Belize city hotels
Belize City is the largest city of the small Central American nation of Belize. Belize was formerly called British Honduras and Belize City was the capital of the country till 1970 after which the capital was moved to Belmopan. The city is the country's principal port and primary financial and industrial centre. It is also the capital of the Belize District. The city's location on the Caribbean coast at the mouth of the Belize River makes it a prime tourist attraction.
Originally called Belize Town, the city was founded in the mid 17th centuryby British lumber harvesters. Today, with a population of over 70,000 Belize City is constantly bustling with action. It is situated on the east coast, in the heart of the country and serves as a gateway to the country's historical and cultural attractions. The city itself has its own share of tourist attractions. For starters there is the St. Johns Cathedral, the oldest Anglican Cathedral Church in Central America. Across the road from the Cathedral is the Government House, a colonial building from 1814 which has been well maintained. There is also the Swing Bridge which is the world\'s only manually swing bridge which is still swung daily.
Belize City also serves as a starting point for other tourist destinations such as the Community Baboon Sanctuary or Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary, the beautiful Cockscomb Basin and Jaguar Preserve, Mountain Pine Ridge Reserve, the cayes and Barrier Reef, and Mayan archaeological sites such as Caracol and Xunantunich. With the international airport being only 30 minutes away, Belize City serves as the perfect base for tourists coming to Belize. You can find several hotels and guest houses in the city to fit your own budget. In addition there are a lot of good restaurants to suit everyone's palates.
Perhaps the best hotel in Belize City is the Radisson Fort George.The hotel has 102 deluxe air-conditioned rooms and has been newly renovated. It combines a rich classic colonial ambiance with superb modern facilities. The basic rooms are priced around $100 but the best rooms in the hotel are those which offer balconies with a clear Caribbean ocean view. The biggest attraction of the Radisson is its full service marina with dive shop, two swimming pools, a business center, a fitness center and a gift shop. The guest services personnel at the hotel are very helpful and always happy to provide information, reconfirm airline reservations and organize local tours. Guests can snorkel or dive on the largest barrier reef in the Western Hemisphere ; fish in the flats, the reef or the deep sea; tour one of the Mayan sites or tropical rainforests; or simple enjoy a relaxing siesta at one of the hotel\'s swimming pools.
Another excellent hotel in Belize City is The Great House. It is located in the Fort George area, walking distance from the Caribbean Sea and the city center. It is directly across the street from the Radisson Hotel. The Great House was built in 1927 and till today retains its colonial beauty, grace and charm. Though there are only 12 guest rooms in the hotel they are all worth every penny of the $174 per day they cost. Each of the rooms is individually color coordinated and is tastefully furnished. Like the Radisson's balconies, the verandahs at the front and back of the house provide guests with cool relaxing Caribbean breezes. The combination of the colonial feel and modern conveniences make The Great House one of Belize's most popular hotels. In addition, the hotel offers a full service Destination Management Company and Inbound Operator who help the guests in arranging a wide range of tours, sports and other activities. And to top it all up, the hotel\'s restaurant - The Smoky Mermaid offers fine dining in a Caribbean courtyard setting.
The Chateau Caribbean is another ideally located hotel in the Fort area, at the corner of Marine Parade and South Park Street. The locale combines the countryside's tranquility with the constant buzz of the city center. Chateau Caribbean is another classic colonial structure right alongside the shore. What better way to start your day than with a jog on the scenic waterfront path along the hotel. The rooms all have a contemporary Caribbean decor. The suites and the seafront accommodations offer exhilarating views of the rising and setting sun respectively. What gives The Chateau Caribbean its cutting edge is its superb restaurant. From the Belizean breakfast to the fresh seafood - the chefs cook up lip smacking meals. Businessmen should note that the hotel also has conference facilities to even meet the requirements of large-scale meetings and seminars.
Apart from these three hotels, Belize City has numerous other quality hotels as well. The Maruba Resort Jungle Spa is on the outskirts of the city inside the tropical rainforest, very close to the Mayan ruins, making it the perfect place for the slightly adventurous tourists to stay. The Nautical Inn is another hotel located on the shores of the Caribbean Sea which provides facilities for scuba diving, snorkeling, fishing, boating and sailing. The Chan Chich Lodge is another interesting option as it is situated in a 250,000 acre preserve, on a classic Mayan plaza from 250 AD.
The Lighthouse Reef Resortis one of the most popular scuba resorts located on Lighthouse Reef Atoll, near the Blue Hole though slightly on the more expensive side. It has been made famous by Jacques Cousteau. The Birds Eye View Lodge, located inside the Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary is set on a peaceful lagoon making it a very beautiful place to stay in. The recently opened D'Nest Inn provides a very relaxing atmosphere and has beautiful gardens full of birds. The Cottage Colony which is on a quiet island, nine miles from the mainland and one mile from the Barrier Reef offers comfortable colonial style cottages. Located on another private island is the Pyramid Resort & Marina, 45 minutes by boat from the mainland shore of Belize City.
Tourists with a tight budget can choose one of the more economic hotels. Hotel Mopan, located a block away from St. John's Cathedral, provides rooms for as low as $25. Walking distance from the city centre, Bellevue Hotel has rooms for $35.The Red Hut Inn is another hotel which provides comfortable rooms for a very reasonable price. For bachelor tourists looking for cheap accommodation there is the Bachelor Inn. The other options available to tourists are the Kanantik Reef & Jungle Resort, the Best Western Belize Biltmore Plaza, the St George's Caye Lodge, the Princess Hotel and Casino, the Jaguar Paw Jungle Resort, the Anchorage Resort, the El Centro Hotel, the Fiesta Inn Belize Resort & ; Marina, the Dive Hamanasi, the Keller Caribbean Sports Limited, the Golden Dragon Hotel, the Caye Chapel Golf Resort, the Caribbean-Palms Inn, the Spanish Bay Resort and the River House Lodge.
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