totally different property, but we will continue to invest our time and resources to keep 18 Degrees North the 5 Star destination that the vast majority of our guests have experienced. A final note to our future guests - "You have our permission to move the lounge chairs wherever you want around the pool." Kind Regards, Bob & Tracey Owners, 18 Degrees North

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 5/7

Paradise!!!

Guest Danielle
Date of stay 08/05/11
Review Submitted 08/11/11

I am just about to leave after an amazing week at 18 degrees north. I hate to go. Ernesto is so knowledgable of the islands and the perfect spots to swim with manatee, pet a shark, spear fish for lobster, and every other aspect of island life. Any and everything we wanted to do, Ernesto was able to accomodate. Samantha is a great cook and super friendly lady. I don't know how we managed to fit in all we did this week and still have time to just lay by the pool or stroll on the beach. We never felt rushed or tied to a schedule. I highly recommend staying here and taking advantage of the private guided tours. You just can't beat it. It was so nice experiencing everything the island has to offer without being part of a crowd. Absolutely THE BEST!!!!!

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

Owner response: Dear Danielle, It's great to hear that you had a great time at 18 Degrees North. It sounds like Ernesto and Samantha wove their magic spell, once again. Hope to have you back again. Kind Regards, Bob & Tracey Owners, 18 Degrees North

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 2/2

Each day better than the last

Guest Jim
Date of stay 02/12/11
Review Submitted 02/19/11

Saturday, February 19, 2011 It was hard to believe (or "Unbelizable" as they say), that each day could get better than the last, for the four of us. Errnesto, the resident caretaker, has a favorite saying, "It's all good! That is a wonderful way to get into each day, as well as the moment. He really is a great caretaker, friend, and guide. From the simple pleasures of catching fish outside our door and cooking it the natve way, to going out and swimming with the nurse sharks (and rays and yellow tail and grouper and snook and turtles ... ) it was a blast. He kept us safe and happy. There is so much to do on this caye and the southern Caye Caulker. In fact, we found the smaller island a "best in category" shopping experience, and had a wonderful lobster lunch at the bar just by the cut on Caye Culker. Our trip to the mainland was the only disapointment, as the caves were closed. The back alley boat channels actually were the memorable moments for photography; watching the working crews on the last day of lobster season. Speaking of best in category, Betsy and her companion Ro, became our pets and guardians for the time here. You will see. We escaped a cold midwestern winter and loved our time here. As I write this on the morning of our last day, a melancholy moment improves by the desire to come back and the memories taken along.

Recommended for: Adventure seekers, age 55+, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Owner response: Thanks Jim, Glad your group had a great stay. Hope to see you again in the years ahead. So far this month we have booked 3 "return guests."..... Ernesto and the reef seem to bring many back. We're heading down in 10 days and are starting to gather our swim wear and shorts. Goodbye Mid-west Winter.....Helllooo Belize! Bob & Tracey Owners, 18 Degrees North

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 5/6

BEST Vacation EVER!!

Guest TippyJo
Date of stay 11/19/10
Review Submitted 12/03/10

John & Pat Shepard (Batavia, IL) This place DID live up to all the great (5 star) reviews! If you are looking for the perfect quiet getaway, this is your place! With no neighbors on either side of the house, you have plenty of privacy and quiet. The view is quite spectacular! Upon arrival, Esnesto (caretaker) picked us up and brought us to a store to do a little shopping. We arrived at the dock during a downpour and Betsy (the "house" dog) was there to greet us. Betsy was our companion for the next 11 days! She walked with us, kept us company and alerted us of any passer-bys. More than Betsy getting attached to us, we fell in love with her! Ernesto was very accommodating with everything we needed. He suggested activities and took us on some wonderful excursions. Must try Zip-lining and Cave Tubing! The snorkeling was outstanding especially since the reef is so close. Having Ernesto as your guide, allows you to just relax as he takes care of everything! You MUST have Samantha cook (at least a few) meals. Wonderful island food - fresh with Ernesto's daily catch. Samantha's a charm! We are hoping to see Samantha open a restaurant...soon! Wait until you meet "little" Ernesto and Crystal. They are great kids. We got to send little Ernesto off every morning on the school "boat" while we had coffee on the dock. Then we would spend the rest of the morning just relaxing in the hammocks. The dock holds plenty of entertainment...fish, stingray...even saw porpoises! Sunrises and sunsets are quite amazing! This will definitely be on our "let's do this trip again" agenda!

