Alaia Belize, Autograph Collection — Hotel in San Pedro Town

This comprehensive review presents both positive and areas for improvement regarding the Alaia Belize Resort.||Significant problem:|If you’re a Marriott Bonvoy member and book the all-inclusive package, you won’t receive the correct amount of Bonvoy points because Marriott doesn’t recognize this charge as a direct Marriott charge. Even though the booking must be made by calling the hotel or while at the hotel, and all the spending is done on hotel property. We appealed this issue, and this is what we were told. I’m very disappointed with how Marriott handled this. My last two emails didn’t receive a response from Marriott. ||Positive Aspects:||- Property Maintenance: The resort was vey well maintained, clean and well-kept. You could tell the resort was fairly new and the staff has worked to|keep it up. |- Landscaping and Grounds: The landscaping and grounds were aesthetically pleasing.|- Staff: The staff exhibited exceptional friendliness and helpfulness. (Extra credit to Henry, Elvis, Alejandro, Aaron, Chris and Josue all made our experience extra special with their service.)|- Concierge: The concierge provided exceptional assistance and support.|- Tour and Excursion Convenience: The resort offered convenient options for scheduling tours and excursions with hotel pick-up and return services. It also allowed you to make one payment to hotel upon checkout for anything booked through the concierge, which was very convenient..|- Off-Property Activities: The resort provided a diverse range of activities beyond the property.|- Fitness Center: The fitness center was well-equipped and surpassed the way provided at most standard hotels. We utilized the gym 7 days during our stay and there was more than ample equipment and space to get a thorough workout done. |- Room Service: Room service was exceptional and provided ample portions.|- Breakfast: Breakfast was excellent and served in generous portions.|-Lunch/Snacks: The Deck and The Terrace offered consistently excellent service, more than adequate food options with good to better than food quality. (Grilled shrimp, jerk chicken wings and beef fajitas were our go|to orders)|- Housekeeping: Housekeeping was thorough and fairly meticulous.|- Overall Impression: The resort offered one of the more refined accommodations and beautiful properties I have encountered. The staff, particularly the concierge, left a lasting positive impression.||Areas for Improvement:||- Dining Quality: |The dinner food and alcohol selection fell short of expectations.|- Activities for Younger Children: |The resort lacked adequate activities for children aged 9-15, with options confined to the pool or a playground suitable for the youngest guests.|- Sargassum Odor: |The resort experienced an unpleasant sargassum odor, which was beyond our control. However, daily boat departures to remove the sargassum alleviated the issue.|- Housekeeping: |While overall, I was very impressed with the housekeeping and the staff. However, there were several issues that should be addressed. In our original room, The Oceanfront Villa 3-Bedroom Villa, the refrigerator had a 51-day-old water filter that was never replaced by the staff. In our second room, The Vista Suite 1-Bedroom Suite Resort View Balcony, there was a significant buildup of a green, hard algae-looking substance on the water faucets and shower heads, indicating that they were not cleaned properly. While I can understand that saltwater can take a toll on exterior items, it should not be allowed on bathroom faucets or showerheads.|-Additionally, I noticed mold in the ice maker on our final day. I photographed it and will send it to the staff.|Hotel Policy:|- There was signage indicating that personal speakers were not allowed at the pool. However, on one day, this was not enforced as a group was playing country music from their own personal, small, orange Bose speaker.|- There was a sign that said that the pool may only be used by Alaia Residences. This was not true as the resort sold guest passes to individuals who did not stay at the resort. When asked, the resort stated that individuals not staying on the property could purchase a day-pass to the resort online. This was extremely disappointing as the individuals purchasing this day-pass altered the ambiance and feel of the resort. You could tell that they could not afford to stay here and thus reduced the overall experience significantly. One of two of my largest complaints.||Food/Dining:|- Despite offering an all-inclusive option, the dinner options were not worth the cost. Here are some examples:|- We dined at Sea Salt on two occasions, and both meals were severely lacking. The food was not cooked correctly. The steaks were overdone and cold. Other food items (short rib, oxtail ravioli, and sides) were all served cold. The service was extremely slow and lacked enthusiasm and care. One night (July 8), we were the only table in the restaurant, and it took over an hour to get our entrees, and this was without ordering appetizers. Mosquitoes were present inside the restaurant, which, as we understand, cannot be stopped; they were a nuisance, and when we mentioned it to the staff, they stared at us like we were speaking a different language instead of offering a solution. The staff seemed very disinterested and not very attentive, almost as if we were a bother to them.|- We tried sushi on the Vista Rooftop on July 8, and the tuna was unedible. It had turned and was not of sashimi grade. The rest of the sushi was on par with grocery store sushi. The head manager there was very understanding when we told her about the tuna, and after trying it, she realized it had turned. She offered to bring us something else, but we were turned off, which she understood.