HAPPY MOTHERS DAY

                                                    Happy Mothers Day
                         Our wonderful Mothers in the housekeeping Department.


I would like to congratulate all the Mothers that are with us at Grand Caribe. I hope each and every one of you beautiful Mothers are having a wonderful day.

Lets take a moment to Thank that wonderful Mother of ours for everything that they have done for us.

To My Mother
For all the times you gently picked me up,
When I fell down,
For all the times you tied my shoes
And tucked me into bed,
Or needed something
But put me first instead.
For everything we shared,
The dreams, the laughter,
And the tears,
I love you with a "Special Love"
That deepens every year.
Author Unknown



----------- Efrain---------------

FAQ's Blog of San Pedro Ambergris Caye Belize.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Everyday we get emails with very common questions, and I thought that to better help you with your vacation planning to answer a few of these more common questions and help you have ease of mind and plan better.

1. Is there potable water at Grand Caribe?
- YES, the water and Grand Caribe is potable, you can drink the water from the pipe or fridge in the unit. Grand Caribe produces its own potable water and so this amenity is not provided everywhere.

2. What are the transportation options to and from Grand Caribe?
First of all Grand Caribe is only approx 1.5-2 miles away from the closest supermarket and town.
-  Land Taxi's are allowed to and from Grand Caribe up until 9pm. the cost is $15 US per trip. easily arranged by our front desk or concierge
- Water Taxi (Coastal Express) has a set schedule and passes by Grand Caribe every other hour and $5 USd  one way, $9 USd round trip per person; front desk and /or our concierge can arrange pick ups.
- Golf carts, we rent golf carts for our guests as part of our concierge service. These can be prebooked and waiting upon your arrival
- Bicycles- we rent bicycles for the day or half day

3. What are the tours and packages available?
Please see our tours and packages pages on our website. These can be prebooked and arranged before your arrival, when you arrive we will have your vouchers ready with your itinerary. Or you can book a day or two before while here.

4. Do we need vaccinations to go to Belize?
- No, there are no necessary mandatory vaccinations for a trip to Belize; but consult your doctor if you wish

5. Whats the weather like in Belize?
- We only have two seasons, wet or dry. This pretty much sums it up, we stay pretty steady in the 30s Celsius or 80s Fahrenheit...only taking a dip in Dec/Jan and a spike in April and August.

6. Whats the voltage/ Wattage in Belize?
-  Belize is on the same volt/watt systems as the USA or Canada.  110V, if you are coming from Europe you will need an adapter.

7. How do we call Belize?
  - The international code is 011 -501 followed by the local number which is seven digits long. E.G Grand Caribe is 011-501-226-4726

8. Does Belize follow daylight savings time?
 No, the time in Belize does not change.

9. What is the official language of Belize?
- The official language of Belize is English, the second official language is Spanish; but most commonly spoken is Creole (Kriol) which is a separate local dialect, which sounds like a broken English.

10. What is the exchange rate?
    1 USd = 2 Bze
    1 CNd = 2.09 Bze
    1 Euro= 2.93 Bze
    1 GBP= 3.27 Bze

11. Size of luggage allowed on local flights?
     If its allowed on an international flight it is allowed on a local flight.

12. How do we get from Belize City to San Pedro?
There are two ways to get to San Pedro from Belize City. The first and easiest but more expensive is a flight from the international airport or municipal airport to San Pedro. 
Second way is via water taxi, you would have to catch a taxi from the airport to the water terminal. 

---Lorena----

Why not say (I DO) at Grand Caribe

                                               Welcome back newlyweds.

Mr. and Mrs. Chevis just got married on our beautiful beach about one month ago and have returned to spend a few days with us.

If you are wondering whats new in Belize. then let me put in the loop. This is a long weekend cause its Labour Day for Belize and a perfect time for a quick get away and the chance to take advantage of our Summer Special Discounts.

Just imagine relaxing and drinking a margarita or a tropical pina colada from our on site bar and grill (Foot Prints) and enjoying a warm sunny day by the pool.

(I know what I will be doing this weekend).      Do you?

