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Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 84,397
Marty Offline OP
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Ah, low season on Ambergris Caye.

Do restaurants, resorts and hotels close down because the visitors aren't coming to Belize? Or do the visitors stop coming to Belize because so many restaurants, resorts and hotels are closed?

Some other reasons:

  • It is hurricane season
  • Long national holidays in September during which employees are eligible for double pay make it too costly to operate.
  • Hospitality industry workers need a break too, ya know?
  • It's too damn hot to do anything.
  • And soon it will be too damn wet��

Well, for whatever reasons a lot of places here on Ambergris Caye close — for as little as two weeks to as long as two months. During this time some places upgrade, change menus, add fresh coats of paint.

It is pretty safe to say that come November, the island will be back in full swing and looking as beautiful as ever.

Here is an updated list of Low Season venue closings (with some who plan to stay open through the season). If you know of others e-mail me at [email protected] or call 650-1987. I will update as needed.

Currently closed are:

  • Boogies Belly on Pelican Street, home of the hottest breakfast meat pies in town, �is closed until Sept. 1.
  • Capricorn �restaurant and resort to the north is closed indefinitely because of the sudden and unexpected passing of its owner.
  • Casa Picasso‘s devoted fans will have to find another place to “dine artfully” until it reopens on Nov. 3.
  • Hurricane ‘s Ceviche Bar & Grill on on a pier in downtown San Pedro is closed seasonally.
  • Lone Star Grill & Cantina to the south is closed until Nov. 2.
  • Mesa Cafe, in the Vilma Linda Plaza on Tarpon Street, �home of a great coconut french toast, �is closed Aug. 19 – Sept. 2.
  • My Secret Deli on Caribena Street is closed and undergoing some renovations for at least another week.
  • Rojo Beach Bar up north is closed for the season.

September and October closings:

  • Belize Chocolate Company on Front Street closes Sept. 6 through Oct. 2.
  • The Black Orchid Restaurant & Lounge closes after the last meal on Sept. 5 and reopens for the the South Ambergris Caye Neighborhood Watch General Meeting on Oct. 14 from 5-9 p.m. �After that, �public service resumes Oct. 15
  • Blue Water Grill on waterfront at the Sea Breeze Hotel closes Sept. 9-24.
  • Caramba! on Middle Street will be closed Sept 10 to Nov. 10.
  • Caroline's Cookin’, across Coconut Street from the airport, closes Sept 15 and reopens Oct. 1
  • (New) Chuck & Robbie’s Scuba Diving and Instruction closes Sept. 7, reopening Sept. 28.
  • Elvi's Kitchen on Middle Street closes Sept. 28 and reopens Oct. 14.
  • (Update)�Estels Dine-by-the-Sea will be closed Sept. 7 through Oct. 5, sending breakfast devotees scurrying across the island for a suitable replacement.
  • O Restaurant (at Las Terrazas Resort) closes Sept. 7, reopens Oct. 10
  • Lick's Beachside Cafe, in front of San Pedro Express water taxi, is tentatively planning on closing the first two weeks in October.
  • Red Ginger, the restaurant in The Phoenix resort closes at 3 p.m. Sept. 8 and will reopen for breakfast on Oct. 1.
  • Wild Mango’s closes Sept. 12 for one month and customers can "look forward to a new re-tweaked menu on our re-open."

Some resorts close as well, for example:

Staying open

For the first time, El Fogon on Trigger Fish Street, will stay open through Low Season. A steady flow of locals, expats and visitors has encouraged the Belizean cuisine restaurant to remain open. The San Pedro landmark draws a hearty lunchtime business from nearby banks, airport staff and area businesses.

Others who will remain open during the Slow Season include:

  • (New) Ak Bol Retreat, just north of the Palapa Bar, remains open through Low Season for daily yoga and great dining, 7 a.m.-8 p.m. The�yoga schedule changes in October to Monday/Wed/Friday 9 a.m. Oct. 12-17 there will be 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. classes with a visiting retreat teacher. (See Kirsten’s message in the comment section for more details.)
  • The Coffee Bar on Front Street will close only on Sundays for now. "We're a new business. We can't afford to close," said a spokesman.
  • Hidden Treasure Restaurant, 1.5 miles south of town, will be taking Tuesdays off and may add Wednesdays if the season really slows. Otherwise, open for business!
  • Jambel's Jerk Pit, serving Jamaican/Belizean cuisine at the Sun Breeze Hotel, plans to stay open all season, as does the hotel. Both recently underwent extensive renovations, including an enlarged beachfront.
  • (New) Marbucks Coffee House, in Tres Cocos community, will not close, nor its boutique Daydreamin’ Bed & Breakfast. As the golden-tongued entrepreneur/co-owner Rob Eykelbeysh puts it, Marbucks will “continue to titillate your taste buds with excellent coffee beverages and baked goodies as well as continue with our Thursday night wine and snacks with live music.”
  • Pirates Treasure in Tres Cocos, where lion fish is a specialty, plans to remain open year round.
  • (New)�Sandy Point Resorts will all remain open during Low Season. They are X’tan Ha, Belizean Shores,�Belizean Cove Estates and Coco Beach. The much-renovated�Costa Blu is said to be opening up some time this year. Non-guests are welcome to eat in resort restaurants and drink at their pool bar but the swimming pools and lounge chairs are for guests only. Sorry.

