THE PLACENCIA HOTEL

OVERVIEW

This luxury resort, located 20 km north of Placencia and 17 km from the airstrip, is growing by leaps and bounds. Four phases are envisioned, with the second phase well under way. When all facilities are in place, this operation will span the narrow peninsula between ocean and lagoon, and include a conference facility and full spa.

The hotel opened on May 21st, 2007 and will soon be celebrating its first years anniversary. Soon, operations will expand to an existing island across from the hotel where additional residences are being built with ferry boats acting as transportation for visitors and residents alike.

Just past the parking lot is a large fountain in the midst of grounds lush with hibiscus and palm trees. Check-in is in the main building up some stairs to a palapa with a mosaic-covered three-tier fountain pool. Accommodations are spread out in 2 and 3 story white buildings with red-tiled roofs. The grounds themselves are mostly sand and palms with stone paths between the buildings.

The 3 on-site restaurants all serve anywhere from Italian, Mediterranean and Belizean dishes from their a-la-carte menu. Meal plans are available.

A 12,000 bottle wine cellar holding mostly Italian vintages due to the fact that the owners are italian. There are 3 bars—one at the restaurant, a swim-up palapa bar, and another thatch-covered bar at the end of the pier. Guests can snack and dine at any of them but only the restaurant area is air-conditioned.

The largest pool in Belize—with an infinity edge and three levels, one of which is set up for volleyball. Use of bicycles and kayaks is complimentary, and there is a shuttle into town three times a day. The beach is sandy and well-maintained, and there are plenty of chairs and umbrellas to go around. At night the beach is lit by globe lights that may dispel the romance for some. Nevertheless, weddings are a substantial part of the business here, and an on-site chapel seating 40 makes it easy for couples to tie the knot.

A PADI dive shop operates on-site, offering classes and certification as well as dive trips to the reef 45 minutes away. Anglers can fish in the ocean or the Monkey River and have their catch prepared for dinner. Excursions inland can also be arranged. A small, temporary spa in the upstairs of the main building provides a variety of massages and treatments by appointment. Wireless Internet access and a computer station are available.

Room categories are master, king, queen and junior suites. Queen-size beds are in most. All come with air-conditioning, ceiling fans, large flat-screen TVs, phones, coffeemakers, clocks with AM/FM radio, and some also add CD and DVD players. There are also minibars and kitchenettes, though cooking is not allowed.

The standard accommodations have combination baths with dual basin vanities, while master suites and villas add whirlpools. The smaller junior suites, however, face inland. Suites in the three-story buildings have large verandas with dark wood railings and face the nearby sea. Seafront villas show pillared porticos over tiled verandas. Villas 13-16 have the best views and are closest to the water. Some suites can be combined to make a three-bedroom apartment with three full baths.

Room service is available from 7 am to 10 pm. Children younger than 12 stay free in the villas. Complementing the rooms is a 24 hour front desk, security, concierge, Aiport Shuttle, and Laundry/Valet/Wake up/Room/Babysitting-Child services.

All-inclusive packages are a staple of this resort, which specializes in event coordination and family vacations. Entertainment is lacking, but Placencia is not a place for all-night parties anyway. While the facilities lack the character of the Inn at Roberts Grove or Turtle Inn, they are spotless, extensive and up-to-date, and the prices are moderate.

Source / Professional Travel guide

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