One more day at Paradise

The Easter rush is over and all of the staff is looking forward to next year.  One more day at Grand Caribe is like starting your first day of vacation, you see new faces and more exciting things to do.

Please view the video I just found on YouTube from one of our past guest. Ambergris Caye is truly one amazing place, being near the sea and the sunny days at the beach are like a never ending vacation.

If you walk around town and ask any of the locals how it is it to live in San Pedro they will say "Our tropical island is like being in Paradise their is always something new to see and do every day". If the locals say that about our island, imagine what you would say.

OK, I think I better get back to work. Just a reminder or a thought.... (If you are planning on visiting us at Grand Caribe or you are already on your way, I recommend that you try the Chicken Fajitas at our on site bar and grill Foot Prints - That's what I will be having for lunch today).

Enjoy your day and I will keep you updated with all the new events and fun stuff to do at Grand Caribe and in Town.

A HAPPY EASTER FOR ALL

As staff we work when everyone else is on vacation, its a part of the job. Our job is to make your vacation a great one, no matter the time of year. We take pride in doing it all, so as to make your vacation as smooth and as comfortable as possible, this is especially true of days such as today (Easter). 

We all know that everyone in the service industry works holidays, but its very likely that we at Grand Caribe have an easier time than others working on these days because we see the results of our hard work right through our office windows. We see our guests having a great time and know that we helped make it possible, because we are their problem solvers, personal assistants and all around everyday heroes.  To be in this business and to work at Grand Caribe means being a people person, outgoing and genuine. We are proud of who we are and where we work and know we provide a service of class, convenience and comfort. We are in this industry because we get joy from seeing others happy and all I see through my office window are happy faces! 

A vacation for everyone

My daughter and I in the pool at Grand Caribe
At 2yrs, my daughter learnt to swim in their great
kid friendly pool!

Grand Caribe has the uncanny ability to be an "everything in one" resort that provides the perfect setting for any type of vacation.

A person can come and disconnect him or herself from the world. Many times winter or work can become overwhelming and Belize is the answer. Peaceful and relaxed all our vacationers have a great time.

Families (some what forced in the case of many teenagers) get closer. Moms and Dads can connect with their kids because they are all disconnected, no constant texting, phone calls or tweeting. With plenty of teenage friendly activities, parents and their teens share experiences and have fun together. Jet skiing, para sailing, snorkeling, family tours and much more are great opportunities for bonding.

Now let me make something clear,just because teenagers and kids enjoy it here and the activities involved  that doesn't mean that a couple can't have a great time. The fact of the matter is that everyone enjoys these activities.

So Belize, San Pedro and specifically Grand Caribe offer people with the opportunity to get away from it all, have a new experience while disconnecting from the outside day to day world and connecting with their loved ones.

Grand Caribe is a source of escape even for the local Belizean.  I know this for a fact,because I can see it from my very office window, my view at this moment is of a Belizean family of three generations (almost all staying in one of our four bedrooms): grandparents , their three sons and their wives and children. The kids are all playing in the kid friendly shallow pool while the adults lounge in chairs tanning and laughing. All of them are of different ages, keeping it simple and having a great time. A no fuss family reunion with an atmosphere of ease, relaxation and fun.

**** Did you know that Grand Caribe not only blogs, we also have a twitter account. https://twitter.com/GrandCaribeBz and a facebook account : https://www.facebook.com/GrandCaribeBelize; not to mention we are on TripAdvisor http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g291961-d1821157-Reviews-Grand_Caribe_Belize_Resort_and_Condominiums-Ambergris_Caye_Belize_Cayes.html
There are so many ways to keep up to date and connected with Grand Caribe, check it out!

A New Blogger at Grand Caribe

A blog is a very personal affair, a person's views and opinions are expressed to the world. And as a part of our new series of blogs, this aspect of Grand Caribe will be shown even more.

A candid picture of myself taken by Efrain

As a marketer, my views are extremely auto-censored (a habit of the business), and a blog becomes less personal and more promotional. Looking for a change of pace, I spoke with one of our brightest personalities here at Grand Caribe; someone who has something to say and knows to say it; my fellow colleague Efrain. He will be adding a serious punch of pizazz to this blog; outspoken and extroverted I look to him for inspiration and flavour for my own blogs.

