“15 days by the sea” A very special place this Casa del Cielo de las Estrellas. Far from the crowded areas, close enough to the village of Mahahual for basic shopping, with a private enchanted beach, the house has pretty much everything you need. Don't expect luxury, but good taste in interior and exterior decorating is everywhere. You'll have that warm feeling of being in a good place. The house is not big but we never felt like we needed more space (I have to mention that, for one week, 3 friends came along and joined us). No conditioned air, but the windows were open almost all the time (don't worry about bugs, there are screens at every single window) and that was enough to cool down the place even at 40 C outside. The breeze from the sea was almost perpetual and it made a big difference. Things to do around there: swim and snorkel right in front of your house, go visit the myriad of Mayan ruins, fish and cook your capture (even I was able to catch fish), go kayaking, look for sea shells and marine snails. Or just sit on one of the 3 terraces or under the palapa just nearby the shore line and have a drink or a cup of tea. Regarding activities, Rudolf's Internet site is a gold mine data wise. And he'll answer your questions in no time. You'll love the taste of the fresh fruits there (don't hesitate one moment to buy them from the vendors on the side of the highways) and, if you're not very swanky, you'll like the local made cheese and ham as well. We ate 2 or 3 times at the local restaurants and a few other times outside Mahahual, in little "cocina"s located in small villages. The simple, not very fancy ones, won by far, in my opinion. Anyway, if you're looking for tranquillity and you're trying to get disconnected from today`s world tumult, Casa del Cielo de las Estrellas is the place to be. Did we lack anything while there? Yes: a blender and a shaker! Will we go back? Certainly. If time will allow. That's another thing we lacked there. Whish we could've stayed longer...

“Incfredible Experience” My family had the incredible experience of sailing with Belize Sailing Vacations in June. What an experience!! The staff, Cliff and Coree, and later Captain Dave was exceptional. Their entire goal was to make us comfortable and make The Doris our home for the week. If what we wanted to do was possible, Captain Cliff and Captain Dave made it happen. The cooking by Coree (sorry - not sure how to spell your name) was exceptional!! Absolutely delicious. As we come from Cajun Country where we take our cooking and eating very seriously this is a huge compliment. We were concerned how it might be to live on a boat with two total strangers for a week. No worries - they made us very comfortable and we fast became friends. When Tropical Depression Barry arrived, Captain Cliff made sure we were safe and out of harm's way. Safety was always his top priority. We never felt threatened in the least. The only reason a five star was not given for this review was the fact that the air conditioning went out in one of the bedrooms the last two nights on the boat. Being from South Louisiana we like our air conditioning!! Because of the rain, the hatches had to be closed and it was quite uncomfortable. Other than this issue everything was fantastic and we would highly recommend vacationing on The Doris. We hope to take the southern route in the future.

“Paradise in your backyard!” We were greeted upon arrival by Martin and Diana. 2 wonderful and helpful caretakers. If you are looking for R & R this is the place. House is colourful and looks like a tree house overlooking the Caribbean Sea. It is our 4 th. Time here and would highly recommend it. Returning again in November. Restaurants in walking distance. Check it out!

“Island Living!” From the first cup of great Belizean coffee on the veranda each morning to falling asleep by the sound of rustling palm leaves, our 2 week stay at the tree house was extremely relaxing. We loved the long walks on the miles of sandy beaches, stopping for a lunch or drinks along the way. Every walk was a different adventure. During our first walk we met a local on bicycle selling fish and lobster tails. He then periodically came by the house with his fresh catch which we cooked on the grill. Eating fish that was caught only hours before is epicurean delight! Our arrival was made easy by armando who picked us up at San Pedro airport and transported us by boat to the tree house. Before boarding the boat, he took us to a supermarket where we bought our initial supplies. The ride on armando's boat through the mangroves and along the ambergris Caye was a wonderful introduction to the area. The house is well situated near a costal water taxi stop that took us to San Pedro for restaurants, shopping or ferries to Caye Caulker. It was also an easy and lovely walk along the beach to nearby restaurants, each affording us outdoor seating under the palms looking out at the reef, where we enjoyed the excellent local beer and food. Close by is Matte Grande, a surprisingly well stocked store where we purchased our food. The owners were very friendly, providing delivery right to the house as well as being a wealth of information about what to see and do. Don't miss the delicious weekend barbecue, right beside the store. The kayak at the house provided us with easy access to the nearby barrier reef for swimming and snorkeling. We went on an amazing snorkeling boat trip to Hoi Chan Canyons Marine Resort and Shark and Ray ally with Coral Reef Divers. Genie, the diver-owner and a neighbor, and his crew provide a wealth of information about marine life and local lore. But best of all, was experiencing relaxing island living. We will come back!

“Fabro apartment in Belize City” I stayed at this wonderful place for 11 days in December 2013-January 2014 with my wife, 2 adult children, their spouses and grandchild. This a spacious 3 bedroom place fully equipped. Living room, dining area, kitchen with breakfast bar, 3 bedrooms and 2 baths. Every room is large and functional. The owners had all the small items available so that once you walk into the apartment, it is totally ready to use. Soap in every bathroom, 10 full bath towels, ample spare linens, cooking pots and pans, plates and cutlery. There is an accessible washer and dryer, which is needed because Belize is covered with slick mud and clothes are frequently soiled. Security is very strong, gated yard and dogs on the premises. Garage available to the renters. The owners live upstairs, and are very helpful, frequently stopping by and asking if we needed anything. I felt totally comfortable knocking on their door anytime I had a question. Internet was fast and always available via wifi. I really needed/ wanted nothing when I stayed there. For an extended stay this provided us a base to explore the many nice sites in Belize, and the opportunity for some of us to go out exploring and others to 'stay home' with the young child. It is 5-10 minute walk to the water taxis to the Cayes. It is a 1 minute walk to the old central business district where every commodity is available. We rented a car and drove out to Mayan ruins, nature parks and remote beaches daily. Belize is small enough that every site is a day trip. I loved the place, and felt totally at home within a few minutes of arriving. I could not imagine a better place to base an exploration of Belize from.