Great way to spend the winter!

Guest: Dana (United States)
Date of Stay: 12/10/11 Review Submitted: 12/26/11

We stayed at this Caribe Island condo, from 12/10/2011 until 12/23/2011. We really enjoyed our time and the location is really great. This unit is an end unit on the bottom floor with a terrific view of the ocean and dock. Downtown San Pedro can be quite chaotic but since this condo is 2.5 miles south, it feels like a different world. We rented a golf cart to make the trip easier, although golf carts are apparently made of gold in Belize. There are also bikes that can be borrowed but they arent in the best shape and, after a few breakdowns, we decided a cart was the best bet. Plus, you can explore more of the island with a cart. The condo was tastefully decorated and in really good shape. It came fully furnished and had a full kitchen, including one of the most important appliances, a blender. Some of the great amenities include: cable TV (which was out while we were there), a breakfast bar in the kitchen, a queen size bed and a pull out sofa-bed, AC, stove, refrigerator, coffee maker, the aforementioned blender, cookware, and walk in shower. It's so well stocked that you could live there indefinitely. The owner, Mark, made sure we had everything we needed. He even followed up halfway through the stay to make sure everything was going well. When someone wasn't working, he was fast to resolve it...from 2,000 miles away. I would rent from him in a heartbeat and we probably will next year. Be aware that these condos are individually owned so your experience may vary if you rent another unit. We did make friends with several other owners while down there and they were all great. The best part of this condo is the view. With the swaying palm trees with hammocks strung between them, the manicured beach (which they rake every morning), and the dock with palapa, it's quite an amazing sight. The snorkeling at the end of the dock is great too. Stay here, you wont regret it!

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

Great place to relax and enjoy the beautiful island

Guest: Wanderlust (New York, NY)
Date of Stay: 12/01/11 Review Submitted: 12/16/11

This terrific condo is located just a mile and a half outside San Pedro so it is perfect for getting into town for shopping and nightlife, but it is far enough away to enjoy the serenity and beauty of the island. The resort itself offers a swimming pool, cabana and pier. There is a tour company that offers all the excursions from diving and snorkeling to cave-tubing and Mayan ruins in the mainland. You can depart right from the pier. In addition to the ideal location, the condo itself is wonderful. It is well-kept and features an amazing view from the veranda or simply looking out the french doors from the couch. The owners are friendly and helpful with providing tips and suggestions as to where to shop for groceries, best suggestions for fishing and what sights to take in. The only negative is that you cannot stay forever...

Recommended for:Sightseeing, adventure seekers, tourists without a car, girls getaway, age 55+, romantic getaway.

Need Better Island Managemenet

Guest: Sue (Pittsburgh, PA)
Date of Stay: 04/19/11 Review Submitted: 05/05/11

We rented this condo for 5 nights in April. Ambergris Cay is a wonderful, fun place to visit. Unfortunately this condo is not. It is a good location—right on the beach in a nice complex. Also there is a dive shop very close that will arrange snorkeling/fishing trips for you However, we did have several issues with the condo and the owner/management. First the owner gave us the wrong phone number for his manager on the island who was to pick us up at the ferry. We did finally connect with his sister, but it was not easy. When she took us to the condo she told us there was no internet service which I did find out later there was (after I had gone into town and paid to use the internet at a café). As was mentioned in a previous review, we also had little hot water and the unit definitely needs a new shower head as there is no pressure. I emailed the owner to ask if we could use the bikes on the property and he said no. I spoke to someone in the complex and they said of course we could use the bikes and unlocked them for us. The main issue was the overhead light in the bathroom which did not work the entire time we were there. I spoke with the manager on the island, but there was no response. I did email with the owner and he said he knew the light had been a problem. I emailed him several times and each time the response was--someone will come and fix it right away, but that never happened. It was very difficult functioning with no bathroom light! Unfortunately this condo lacks good, reliable island management which is essential when problems occur and the owner is back in the US.

Owner response:First we would like to thank this couple for choosing our condo over all the other choices out there on the island. Although we strive to provide the best possible experience for all of our guests, unfortunately sometimes things can and do go wrong while away from home. Fortunately for all of our guests, our little condo is indeed beautiful and is perched on one of the nicest stretch of beach on the island. This will always be our value proposition to our renters, and that is what keeps so many coming back each year. Our number of repeat renters continues to grow, and that tells us that we are a great destination and a superb value. We have learned a lot from our recent reviews and will always strive to make improvements when our guests ask for them. Since this review we have addressed our management on the communication processes, and the bathroom light has been fixed. Low water pressure can sometimes be an issue when traveling outside the US. Hopefully we can explain this to our future guests. Thank you again for your stay Susan, we hope that you come back and visit again soon. -Mark and Athena

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"La Isla Bonita" Nice condo!

