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Hi,

My fiancee and I are planning our honeymoon this fall to Belize and
are trying to decide between Blancaneaux and Chaa Creek. We are
looking for any information (especially comparative) on these two
places, and in particular on the high-end options at each. The
tree-top jacuzzi suites at Chaa Creek sound very intriguing...

Thanks in advance,
Annie

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I've stayed at both several times. Both are excellent lodges. I'd be hard put
to recommend one over the other.

The villas at Blancaneaux are among my very favorite lodging choices in all of
Belize. They are fantastic in every way. I have not yet stayed in the new
treetop suites at Chaa Creek, though I have stayed in the garden suites at Chaa
Creek, which was wonderful, too.

One consideration is the areas where they are located. Blancaneaux is in the
Mountain Pine Ridge and Chaa Creek is west of San Ignacio in cottage country,
near the Macal River.

I guess my recommendation would be to spend a few days at each, as there are
different things to see in each area and while you can stay in one area and
visit the other, it is easier and less time consuming to see the areas nearby
rather than driving an hour or two each way.

--Lan Sluder
Belize books and publications by Lan Sluder:
Belize First Magazine (http://www.belizefirst.com)
Fodor's Belize & Guatemala Gold Guide (new 4th edition now out)
Adapter Kit: Belize (the first and only comprehensive guide to living,
retiring, working and investing in Belize -- a best-seller on Amazon.com)
San Pedro Cool (the first and only visitor guide to Ambergris Caye)
Belize First Guide to Mainland Belize -- sold out, new edition coming 2003
UpClose Central America
Belize Book of Lists -- sold out, new edition coming 2003
Best Hotels of Belize -- coming early 2003
Fodor's Caribbean Ports of Call (Belize chapter) -- coming in 2003
Fodor's Central America Gold Guide (Belize chapter) -- out now

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I've been at Blancaneaux twice. Excellent.

My ILs stayed at at Chaa Creek and were more than little disappointed.
Garbage, etc.

Have a great time on your honeymoon, wherever you stay!!

On 30 Apr 2003 07:43:32 -0700, flyfish72@fastmail.fm (Annie Bibble)
wrote:

>Hi,
>
>My fiancee and I are planning our honeymoon this fall to Belize and
>are trying to decide between Blancaneaux and Chaa Creek. We are
>looking for any information (especially comparative) on these two
>places, and in particular on the high-end options at each. The
>tree-top jacuzzi suites at Chaa Creek sound very intriguing...
>
>Thanks in advance,
>Annie

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I'm very very surprised to hear about "garbage" at Chaa Creek. I've been there
probably a dozen times and one of the lodge's attributes is immaculate,
beautifully landscaped grounds. Mick and Lucy Fleming have a staff of about 70
who keep the lodge running like a Rolls-Royce. I don't think I've ever seen as
much as piece of paper on the ground, much less garbage.

--Lan Sluder
www.belizefirst.com

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I've heard about it more than once.

Get a life, Lan.

On 04 May 2003 16:36:50 GMT, bzefirst@aol.com (BZEFIRST) wrote:

>I'm very very surprised to hear about "garbage" at Chaa Creek. I've been there
>probably a dozen times and one of the lodge's attributes is immaculate,
>beautifully landscaped grounds. Mick and Lucy Fleming have a staff of about 70
>who keep the lodge running like a Rolls-Royce. I don't think I've ever seen as
>much as piece of paper on the ground, much less garbage.
>
>--Lan Sluder
>www.belizefirst.com

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Ok, so is there anyone else out there who can offer another opinion?
There seems to be a sharp (and bitter?) divide here...

Haruspex <seer@nospam.net> wrote in message news:<ku8bbvosndm6hb6v57544eslnbevlugq83@4ax.com>...
> I've heard about it more than once.
>
> Get a life, Lan.
>
> On 04 May 2003 16:36:50 GMT, bzefirst@aol.com (BZEFIRST) wrote:
>
> >I'm very very surprised to hear about "garbage" at Chaa Creek. I've been there
> >probably a dozen times and one of the lodge's attributes is immaculate,
> >beautifully landscaped grounds. Mick and Lucy Fleming have a staff of about 70
> >who keep the lodge running like a Rolls-Royce. I don't think I've ever seen as
> >much as piece of paper on the ground, much less garbage.
> >
> >--Lan Sluder
> >www.belizefirst.com

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It's not a division of opinion. Haruspex is passing on second-hand
information. He says he has never been to Chaa Creek himself. I have been
there many times, stayed there many times, have been banging around Belize for
a dozen years and have written a half dozen guidebooks to the country.