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

Owner response: So good to hear that you had a great time. We're heading down next week to ply Ernesto, Samantha and the kids with Christmas gifts.....a few goodies for Betsy also! We realize that they are the right team to have watching over our guests at 18 Degrees North. You can put together a great property, but it's not just the stucco and glass that people remember. That's why we have so many repeat "Guestas".....I know you recognize that word. Hope to seee you back at 18 degrees North in the near future. Best Holiday Wishes, Bob & Tracey Owners, 18 Degrees North

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 5/5

18 Degree North

Guest mpoke
Date of stay 04/24/10
Review Submitted 05/04/10

Beautiful property in a great setting. The home is everything you would want in a beach house including a pool that overlooks the ocean. The caretaker is attentive to your needs without being intrusive and is available for fishing and snorkel trips. The house offers ultimate privacy. A resort is nearby for scuba and a restaurant. You can walk the fairly secluded beach in either direction for several miles.

Recommended for: Adventure seekers, tourists without a car, romantic getaway.

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 10/11

A Fabulous Vacation Rental

Guest Carys L
Date of stay 04/01/10
Review Submitted 04/13/10

18' North was a fabulous vacation rental. The property was very well maintained with quality construction & amenities. The photos definitely captured the beautiful location & layout of the home. I was pleasantly surprised by the very spacious & airy bathrooms. We enjoyed the privacy of our own home/pool, but it was also nice to take advantage of the bar, pool, restaurant, dive shop, etc. 1/3 mile down the beach at Costa Maya Reef Resort. Ernesto, the on-site caretaker, also made for a fabulous captain & guide. He accompanied us on 2 fabulous excursions to the mainland: one to Altun Ha & Marumba Jungle Spa & Lounge; & one to cave tubing, ziplining, & the Belize Rainforest Zoo. He also was available to answer any random questions we had & to offer shopping tips, eg, the best place to purchase a hammock. The owners, Bob & Tracy, were also very responsive prior to our vacation in answering questions, offering advice, & facilitating the contract with babysitters. I travelled to Belize with my husband & 2 sons, ages 7 & 3. We all had a fantastic time!!

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

Owner response: Our guests have been nothing but the absolute best. We are so happy to be able to provide a vacation home for all to enjoy. Communication with our guests prior to their holiday allows us to help make their stay special. Our guests treat our home like their own and have made 18 Degrees a success for future guests and our family. Thanks for being part of the 18 Degrees North family.

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 10/10

Perfect with two bonuses

Guest Jack and Marg
Date of stay 03/13/10
Review Submitted 04/22/10

My wife and I were looking for a quiet beach home with a pool at which to celebrate our 40th anniversary and my 60th birthday. This home and its beautiful pool were perfect. There is undisturbed jungle on both sides of the house and little foot traffic passing on the beach. The kitchen is great - the whole house has an airy feeling. The patio around the pool offers lots of choices for sun or shade. We plugged our Ipod into the stereo system and we were set to relax! We shopped for the first three days when we landed in San Pedro (there is an excellent wine store - wine de vine) and only went shopping again once. Don't miss the papaya. Bonus number one was the variety of birds that flew into our view while sitting by the pool. We soon became intrigued with identifying them (there is a book, "Birds of Belize", at the house) and taking pictures (bring a long lens). They provided hours of enjoyment. Bonus number two was Ernesto. He met us at the airport, escorted us by mini-van to shop, and took us by boat to the house. He took us snorkeling and fished for my birthday dinner, cooked by his wife Samantha. He noticed that we were captivated by the variety of bird life and offered to take us to see more. We spent most of a day with him going around the cay into the national park, viewing some of the most spectacular aggregations of birds we have ever seen. Ernesto capped it off by fixing lunch on the boat while we snorkeled. He is easy to be with, a prudent master at piloting his boat in inches of water and on the open ocean, and has years of accumulated knowledge to draw on when you ask a question. We have had great success staying at VRBO homes with pools in Portugal, France, and Italy. This home and its surroundings take the cake so far!

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

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 10/10

Guest Christina30
Date of stay 02/13/10
Review Submitted 02/13/10

I just came back and had the best vacation ever! 18 Degrees North is in a wonderful location, with lots of privacy and set up for plenty of relaxation! The house was just as advertised and had all the amenities you'll want for a great tropical getaway. When it got too hot by the pool, the breeze off the water made relaxing in the hammocks under the palapa perfect! Ernesto the caretaker is AMAZING! For about the price of a group tour, Ernesto will take pamper you on a completely personalized and private trip; whether you go to the ruins, the zoo, snorkeling, or more. He'll take amazing care of you and can always be counted on to suggest good restaurants, the best shops, and must-see trips. He seems to know everyone and really helps you feel like you're part of his family, without being intrusive when you just want to be left alone to relax by the pool. We can't wait to visit again, and will definitely be staying at 18 Degrees North again. The owners were extremely responsive to all emails and questions prior to our trip and the house was perfect for our group (two couples). It's so nice to have a computer with internet for those times you have to do a quick email check, too. My one tip for visitors to Ambergris Caye, though, is that it will be more expensive than you think. Groceries and liquor are expensive to import, and that cost is passed along to you. Sometimes referred to as "Rich Man's Island", we didn't find any huge bargains on food or entertainment, but it was still completely worth it! We were quoted about the same prices as the previous reviewer for private tours with Ernesto. Keep in mind those are prices in US dollars. Groceries will cost at least the same as what you pay in the states (things like booze and snack foods can be significantly more). Get your liquor at the Duty Free shop in the airport and you'll save TONS OF MONEY! We went outside the reef to Mexico for lunch during a snorkeling trip and did not experience the dangerous waves the previous reviewer did. I think weather must make a big difference. We had a great time with outstanding food in Mexico and a once-in-a-lifetime snorkeling experience with Ernesto. WE LOVE 18 DEGREES NORTH! THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR WONDERFUL HOME WITH US!

