San Pedro, Ambergris Caye has evolved over the last twenty years from a sleepy fishing village inhabited by Mestizo seafarers to a Mecca for international jetsetters and other vacationers who are looking for their own version of tropical paradise. San Pedro is now a tourist destination par excellence. From the south end of the island to the north end, upscale resorts are popping up.
One of the trailblazers in refined lodging and dining experiences is the chic Belize Yacht Club which is now a part of the prestigious Island Club Resorts group that specializes in luxury accommodations and amenities. The Island Club group is known worldwide for their meticulous attention to detail, their personal, first class service and speedy access to all your heart’s desires while on vacation: from scuba diving the barrier reef, cavorting with sharks and sting rays or river and Mayan Ruin excursions.
This last weekend in spite of the bleak, rainy weather I caught the three o’clock “Triple J” launch to San Pedro and over-nighted at the Yacht Club to have a fleeting taste of how the rich-n-famous live. The decision to travel in such inclement weather was of questionable merit; but it sure resulted in a thrilling experience on the launch getting to the caye. About ten minutes out of Belize City, heading northeasterly, the open launch hit some heavy showers. The crew unrolled a couple of long, blue plastic tarps and all the passengers, about 25 or so people, huddled under the tarpaulins holding them down with their hands and feet. Under the plastic the sounds of the wind and pelting of the rain was amplified to Dolby movie theater decibel levels. The two young German gals sitting next to my travel partner had trouble holding down the plastic and a couple of times lost their grip resulting in the cover whipping up into the air and flapping madly towards the stern. Nervous giggles mixed with cries of help from the girls. The wind, the rain, the elevated sound effects and the out of control tarp all added up to an adventuresome travel experience. I recommend it.
Once in San Pedro, the town was peeled – nobody in sight. Apparently, the drab, bleaky weather forced everyone inside. The normally picturesque sandy streets were flooded and resembled lakes. Not the best conditions for a stay at a romantic get-a-way resort. Once we arrived at the Yacht Club the charm and cheerfulness of the staff brightened up the day. The condominium style units are eminently comfortable and posh. Within minutes after settling in, the phone rang; the manager of the sophisticated Celebrity Restaurant called to inquire if we’d like a snack and something to quench our thirst. The thrilling journey getting there did pique our appetites so we ordered the nachos and some soft drinks. Not more than ten minutes passed when the doorbell rang and two nubile waitresses served us a towering platter of fresh fried tortilla chips, big chunks of shredded chicken breast, jalapeńo peppers all covered by a blanket of melted cheddar & mozzarella cheeses. Scrumptious and more than enough to satiate two hungry adults. The service is attentive and affable; the Yacht Club and Celebrity Restaurant do an excellent job of tutoring their staff on how to make the guests feel special.
The lousy weather didn’t break for more than 10 to 15 minutes at a time so we couldn’t partake of the pool or other aquatic options. Due to the weather, we, like the other guests, stayed inside, watched cable TV and surfed the internet via the resort’s wireless system.
For this critic interviewing the guests is a key component in any resort review. Sure classy digs are enticing but the people factor carries more weight for me. Tourism is all about people and catering to expectations. Feed back is crucial. So this mini-critique will continue at some future time when the sun is shining and the guests are out and about.
Article from Belize Times |
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