Some re-openings and new venues coming up:

  • Legends Roadhouse officially reopened for business with its Tuesday night jam session on Aug. 25 and will more than likely be expanding nights and offerings in the months ahead.
  • Melt Cafe has to be out of its location in the Exotic Caye Beach Resort by Sept. 1. They will reopen as quickly as possible at the site of the former Ambergris Brewing Company in Boca del Rio. With an expanded outdoor seating venue and bar, Melt will be open seven days a week.
  • DJ's, next to the Boca del Rio Park was once known for the best burger in San Pedro. It reopens Oct. 1 substantially renovated under a new lease holder, as a family-friendly venue with �a new menu.
  • Nook Restaurant and Cocktail Bartique�opens in mid-September on the beach, adjacent to Lily’s Treasure Chest. The former cowboy bar is undergoing major renovation. �The new owners are experienced restaurateurs, �owners of �the popular Mojo Lounge Restaurant & Bartique in Placencia.
  • Stella's Smile, an outdoor wine bar and bistro one mile north of the bridge, debuts Sept. 4. Besides a vast wine cellar, Stella’s will offer a different menu each night, each prepared on-site by a different local restaurant.
  • The Truck Stop Food Park and Beer Garden, practically next door to Stella's, will offer several local restaurants plus a bar and ice cream shop in a food-truck atmosphere. Four new freight containers are being converted into the bar and bistros around a central dining courtyard. Look for an early November opening.

Think of any others? Let me know!

Bound for Belize Blog


Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 2,461
K
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K
These reasons valid?

�It is hurricane season-As is June-Nov

�Long national holidays in September during which employees are eligible for double pay make it too costly to operate. Sept 10 and 21? Two full days? Long?

�Hospitality industry workers need a break too, ya know?-Two months off? Who else gets two months off?

�It's too damn hot to do anything-Hotter than April or May?

�And soon it will be too damn wet��Wetter than June?

I would agree Sept and oct are low occupancy in the region and therefore, businesses take advantage of this slow time and close down to refurbish, regroup and take some vacation time.


Belize based travel specialist
www.belize-trips.com
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Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 1,183
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For your information:

Portofino Beach Resort full service resort 6 miles north of San Pedro does not close - always open. Characterized by its warm and friendly hospitality, Portofino is the epitome of barefoot luxury, unpretentious and relaxing�

At the same location and also always open:

Portofino Restaurant, European Caribbean Cuisine, open for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner including Full Vegetarian Menu. Daily Free boat pick ups for Dinner starting at 6:30 PM at Fido's Dock going North (at all the resorts and condos), make reservation on 226-5096 or 678-5096 for seating and pick up.

Green Parrot Bar and Bistro. Hours from 9:00am till 10:00pm, has in- and outdoor seating and our bartenders offer bar service at our pool and on our beach.

Portofino Dive Shop run by Action Divers Belize. Conveniently located Portofino's dock, our Dive Shop, arranges a variety of diving adventures and PADI scuba certification courses designed to help you to discover the most impressive sites the Island and North Ambergris Caye have to offer.

Portofino's Beach Spa What could be more relaxing than lying on the beach? Beach Massage! Featuring in-room and outdoor treatments, our therapist proudly focuses on locally sourced products, including her signature seaweed massage.

________________________
Portofino Restaurant & Beach Resort[/u]
[color:#000000]North Ambergris Caye[/color]
[u]Facebook.com/PortofinoBelize

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 13,675
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White Sands Diving Services is going to close between September 7th and October 1st. We'll be on line and answering emails for reservations but the shop is closed and the employees are on a well deserved vacation. [Linked Image]


White Sands Dive Shop
https://whitesandsdiveshop.com/
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 8
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Thanks for posting Marty.
The list has been updated today, Sept. 1 on the Bound for Belize blog. I will keep updating as I find new listings to add. Readers with local venues that are either staying open or closing for a period during low season can contact me at [email protected], including ex-flacks for MCA/Universal with whom I may have actually worked in the 1980's as a rock music critic ......

Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 133
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Katie, I think you're being a little (?) tough on the Belizians ...... they deserve some of their own island time.
We can wait.

And "Two months Off"? They're probably going to be called upon during that time to work on their places of employment.
But, besides that, this is Belize .... the tropics.... wouldn't we all like to have that much time off?
(One of the up-sides of living there)

Last edited by RobertJ; 09/01/15 11:18 AM.
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 2,461
K
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K
Proper spelling is Belizeans..


Belize based travel specialist
www.belize-trips.com
[email protected]
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 133
R
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R
Sorry.
The point stands.
(And aren't WE a friendly little number)

Last edited by RobertJ; 09/01/15 12:46 PM.
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 50
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Thanks for providing this list! Since first visiting San Pedro in 2004, I've been many times but this is the first time I've visited in September. Arrive on Sun., Sept. 6 for a week.


Brenda from East Tennessee
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 724
M
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M
Wow Katie...take a Belizean chill pill.

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