In addition to hotels listed in these pages, there are many, many apartment and house rentals available across Ambergris Caye. Start by downloading the classifieds from the San Pedro Sun website (www.sanpedrosun.net) and checking the classifieds at San Pedro Daily (www.sanpedrodaily.com).

Other sources for vacation homes are M&M Rentals (U.S. tel. 949/258-5268, www.mandmrentalsbelize.com) and Caye Management (tel. 501/226-3077, www.cayemanagement.com), which has an office on the north edge of town at Casa Coral and can arrange for cooking and other services in your temporary home.

Choosing a Hotel on Ambergris

At last count, Ambergris had about 140 licensed hotels, mostly midrange to upscale lodging. The couple of places geared toward backpackers and budget travelers are located either right in San Pedro Town or on the outskirts by the airstrip. Otherwise, here are a few things to keep in mind when deciding on a hotel.

First off, in downtown San Pedro, the word “beachside” refers to the very narrow strip of sand on the island’s east side. It is used more as a pathway for pedestrians and boats than for lounging in the sand. As you move farther from town, either to the north or south along the island, the beaches fronting the resorts become wider, softer, and more exclusive.

Of course, what you give up in beach quality, you get back in location: “In town” means in the middle of cafés, bars, boutiques, dive shops, dancing, and dining. If you’re more into privacy, all this action is easily accessible from any resort on the island by boat, taxi, or golf cart.

Keep in mind that rates across the board are subject to seasonal rate fluctuations, service charges, and government taxes. Always verify and ask about discounts before booking. Remember that rates reported in Moon Belize are for double occupancy during the high season.