Bump.

For the guys who responded about Ambergris Caye, have you ever stayed at MataRocks or Sunbreeze Hotel/Resort? Any hotel recommendations on the island? If you've stayed at those two specifically, I'd really like to hear your thoughts. Thanks.

it has been a while, but i have stayed at mata rocks two times. from what i remember the rooms were ok, clean and somewhat smallish. the whole place is rather small, maybe 25 or so rooms. there are two beach front suites that are larger and are right on the ocean. the pool is also really small but okay to cool off in. i like their beach bar and drink there often. the beach area in front of the hotel is decent enough and you are just a few hundred yards south of a larger very nice beach. no restaurant on site, but i think they furnish a comp continental breakfast.(at least they used to) i think they offer some sandwhiches and/or hot dogs at the bar. there is a pretty good restaurant right next door at banana beach that serves all 3 meals. it is about a 20 minute walk to the town center.

never stayed at sunbreeze but the restaurant there (blue water grill) has been very good over the years. this is a much larger property and is right in town, actually right across the street from the airport. possibly noisy if staying in the front. from what i recall the rooms are arranged in a courtyard type configuration. not sure if they have ocean front rooms or not. the restauant/bar is right on the beach and the pool is near there also. the people who own/run the place also have another hotel (the phoenix) which is kind of high end, and two other restaurants.

Good info about MataRocks, thanks. As for the beach area in front of the hotel, do people actually like sit out there? The stuff I've been reading has made it seem like that beach area is for walking to town, not actually hanging out there and relaxing. What about the larger beach area nearby that is larger, are people lounging there? I feel like I don't just want to sit by the pool all day every day we are there (not that doing it at the beach is much different, but it sort of is).

As for Sunbreeze, do you think that staying near the airport is going to be annoying as far as getting sleep. Like is it especially noisy? Do you think the tradeoff of staying right in town (near shops, restaurants, and probably still the beach) is worth it if it's a little noisier, or would 20 minutes away but quieter(/better) be worth it. I'm concerned also that having to walk 20 minutes twice a day (lunch/dinner) is going to be a bitch. As for the Phoenix, it's like 300 a nite, so we won't be staying there.

mata rocks beach has some lounges and hammocks that i see people using. there is a fair amount of foot traffic that cruises by, probably much more in the evening. the other beach is much larger/wider and i have seen people hanging out there during the day, and locals with kids in the late afternoon and evening.

i would guess airport noise at sunbreeze would be the worst in the morning...starting around 7 a.m. not really sure though as i never stayed there. they really don't do any/much flying from sundown to sunup. it might be more convenient to stay closer to town if you want to try alot of different bars and restaurants. there are any number of places really close to sunbreeze. i don't remember much about their beach area, but there is a nice beach a little south of there at ramons. supposed to be good snorkeling around ramon's pier. i think there is a tour operator on that pier also...catamaran trips, diving, snorkeling and others.