For most of its years of independence, Belize has kept its hotels and resorts under local management, with almost no chain hotels anywhere in the country. So there was a lot of trepidation among locals when a new Hilton Curio Collection property opened on Ambergris Caye. We’re happy to report, however, that Mahogany Bay Village Resort and Beach Club is brimming with personality.

Mahogany Bay Village BelizeWe got to visit this still-new-looking resort at the end of the year and were impressed with all the features big and small that make this tropical resort unique. Mahogany Bay Village lives up to that name with “rooms” that are mostly cottages and townhouses, plus a collection of food stands and independent restaurants that provide a huge variety addition to the main resort ones. Some of these are small food kiosks selling hot dogs or wings, but there is also a coffee shop, a cocktail bar with lots of infusions on offer, and a well-regarded Japanese restaurant serving fresh sushi.

This Hilton Curio Collection resort faces a lagoon instead of the reef, which gives it one advantage over most on Ambergris Caye: terrific sunsets. Since it doesn’t have its own beach, however, the owners set up their own private beach club reached by a hotel shuttle boat. It is only open to guests and it has a restaurant and bar where you can charge items to your room while relaxing by or in the water.

Come take a tour and check the place out!

Other nice touches include some environmental aspects such as gravel paths and streets instead of paved ones, refilled toiletries in the bathrooms, and an organic garden that supplies greens, herbs, and some vegetables for the main restaurant. The architecture has a real sense of place too, the main building feeling more like a British officer’s club in the tropics rather than a hotel.

The swimming pool here is one of the largest in Belize, long enough to do laps if you’d like, with comfortable lounge chairs with waiter service having a view of the lagoon. It’s only a few steps to the bar with outdoor seating too and lounge chairs have regular and USB electrical outlets next to them.

There’s plenty of room to spread out when you’re not in the public areas, however. Most of the rooms here do not have standard hotel room layouts. They’re more like wooden beach houses with screen-in porches, open-air showers, and some kind of kitchen area. For the multi-bedroom units, those kitchens are the kind you would see in a really nice house, with a prep island in the middle, and are well-equipped for cooking and dining.

There are plenty of additional services on site too, such as a full gym, golf cart rentals, and a tour company, so you could get by without ever leaving the place on your own. Choose each day between adventures, the pool, or the beach club.

Mahogany Bay Beach Club Belize

Since this is a Hilton property, you’ve now got a place you can earn or cash in those Hilton Honors points in Belize and take advantage of any status you may have for an upgrade. You get the benefit of their corporate training program ensuring that you’ve got good service and since it’s all in English in Belize, no communication issues. With a reasonably priced pick-up service from the local airport or water taxi dock, you can put yourself in their hands from the start and be sure it’ll be smooth sailing upon arrival.

We weren’t quite sure what to expect before showing up here but were delighted with the extensive facilities and the spacious design of the accommodations. This is a unique offering that’s like nothing else in Ambergris Caye and is definitely worth considering for your next vacation.

See more photos and our detailed review of Mahogany Bay Resort in Belize.