Adding color to every room,
fresh flowers at his desk say it all!

Efrain is everywhere at Grand Caribe and knows everyone, as the housekeeping supervisor he's heard and seen it all; and in addition, he takes care of many of the more exciting aspects of Grand Caribe such as setting up and arranging special occasions such as weddings.

The Grand Caribe blog will now have a touch of sass to what was a very formal affair. Alternating the responsibility of the blog we hope to keep our readers not only interested but also enticed to come to Belize and especially Grand Caribe Resort & Condominiums.

Wedding Requirements in Belize

One of our most frequently asked questions:

What are the wedding requirements to get married in Belize?

REQUIREMENTS FOR A CIVIL or CHURCH WEDDING IN BELIZE

1.      NEITHER OF THE PARTIES HAS BEEN PREVIOUSLY MARRIED

       

       ·       Fully completed marriage license application form - Notarized by a J.P.

       ·       Photocopy of front 2 pages of passport and page showing arrival date into Belize.

       ·       One of the parties must be in the country 3 days prior to filing the petition of the license.

2.      IF EITHER PARTIES OR BOTH HAVE BEEN PREVIOUSLY MARRIED

·         Fully completed marriage license application form - Notarized by a J.P.

·         Photocopy of front 2 pages of passport and page showing arrival date into Belize.

·         One of the parties must be in the country 3 days prior to filing the petition of the license.

·         Final divorce decrees.

3.      IF IETHER OF BOTH PARTIES IS A WIDOW OR WIDOWER

·         Fully completed marriage license application form - Notarized by a J.P.

·         Photocopy of front 2 pages of passport and page showing arrival date into Belize.

·         One of the parties must be in the country 3 days prior to filing the petition of the license.

·          Copy of death certificate.

All photocopies should be certified.

No fax copy for application forms are allowed.

Grand Caribe Great for Families

Grand Caribe is the perfect island home for any size family, with units ranging from 1-4 bedrooms we can accommodate everyone. Our facilities are made for all ages, two smaller deeper pools flank a large shallower pool that is great for children. Meanwhile our wading pool with fountain is excellent for toddlers wanting to splash around. Not to mention 100s of feet of beach to play and swim.

Our concierge and tour operator can guide families to kid friendly activities such as fishing, discovering the rain forest, visiting the zoo etc. And for those moments when parents wish to have some one on one time, babysitting can easily be arranged while kids munch on room service and watch DVDs (available for rent at our concierge office).

Our island homes are fully equipped and offer a comfortable stay for any period of time. Housekeeping with laundry service give moms a break while provision packages can make a families stay even easier by providing moms with all the groceries she may need to keep those hungry kids happy as soon as they arrive.

So whatever size family, no matter the ages, Grand Caribe is a wonderful place to spend some quality family time.

Every return visit will be a better experience at Grand Caribe

Our beautiful sign went up Dec 2010

  Grand Caribe's aim is to constantly provide its new guests and returning guests with a great and better experience. If you've already been to Grand Caribe and thought your visit was great; just wait for your second visit! Only in its first year, we've had many returning guests and our first priority is to be better than the last visit. Excellence is not about being stagnant its about constant improvement and aiming for a better experience every time a guest walks through the lobby doors. This policy not only applies for our guests but to our owners as well. We want our owners to be excited every time they return.   

On-Site kayaks for rent

Gift Shop, getting more items soon

Conference/Party Room completed Dec2010

New cushions outside. 

Footprints Bar & Grill open June 2010

Pick Up for Catamaran Ride via tours

We are constantly coming up with and creating new ways to be better, and improve upon what we already have. Whether it be a simple request from a guest or something totally new, we want Grand Caribe to be a work in progress, our job is never done! We are here to please and we are here to make your dream vacation  more amazing every time you visit, we want it to continue being a dream vacation not just a simple repetitive vacation. 

Our steady progress applies to all aspects of Grand Caribe, from constant maintenance of our facility, to coming up with new tours, adding additions to our grounds, and adding on-site amenities. We love to hear the words "I noticed that you", its great to know how our guests and owners notice all our improvements and have a new experience with each returning visit!

