We visited Caye Chapel Resort as part of our Belize vacation in March 2008. My husband, two sons, (one teen, one tween) and I stayed here for half of our vacation, then went to the Lodge at Chaa Creek (see my separate review) for the remainder of our stay. It was an excellent combination, and gave us a more complete picture of Belize in that we were able to spend time on the water and in the jungle, taking part in beach, historical, and "green" adventure activities. I must concur with the opinion of most other travelers: it was terrific! We got to the island via plane, and were greeted at the landing area by one of the employees who had two golf carts waiting for us. My boys thought it was great that THEY could drive the carts, and spent many happy hours doing just that as part of our stay there. The island had maybe 15-20 other guests there at the time, many of whom were return visitors. The level of service and pampering were extraordinary. We stayed in a more affordable casita (rather than a villa), and it was definitely utilitarian in design and decor, but it was comfortable, very very clean, and met our needs totally. They had asked ahead of time what our boys like to eat, and when we arrived at our air-conditioned casita, the fridge was stocked with bottled water and Fanta soda, with Snickers bars and Pringles potato chips(along with fresh fruit, etc) ready and waiting. It seemed like heaven to them! We opted for the meal plan, so all of our meals and snacks were included in the daily price. We found that to be an excellent value, as there are no other restaurants on the island-- the resort IS the island. We found the food to be superb, and noticed that sometimes other guests asked for items not currently on the menu, but things that they had enjoyed on an earlier visit (I think a certain banana bread french toast was a must-have) I must admit that it took me some time to get used to such a high level of service and freedom, but my husband and sons were comfortable immediately. Because there were so few other guests, we were able to to whatever we wanted when we wanted. My husband and sons were able to golf as much as they liked, starting on whatever hole they liked, and finishing up whenever they chose to. They averaged playing 36 holes each day, and so not having separate greens fees alone paid for a large chunk of the resort cost. The pool was lovely, with a bar for smoothies, drinks, etc. The coconut bowling was fun. The ocean water was warm, smooth, and clear, and just lovely. We swam and kayaked, and my husband and sons fished and then the kitchen prepared their catch for our dinner one night. There was little night life, though after dinner we were able to relax, walk around the island, watch a bit of television, and then get to sleep early to be ready for the next day. We did not encounter any bugs. We added on one extra trip booked through the resort: that was a snorkeling trip to Shark Alley. I cannot say enough how great a trip that was. Belize is noted for its reef, and the conditions were superb. We were on the guided adventure with only one other family, and were able to tailor the trip to what we wanted to do. I was a poor snorkeler, and the guide was excellent in helping me overcome my trepidation, and actually assisting me in the water so that I could enjoy the experience as much as everyone else. It is as a result of that trip that I can now snorkel! The water is so warm, still, and salty that you feel very buoyant in the water and can really focus on the incredible array of fish, coral, and rays rather than on water getting into your tube, visibility issues, or getting cold. Also a yacht docked on the island while we were there, as some of the more well-heeled travelers arrive on their own yachts. It was very interesting to us "tourists", and I never felt for one moment that preferential treatment was given to some guests over others. Overall, I would say that our experience at Caye Chapel was fantastic and we wish that it was NOT a once-in-a-lifetime adventure, but that we could get back there again some time.
- Caye Chapel Island Hotel