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 10/10

Beautiful, Relaxing Vacation Home on the Ocean

Guest Janet and Bob
Date of stay 01/16/10
Review Submitted 03/30/10

Beautiful Vacation Home on the ocean with great views, pier, pool, boat, Ernesto the caretaker who is also a professional tour guide, and the option of having a chef to cook all the fresh fish, lobster, conch that you can catch daily. You are on an island and the only way off is by boat. The water ferries and taxis run frequently by your dock. The beaches are very narrow and there's few places to walk. So, you need to like the water activities. Fishing snorkeling, and diving are fun in the crystal clear ocean waters right by the barrier reef. Would not recommend the deep sea fishing unless you are on a really large boat. The ocean waves get very treacherous as you sail through the channels to get past the long barrier reef. We experienced some injuries and ruined some expensive cameras and video equipment from the big waves washing over our average size boat. Everything except beer is very expensive. You'll need lots of cash. The shopping is limited and not very interesting. A trip to Belize City on the mainland is about a 2 hour boat trip to catch the inland tours. Cave tubing was one of our favorite tours. Try to do the inland tours on days when the cruise ships are not bringing in thousands of tourists for shore excursions (like Monday or Tuesday). Ernesto is an incredible tour guide and can recommend the best days for your excursions. We and our three daughters had an amazing vacation at this home with lots of adventure and plenty of time to to relax. The property was well maintained and the owner was very helpful answering our questions prior to our arrival. We would recommend this property.

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

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 8/9

Guest Claudia Galvan
Date of stay 04/08/09
Review Submitted 04/08/09

Amazing, the house is even better than the VRBO photos! We travel a bit, and this was our best vacation ever. Caretakers Ernesto and Samantha were fun, thoughtful and offered us any help we needed while respecting our privacy. House and grounds are clean and stylish. Would stay here again in a heartbeat. Two thumbs way, way up!!

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 8/8

Guest Shawnie Replogle
Date of stay 03/23/08
Review Submitted 03/23/08

Had a great vacation. Property was beautiful and was exactly as advertised in the website. Ernesto and Samantha, the caretakers, were a delight, and the trip would not have been near as enjoyable without them. Ernesto is an excellent tour guide and arranged all of our day trips. He did all of the work for us on the trip. Would highly recommend snorkeling, trip to Mayan ruins, and cave tubing. Be prepared to spend $50/person for snorkeling, $250/person for day trip to Mayan ruins combined with cave tubing, $250/person for deep sea fishing, and $50/person for a good meal at a nice sit down restaurant. Would recommend a bit of caution when reserving a deep sea fishing charter. Need to check on their track record for how good they are at catching fish and whether than have sonar to help locatate fish. Would not recommend taking a boat ride outside of the reef to Mexico. It's a nice place to visit with great food, but the boat ride is way too dangerous with huge waves that come over into the boat and spine jarring falls when the boat motors through a cresting wave. Would recommend taking plenty of cash. Traveler's checks are not preferred and credit card machines are frequently not working. Scared of caring a lot of cash? You can get a cash withdrawal at a bank in town for a small fee. Definitely, I am glad we went and made some unforgettable memories.

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 8/9

Vacation Rentals by Owner

'18 Degrees North' a Private 1st Class Beach House [#132079] | View Property

Traveler Reviews (20)

Paradise, once again.

Paradise, once again.

Paradise Found

Paradise Found

Amazing property

Amazing property

Very disappointed

Very disappointed

Be Happy in Paradise

Be Happy in Paradise

I Own The Place

I Own The Place

We were living a dream!

We were living a dream!

Great Time in Paradise

Great Time in Paradise

Amazing!

Amazing!

Not Quite What We Expected

Not Quite What We Expected

Paradise!!!

Paradise!!!

Each day better than the last

Each day better than the last

BEST Vacation EVER!!

BEST Vacation EVER!!

18 Degree North

18 Degree North

A Fabulous Vacation Rental

A Fabulous Vacation Rental

Perfect with two bonuses

Perfect with two bonuses

Beautiful, Relaxing Vacation Home on the Ocean

Beautiful, Relaxing Vacation Home on the Ocean