Husband & I are late 40's with 3 grown children & 2 grandsons. We are planning a vacation to Ambergris Caye for May '04. I have found your wonderful board & would be grateful to all the help I can get to make it a trip to paradise. This will be a well deserved trip for both of us.

We are interested in lots of R&R, snorkeling & good food. Have done extensive reading on this website & all the info is excellent. Now I have a few questions...with more to come, I'm sure. LOL

Does anyone have info on Brianna's Beach House through Caye Management? Such as is it really on the beach & just a few minutes into town. How is the snorkeling from that area?

Anyone used Lagniappe Provisioning & is it worth my time? Better just to find groceries after arrival?

Thank you & I look forward to getting to "know" all of you. E.

It is on the beach, close to town is kind of an oxymoron on such a small island. It is in a residental area but on the edge of the business area. Three to five minute walk to everything and two grocery stores, small tiendas ( belizean conveinence stores) a good bakery and restaurants. Snorkeling is okay in the area by docks, watch for boat traffic.

For good snorkeling, get a guide or go on one the snorkeling tours.

Howdy and welcome, E. I wondered about Brianna's myself, some time back, so did a search and came up with quite a few posts, all of them positive.

Thanks for the responses. Definately plan on getting a guide/tour for snorkeling but would be nice to do litle short trips from shore. Who to use as a guide would be helpful.

Any other recommendations on where to stay? Do not want to be North of the cut.

Prefer to walk about & just drink in the ambiance.

Brianna's House is darling, right on the beach, easy walk to everything. I have not stayed there, but would.

Only seen one person complaining, something about BBQ grill broken, etc.

Rent a golf cart, and go around and do your sightseeing, and stop at Island market, beverage distribution center and bakery for all your needs, it will be fun shopping in San Pedro.

Snorkel under piers, but do hire a Guide for Hol Chan and Shark Ray Alley, and other good snorkeling areas. Plenty of licensed Guides to choose from. Belize IT.

This is a great place for R&R, the pace is easy without being lazy. The food is very good and the people are friendly. I have been past Briannas a few times and it seems charming and is right on the beach as the pictures show. We normally have stayed at Paradise Villas, a minute or so south of there, and our shore based snorkeling around the piers has been interesting. Anything from rays to nurse sharks and even a turtle or two. No great schools of anything big, but definitely interesting variety. Watching out for boats is always a good idea, but don't get the idea you have to dodge them constantly, traffic on most of the smaller piers is light. Shark Ray Alley and Hol Chan are a must. Mexico Rocks makes a pretty snorkel.
If you like to just walk around, the place is full of ambiance and detail and interesting things around just about every corner. Talk to the people (most of them like to chat) and eat some things you normally don't eat. This is a place to not only relax, but to feel relaxed.

Try Hustlers Tours for the snorkeling. Ask for Guillermo. Went with him on my first trip two weeks ago. Watched me like a hawk and was great. Made Hol Chan and Shark Ray Alley a lifelong memory.

Brianna's Beach House is a great spot, I know the owner and I know if there is ever a problem she lives there full time and would always help out the guests. Its a great location and close to everything. For guides, there is Jeffery with SEArious and the "Rubio Brothers" with Unity Tours..... just my opinion!!

I spent sometime at the place before it was "commercial". A nice little place. Swimming very good off the dock at Pataho's (ms), next door, and very good snorkeling off the dock of Hustler's, about a block away. Shopping around town very enjoyable. Many people coreograph their vacations. I suggest to make a list to keep in mind, but allow your vacation to unfold as weather and the "fun" God's dictate.

If you are still considering options, there is space at BEACHFRONT units at Paradise Villas, along with a beautiful swimming pool... Happy to provide more info if you like at [email protected]