 

Living the Dream at Grand Caribe

Hello, blogs are such personal posts, so I thought that we, the staff of Grand Caribe, should show  who we are and tell you what we love about here. There's no better place to start than with me, Lorena; I do the marketing and sales here at Grand Caribe Belize Resort & Condominiums and I love my job. Honestly, I do first of because I sell and market for a company that I believe in. What would be worse than not believing in the product/service you're promoting...that is torture and thankfully my case is the total opposite.



Deborah: Accountant
Forever behind the scenes, always working hard.

I do believe that this is paradise, with all the comfort of home inside and all the benefits of Belize and the amenities necessary for an amazing vacation, whether it be a short trip or your vacation home. 

Besides how can I complain when the view from my office looks out to the pool and grounds of this gorgeous facility but what I love, most of all, is seeing our guests and owners having a great time. Friends chatting while tanning and sipping drinks, owners catching up and cracking jokes, laughing up a storm and families playing together. I'm a people person ,a people watcher and an eternal optimist and my job allows me to be all of these and more.

With great colleagues and a wonderful job site its easy to write about the greatness of Grand Caribe. The creative juices flow so easily when you have great weather, great views and a wonderful atmosphere. This is far cry from an office cubicle.



Efrain: Housekeeping Supervisor
Don't be fooled this is one of the hardest jobs.

What more could I ask for? Perhaps only for it to never stop, to continue meeting new people (everyone has their own stories & adventures, and their own reasons for coming and everyone equally interesting and entertaining), the weather (perhaps rainy at times) will always be moderate and the atmosphere of Belize and the island has always been the same and the atmosphere at Grand Caribe already great, like all of life's luxuries, will only get better with time.

Judy: Concierge/ Tours
She can get you on any tour or answer you questions

My colleagues and I are proud to be a part of Grand Caribe and are proud to be a part of making dream vacations come true, we simply want to show how wonderful our piece of La Isla Bonita.



Julie: Reservations
Always a call or click away

We're a group of young active Belizeans ready to show you the greatness that is Belize. Never embarrassed of our heritage and country we encourage you to come and explore the jewel that we know so well.

Together Weather for Valentine's Day at Grand Caribe

Seems like mother nature knows what date today is. The weather today definetly asks for people to cozy up. Not sure if your tropical island vacation calls for cool days or think you need a fire place?
Well what about a view of the Caribbean Sea instead? Cozy up on one of our double beach lounge chairs, grab a few beach towels, a couple coffees from the bar and cozy up while watching the boats pass by.
Or jump in the hot tub? Don't feel like stepping outside? Then have a warm bath inside your unit! 
Weather like this forces you to really slow down, stay in and relax...thats what vacations are meant for. Sometimes on vacation we find ourselves booking so many tours and keeping so busy that when you get home you have to take a few days off just to recover from all the adventures of the vacation.  
Why not relax during the day and then have a nice romantic dinner! 
We're happy to help with reservations or have Footprints cook up your special dinner and let us help you set up something nice wherever you please! 
Or need Champagne for your room, let us help you....we're happy to get anything you may need. 
The staff is always happy to help, romantics at heart, we will try to make any dream situation come true. Judy the concierge and ultimate romantic will make it her priority to make your ideas reality. 
This applies for any special day...not only Valentines! But also for Anniversaries, Birthdays, Honeymoons...any special holiday you wish to celebrate....if it happens to be St. Patrick's day we'll get you some green beer. 
And if your going solo today...not to worry!!! We can always set up a tour or let you know where the latest adventure is at.

An interview with condo owners of Grand Caribe

Mr and Mrs Mike and Myra Rio have, after years of travel, found there home away from home. Retirees from Texas, USA they were one of the first to purchase and move to Grand Caribe. As experienced travellers, they have been coming to Belize for five years and have been at Grand Caribe for three and spend approximately 4-6months in Ambergris Caye.



They agreed to sit with me for a short interview about why they chose Grand Caribe and Belize, and what they love about it.

