Caye Caulker Beach Hotel

The location is outstanding, and I was very pleased with what I got for the price. It's one of the cheaper options on the island, but the hotel is fantastic, with clean rooms, lots of hot water, powerful A/C, and a lovely rooftop lounge. My only real drawback was the small room, though I spent most of my time outside anyway. There’s no elevator, so reaching the fourth floor means taking the stairs. Check-in is at the convenience store downstairs.

The bathroom smell was the main reason I rated this two stars instead of three. It smelled like a septic problem, and apparently other guests have mentioned it too. I’d pay an extra $20 a night to stay elsewhere and avoid it. The room itself was small, which was okay for two of us since we weren't in it much. The linens were reasonably clean despite some stains, and the A/C was cold and the water hot. But the room had no window, only one in the bathroom, and we couldn't leave the bathroom door open for light or fresh air because of the smell. The fan didn't help, so we bought an air freshener. The safe dial was broken, and a wide gap under the outside door let noise in. There was no elevator, which could be a problem for anyone with mobility issues, lots of luggage, or small children. The information card listed a fee for every item in the room if lost or damaged. I'd never seen that before, and it made me wary of touching things in case something old broke and I was charged.

For the money, this place was a really good deal, and my significant other and I had none of the issues other guests mentioned. The staff got us settled quickly and were accommodating. The one thing I'd flag is the floors: when wet, they can be deceptively slippery, and there were no spills, but it could have been a problem. The price-to-quality ratio is very good, especially if you're traveling on a budget.

The rooftop lounge has hammocks and an outdoor kitchen, and there's a handy store downstairs. Our room was comfortable and felt safe, the A/C worked perfectly, and the location puts you right in the center of everything. No complaints from me, I'd definitely recommend it.