Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
get the bonus of expert guides with deep knowledge of
Belizean culture and history. Note that many tour
companies based elsewhere in Belize - such as on the
cayes or in the south - will also include Belize City on a tour
on request. Recommended tour companies based in Belize
City are the long-running S & L Travel and Tours (91 N Front
St,
T
227 7593,
W
sltravelbelize.com) and Dave's Eco Tours
(123 Cemetery Rd,
T
205 5597,
W
davesecotours.com).
1
ACCOMMODATION
Belize City has a wide range of
hotels
, from budget to high-end. Most of the more upmarket hotels are in and around the
historic Fort George area north of the Swing Bridge, while the budget and mid-range digs are south of Haulover Creek.
There's usually no need to book ahead as you'll almost always find something in the price range you're looking for - though
a phone call saves time and effort. If you're looking for more intimate hotels and B&Bs - and don't mind being a couple of
miles out of town - try the neighbourhood of Buttonwood Bay, off the Philip Goldson Highway, where you'll find a few
choice options.
Bakadeer Inn
74 Cleghorn St
T
223 0659,
W
bakadeerinn.com.
Clean, secure, simple rooms with
a/c, ceiling fan, TV and private bath with tub, though
there's little natural light. Take the usual precautions when
walking this area after dark. Great Beli
zean br
eakfast. Rates
are excellent for three or four sharing.
US$50
Bayview Guest House
58 Baymen Ave
T
223 4179,
W
belize-guesthouse-hotel.com.
In a relatively quiet
section of the northern part of town, this well-run
guesthouse is surrounded by a breezy garden, and has
basic b
ut clean a/c rooms. Ask about seasonal rates.
US$40
Belcove Hotel
9 Regent St W
T
227 3054,
W
belcove
.com.
It's hard to get more central than this brightly
painted hotel, right next to the creek with a view of the
Swing Bridge. Simple and tidy rooms, some with a/c,
private bath and TV; coffee is included. Tours are arranged,
including to the hotel's private island at Gallows Point, on
the reef, 9 miles from Belize City. If you are arriving at
Belcove
after dark, take a taxi a
s this p
art of town can get
slightly less salubrious at night.
US$40
Best Western Belize Biltmore Plaza
Mile 3 Philip
Goldson Hwy
T
223 2302,
W
belizebiltmore.com.
One
of Belize City's bigger hotels is located just off the highway,
but is decently insulated from the noise, making for a
tranquil stay. A sun-flooded lobby gives way to spacious a/c
rooms around a palm-filled courtyard. The
Victorian Room
restaurant serves seafood, steaks and a varied lunch menu;
there's a daily happy hour (5-7pm) at the poolside
Palm
Court Bar
; and a fine selection of Caribbean rums at the
Biltmore Bar
, with live music on Thursday nights. Facilities
also in
clude a
business centre and fitness and massage
rooms.
US$120
Chateau Caribbean
6 Marine Parade
T
223 3888,
W
chateaucaribbean.com.
Faded elegance best describes
this Colonial-style hotel overlooking the seafront and
Memorial Park. Spacious rooms all have private bath, a/c
and cable TV; some also have sea views, especially those
with glass-fronted balconies on the top floor. The decent
restaurant features international cuisine, as well as a Maya-
style breakfast (Bz$14) of corn tortillas, fried beans and
poached eggs. A f
ormer h
ospital, the property has featured
in several movies.
US$90
Coningsby Inn
76 Regent St
T
227 1566.
Decent rooms
with tiled floors, a/c and private bath in a relatively quiet
part of the city centre. There's a balcony ove
r the str
eet and
they also serve breakfast, lunch and dinner.
US$50
★
D'Nest Inn
475 Cedar St, Belama, 5km north of
Belize City
T
223 5416,
W
dnestinn.com.
There's good
reason why travellers rave so much about this spot: it's the
kind of B&B you might expect to find in the English
countryside. Set in a quiet residential district, the cheery,
two-storey house calls its rooms “nests” - and each is
individually decorated, some with plush, four-poster beds
and antique furniture; all have a/c and sparkling
bathrooms. The garden flourishes with hibiscus, orchids,
white lilies and a splashing bird bath, and there's a
mangrove-lined canal nearby. A tasty breakfast is included.
Best if you have your own transport, though a t
axi is on
ly
Bz$10 into town. The airport is just 6 miles away.
US$95
★
The Great House
13 Cork St, Fort George
T
223
3400,
W
greathousebelize.com.
From the setting to the
staff to the rum cocktails at the on-site
Smoky Mermaid
,
this is one of the best places to stay in Belize City. The
gorgeous, modernized, four-storey wooden building -
painted a gleaming white - dates from 1927, and lies just
100yd from the sea. The spacious a/c rooms all have private
bath, T
V and
lustrous hardwood floors; some have a
balcony.
US$95
Radisson Fort George Hotel
2 Marine Parade, Fort
George
T
223 3333,
W
radisson.com/belizecitybz.
The
city's flagship hotel is well managed and enviably located
on the seafront. All rooms have a huge TV, fridge and
minibar, and most have sea views; the Colonial Wing is
carpeted, the Club Wing (reached by the only glass elevator
in Belize) features marble floors, and across the road, the
Villa Wing has tiled balconies and wheelchair access.
There's a business centre, two good restaurants, a cosy café
(see p.
56) two p
ools and a marina used by live-aboard dive
boats.
US$115
Villa Boscardi
6043 Manatee Drive, 2 miles north of
downtown, off the Philip Goldson Hwy
T
223 1691,
