Best Western Grand Baymen Gardens

Herbert and his helper, Lotion, were such fun and hospitable hosts, and Herbert’s dog Jack was a sweetie too. We’d happily stay again. The hotel is handy for the Belize water taxi, restaurants, bars, and the airport. We learned it used to be the tennis club and sits just behind the airport landing strip, which was a big plus for my pilot daughter. Watching the little planes take off and land during breakfast was pretty cool. We stayed in one of the newer rooms in building (F). It was clean and quaint, and having a washer and dryer made a big difference. The view faced a construction area that looked a little Third World, but we were there to sleep and head out touring each day. Jack’s poolside Bar and Grill served a hot breakfast for guests every morning, free of charge.

The rooms were clean and affordable, and the food came quickly with little wait. All the staff were pleasant. The location is convenient, beside the small airport taxi and a nine-minute drive from the ferry. Herbert, who owns the bar, and his dog Jack were great.

Neither pool was inviting. Both were very dirty, one had no water, and the pool bar wasn’t there at all. The property looked nothing like the photos. Our room in Building F was in very poor shape and seemed almost under construction, and that building wasn’t shown in the website gallery. From the balcony we looked onto what seemed like a landfill. A thin door with a window separated us from another apartment, so we could hear everything. Even though it was late on arrival day, we immediately found another hotel. We came back the next morning to cancel the rest of our stay and encountered a reception staff member who seemed indifferent. The receipt showed only one night, even though we had paid for the full stay. That was completely unacceptable.

The breakfast was really good, and the bar owner was very nice. We had a good room and comfortable beds, but checking in took about an hour. Nobody was at reception, so we had to call to get someone to check us in.