We spent 3 nights at the Maya Beach Hotel and wished we had stayed longer. The quaint little hotel is located on a beautiful piece of beachfront property. The owners of the hotel, Ellen and John Lee, were exceptionally courteous and friendly. They made sure that we were comfortable and well looked after. Ellen booked our activities for us, like our diving excursions. Both John and Ellen are very well networked in Placencia.
The food at the hotel is absolutely delicious. Many of the dishes have been created by John himself. He is an excellent chef!
We stayed in the Coconut Room which afforded us a full size deck overlooking the beach and ocean. The hotel is just steps from the shoreline. A private pier and dock allow for relaxing afternoons in the ocean breeze and second to none views of the stunning Belizean sunrise.
Kayaks and snorkelling gear are available for guest use and a beautiful Caye is only a short Kayak away from the resort.
We thoroughly enjoyed our time at this little gem of a place and look forward to our next trip to Placencia and Maya Beach.

While we were looking for accomodations for our vacation we had certain criteria; we needed:
1) Peace and quiet
2) A comfortable and clean atmosphere
3) A resort that was not huge or overpriced but really gave us an experience of Placencia at it finest

Maya Beach Hotel surpassed every expectation we had BY FAR. The owners and staff showered us with genuine warmth and hospitality from the minute we walked in the door until our last hug on the way out.

This was our first time to a developing country and we were a little uncertain of what to expect. In Placencia, the main highway is not paved and believe me, if you need supplies of any sort, travel is required. The owners John and Ellen painstakingly travel all over Belize and beyond to provide the hotel with the best supplies for the rooms and food for the restaurant, and it very apparent. Guest comfort is on the top of the priority list and any time we had a question or a concern, either one of them was more than happy to take the time out to be sure provide excellent and earnest service. We loved all the local fruits and vegetables so much that John and Ellen actually arranged for the produce truck to check in with us every few days to see if there was anything he could bring to our room. We were in heaven.

This is the perfect place for relaxation - away from the crowds and mainstream tourism in Belize. Maya Beach is pristine and quiet - exactly what we needed.

Be warned: the food is addictive. Everything you've read so far is true...it is the best food you will find in Placencia hands down!

This is going to be our home away from home when we visit Belize.

I've stayed at the Maya Beach Hotel in the past and each visit was wonderful. The accommodations are very clean and comfortable and I believe it is one of the best deals on the Placencia peninsula. The best thing about the hotel, however, is the Bistro. It's the tropical experience you dream about - the beach bar filled with fruity delights and fine wines, the background music that's thoughtfully put together, the sun going down and the ocean breezes that flow throughout the indoor and outdoor dining spaces. And the food - did I mention the food? I am lucky to go the the Bistro pretty often and I admit, I'm in a rut. I can't seem to order anything beyond the fish tacos and the coconut shrimp, but I've tried many things on the menu and I've never been disappointed. John makes the most wonderful breads and Ellen helps with wine selection and makes your whole experience at the Bistro and hotel so very personal - they both really care about your trip to Belize. During the low season they are building what looks to be a fabulous addition to the outdoor dining experience - a new patio and pool. I can't wait to go back and enjoy the latest that the Maya Beach Hotel and Bistro have to offer.

My review is for the Seagrape Escape beach house managed by Ellen at Maya Beach Hotel. While perusing through this website I saw the previous review and am surprised at what I read. I live in Houston, Texas. I had never been to Belize and I do not know anybody that had ever been to Placencia so I had to find accommodations on my own. I came across the Maya Beach Hotel by chance while researching options on the Internet.

My wife and I, along with our four children, spent two full weeks in Placencia, Belize recently. The first five days were spent island-hopping on board of a 40-foot bareboat sailboat chartered from The Moorings. So, for the remainder of the trip, we required peace and quiet, relaxing time away from the day-to-day stress. We even wanted to be away from cell phones, computers, etc… “Unfortunately”, there are a couple of Internet-ready computers in the hotel’s lobby at the disposal of the guests so I was tempted to “connect” a couple of times!

Having never been to Belize, we were afraid to find ourselves in an uncomfortable situation in terms of having little privacy with houses too close to each other, a lack of options for things to do, etc. Placencia did not appear to have too much infrastructure when researched on the Internet but we opted for it only because that was the only place to charter a boat at that time of the year. Once there, we discovered we had more than we had expected. Not only it is quiet a peaceful community, but it is also a lovely area with a small town character and great charm. There are superb little restaurants and shops. And the people were very friendly and fun. We are glad we discovered it by force since all guide books seem to suggest San Pedro as the ultimate Belize vacation. It turns out that Placencia has the whitest beaches in all of Belize, it is quiet, and there are no hordes of tourists and the ensuing vendors and “service” providers that can become a nuisance when one is looking for a relaxing time.

The house we rented, the Seagrape Escape, turned out to be a great place. It was comfortable and completely fitted for a perfect beach lifestyle. The house came equipped with all the tools and utensils you need to prepare a gourmet meal. Kayaks, snorkeling equipment and fishing equipment were also available. And even, a small makeshift ping pong table that got many hours of use from us. (I had to buy one upon our return as my children got hooked on the game). One of my sons caught a sizable snapper one day that ended up grilling on one of the two grills at the house (I always go for the charcoal one). And my daughters picked and ate coconuts and seagrapes from the trees right in front of the house.

The Maya Beach Hotel, the place that administers the house we rented, is just next door. It features a great restaurant. My wife and I, after seeing that the children settled down at night, strolled down along the beach almost every evening to have a nicely mixed drink at the hotel’s bar overlooking the ocean. There, we engaged in occasional conversation with other hotel guests or restaurant patrons and compared snorkeling, diving, fishing or sailing tales. There is always a pleasant group of people there. And many of them are “regulars” which speaks volumes for the quality of the service, the menu, the drinks and the setting. Even when the kitchen is closed (I believe that is on Mondays) the owners are glad to offer making you a pizza or salad. Their hospitality is such that our plans of having all our meals at the house failed and we ended dining there often.

One highlight of Ellen’s outstanding managerial attitude (she and her husband own this little gem of a hotel) was that when one tour operator wanted to charge us for a frustrated full-day tour that had been booked by us. Ellen dealt with the operator directly and gambled on getting her money back without seeking an arguable reimbursement from us. It is worth mentioning that the booking was done by us and she made an advance payment to the operator because we were out all day that day and not present when the operator came by to collect payment for the failed tour. Ellen trusted the operator’s word and paid him on our behalf without knowing that we would not pay him until the tour was completed a couple of days later. Since Ellen wanted us to have a great time, she went out of her way to make us comfortable, even when she had not been a part of the problem. She even said that she rather pay and loose than having us leave on negative note, even a minor one.

Our family has decided to definitely visit Belize again, more specifically Placencia (away from the seemingly overcrowded San Pedro on Ambergris Cay). And when we do, we are sailing again with The Moorings, AND we are making arrangement through the Maya Beach Hotel again. And we have already recommended the place to our “high standard” and demanding world-traveling friends. Thanks Ellen!

A very pleased guest...