I'm sure I'll be reitterating a lot of what has already been said but here it goes:

My girlfriend and I just got back from an 8-day vacation to Belize, of which the last 4 nights we spent at the MBH. We flew from Caye Caulker to Placencia (via Belize City Municipal) and were picked up from the airport by Ellen, even though we gave her very short notice about our arrival time.

We stayed in the Coconut Room (above the restauarant) and couldn't have been more pleased. The balcony had spectacular ocean views and we woke up early twice (which is unheard of for us) to watch the Caribbean sunrise. The room was very spacious with all the creature comforts (air, hot water, fan, plenty of windows). It was hot and humid so we did use the air a lot but during the day the breeze was usually plenty cool.

And now for the food. Everything was absolutely spectacular. One night John cooked up a special seafood platter that was to die for. Crab legs, 3 kinds of shrimp, 3 kinds of fish, etc. I don't think it's a very common option but it was the best meal I've had in a LONG time. The home made cinnamon raisin bagels in the morning are also delicious. For lunch I recommend the spicy chicken sandwich or the pork, pork, pork burger.

Ellen was deifnitely great at booking the tours we wanted to do. When we first arrived I told her I was a diver and she immediately made sure I got on the following day's whale shark dive as the season was coming to an end. And we saw one! Definitely worth it. But a lot of our time was spent lounging on the deck or in the hammock on the dock. One thing we would have liked to do but never got around to is kayaking out to False Caye (about 45 minute row from the beach).

One thing to note is that the hotel is about a 20 minute drive from the town of Placencia. This absolutely did not bother us because we caught a ride with John into town one morning and took a cab (about $20 USD) back and one day was enough to see everything in Placencia (we recommend Wendy's for lunch and the Barefoot Bar for afternoon drinks on the water).

Overall, John and Ellen made our stay amazing. We could not have asked for a better vacation. We will definitely be visiting MBH again in the not-too-distant future.

My husband, 18 year old son, 16 year old daughter, and I just returned from an eleven day trip to MBH. We found MBH through Yahoo travel. We had tickets we had to use and looked for somewhere Continental flew so to Belize City we went. From there we boarded Tropic Air (handled by MBH) and headed to Placencia. A MBH employee picked us up at the airport and took us to Aqua Villa, our home for the next 11 days. Aqua Villa is more upscale than the regular hotel rooms, a house that MBH manages, and it has its very own pool and hottub. MBH took care of our every need, and fed us like kings and queens. We fell in love with the staff, from Margaret in housekeeping
to Becky, Oscar, and Odette in the restaurant, to Jerry's killer drinks at the bar, and of course, our delightful and charming innkeepers, John and Ellen Lee. John is at least a 5 star chef and in
Belize, this kind of food is rare. Our last night we had a seafood platter fit for a king. It is hard to satisfy the needs of a family like ours, trust me, and satisfy us all they did. Ellen is a great manager and wonderful with helping decide on and book tours. Her hospitality was amazing. We look forward to going back within the next year!

My husband and I decided to stay at MBH based on reviews we read on this site. Our expectations were exceeded in every way. We decided to fly into Placencia, which is a great way to first experience the beauty of Belize, and were greeted at the airport by John, the owner. By the time we reached the hotel we already felt at home. We stayed in the Joya del Mar suite, a little down the beach from the main hotel. This was very private; we felt as though the beach in front was ours alone.

We had read that the food was great at the MBH Bistro, and even the great reviews did not do it justice. We ate almost every meal there, and were thrilled when it was time to eat again! My husband ate fish at every meal, whatever the special was. It was always delicious. All of the bread is homemade, including the bagels in the morning.

The staff will make you feel as though they have known you for years. They called us by name from the first day, and remembered our individual quirks and wishes with each encounter.

John and Ellen are wonderful hosts. They were present every day, and were available for a question or a conversation. Ellen asked us right away what activities we wanted to do, made suggestions, and booked all of our tours for us.

I do want to mention that the accommodations are wonderful and basic. This is not one of the cushy hotels that offer fluffy bathrobes and turndown service at night. The rooms are on the beach, roomy, and have hot water showers. We knew what to expect based on previous traveler reviews, and were very happy with the level of accommodation.

This vacation was everything we expected, and more. We will recommend this hotel and this area of Belize to anyone and everyone.

My wife and I just returned from a wonderful 5 night stay at the Maya Beach Hotel. Our adventure began when we flew out of Belize City down to Placencia. The flight is about 30 minutes on the smallest airplane you'll ever be on. It was a very smooth ride, but a little cramped. When we arrived in Placencia John (the owner) picked us up. The hotel is about 6 miles north and the dirt road is very bumpy and littered with potholes. You'll drive through Seine Bight, which is a very dilapidated village - we're talking abject poverty. You'll pass a couple resorts and a small stretch of paved road before you hit the hotel.

Bonafacio, the on-site manager, greeted us and took our bags to the Coconut room, which was up a steep flight of stairs facing the ocean. The bathroom - including the shower - are really small. The toilets, taps, and showers use well water, so they tell you not to swallow. Not very much water pressure and we had to hold the handle down to flush. There's a separate tap for potable water, though we stuck to the bottled stuff ($1.00 a pop...well worth it).

The hotel looks like a big house with additions. The restaurant and bar was very nice and had a lot of charm. The flies were pervasive inside and out of the dining room, unfortunately. The outside seating area offered a fantastic view of the Caribbean. The staff - especially Jerry, Oscar, John, Linda, and Bonafacio - are very nice and great conversationalists. John's cooking is *fantastic* and the menu is diverse and affordable. Try the banana sandwich or the fish burger!

We spent most of our time lounging at the beach in front of the hotel. The dock is very nice, and you can snorkel right off the beach (the water is calmest in the morning, but the visibility is the best in the afternoon). We saw a 3ft. barracuda patrolling the dock, and lots of small snapper, sting rays (one local told me to always where boots in the water), and sand dollars. We kayaked out to the island off the coast - it was a exhausting 30 minutes, but worth the trip. We saw *lots* of coral and fish, but the only place to dock the kayak is on the other side of the island. There's a small strip of beach that you can land the kayak and snorkel off the shore.

TIP - if you're looking for some fun, walk about 3 blocks north to the Bellamaya Resort. It's under construction, but the pool and poolside bar are open! The pool is clean, the service is great, and it's never crowded. We spent many hours enjoying Belikin beer while hanging out at the Bellamaya.

We did the snorkeling excursion to the reef through Splash Dive, which was an all-day affair ($88 pp). The boat ride out to Silk Key was about 45 minutes, but well worth it. We snorkeled around 2 islands with a beautiful coral reef and saw lots of fish. Our guide was very knowledgeable and friendly.

TIPS - wipe the mouths of the beer bottles off with a napkin before you drink...some of them are dirty. Bring bug spray and LOTS of sunscreen. The sun is much more intense down there, and if you run out, you'll have to buy it at one of the hotels (we paid $15 for a tube!). Always where boots when you're walking around in the water...cash is only necessary for tips - everything else can be put on your tab at the hotel...expect "laid back" service at the restaurant (it will take a while to get your bill unless you ask for it).

Overall, we would definitely recommend this hotel for those looking for an off-the-beaten path hideout. It's definitely not luxury, but very charming and comfortable. The setting is very beautiful, and you'll see some of the most amazing sunrises. The water is clear blue, there are palm trees and coconuts everywhere, and the people are very friendly and intelligent. Enjoy the trip and let me know if you have any specific questions!