AmbergrisCaye.com Home Forums The Cayes Ambergris Caye Victoria House Affordable Food? Alternatives

First, i would just like to say that this is my first post on this board and I was very excited to find it. I've read a lot of what people have posted and it is very useful as we are going to be first timers in Belize.

My fiancee and I are coming to Belize (with 24 family members) in April for our wedding. She wanted her dream wedding on a beach and i wanted to give it to her so we are staying at VH and very excited about it. We have also booked our rehearsal dinner at Capricorn for the night before. This is a bit of a spluge for us (financially) and i'm looking for ideas about how we might save a bit. The dinners at Victoria House and Capricorn look like they are going to cost us about $50 - $65 USD per person, plus alcohol (so call it $100 USD). We were looking at doing one more planned dinner for the group and VH proposed a Pibil which seems like a good idea. However, the meal will be about $40 USD per person and I'm just starting to feel like we might be overpaying and there may be better options.

Does anyone have any feedback on whether $40 USD per person for a Pibil dinner is reasonable or would we be better trying to go to another restaurant off the property.

Also, any idea as to whether you are allowed to by beer in town and bring it back to your hotel (as a way to save a little more money).

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

The Blue Water Grill is a favorite of mine, located on the S. edge of town, could handle your group easily.
Carumba's is near the center of town & would be another good place to eat.
As far as the beer goes, go straight to the Dist. for the best price or call them & have it del. to V.H. at no extra charge.
Congradulations & have a great trip!

J Dog. Thanks for the advice. In regards to the beer, will the hotel have an issue with us having beer delivered directly to us? Is it substantially cheaper to buy from the distributor vs. the hotel bar (I assume so, but don't know).

If you are staying in one of the villas at VH with full kitchen, they should have no problem with you having beer delivered. The regular rooms just have (stocked) mini fridges so that may present a problem.
VH has very good food but is on the pricey side. The Pibil special would be a fun unique thing but you can probably arrange it at another place for less $$. Someone was recently advertising a weekly Pibil dinner but I can't remember where. Maybe a local will chime in with the answer. Blue Water Grill also has great food but again pricey. Carambas would be much cheaper and also very good food usually, but not the same type upscale atmosphere.

On the beer issue, it is much cheaper from the Dist. you will pay the same price as the bar pays or the grocery store.
I think it is around $18-20 a case u.s. with bottle return, I always catch hell for letting that one out, but I'm here to help you.

VH has no problem with you bringing in your own beer, I delivered there last Sunday.

Blue Water will be less expensive then VH or can be at least. There are pleanty of less expensive places with good food, the problem is seating 26 and getting your meals in a reasonable time frame. Reasonable is probably less then 1 1/2 hours. I called Elvi's kitchen and ask it they could seat a party of 26 and they said they could. Elvi's is more Belizian (and been around forever) and since you are coming to Belize, might be a good choice. Prices are reasonable, in the 8 to 20us range. It is in town. You will need to make reservations anywhere you go for a group that size, but not till close to the date. Caramba would be streched to get 26 in there. If you need phone numbers let me know.

Rojo lounge was doing pibil on Sunday afternoon, don't know it they still are. They are also expensive and you also have the expense of getting everyone up there by boat.

It's not super fancy, but you might want to consider going to JamBel's on Wednesday night. They have a good buffet and live music. It's more of a San Pedro experience, to my mind.

Even if you didn't go on a Wednesday, perhaps Fitz would be willing to put one on for your group on another night.

I had a group of 35 at Carambas so they can do it, but you definitely need reservations.