Jovilee Hotel

We were so grateful to Jovilee Hotel for helping us after we reached Belize City too late and missed the last ferry. They quickly found us a comfortable room, and even tracked down a lamp with a wireless charger so we could charge our phone. The room had what we needed, including a mini fridge, microwave, coffee maker, AC, and a super comfy bed. The only problem was how noisy the bed was. Whenever my boyfriend rolled over, it was loud enough to wake me. Otherwise, it was a great stay, and we really appreciated the hospitality.

The room was okay, and having a refrigerator and microwave meant I could keep restaurant leftovers. There was a coffee maker too, but they only provided two 500 ml bottles of water per day. That left me with one bottle for morning coffee and one to last the whole day in a hot country. When I asked for more, they said I could get more tomorrow because the limit was two bottles a day. I explained that I needed more water in the heat, but they still wouldn’t give me any. For the price they charged, being so cheap with water was hard to believe. If you need more, you have to walk about 15 minutes through the heat to the supermarket. It’s a foolish policy, and I’m sure others will leave bad reviews over it. The shower handle was loose and nearly falling off, and the water only got lukewarm, so there were no hot showers. I’d asked the desk clerk about a review that mentioned no hot water when I checked in, and she said that person probably didn’t know how to operate the dial handle. I accepted that explanation and took the room, but the next day I found there was no hot water either. The neighborhood isn’t nice. A few creepy men said things to me while I was walking around. I ignored them because I didn’t feel safe. They were dirty and dressed in ragged clothes, and men like that also hang around in front of the Chinese restaurant next door. There were stains on the floor that clearly hadn’t been cleaned before I arrived.

Of the four affordable hotels we stayed in across Belize, this was the best. The reception has a relaxed vibe, and they’ll help if you ask. The area is good, with all the attractions within walking distance. Rooms were clean and comfortable, and the bathroom was clean with a great shower head.

The doorman was great, and there’s a great Chinese restaurant across the street, Chon San Palace. The room was really nice, with a comfy bed and a super clean bathroom stocked with lots of towels.