When asked "Why Belize?" both Mr and Mrs. Rio immediately had answers, they showed confidence and security in their decision. They claimed that the decision was two-fold. Primarily, Belize as a country is (for a 3rd world country) very stable and corruption is less than in neighbouring Mexico, and both Central America and Caribbean countries; making it a secure investment. And the property value is (in their opinion) the best in the Caribbean. Secondly the culture of Belize is open and inviting, they felt that "people want you to be here." They felt safe and welcomed in San Pedro where they felt comfortable within the community.




Balcony views and more: amenities



 Once they had decided what country and town they wanted to retire in, they decided that Grand Caribe was to be their home. As mentioned before, as one of the founding owners their love grows as time passes. Initially the balcony views, open and spacious condos, three pools, pier, grounds and bar/grill sold them (the amenities). And as time passes the community of fun and adventurous home owners keep them content with their decision.



Mike Rio,Deryl Elmore, Doug Hitchens(owner) and Lyn Felker 

With that in mind, I had to ask what the greatest appeal of Grand Caribe is for them. And the list was long, and perhaps the best way to present it is in the same way I received it; that is, in a series of quotes:

 

"never feel overcrowded"                       "easy place to live"

"love housekeeping, you leave and come back to everything beautifully cleaned and set up"

                   

" just call front desk and problem solved"                               

"the weather is just great"



"you have privacy when you want and a crowd when you want"

"right location:

quiet because of northern location but with easy accessibilty to town"

 

"security! because HOA members personally know the developers

 and Grand Caribe is run by the HOA not a corporation

         so its not going to go under;

             safe investment"

I left their beautifully decorated condo feeling proud to be promoting a location which is loved by those who live here. Grand Caribe is fun, comfortable, and picturesque and the owners are very proud to call it their island home. 

--Lorena Filgueira--

Reviews of Grand Caribe

These are the two most recent reviews from TripAdvisor:

“The Best Birthday Celebration Destination”

Jan 26, 2011 | Trip type: Couples

I selected Grand Caribe from a list of resorts on Ambergris Caye off of the Internet. I liked the look of it from the pictures, but that isn't always a true representation. In this case it is 100% accurate, and we could not have been more pleased with our experience. Both my boyfriend and I agree that the Grand Caribe was the best resort we saw on the island (and we looked at others while we were there to make a comparison and judgment for subsequent visit options), in terms of location (easy beach walk, bike ride and/or jog into town), and amenities (Poolside Bar and Grill, On Site Concierge/Activity Coordinator, 24 hour security staff, and daily housekeeping). Although an exercise room would have been nice, we made do with daily runs on the dirt/sand road that runs North and South, which provided some interesting scenery. The entire staff at Grand Caribe was friendly and very accommodating. Eli set us up on two wonderful excursions, one for a half day private sailboat/snorkeling charter, and the other for a mainland Mayan Ruins full day tour. The entire trip was one of the best birthday celebrations I've ever had, and we left the island feeling more satisfied with our experience than we had even remotely anticipated. We came home raving about it with lots of photos, and our friends are now eager to arrange their own trips to Grand Caribe.

AND

“Perfect Second Home/Vacation/or Early Retirement.”

