Belizean Shores Resort

Belizean Shores Resort opened in 2001 and is the oldest (and cheapest) outpost of the Ambergris Caye-based Sandy Point Resort family. The company owns a stretch of nearby beach and a huge resort modeled after Venice, Italy -- canals and all -- was under construction during our early 2016 visit. Belizean Shores is much humbler than its future neighbor, and kicks off a stay by providing rum or rum-free punch for guests. Palm trees and manicured gardens cover its sandy grounds and plant beds are lined with dried coral. Suites are set in tan, two-story buildings with sea-foam green trim and Spanish-tile roofs -- many with pool or ocean views. The beach isn’t great for swimming and ocean lovers might want to consider elsewhere, but the pool is relaxed and rarely crowded. Somewhat surprisingly, there are ton of amenities to keep kids busy and we expected to see more families with kids during our visit. As it stands, most of the guests here are middle-aged adults looking for a reasonably priced place to call home for a few days on the shores of the Caribbean Sea.

Belizean Shores is a 20-minute drive from San Pedro, meaning things here feel beachy and relaxed, yet the resort is close enough to pop into town for dinner, to buy groceries, or wander its bustling streets. A few destinations are even closer, including a movie theater that plays first-run films and the island's only hookah bar, both of which are around 10 minutes away. There are a handful of restaurants ranging from tapas to Belizean and international cuisines nearby and it's a two-minute drive to a casino and an expensive grocery store -- guests looking to stock their kitchens are better off doing so from the stores in town. The island's famous Secret Beach is a bumpy 30-minute drive from the resort, though excellent snorkeling is available just offshore -- it's a 10-minute paddle to the barrier reef. San Pedro Airport, the islands air-transport hub, is a 22-minute drive from the resort.

With bamboo furniture, hardwood details, and kitchens or kitchenettes, Belizean Shore’s suites are a bit dated compared to other resorts on the island. They’re still pleasant enough, though -- especially the units with ocean-view patios. Furniture in the suites is mostly whitewashed rattan, and most fabrics and upholstery are done in beachy ocean-blues and greens. Walls are decorated in generic paintings of sailboats and palm trees, the kind found in most hotels on the island. 

All suites have 42-inch flat-screen TVs with cable channels and DVD players are available to borrow from the front desk. Air-conditioning, safes, irons and ironing boards, and Wi-Fi are also included. Kitchens or kitchenettes come standard in all rooms and feature electric ovens and ranges, refrigerators, and coffeemakers. There’s no free coffee, so be sure the stock up if you’re a morning brewer. Kitchens also have microwaves plus cookware and cutlery, and housekeeping washes dishes during the daily maid service. Jugs of spring water are provided. Bathrooms are bland and have tile floors, walls, and vanities. The stand­-up showers are also tiled. Soap, lotion, shampoo, and conditioner are included, as are hairdryers. 

There’s a ton of activities to keep busy during a stay at Belizean Shores. Free kayaks and paddleboards are available and there's a long, sandy beach with a few lounge chairs. Unfortunately, the water is shallow and can be full of sea grass, so swimming in the resort’s big saltwater pool is frequently a better option. There’s a hot tub built into the pool and a walk-up pool bar. At the end of the resort’s pier is a gazebo with hammocks and a small water slide and floating trampoline. Near the resort's entrance is a jungle gym with small climbing wall and a full-size basketball and tennis court -- balls and rackets are free to borrow in the lobby. Two outdoor ping-pong tables, a life-size outdoor chess set, and an oceanfront beach-volleyball court are available as well. 

Island Tavern, the hotel’s nautically-themed restaurant, with views of a marshy lagoon,  serves up expensive and uninspired international and Belizean cuisine. Reviews are mixed, and the restaurant provides room service and will deliver food to the pool. 

In the lobby, there’s a computer for guests with free printing and the front desk rents bicycles and golf carts, though it's cheaper to rent the latter in town. Tough Enough Tours, the on-site dive shop, rents snorkeling equipment and organizes diving and snorkeling trips around the island (and to the fabled Blue Hole). The concierge arranges tours, spa services, makes dinner reservations, and can set up babysitters. There are also board games and a DVD library (they also lend DVD players). Wi-Fi is free as are airport transfers.