SunBreeze Hotel

Passing into SunBreeze Hotel’s horseshoe-shaped courtyard feels like you’ve walked into a tropical Italian villa -- albeit one with beachy gardens and Caribbean views. A Spanish-tile roof overhangs arched walkways and wood pergolas shade couches with plush blue cushions. The sandy courtyard is loaded with coconut palms and lounge chairs. There’s also a big freshwater pool surrounded by lounge chairs that are usually empty. 

The hotel’s restaurant is a popular island dinner spot and requires reservations -- even for hotel guests. Above the restaurant, a second-floor gazebo has hammocks that catch the strong ocean breeze. The SunBreeze attracts a diving crowd and most guests are gone during the day. Activity picks up in the late afternoon when divers get back. You'll know when they're home - chairs dotting the open-air hallways are covered in drying diving equipment. 

The hotel's central location is a mixed bag. It’s great to be close to restaurants and shops but SunBreeze gets noisy. Between the restaurant crowd, plane traffic from the airport across the street, and the elementary school the next door, visitors looking for peace and quiet might want to consider elsewhere. In any case, the hotel attracts a wide cross section of vacationers, from couples and families to small groups of friends as well.

SunBreeze Hotel is located in central San Pedro Town, Ambergris Caye’s bustling commercial heart. It’s literally across the street from San Pedro Airport, which unfortunately translates into some minor noise from time to time. The jetty for ferries for mainland Belize and other islands is a four-minute walk from the hotel. Food options within a five-minute walk include the island’s best Belizean restaurant, an El Salvadorian pupusaria, and other spots serving local and international cuisines for all budgets. There are a ton of bars within walking distance, like Wahoo’s Lounge (a four-minute walk), known for its weekly Chicken Drop bingo. Multiple grocery stores, pharmacies, are beauty salons are also within a five-minute walk. There’s a swimmable beach a six-minute walk from SunBreeze and the island’s best beach, Secret Beach, is a bumpy 40-minute drive from the hotel. 

The rooms at SunBreeze are dated, but make for a reasonably pleasant place to sleep for those more interested in being outside orin the water all day long. Decor is sparse, and limited to tile floors, ceiling fans, whitewashed walls, and paintings of dolphins jumping out of turquoise water or fishing boats on a palm-lined beach. 

Beds are a mix of queen or two doubles with hardwood headboards and matching nightstands, dressers and a small table with two chairs chairs. Many rooms still have tube TVs, though there are premium cable channels including movie stations, and some rooms do have flat-screen TVs. Near the bathroom there’s a ton of closet space for unpacking and organizing, and rooms also include mini-fridges, safes, and air-conditioning. Irons and ironing boards are available upon request. Rooms have spotty Wi-Fi is but the signal is much stronger in the courtyard-facing hallway. 

Bathrooms are generic and include tile counters, stand-up showers, and include coconut-scented liquid soap and two-in-one shampoo/body wash. The towels we saw have ragged, frayed edges and are overdue for replacement. For a splurge, the Deluxe and Premium Rooms have amenities like ocean views, whirlpool bathtubs, upgraded toiletries, and multiple bedrooms.

In Ambergris Caye, an oceanfront location doesn’t usually mean a great beach. Despite having a sandy beachfront, a sea wall separates SunBreeze’s beach from the ocean. Unfortunately, though, there's generally too much sea grass for a swim. Luckily, the hotel’s freshwater pool has great ocean views and is surrounded by a wood deck and padded lounge chairs. Next to the pool, the popular oceanfront restaurant, Blue Water Grill has a fully-stocked bar and serves three meals a day of international and Caribbean cuisine. It fills up quickly and reservations are advised. Above the restaurant, a gazebo with hammocks is great spot to catch the ocean breeze. The hotel also has an event space for conferences and weddings. 

Belize Dive Connection, the full-service dive shop has two scheduled daily dive trips and offers discount packages that include diving and hotel accommodation. Massages, body treatments, and mani/pedis can be had at Delmy’s Unique Day Spa, the on-site spa. The front desk arranges tours, babysitters, assists in renting golf carts and bicycles, the latter of which are free. In the morning, there’s free coffee and tea in the lobby. 

The hotel sells fishing equipment for fishing off the resort’s pier. Laundry service is also available (for a fee). Wi-Fi is free (although slow) throughout the resort.