Hi everybody! Well we just got back from our trip so I've posted the obligatory trip report, with info about the tours we took, where we ate, Banana Beach construction, currency, the weather, and everything else I could think of! It's here: http://home.attbi.com/~gaelen/tripreport.htm
Also, we have our pictures etc. posted here: http://www.geocities.com/gaelenmag2.
I hope my experience is helpful to anybody visiting this board -- I know everybody else's trip reports were invaluable to me! Thanks again for all the great info!

Gaelen

Gaelen...loved your trip report!! We too loved Mango's and Fido's. I too sympathize about screaming kids poolside. It can ruin a romantic moment, you're right. The funny thing is, we thought that AC/San Pedro was not as developed as we thought it would be. We thought it was going to be like Cancun, but were pleasantly surprised. You're right though, it will probably get more developed as years go by...sigh! We first went to CAye caulker, but it was too darn hot (many trees had been knocked down from hurricane, and you couldn't find ANY shade!) Also, we couldn't find any decent accomodations in our price range. On AC, we stayed at Ruby''s and LOVED IT! And the folks we met there and at Mango's were awesome! Yes, I agree about the dogs; it was even worse on the mainland. I guess my point is that whether you enjoy a particular place is so much based on luck...who you meet, luck with accomodations, weather, etc. We would definelty go back in a heartbeat!

Thanks for a good, honest trip report. Your pictures tell a good story as well.

Thanks! I guess everybody is looking at my pics at once, Geocities is erroring out due to a high data transfer rate!
If you get the error message just try again later... I think it resets every hour. Sorry it's so screwy. Glad the notes were helpful!

Gaelen

I cant access the photo page, it comes up and says it doesnt exist on Geocities.

Andrea

I looked at the first several photos and knew immediately that you stayed in the same Banana Beach room we did. The photos are remarkably the same. Did you have a little yellow bird that would come stand on the portch? I fed it crackers every day and by the time we left it woudl come and look at me as I sat just a few feet away.

Does Banana Beach rake their seagrass? We're going to AC for the first time in May and I'm a beach lover, so I'd hate to have to wear noseplugs Also--a silly question--do they have hammocks at BB?

Y,know, now that you mentioned the seagrass, it does bring to mind that whatever has ever washed up that I have seen does not have that overpowering odor some may be familiar with. I don't think it has any odor at all.

Banana Beach does NOT have hammocks. They have wonderful views though and great accomodations.

Banana Beach DOES have wonderful service. People who treat you very well. Yes they have some construction. What hotel goes out of their way to mention that they are upgrading their hotel via construction.

In response to Gaelen: I'm sorry but give a little credit to Banana Beach. I know for a fact also that most hotels also offer a place for you to leave your things during the time you have to wait, that's the norm. The norm is also to have people leave the room at checkout time so that people like myself don't have to wait around for their wonderful staff to clean up. I know that you liked Banana Beach but be a little reasonable. Tim, the manager there, does everything he can to accomodate me. I respect the rest of your trip report though and it sounds like you had a great time.

Sorry for errors on the main picture site... I didn't expect so many hits! Here is a mirror site, you can view it here:
http://www.geocities.com/rocketwhippet/index2.html

Gaelen

Hey, Gaelen --- we were at Banana Beach the same time you were and those 2 little kids with the red hair were annoying!!! We were in a 3rd floor balcony room and it sounded like they were in the room with us first thing in the morning...or maybe it was just my rum punch hangover that made their screeching little voices so loud!! Lori

Sounds kind of like the red-headed stepchild thing. I can't wait to stay at BB in May. Last year, I stayed right next door at Mata Rocks, but was over at BB. It was quiet and nice, but maybe because that was low season (during the first of May). I did not notice many children at all. Lots of adults having the time of their lives. It was great!!!

Gosh, Rhon, you shouldn't take these children comments so seriously.....I like kids as well as the next person...hell, I've got a couple of them...I just didn't want to hear them screaming at 8:00 in the morning, that's all. And believe me, I was not looking for "romance"... I just like to hear the birds chirping and the ocean waves. They were actually very cute kids after I had my first cup of coffee!

Great trip report and webpage! We are staying at BB in about a week. Wasn't actually our 1st choice but what the heck and we knew about the construction when we booked. Plus Tim was very responsive to my emails/questions.

Dang! swarms of Redheaded kids and Bot flies?? ...guess we'll have to spend mo time underwater. hehe

Rhon: didn't see any reference to anyone's post which said that people with children should find somewhere else to go. And, I agree with you on the obnoxious adults (LOL). I remember meeting a few myself down there, but that is everywhere! I just left and went some where else.

