Celebrating Milestones and Making Memories in Belize

Life is full of events worth celebrating. And celebrating a milestone event – family reunion, 50th birthday, graduation, or long-awaited wedding reception – with a once-in-a-lifetime milestone vacation is one of the best gifts you can give. Make memories and celebrate the good times at our Ambergris Caye, Belize, luxury resort.

Here are 4 things to consider when planning a milestone vacation.

1. Plan ahead

Scheduling the date of a milestone vacation might be the hardest part, but it’s important to make sure that everyone has enough time to plan their time away from work, as well as to schedule around all of life’s other commitments. “High season” (also known as the dry season) in Belize runs from around late November until mid-April. Tourists fill the country during high season, looking for a relief from the colder weather. This means higher rates and less availability, both in accommodations as well as excursions. Holidays such as Thanksgiving and Christmas book up as much as a year in advance, so you should start planning well in advance if you are looking to bring a group to Belize during the holidays. Summers are known as the rainy season, and you can expect an afternoon shower to occur almost daily. However, the rain clears out quickly and the crowds are sparser during the summer, which is sometimes easier to navigate with a large group.

2. Location, location, location

Booking individual rooms can quickly drive up the price of your vacation. On the other hand, no one wants to hear Grandma snore so consider your living quarters carefully. When traveling with a large multi-generational group to celebrate a milestone vacation, your main goal is probably spending time together and making new memories. But vacation can also be tiring work, and everyone appreciates their own space after a busy day of adventuring. Consider booking fully-furnished residences with a full range of features. Being able to cook up a quick breakfast in your private kitchen and recounting the previous day’s adventures is a precious way to begin the day. Having a full arsenal of snacks and beverages on hand will help you control your dining budget. Gathering on your private balcony over after-dinner drinks to reminisce about past vacations is another opportunity to make memories that isn’t available in a traditional hotel set up.

The oversized luxury residences at Las Terrazas Resort feature 1, 2, and 3 bedrooms with 2 or 3 bathrooms, and a completely furnished kitchen, dining room, and living room – plus full-sized washers and dryers (but doing laundry on vacation is optional!). Complimentary WiFi, cable TV, DVD players, and surround sound keep everyone entertained during your downtime.

3. Organize excursions with everyone in mind

It’s possible that some of your group is dying to SCUBA dive Belize’s Barrier Reef, while others would prefer to lie on the beach with a frozen cocktail – and that’s okay. Planning a milestone vacation with a large group of people should also include planning a range of excursions in order to offer something for everyone. Some of Belize’s amazing excursions require physical capabilities that the older members of your group may not possess, such as climbing to the top of the ancient Mayan ruin of Lamanai or hiking through the Belizean jungle for a cave tubing adventure. Nevertheless, there are many activities that groups of people with different ages and physical abilities may enjoy together. We recommend a Catamaran cruise and beach picnic, with rum punch and snorkel stops included. In addition to water sports, Belize is also famous for its fishing, horseback riding, and zip lining. 

Our Reservations Manager can send a complete list of adventures and excursions to you and help plan an exciting itinerary prior to your arrival or you can view a list of adventures here. Additionally, our onsite concierge is available throughout your stay to book outings once you arrive.

4. It’s all in the details

It’s the little things that will make your trip most memorable for the guest of honor. Notifying your resort of the special occasion in advance will help the staff to greet the guest of honor properly upon arrival and allow the resort to show some extra love.

Other tips include:

  • Consider hiring a photographer to catalog that day on the Catamaran cruise or capture generations of smiles with a photo session on our picturesque property. 
  • Arrange for a welcome bouquet of local tropical flowers to greet the guest of honor upon arrival. 
  • Make use of the resort’s WiFi and share photos with friends and family who are unable to join you on vacation and allow them to send greetings and well wishes.
  • Take advantage of a grocery stocking service (see #2 above re: arsenal of snacks!) and have everyone’s favorites waiting for them. There is usually a nominal fee associated with this service, but it will save you precious vacation time and keep everyone happy.
  • Your crew will enjoy the fabulous eateries on the island of Ambergris Caye, but be sure to plan at least one sit down dinner with true Belizean flair. Chef Nolvin and the team at Las Terrazas Resort’s onsite O Restaurant are famous for our Belizean Beach BBQs, served buffet style on our private white sand beach. If you would rather watch the sun set before partying the night away, plan a dinner at our Rooftop Sky Lounge, where the views will stun you as much as the cuisine. 

When you are ready to start planning your special milestone event, call our US-based Reservations Manager at (713) 780-1233 or (800) 447-1553, and we will answer any questions you may have about Las Terrazas Resort and travel in Belize. We look forward to customizing the adventure of a lifetime.

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Free Family Fun at Las Terrazas Resort

While Ambergris Caye is host to a variety of fabulous and affordable island excursions, equally as noteworthy are the many complementary amenities Las Terrazas Resort offers to their guests. First and foremost, you should expect your vacation to start off with a punch – quite literally, a complimentary Rum Punch greeting by the resort’s staff upon your arrival. What better way to start off your stay than with a dreamy island cocktail in hand? With that delightful springboard into relaxation, continue the vibe by swaying (or snoozing!) on a beach hammock or in one of the beachside cabanas, doing yoga on the mat provided in your residence or on the sandy beaches below, or taking a dip in the gorgeous aquamarine waters of the Caribbean Sea; Las Terrazas Resort has roped off a swimming area at the end of their dock calling your name. If you do find yourself heading out to the dock for a swim in the sea, consider grabbing a rod and reel from the front desk. For a nominal fee for bait, you can fish off the dock as you take in the view and cast your worries away with the tide.