Guest: spearfisher (Texas)
Date of Stay: 12/01/10 Review Submitted: 02/21/11

This was a 2 week stay for SCUBA diving and just relaxing by the beach. Caribe Island was recommended to us from friends of ours who come down every year and stay in this unit. The layout is perfect for divers because it is a first floor unit and has plenty of additional space for our gear. Most importantly, one of THE BEST tour operators on the Island is located at this resort. This makes it much easier to organize other trips such as snorkeling, cave tubing, zip lining etc. The condo itself is perfect for 2-4 people. Inside the unit it is very quiet, and the flatscreen TV is great for watching shows while cooking or eating in. The queen bed is comfy and there is plenty of storage space for clothes, towels, etc. The resort has a big beach just steps from the front porch. Some days we snorkeled right in front of the condo. We had the pool to ourselves most of the time, and the palapa area has a hammock for siestas or some light reading. All in all, it is not a 5 star resort because there is not a staff, but we gave it 5 stars because of its charm, views, and overall character. See you next year!

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

Great Condo with Spectacular Views

Guest: Beanie (Usa)
Date of Stay: 12/26/10 Review Submitted: 02/16/11

We have visited Ambergris Caye the last few years for our anniversary and after hearing so many nice things about this resort, we decided to give it a try.   It is by far our favorite place on this fun little island.   The condo is everything you would expect from a rental by owner, you get a full kitchen, nice sized living space, and your own private porch.  The kitchen appears to have been upgraded with new appliances, and all the essentials for cooking and eating in are there.  The condo is adequately equipped with towels, but I recommend brining your own beach towels because we could not find any.   The internet connection was spotty inside the unit, but worked great on the porch.   The views are breathtaking, and the water is only about 50 feet from the front door.   The pool is very clean and is great for morning and afternoon dips in between sunbathing.   We have stayed in town on previous trips and have witnessed  a huge increase in tourism on the island.   At times, staying in town can be a bit noisy and privacy can become an issue.   This resort is 1.5 miles from town, and the beach is huge,  so that it has that “private resort” feel.   The property is run and occupied by a few individual owners who give it that special at home feel.   They were very helpful when we had questions or needed advice. They have a fish fry/BBQ each week and even invited us to join in.   They cooked fresh fish that they caught, and we participated with our own BBQ chicken recipes.   It was an experience that you can’t get at other “glitzy” resorts.  If you want a beautiful condo with a private porch, beautiful pool and awesome views, than we would recommend this unit. 

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

Fisherman

Guest: Allan (Allamuchy New Jersey)
Date of Stay: 03/28/10 Review Submitted: 02/16/11

My wife and I loved it. She used the great pool and beach while I fished. Wonderful setting and very clean and quiet. Besides many good restaurants in town, there is a local restaurant/bar with great food at reasonable prices. I have been there twice and am going again the end of March. There are scuba/snorkel excursions departing next door and the fishing guides pick you up right at the resort's dock.

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

January 2011 Three Week Stay

Guest: Norb (Ohio)
Date of Stay: 01/15/11 Review Submitted: 02/15/11

Located 2.5 miles from downtown San Pedro, Caribe Island Condo's is away from the bustle of downtown yet near enough for convenience. The atmosphere is friendly and neigborly with full time residents making visitors feel welcome. The unit is clean and well maintained. The kitchen is well supplied with the necessary wares, but you should plan on bringing your own kitchen linens. Wifi is weak but servicable. White sand beach extends to the waters edge only 70 feet away. Tour service is located immediately next door. We have stayed at Caribe Island Condo's twice before in another identical unit. This unit is in my opinion the best available-for-rent one bedroom condo at Caribe Island. We would recomment Caribe Island Condo's and this unit in particular to anyone desiring to get away from the cold northern winters for a vacation in paradise.

Recommended for:Sightseeing, adventure seekers, tourists without a car, girls getaway, age 55+, romantic getaway.

"A Wonderful Stay" Thank you!!

Guest: max (Lebanon)
Date of Stay: 02/01/11 Review Submitted: 02/15/11

We chose this property after doing a lot of research on the island for our vacation. This location seemed perfect and indeed it was. Caribe Island Resort is quiet because it is outside of the busy streets of San Pedro, yet is close enough for easy access to all the shops and fun things to do. The condo itself is very clean and updated, the views are wonderful. The resort does not keep a very large staff, and the people that were there were extremely helpful. If you are looking for a nice place with a perfect beach and great views, this is it! We would definetely recommend Caribe Island Resort to anyone. Thanks Mark!!

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

Good & Bad

Guest: CoupevilleLisa (Washington, US)
Date of Stay: 05/23/09 Review Submitted: 05/07/10

We were disappointed with the condo. We didn't mind it being a little rough and understand that we were visiting a foreign country (have traveled in simular areas before) but found that it was definitely needing some TLC. The shower had no water pressure and minimum hot water whereas the other faucets were fine. There were bugs and could have been a bit cleaner. We were told there was a safe in the unit and there was but the manager nor the owner (when we emailed him) responded with the combo. The good news is that there were security guards on the property at night. There also was not any linens for the sofa bed and we didn't receive them until 3 days into our stay. The pros: the manager picked us up at the airstrip and gave us a tour. He was very nice. The location of the condo was wonderful. It was quiet and on the beach. The pool was nice and the security guards were great. One night we couldn't get our golfcart to run and one of the guards came over and fiddle with the engine and got it running for us. We would consider staying in the same condo complex but another unit.

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