How well equipped are the kitchens at Belizean Reef? Anything not there you thought needed to be?

Which floor has the best unobstructed view of the sea? Don't really want to sit on the balcony and look at/through palm trees. lol

Doesn't the rooftop patio have a covered area?

All info appreciated!

I don't cook at all while on vacation, so I can't give many specifics. I do recall a blender, coffee maker, microwave, place settings for four, some pots and pans. I know you can use the grill out back if you want.

Both times we've stayed there, we've been on the third floor. Wish I could remember the room numbers. If you're standing on the beach looking at the building, the room on the third floor on the right is larger than the one on the left. We've stayed in both, can't complain about the view in either one.

No shade on the roof.

Jean

Thanks, Jean! I don't really "cook" either. Make a bit of pico de gallo, rum punch, cut fruits, blender drinks, hubby does breakfast, rum punch, nachos, blender drinks.....I see a pattern here. Doubt I use the grill but nice to know it's there if we do BBQ. With Ramon's & BC's just a hop away...why grill?

Thanks for the tip about which room is larger. The pics I've seen of the units look great. Already wishing I were there. sigh

Darn! No shade on the roof. Bet I won't spend a lot of time up there.

Last question [for now] Is there daily maid service & do they "do" dishes?

Hey egcntrk!

I've stayed at Belizean Reef three times, and have enjoyed it every time. While it is, in some ways, a bit more basic than some other condos and resorts (no pool, smaller, no restaurant), there are many who come back year after year.

I've stayed on the second floor 2br unit (I think it's 3a; 3b is the manager's studio unit, or vice versa) and I've stayed on the top floor in one of the 1br units (don't remember which one). I like either floor better than the bottom flor, because on the bottom, though you're beachfront, passersby (i.e. children selling things, etc.) are only 30-40 feet from your deck.

I remember my unit having a stove, fridge, microwave, blender, and all the pots and pans I needed--though honestly, as the week wore on, we began eating out more and more. The housekeeper comes every day, and cleans the place immaculately. I seem to recall she might have even cleaned some stray dishes we left out--but we didn't leave a bunch out for her intentionally, and I don't know whether that's promised to you.

One of the good things you'll hear most consistently about Belizean Reef is its cleanliness. The manager (an American) is ALWAYS on duty (lives there), and told me he rarely leaves the site other than to shop and do a daily run (he hasn't even been across the cut in years, he told me!).

The location is a tradeoff. On the downside, because of the lot size close to town, there's not much beach area to play on or lay on (though there are a few chairs and hammocks out). On the other hand, there are good swimming areas nearby, and you're within walking distance to all the good in-town restaurants, shops and bars.

Hope this helps.

Looks like belizelaw answered all of your questions. The bathrooms have a laundry basket that you can put your dirty laundry in and for BZ$15.00 it will be washed and waiting by the door at the end of the day. Sounds sort of expensive, but it's a large basket and very convenient.

Have a great trip.

Jean

One thing I don't think I've seen mentioned in the years I have been around this board is tipping the cleaning staff. While nothing has ever been said officially, we usually leave a daily tip for the cleaners, usually like $5 BZ. Little details tend to get taken care of, never a shortage of toilet paper or towels. I know the maids get paid, but a little extra "thank you" goes a lot farther than you might imagine.

I do the same, and here's something else I do.

Inevitably, we end up with more food than we need, and can't take back. I don't mean a half-eaten bag of potato chips; I mean, for example, unopened drinks, an unopened package of meat, etc. My wife and I both hate any food going to waste, so, along with our tip, we always offer the unopened (or slightly used, like a large jar of jelly) food to the cleaning staff. I don't want it to look condescending, but I hate food being wasted, and if someone offered me free unopened food I'd take it!

To Bobber - One thing you may not know is that the "service charge" that is added on to your bill in some lodging facilities is technically supposed to be shared by the service employees based on a scheme registered with the Belize Tourist Board. This allows employees that would otherwise be overlooked by "individual" tipping to share the gratuities. Each participating employee receives a percentage of the service charges collected. This makes it possible for the less obvious employees that work "behind the scenes", like the gardener for instance, to participate.
It would still be appropriate to leave a small additional gratuity for aomeone who has gone out of their way to make your stay more enjoyable.

I am aware of service charges, and I also know that the staff who cleans the fridge out after our stay does not throw the usable food and drink away. On our first trip we had planned to leave a hefty tip for the maids on the last day. Our friends who tipped every day frequently had to supply us with tp. Thanks for calling attention to the folks "behind the scenes" that make things more enjoyable for all of us.

You guys are great!

BelizeLaw: Don't need a pool or restaurant and small is right up my alley. Already decided to stay on the upper floors due to the passerby issue. Lack of beach area is not a problem 'cause I don't lay around on it anyway...too fair skinned. Yup, town is right there! There won't be a ton of dishes & I usually washed them myself...kinda nice to find 'em done after a day of snorkeling, though. Nice to know it's really clean.

Don't like to waste food either. Gave it to the neighbors last time. Anything else I didn't want to pack [sunscreen, rope, clothespins, etc] was left for the maid, if she wanted them, with a thank you note and a nice tip. Yes, bobber, we tip! Myra deserved every penny of it, too. Gave the flashlights, batteries, etc. to Tulu.

Jean: Whoo hoo...laundry service! May need that since we're planning on 10 days and the price sounds ok by me.

Now for the hard part...waiting till May. groan