I did find more on Portofino afte changing some of the parameters on the search page. I have to honestly say though, that it doesn't help at ALL!!! Not one person said any bad/negative thing about either place that would help to sway my decision one way or the other. I don't care at all about being far from San Pedro..I will after all be on my honeymoon and I can catch a boat. I love both places, although I think one offers a better honeymoon package thant the other. I guess now it will have to boil down to price...although how can I truly pick...opening up bedroom doors and stepping out onto the beach vs. a tree top suite with windows and a view galore! Maybe I'll just have to do paper rock scissors :-) Thanks for your help!

go to the honey moon post have a good thing to say a portafino ,.good luck yours capt jeff

I loved the layout of Mata Chica and the individual casita's looking out onto the ocean had a wonderful ambiance, inside and out.

I loved Portofino....and the service is great!!

The movie stars stay with mata chica when they come to Ambergris.

See...this is what I mean! :-) How can we possibly decide when they both sound so great! I wish I could afford a 2 or 3 week honeymoon.

They're both very good places and excellent honeymoon spots. I'd just make these little comments:

* You might find Portofino's service a little more personal. I know that has been the comments I've gotten from guests and also that's been my experience when I've visited, as the owner-managers at Portofino are young and enthusiastic and very personally involved in running the hotel. Not that Phillip and Nadia are not personally involved at Mata Chica, but when I visit there on inspection visits for Fodor's or another guidebook I usually deal with a manager. Course, it could just be timing.

* For a honeymoon, privacy is important. Mata Chica's cabanas are single units and do offer privacy, but some of Portofino's units are duplexes. So it might depend on what is available at Portofino on the dates you need.

* Mata Chica is definitely more of a high-design kind of place. Down to the menu designs and the bathroom sinks. Very sophisticated. Portofino has more of a casual atmosphere. On the other hand, I was impressed by some of the little details at Portofino, like the way the housekeeper (or someone) had arranged flowers and shells for arriving honeymooners. (The Lodge at Chaa Creek does the same thing in its honeymoon suites.)

* Mata Chica's restaurant is more expensive.

* Portofino is newer. Mata Chica's units are in good shape, though when I was by there this summer the paint on the exterior of the cabanas had faded a lot from the sun compared to the last time I was there.

* Surprisingly, neither has an in-ground swimming pool, which is becoming a must for resorts all over Belize.

--Lan Sluder

Thanks for your comments...that is very helpful. I'll keep your comments in mind...they are exactly what I needed to make an informed decision. One question...why is a pool important when you are so close to the ocean?? I guess just to relax in and float around in...would there be any reason why a pool would be a priority??

with these hotels 11 miles away from San Pedro...will we find it hard/inconvenient to go to San Pedro for dinner or drinks??? I like the idea of being away but would like to get into San Pedro and see what its like too

Not hard but possibly inconvenient. Both hotels have a complementary shuttle a few times a day. Otherwise you will need to take the island ferry or a private water taxi. For dinners or daytime, it is not too much trouble. For late nightlife, it can be a hassle.

If you think you want to be more accessible to town, look at Victoria House. On par with the others but S of town so accessible by road.