He is possibly thinking about Chan Chich Lodge. The names are slightly similar
and the two lodges are sometimes confused by people who have not been there.
While Chan Chich is wonderful, in some ways even better than Chaa Creek, in the
past a few people have commented on the garbage pile there from the kitchen
there (which actually has played a role in attracting jaguars).

--Lan Sluder
www.belizefirst.com

>><< Subject: Re: Blancaneaux vs. Chaa Creek?
From: flyfish72@fastmail.fm (Annie Bibble)
Date: Tue, May 6, 2003 5:08 PM
Message-id: <fa1d6ca8.0305061308.41fb4448@posting.google.com>

Ok, so is there anyone else out there who can offer another opinion?
There seems to be a sharp (and bitter?) divide here...

Haruspex <seer@nospam.net> wrote in message
news:<ku8bbvosndm6hb6v57544eslnbevlugq83@4ax.com>...
> I've heard about it more than once.
>
> Get a life, Lan.
>
> On 04 May 2003 16:36:50 GMT, bzefirst@aol.com (BZEFIRST) wrote:
>
> >I'm very very surprised to hear about "garbage" at Chaa Creek. I've been
there
> >probably a dozen times and one of the lodge's attributes is immaculate,
> >beautifully landscaped grounds. Mick and Lucy Fleming have a staff of about
70
> >who keep the lodge running like a Rolls-Royce. I don't think I've ever seen
as
> >much as piece of paper on the ground, much less garbage.
> >
> >--Lan Sluder
> >www.belizefirst.com





>><BR><BR>

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For what it is worth, I own land in Belize and I've lived there. Lan is one of
the foremost and most consistent voices on the hospitality industry in Belize. His
reputation is very, very hard to contest. While one might disagree from time to
time with an opinion or two, his hard work and thorough approach are very
admirable. He knows his stuff.

BZEFIRST wrote:

> It's not a division of opinion. Haruspex is passing on second-hand
> information. He says he has never been to Chaa Creek himself. I have been
> there many times, stayed there many times, have been banging around Belize for
> a dozen years and have written a half dozen guidebooks to the country.
>
> He is possibly thinking about Chan Chich Lodge. The names are slightly similar
> and the two lodges are sometimes confused by people who have not been there.
> While Chan Chich is wonderful, in some ways even better than Chaa Creek, in the
> past a few people have commented on the garbage pile there from the kitchen
> there (which actually has played a role in attracting jaguars).
>
> --Lan Sluder
> www.belizefirst.com
>
> >><< Subject: Re: Blancaneaux vs. Chaa Creek?
> From: flyfish72@fastmail.fm (Annie Bibble)
> Date: Tue, May 6, 2003 5:08 PM
> Message-id: <fa1d6ca8.0305061308.41fb4448@posting.google.com>
>
> Ok, so is there anyone else out there who can offer another opinion?
> There seems to be a sharp (and bitter?) divide here...
>
> Haruspex <seer@nospam.net> wrote in message
> news:<ku8bbvosndm6hb6v57544eslnbevlugq83@4ax.com>...
> > I've heard about it more than once.
> >
> > Get a life, Lan.
> >
> > On 04 May 2003 16:36:50 GMT, bzefirst@aol.com (BZEFIRST) wrote:
> >
> > >I'm very very surprised to hear about "garbage" at Chaa Creek. I've been
> there
> > >probably a dozen times and one of the lodge's attributes is immaculate,
> > >beautifully landscaped grounds. Mick and Lucy Fleming have a staff of about
> 70
> > >who keep the lodge running like a Rolls-Royce. I don't think I've ever seen
> as
> > >much as piece of paper on the ground, much less garbage.
> > >
> > >--Lan Sluder
> > >www.belizefirst.com
>
> >><BR><BR>

--
Vera incessu patuit dea
(By her walk, the goddess was revealed)
Vergil, The Aeneid

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