VILLA VERANO HOTEL BELIZE

I never thought I would visit Belize this year because it was never on my bucket list, but my experience has been short of nothing amazing and I definitely think it’s an underrated destination! If I’m going to be honest, I had no idea what to expect from my Belize trip as I went into this booking blindly and openly. When my friend, Erin Cohen asked if I’d like to tag along, I said yes without hesitating because as you all know, I’m a huge fan of adventures and spontaneity. I normally like to research a place beforehand but since the hotels were already confirmed, for the first time I decided to just sit back and go with the flow! 

Being that Belize is in Central America, it was a bit of a hassle to get there as I had to take three flights including one from New York to Miami, another from Miami to Belize City and the last was from Belize City to Dangria to get to Hopkins Village where our first hotel was located. I would estimate the the total travel time to be about 8 hours, which is pretty long considering Central America isn’t that far from North America. There also aren’t any direct flights that would’ve taken me straight from New York to Belize City, but with any and all vacations, traveling is just something that comes with exploration. 

Surprisingly, the travels went smoother than expected and the last flight was not what I anticipated at all. The flight from Belize City to Dangria was extremely small as the plane only held about 15 passengers. The flight itself was also very short, lasting only in 15 minutes. The view of Belize and the island was stunning and I would compare the experience as having a private jet or personal helicopter. Looking back, the domestic flight itself is an adventure and I would highly recommend looking forward to the experience as part of the bigger journey if you’re ever traveling to Belize.

We stayed at Villa Verano for three days and I must say the hotel is absolutely amazing! Erin and I were lucky as we were the only ones staying here aside from the owners during this time. With that being said, we were blessed to have the first floor to ourselves which included a large living room and kitchen and of course our own bedrooms and bathrooms which were honestly bigger than my whole apartment in New York City. The rooms at Villa Verano are perfect for those who want to travel in groups and/or with family. Each room also has a theme and you can tell by the decor and design. I also really appreciated that the rooms were stock with towels and toiletries. The beachfront room also had water jugs at every corner and if you’re like me who drinks at least a gallon of water a day, then you’ll be happily hydrated!

The hotel is extremely spacious and located conveniently with a pool and beach just feet away from the back doors. Upon stepping on the sand, the two simple joys I noticed were the colorful hammocks and palm trees, both foreign sights in New York City. I knew my stay for the next three days would be peaceful, relaxing and just the getaway I needed from the cold back at home. We didn’t go during peak season so on the bright side, we were truly able to soak in everything Hopkins village had to offer but if you’re looking to interact with others, I would recommend going when it’s a busier time of year or traveling with some friends. Regardless, Villa Verano is is a great resort to simply enjoy life, soak in some sand and getaway.

If you want some activities to do during the day, you can rent bikes, kayaks and paddle boards which are all offered at the hotel. Since I don’t know how to swim, we settled for bikes and it was a lot of fun to bike towards Hopkins village when we decided to visit the grocery store. I will warn that the roads are a bit bumpy so it wasn’t the most comfortable journey but that’s the best part of the experience! I love getting out of my comfort zone, taking risks and simply being present and enjoying the ride even though I felt at times I was going to fall. I am happily pleased to report that I didn’t fall and Erin and I made it back in one piece 🙂

The staff at Verano Villa were super lovely and accommodating. Stanley took care of us and was always there at the reception should we have any questions or concerns. I should note that the hotel doesn’t have a restaurant but it’s not a huge issue because there are restaurants along the strip of the beach and within walking distance from the hotel. They also take credit cards and I didn’t have to use any cash. The people around Hopkins village were also very friendly and welcoming. Everybody also speaks English, so you won’t have to worry about getting lost in translation or communication. Overall, my introduction to Belize was a pleasant one and I want to thank Villa Verano for having us.