 Jan 22, 2011 | Trip type: Couples, Family

My family and I stayed at the Grand Caribe the week before Christmas (2010) and had a fantastic time in Ambergris Caye. It is easy to see after exploring the Island that Grand Caribe is one of the premier properties on the Island. We stayed in a 2 bedroom, 2 bath on the second floor and loved it. Our Condo was detailed with everything you need for a turn key perfect vacation. The condo was spacious, clean, new, beautiful, and had an abundance of staff and security. Everyone was friendly and truly seemed excited and welcoming. I have traveled all over the world and these are some of the friendliest folks I have ever encountered. It is great to experience a stay in a several hundred thousand dollar condo for a relatively nominal nightly fee. Trading money for this kind of luxury and adventure is money well spent. We made arrangements with management as others have done and enjoyed drinks, fruit, snacks, and food being selected and waiting on us when we arrived. For those who want to be pampered and for those who enjoy convenience, it’s the only way to go. We did a few tours which we enjoyed, Hol Chan, Shark ray alley, and Lamani which were all great. Swimming with nurse sharks is amazing, and I’m scared of sharks. We met other Americans in San Pedro who talked about not having to rent a golf cart because they stayed in town. I honestly think part of the charm of this small Island is the golf carts. The entire family enjoyed loading up on the golf cart and going to dinner or exploring the island in between snorkeling, swimming, jet skiing, building sand castles, etc. I'm going to St. Martin in a few months and I bummed that I wont be cruising on a golf cart. To give a fair and balanced review, the only thing that I would have preferred at the Grand Caribe is to have had a safe in the room. I would have liked having a place to lock up my cash and valuables while on the beach, although nothing in our room ever went missing. Additionally, the views are beautiful, but there is sea grass along the sea floor which seems a bit mucky, which is thoroughly noted in other reviews of Belize. My impression was that most swimming in the sea is done off the boat docks. Overall, it’s a great place to stay and a great Island that has a charm that is difficult to describe. Ambergris is a special place. I will definitely be returning for another vacation at Grand Caribe, and possibly to discuss a condo purchase.

Belize is nature and nature is Belize.



Conch Shells found on the beach!

Grand Caribe has so much to offer its guest and as this blog continues, the uniqueness of the resort as well as of Ambergris Caye and Belize itself will be discovered.

Pelicans flying over Grand Caribe

The last blog spoke of the culture of Belize, the people that inhabit this small yet culturally diverse country. And now we discover another important element of Belize, the other inhabitants which are just as diverse and laid-back. The wildlife and marine life is abundant here and make life both more exciting and more beautiful. According to the Belize Audubon Society there are "as many as 587(types) birds" in Belize. Many of which can be seen from Grand Caribe.

Belize's national animal and bird are rare and intriguing animals; the tapir and the toucan. Yet they are not the only rarities, for there are jaguars, the scarlet macaws, howler monkeys and the crocodiles to name a few of our larger more visible land loving neighbors. We also have the Barrier Reef which houses our beautiful and wondrous water loving friends, dolphins (which seem to love accompanying boats), manatees, sea turtles, sting rays, sharks and an array of fish, shellfish and invertebrates make Belize there home.

These animals are sprinkled everywhere, Belize is nature and nature is Belize; we Belizeans simply live amongst it. Our guests do the same as they stay in their island home, where nature surrounds them in the sky, in the sea and on the land.



If one quietly sits on the beach here at Grand Caribe, the nature of Belize becomes immediately apparent, snails , crabs and fish in the sea, seagulls and storks in the sky and iguanas in the trees. Being out of the hustle and bustle of San Pedro, Grand Caribe's tranquility shows off the best of nature. The reef that lines our beautiful island allows for calmer waters, a snorkelers delight! For where there are calm waters nature flourishes. We dare you to sit on the pier and count less than 20 fish or less than 5 varieties of fish. We dare you to walk the beach or go in the water and not find beautiful shells including conch shells everywhere. It all makes you want to be a collector or photographer. These are not the waters of Cancun where there isn't a fish , a bird or a shell in sight  Yet you don't have to be a tree-hugger to appreciate nature, all you have to do is be able to admire beauty in its rawest form. 


One of the hammocks at Grand Caribe

Picture it, during the day lying in a hammock swaying slightly in the breeze, amongst rustling coconut trees, a drink in hand, a low hum of music from the bar in the distance mixed with the crashing of waves along the reef, and birds flying over the water in blue skies. At night laying on a lounge chair on the beach feeling the cool breeze, hearing the waves coupled with the song of nature, the crickets and frogs who sing along in melody, while fireflies dance and mimic the twinkling stars above.    

Walking along the beach is no fun with hundreds of other tourist, no wildlife or marine life, its barren and oddly alienating.The laid-back nature of Belize's people and wildlife, like a siren, calls to people making them friendlier, they slow down, take their time, greet strangers, and make friends of strangers

Belizeans live this life with nature, admiring it daily, call us romantics but shouldn't everyone be a romantic from time to time....so.....join us? Grand Caribe is after all luxury in paradise for good reason, come explore it all from the comfort of our island homes.