Are you looking for some fitness and fun in the sun? Get your fitness on with your choice of water sports equipment available to all guests. Kayaks, paddle boards, aqua bikes, and Hobie cats (small sailing catamarans) are available to all hotel guests on a first-come, first-served basis and are an exciting way for experts and newbies alike to explore the crystalline Caribbean Sea that surround Ambergris Caye. Free bicycles and golf cart rentals are also at your service, allowing you to explore the resort property as well as island life beyond the hotel grounds.

For a fun and casual environment with friends old or new, you can splash in the hotel’s 70-foot infinity pool or play beach volleyball, giant Jenga, or corn hole down on the spacious private white sand beach. Or, for a real island treat, consider taking coconut tree climbing lessons with one of our beach captains. If you prefer to keep your feet in the sand and not up in a tree, ask them to help you catch an iguana to hold or starfish with which to take your photo. Our beach captains love to show off their unique skills and love of the island, and they are happy to teach you and the kids all of their secrets.

Wi-Fi is also complimentary, of course, so rest assured that you will have access to the world at large however little or much you prefer. Family and friends, co-workers and clients, selfies and posts can all be easily attended to at the simple click of a button. Leave work behind or not, but know that our online services are at your disposal all throughout your stay at our Ambergris Caye hotel.

With all the wonderful complimentary amenities that Las Terrazas Resort provides, you may feel tempted to never leave the resort. However if you are itching for adventure, be sure to visit the hotel’s Front Desk to plan your island and mainland excursions with the experienced concierges on duty. Las Terrazas Resort’s warm and professional staff is ready to meet your needs and help you plan an unforgettable vacation of a lifetime.

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My Family Vacation to Belize: A Travel Agent’s Perspective

Ambergris Caye is the perfect beach vacation destination for family members of all ages. From educational experiences rich in history and culture, adventures that take you far above treetop canopies and deep down beneath caves, to soaking up the wind and the waves by way of jet skis, kayaks, parasailing, and sunset cruises, one thing is certain: the island of Ambergris Caye is full of adventure and is made for creating memories that will last a lifetime.

We interviewed Kris Nelson, who recently traveled to Ambergris Caye for spring break. As a travel agent formerly with Strong Travel Services, Kris had been to Ambergris Caye once before with a group of travel agents. Although she did have the opportunity to explore famous jungles of Belize, she was technically still at work, and she did not get to experience everything on her wish list. However, her time here in Belize was enough for her to know that she would one day come back. Kris was drawn to the amazing light blue waters of the Caribbean Sea, fell in love with the authentic community that is evidenced on the island, and delighted in the fact that golf carts are the main mode of transportation around town. These things made her return to Ambergris Caye a simple choice, and she could not wait to return to Belize for her family’s spring break trip.

ATVs

Not only did Kris bring her own family to Las Terrazas Resort on Ambergris Caye, they invited friends to travel with them, because travel is alway more fun with friends! Between both families, there were two teenage boys – a great age in that they were old enough to drive the golf carts (valid driver’s licenses are required to drive), were able to experience nearly all that the island had to offer, and could have explored San Pedro on their own if they had wanted. And though the island was perfectly suitable for these near-adults, don’t be discouraged if you have younger children in your family; the resort alone has much to offer for children of all ages. Ask our Beach Captain for lessons in climbing a coconut tree, sailing the Hobie Cat, or scouring the sea grass for starfish. And be sure that your camera is nearby – the smiles you capture are definitely Christmas card worthy.

As far as Kris’ family and friends, they opted for an excursion to mainland Belize where they rode through the jungle on ATVs, hiked to a cave, and then went cave tubing through ancient, underground rivers… all of which were a huge hit for every member of their trip, headlamps and all!

Guests

The Truck Stop, Belize’ first ever shipping container food park and beer garden, was also a favorite shared experience. The Truck Stop’s proximity to Las Terrazas Resort, the variety of food, and the laid-back ambiance made this a fantastic spot for these two families to hang out. Visitors will love the live music and activities like watching an outdoor poolside movie, singing karaoke, or playing ping pong and corn-hole. You might even find yourself on stage for the Not-So-Newlywed Game or Family Feud.

The Truck Stop

Staying at Las Terrazas Resort was a no-brainer for Kris and her family. As the most luxurious spa resort on the island, and the only Virtuoso property, Las Terrazas Resort was an easy pick based on seclusion and elegance. The family enjoyed fry jacks for breakfast each morning and raved about the fine dining offered at O Restaurant, the resort’s onsite eatery.

Despite Las Terrazas Resort’s luxury and glam, Kris did mention that it would be helpful for families to know that Ambergris Caye is not a place to expect opulence at every turn. While there are certainly pockets of luxury, the island is overall known for being a relaxed and casual destination where the locals are very proud. They welcome you to try their food, crafts and customs… and you should! Kris suggests knowing where the island’s hidden gems are, like the Secret (not so secret anymore!) Beach and Elvi’s Kitchen.

Elvi's Kitchen

With all of the traveling that Kris has experienced in her career as a travel agent, it is an honor to know that she chose Ambergris Caye and Las Terrazas Resort as her family’s spring break destination. And while it might seem easy to just book a trip yourself in today’s digital age, using a travel agent is still such a valuable resource.

Resort View Residence patio

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