Ambergris...North of San Pedro

How accessible are the hotels north of San Pedro on Ambergris Caye?
I like the feeling of peace & quiet...but not into the feeling of isolation...

Anyone stayed in the Capt. Morgan Hotel? Or any of the hotels north of San
Pedro they'd reccommend?

Are there frequent water taxis? I read there are golf cart shuttles into town?
Are they easy to arrange?

I've stayed at Captain Morgan's as well as a number of other hotels on North
Ambergris. Captain Morgan's isn't a personal favorite, but it's fine and a lot
of people like it.
Getting back and forth to San Pedro town isn't difficult, but it takes a bit of
planning and the costs add up.
One option is scheduled and on-demand water taxis (US$5 to $10+ per person each
way to depending how far north you are going). Another option is to rent a golf
cart (around US$250 a week) and drive yourself, but the little hand-pulled
ferry across the channel that divides the island stops operating usually around
8 p.m. Cost to cross the channel by golf cart is US$2.50 round-trip. I don't
know of any "golf cart shuttles."
Depending on recent weather, you can usually go as far north as Mata Chica and
Portofino resorts by golf cart, but be sure you have a full charge, as it's a
long way -- the golf cart path gets real muddy after rains and part of the way
you drive on the beach.
Belizean Shores, a condotel, is a good value choice north. Portofino and Mata
Chica are the top resorts north (both pretty expensive.)
If you're the kind of person who likes to eat at a different restaurant at each
meal and likes to go out at night, probably North Ambergris isn't the best
place for you. You might want to look at the South End -- say one to three
miles south of town. You can get back and forth to town easier by golf cart or
cab or at the closer places by walking on the beach.
My recommendations for quality, value and space would be the condotels and
suites places in this area like Banana Beach, Xanadu and Villas at Banyan Bay.

--Lan Sluder
Belize books and publications by Lan Sluder:
Belize First Magazine (http://www.belizefirst.com)
Fodor's Belize & Guatemala Gold Guide (new 5th edition coming 2004)
Adapter Kit: Belize (the first and only comprehensive guide to living,
retiring, working and investing in Belize -- a best-seller on Amazon.com)
San Pedro Cool (the first and only visitor guide to Ambergris Caye)
Belize First Guide to Mainland Belize -- sold out, new edition coming 2004
UpClose Central America
Belize Book of Lists -- sold out, new edition coming 2004
Best Hotels of Belize -- coming early 2004
Fodor's Caribbean Ports of Call (Belize chapter)
Fodor's Central America Gold Guide (Belize chapter)

"NYCutler" wrote in message
...
How accessible are the hotels north of San Pedro on Ambergris Caye?

That all depends on how far north of the cut that they are located.

I like the feeling of peace & quiet...but not into the feeling of
isolation...

Some of the hotels are more isolated than others.


Anyone stayed in the Capt. Morgan Hotel?

I haven't stayed there but I've toured it. It's OK.

Or any of the hotels north of San
Pedro they'd reccommend?

I prefer to be in town. If you want easy access to town and some isolation
too, check out places on the far south side.


Are there frequent water taxis?

Reasonably frequent and you can often get rides in with the resort boats
too. However, if you plan on using the water taxis a lot, you need to
budget for them. They aren't what I consider inexpensive at $10/ride. Also,
if you have a night out on the town spontaneously, you may have a dickens of
a time, getting back to your resort later that night. Also, they are a real
pain if the seas are up and/or the weather is bad.

I read there are golf cart shuttles into town?

I'm not aware of that but do know that some of the resorts closer to the cut
do have road access that allows for golf cart rental. The hand ferry across
the cut, shuts down at 8m.

Are they easy to arrange?

There are a number of places to rent a golf cart and your hotel should be
able to advise you in this regard. If you are staying north, then you
probably want a gas golf cart. Which I object to, just on principal. :^)