Rhonda, same as anywhere when it comes to kids. If the parents don't try to keep them under a certain amount of control and the kids are running wild, yelling and screaming, that's not cool for anybody. Not even the kids. And that is especially true in the morning. I know kids are kids but the parents are grown-ups and should have enough consideration for others to at least try. If they don't, then those kids grow up into some of those ugly and inconsiderate adults you were talking about.

Seashell, I agree 100%. I love kids, I teach kids for a living, and I know that kids cannot be controlled all the time. But when I see some (notice I said "some" not "all" folks!!) parents not even making an EFFORT, letting kids run wild and impinging on the peace, quiet and enjoyment of others, I think that's incredibly rude and selfish.

Bah! Gaelen's just being her usual schrew-like self where children are concerned. Those little red-headed kids were adorable and very polite. There were only a few instances where they were being a little loud, but only in the afternoon. That's just kids. However there was a large family that arrived a couple of days before we left and their children were unruly. As soon as the pool opened at 8am they were in it and boy could they scream. I didn't mind though, because we were usually gone for the day by 8:45am, but if we wanted to use the pool when we came back we'd have to share because all 6 of those little monsters were still in it yelling their precious little heads off. The only time I found the presence of children inconvenient was at the Maruba Resort on the mainland. Maruba is generally considered/advertised to be what Rhon specified as "couples only". While we were alone in the hot tub a couple of tykes and their old man decided to hang out tub-side for like 10 minutes while contemplating whether or not they should get in with us. They didn't, but you had to feel bad for the couple that got in right after us and ended up having to share it with the same family.
Someone asked about the beaches near BB earlier. Yeah, on the Mar de Trumbo it does depend on whether someone rakes the washed-up seagrass every morning. These beaches aren't that wide. Maybe 15 to 30 feet from beachbreak to resort steps. Just north of the BB construction zone and south of Rico's Restaurant there was a pretty good beach that was about 30 yards across. Here the seagrass had been raked, mostly, and the grass in the water had been dredged for about a 100 yards off the beach. That's just if your staying close to home so to speak. I saw some much more ideal beaches on the north side of the island just south of the resorts. Just in case you're willing to travel a bit.
Had a great time, highly recommended. I will definitely go back someday.

Hey Guys my comments were strictly based on Gaelen's trip report under her heading of "Tourist crowd" where she was "shocked" by the amount of children.<WHY?> READ IT and you will see what I am referring to. F.F wife wasn't referring to your comments, no offense. Seashell! No need for a lecture on misbehaving children. We are talking common sense here. If mine didn't know how to behave we wouldn't travel as much as we do. I just think that Gaelen's comments were out of line. If she doesn't like being around children TOO BAD. I totally agree with you no one wants to be around brats, young or old. My impression of her comments was that SHE thought there were too many kids. I pointed out that you need to do your homework on what is a child oriented place or not. Actually Blackbanana THANK YOU! You said it better than I could. Memo to myself...try not to stir up s***! Rhonda a.ka. MOM

As an innocent bystander who has taken the time to read her trip report I fee strongly that Gaelen was not putting anyone down here, except maybe herself. She clearly took responsibility for NOT doing her homework and NOt inquiring more about the presence of children before making her plans and said more than once that it would be something she would take into consideration before returning. Now, let's give the girl a break and relax.

So sorry Pagodacook but I disagree. By the way my last message was posted 5 days ago so I'm very relaxed, thanks!

people without kids often forget kids exist. i know i never considered them until i had them. it was not galeen's fault for not picking well. she just never thought about it. (she will from now on, tho!)

i did not think AC was a place for my little ones and left them home last time. now they are going in may. that said, i am a good mom, and keep my kids in check when in public. if mine acted like that, they'd be OUTTA there! but they know better.

it was their vaca too and they should be allowed to have fun. but the parents needed to respcet that it is the other's vaca's as well.

i believe that up north she would not have had that problem. at JE, i was the ONLY ONE in the pool! and on the beach, for that matter.

People WITH kids often become immune to their ruckus.

sorry, maryann, but NO WE DON'T. i just plain do not allow it. we have fun, but not to ruin others' fun. respect for others is the real issue.

now, who is addressing the grown-ups that make too much ruckus at night????

Good Point!! Who does address the grown-ups? We sometimes make more "rukus" than the kids do. ha!

Rhon- I wasn't referring to you specifically and certainly meant no offense to you by defending Gaelen. It just happened that my response came directly after yours which came directly after everyone elses. This topic obviously touched a nerve with you but I am glad to hear you are now relaxed. Keep reminding yourself of that til the next time you can again enjoy the peace and tranquility that is Ambergris Caye.