Hol Chan Reef Resort & Villas

The view from our living room was breathtaking, with the ocean, dock, pelicans, pool, and more right in front of us. The staff were ready and willing to help whenever we needed them. It made my first trip back in over 17 years amazing. Thank you to the staff and our host. We arrived in San Pedro on Saturday morning without knowing where we’d stay, then came across Dennis, a wonderful property manager who helped us arrange a stay at Hol Chan Resorts and villas for the rest of our trip.

The unit was beautiful and far too spacious for two, and Dennis was genuinely helpful and nice. Still, the area made the stay miserable. It’s very secluded and a long way from San Pedro, where the restaurants and activity are. A golf cart takes about 20 minutes, but the roads are so rough they feel like they could break your spine. There’s only one bar within walking distance. The beach is basically unusable, covered in seaweed with a smell that sticks with you. The nearest proper beach is an hour away by golf cart. The surroundings were dirty, and our balcony looked onto construction and trash. The pool photos are highly misleading too, since the pool is tiny. I felt catfished by the property, which also isn’t a traditional resort. You get a unit, but nobody comes to clean or refill supplies, so you have to keep track and ask. There’s nobody on site. It took 10 days and at least four follow-up messages to get the security deposit back, which had me worried. All of this really ruined my first visit there, and I don’t think I’ll return. If you don’t want a secluded holiday, I highly recommend staying in San Pedro.

We absolutely loved our condo and had the best eight days there. The living room was comfortable, the kitchen and dining area huge, and the bedrooms spacious. Two of the three bedrooms had en suite bathrooms, and the beds were very comfortable. There was air conditioning, and the large patio had a great view. A luxury stay!

Sandra was so helpful. She booked our flights from Belize City to San Pedro and arranged for a golf cart to arrive the day after we reached the island. Ask her where to eat, she knows the best local spots! Richard, the activities director, was also very nice and booked a north-side day trip with lunch and two snorkeling experiences. The condo had stunning, unobstructed views from the kitchen, dining, and living areas. We slept really well on the memory foam bed, thanks to the quality mattress and linens and the blackout curtains. The washer and dryer came in handy, too. If you’re worried about missing the resort feel, Edwin sets up Sunny Daze Tuesday through Saturday with food and drinks. The coconut shrimp is so good. Unbelievable experience!