Bill's is the type a place i really like in a get away vacation. I'm just not really into the sterility and the closed off concrete of hotels. Give me a good condo or bungalow and I'm happier then I'll ever be in a Four Seasons. Don't get me wrong, luxury accommodations have upsides and value comes at a cost. i.e. I do enjoy a good nights kip and that's were value is usually felt.

Bill's gives you a chance to be on the beach in a land that is remote and still largely unspoilt by mainstream tourism. Bill's is not in Placencia but a little north on Maya Beach. This gives a nice feel of seclusion, right on the beach with no built up resorts in eye shot.

During our stay we were the only visitors on the property. This is a nice rarity for me and not one you'll come across in hotels. So everything on this vacation seemed privately catered for, including guided tours and some unplanned bat feeding photography. It was like staying with friends of friends. Bill has a nice awareness of privacy but is always theire when you need him, and having the owner right there, in a bungalow nearby, gives a good sense of security.

Staying at Bill's is like going to the beach and not going home to sleep. You are right on the beach and it's really rather pleasant. It's really a great way to relax fast, bungalows are easy in and easy out, open a Belkin from fridge and read a book in the hammock. It does not get much better unless you decide to head out on an adventure. The adventures in southeirn Belize are pretty good and not all ultra-safety-annoying-guide stuff. Bill's is a snap for free pick up/drop off by the guides.

Adventure 1, Kayak Snorkel - Right on the door step, Bill owns two, not to shabby, sit-on-top Kayaks. Paddle out to the Key and the snorkeling is surprisingly quite good. I say this as an experienced Kayak diver who has done this in more then a few oceans. I was so happy to do this with such ease, no group sign-up, no goofy guide and best of all, no cost. This sort of thing will run you $50 a person in Hawaii.

Adventure 2, Ruins/Cave Tubing, This is an adventure I highly recommend, it may leave a few more bruises then Disney but the memories will be of really cool real things and whole lot more insightful. Bill made bookings to fit our schedule, guides were just awesome.

Adventure 3, Diving, could not get on a Blue Hole charter or Whale Shark boat but I did get to Glover's reef and that really beat all expectations. First class atol (i'll target some accommodations off-coast here next time) and great diving with Avadon. Getting down to these Atolls requires some travel and this makes Placencia/Bill's a good value rest stop to relax and bleed off gas. The ruins and cave tubing are worth making this the extra day/s place to stay before flying.

This is special part of the world for now, were you feel off the beaten tourist trap. The people in this really beautiful country are fun and easy going, easy place to fall in love with. Bill's fit's in here and makes the stay feel sort of less obtrusive to the culture.

From the time we got there, Adrian and Bill proved themselves to be the
ideal hosts. The cabana was exactly as described in their literature and
was a great place to hang out for a week or a month. They were more than
cordial and LISTENED to what you said you were interested in doing, then
made excellent recommendations on where to go. We listened to Bill and
asked him to hook us up with guides for sightseeing and fishing and all his
recommendations were dead on the money and, I believe, cheaper than if
you tried to set them up through other sources. They also have a tremendous
amount of local knowledge and to say that everyone who lives in the area
knows and likes them is an understatement. There are 2 or 3 excellent
places to eat nearby and with,basically, your own private piece of the sea at
your door, what more could you ask for ?

My wife and I stayed here for the second half of our 10 day honeymoon. We were there in early Oct, so it was the low season--we were practically the only tourists in the area. Going in the low season was great because we got a more "real" experience. Everywhere we went, we met locals who wanted to talk and buy us beers and chill out. This is a great place for people who want to experience real culture without taking a big risk or sacrificing safety.
Bill and Adriane were really helpful and gave us lots of good recommendations--they didn't try to squeeze money out of us, they recommended the kinds of cool places you would tell your friends from out of town about. The free kayaks were a big plus. You can paddle to a mangrove island (False Caye) in 20 minutes for incredible snorkeling.
My wife and I highly recommend renting a car and driving across the Mayan Mountains for a day or two. We drove to San Ignacio, almost to the Guatemalan border. We hiked to a jungle waterfall (Billy Barquedier's) and through a cave (St. Herman's) and to some amazing mayan ruins (Cahal Pech). I found St. Herman's to be a little disappointing though, because they don't let you go in past a few hundred feet. Still cool. I wish we had rafted through one of the caves.

We landed at Placencia airport to find Bill waiting for us with Scurvy, the resident retriever. Arriving at our bungalow, we found it to be exactly as advertised- cosy, quiet, and right on a beautiful stretch of tranquil beach.

Bill and Adriane were helpful and friendly, even picking up groceries to stock our fridge prior to our arrival. Area tours were easily arranged with their assistance, and they gave great advice on which tours to take and which could be done on our own. There are a couple of decent restaurants nearby (and one great one).

Maya Beach is at the quieter end of the peninsula- those looking for late-night bars may be better off in Placencia proper, but for a quiet retreat Barnacle Bill's was perfect. Hammocks, warm water, and cold beer were all we needed for a great stay.