Almond Beach Resort at Jaguar Reef

We traveled with another couple and rented the two beach cottages closest to the pool (papaya and kinep). In general, the rooms were nice but there are a few things that could be done to make them even better. First off, the beds are some of the most uncomfortable I've ever slept on. I'm pretty sure it was just a mattress on a piece of plywood inside a frame, which wasn't very comfortable. Next up is the lighting in the bathroom. It's the only mirror in the room and the lighting is very dim, making it difficult to check your makeup, according to the ladies. In addition, the bathroom window in Kinep, that faces the pool, doesn't have a shade so people can see into the bathroom, which isn't ideal. The rooms also did not have TVs, which isn't a big deal most of the time, but it was March madness back in the states and our teams were playing, but there were no places to watch the game on the property. One thing we did like very much was the individual water coolers in our rooms. It's very nice to have water available whenever you need it and to be able to fill your own water bottles. In addition, you can't beat the location of the cottages as they're right next to the pool and steps away from the beach. One thing I would suggest to the staff is that when they're working in the mornings, cleaning the pool or doing general ground keeping - we can hear EVERYTHING you're saying as the walls/windows don't block the sound very well. It would be nice if the staff working outside of the cottages could keep their voices down, or keep their talking to a minimum early in the morning. I mean the birds are one thing - quite loud - but they can't be reasoned with... As mentioned by others, the staff really make the difference. We enjoyed Captain Larry, Chris, and bartenders Jerry and Stephen and as Chris said to me, he feels like the staff at the resort are ambassadors for Belize, which is quite true as most will have more interaction with the staff at the resort than they will with others. Finally, whenever I travel to a foreign country, I always send an email asking if there is anything I can bring for anyone on the staff that might be easier or cheaper to get in the US. I was told that the Belize collection of hotels partners with Marla's house of hope for donations. What a worthy cause this is! I contacted the director of Marla's to get an idea of what I might be able to bring. We bought a number of things that were requested (up to the weight limit of what we could pack) and placed them in a backpack for delivery. I was told I could drop it off at the front desk and they would make sure it got to Marla's. When I dropped it off, the first thing the person working the desk asked me was if she could have the backpack. I did tell her that if she thought that the kids are Marla's wouldn't have use for it, she could have it, as the items inside the backpack were really what needed to be delivered. Upon thinking about this, it was really out of line for her to ask if she could have something intended for children from abused homes. To be fair, I did say she could take it as I wasn't sure there would be a need for a backpack for the kids. After contacting Marla's to let them know what I had for them, the director asked where I dropped it off and when it would be delivered. When I returned to the front desk to ask about it, I was told that whoever took the items from me had indeed taken the backpack but then also told other staff members that they could take anything else that they wanted from what we had left with them. I honestly couldn't believe that the staff there believed that they could take the items or that I might have implied that they could. Why would I drop all of this from the US for the kids at Marla's and then have the resort staff take it? Unfortunately, I have no confidence that any of the items I brought will actually get to Marla's, which is really a shame. So, if you're like me, and want to bring something for the kids at Marla's, please bring it and then have someone from Marla's come to pick it up so that it actually gets where it's supposed to go. So, we enjoyed our stay but were disappointed in the front desk staff taking items that were intended for Marla's.

Loved this trip. Beautiful property. We took bikes into town most days and had a great time eating at local joint. Saw a manatee from kayak right in front of hotel.

Breakfast and dinner at The Paddle were very good and in an open air space. When one vegetarian meal was disappointing the wait staff provided an alternative without question. We liked drinks with plantain chips and Belizean salsa on the dock's Ceviche. Enjoyed the view from our balcony of the sea, pool, palms and attractive, muted lights at night.

Because we asked for 2 separate beds, 2 of us were placed in 2 overly spacious rooms - one with queen and one with king bed. A single room with 2 beds may not be an option. Very disappointed that windows designed to open were sealed shut. At night, open, screened windows would have been a bonus. The concierge arranged for us to go snorkeling. The condition of the reef we visited was depressing with little marine life. The boat was flawed and potentially dangerous with rusted screws on the ladder that were hard to avoid stepping on with bare feet when using the ladder. No meals included. Continental breakfast would be nice for the price.

The Almond Beach by Jaguar Reef was a beautiful little resort in Hopkins. Very quiet and a little out of the main town. Great for relaxation. The only issue we had was the water wasn’t working in my building for most of the afternoon on our second day. This made it difficult to shower or use the facilities, all was rectified around dinner time and the resort was nice enough to offer a free bottle of wine to our room for the inconveniences. A little note, that the resort should supply cutlery, napkins and extra plates if you are doing takeout to your room from the pizzeria restaurant.

Amazing luxurious resort in Hopkins. We stayed in the cabins right on the ocean. Fabulous and friendly staff members who go out of their way to ensure our every need is met and we are comfortable. Heidi and Julio welcomed us and gave us a tour. They were very professional and attentive. Captain Larry was a great source of information letting us know all about the resort and nearby town of Hopkins. Delicious food at the resort and the drinks are delicious! There is a dock that overlooks the water with a bar and cool viewing nets of the fish below. The grounds of this resort are tastefully done and well thought out. The nearby town of Hopkins was a delight to visit. You must try some of their cultural Garifuna foods! This place was simply wonderful from start to finish. You can’t go wrong staying at the jaguar beach resort!

Service is great and the staff is very friendly. Captain Larry on the beach is a great source of information. He was very helpful. We stayed in the Papaya cabin on the beach, it was quiet and very clean. We loved the view as we were directly on the beach.

What a wonderful little resort. This is perfect for couples or even families that aren’t looking for a wild party. The drinks are incredible, food is great, and the pools and amenities are flawless. Will definitely be back.

Tahida was very helpful for us :-)

we had a bit of trouble with some staff confusion but a beautiful property

We stayed on the Almond Beach side of the resort for 16 nights. Our room was very comfortable and large with great views over the pool and beach. The room and a few of the staff are why we would give the resort 4 stars. The ceviche at the Big Dock Bar and the pizza at Don Tonito's were very good but quite expensive compared to what is available in Hopkins and at other resorts. The food at the Lodge was mediocre at best. Additionally, the portions are very small and very expensive. We ate there a few times and then simply gave up. There are much better restaurants near the resort and in downtown Hopkins that serve all kinds of cuisines for about half the price. We stayed at the resort 11 years ago and found it to be very different. Primarily because the atmosphere was much less relaxed and friendly. The staff was very courteous but also very stiff. It felt as though they were trying too hard. Over a 30 minute lunch at the Lodge, 5 or 6 different people interrupted us to ask if everything was okay. It was honestly annoying. That said, several of the staff deserve huge kudos for friendliness and going the distance to make sure we were comfortable. Captain Larry and Milky were always around for fun conversation and to make sure that we had everything we needed for the day. Lucas was our bartender at the BIg Dock Bar and did a great job mixing drinks and getting ceviche orders out to everyone. Jerry and Steven also did a great job at the pool bar. Housekeeping gets 2 stars. We asked for them to come every 2 days at the start of our trip. Instead of simply setting up a schedule, we got a text every night to ask if we wanted housekeeping and someone knocked on the door every day to check as well. They rarely cleaned or mopped the floors. After 5 days, it was clear that no one had taken the time to clean the shower area. Basically, they just came in and changed the sheets and towels without bothering to clean floors and surfaces. The resort is great but if you are looking for a relaxed and friendly vibe, this is not the place to go.