|- The alcohol selection was far more limited and of lesser quality than other all-inclusive resorts we have stayed at. The bourbon and rum selection was very limited, and for a few more dollars added to the total cost of the all-inclusive, brands like Woodford and Myers could be added.||Day by Day review of our experience:||7/5 Arrival: |It was a wonderful experience. The bellman, Eric, greeted us at the car and began unloading our bags. We also immediately noticed several uniformed security personnel at the front entrance, which was reassuring. The hotel was much grander and more striking than the photographs we had seen online prior to booking. Upon entering the lobby, we were greeted with cold towels and cold refreshments. We were swiftly checked and shown to our three-bedroom villa. I must say that this villa was one of the finest hotel accommodations anyone in our party has ever stayed at (we are more traveled than many). The beds were incredibly comfortable, the bathrooms were exceptional with walk-in tile showers and a soaking tub in the master. The kitchen was more than adequate with modern full-size appliances. I cannot emphasize how amazing the space is. We had dinner at the Deck Restaurant, which was precisely what we needed after a long day of traveling.||7/6: Room service breakfast, pool day, dinner at Sea Salt: |Just the day we needed after a very long day of travel the day before. The staff at the Blue Hole (pool bar) were exceptional. They quickly became acquainted with our group and made every effort to ensure our comfort and satisfaction.||7/7: San Pedro day: |Regrettably, the city was quite disappointing. The neighborhoods were in a state of disrepair, and the shops were excessively touristy and Americanized. However, we did stop at a bar called Palapa, which served delectable homemade mozzarella sticks. We were able to access the water as they had a dock with steps leading to an area featuring tied intertubes.||7/8: Fishing Day|On the fishing day, we caught a significant number of fish. However, only two individuals were permitted to fish at a time, which proved somewhat disappointing given the group size of four. The fish we caught were small, but we arrived later in the morning, allowing the fish to bite for a few hours before the sun’s intensity became excessive and reduced their activity.||Our guides from Amigos Del Mar were exceptionally kind and encouraging throughout the excursion. It was an older man and his nephew who were our guides. If you enjoy fishing and seek an enjoyable experience, this trip is highly recommended. For our 11-year-old daughter, it was an ideal activity.||If you are seeking a deep-sea or ocean fishing experience with large fish, this excursion may not be suitable. In such cases, it is advisable to consider a specialized tour focused on catching large fish.||7/9: Altun Ha, Zip Line, and Cave Tubing:|On the second day, we visited Altun Ha and engaged in zip line and cave tubing activities. If you have the financial means to pay the $25/person fee for a flight to the main island, it is an investment that will be well worth it.||Our guide, Albert from Belize & Me, was exceptional. He was one of the most knowledgeable and energetic tour guides, genuinely caring about our experience.||Before embarking on our tours, we stopped at a local breakfast shop for breakfast sandwiches. Subsequently, we made a brief stop at a nearby grocery store to purchase an item we had forgotten. This brief delay, approximately 10 minutes at most, did not significantly impact our itinerary.||We then drove to Altun Ha. The drive was not particularly spectacular, as the majority of the route was inland and the roads were rough, which is characteristic of developing countries. Altun Ha was, however, spectacular. While I have visited other Mayan ruin sites, this one, despite its smaller size compared to others, was remarkably impressive due to the fact that visitors were permitted to walk up and down the monument. Albert’s exceptional knowledge of the site was evident throughout our tour, providing valuable insights that complemented the information provided by the tour company. He captured numerous photographs of our group, including special shots of each individual to preserve their memories of this memorable experience.||Upon concluding our tour, we made a brief restroom stop and resumed our journey to embark on a zip-lining adventure. The zip-lining experience was comparable to any other location, with adequate and swift lines. The guides were exceptionally knowledgeable, highly accommodating, and proved to be a delightful companion throughout the excursion. We traversed the rainforest and crossed the Belize River on our zip lines.||Subsequently, we halted for lunch, savoring Belize stew chicken accompanied by rice and beans. While the dish lacked sufficient gravy, it provided a satisfying meal and appeased our culinary desires.||Our final stop was cave tubing. Albert had made special arrangements for someone to transport our tubes to the cave’s entrance, which was a convenient arrangement considering the approximately 30-minute hike. Although I did not measure the distance, I estimate it to be close to a mile and a half.||The hike was remarkably unobtrusive, and along the route, Albert provided insightful commentary on the rainforest’s flora and fauna, as well as its native species. The trail featured three river crossings, which were the only potential challenge for any participant. Fortunately, no one in our group encountered any difficulties, including my nearly 82-year-old father-in-law.||The cave tubing excursion was the pinnacle of our day. The awe-inspiring nature of the surroundings is unparalleled and cannot be adequately expressed. Once again, Albert delighted us with his anecdotes and extensive knowledge of the area, complementing the customary fare expected from tour guides. He diligently ensured that each member of our group had an enjoyable experience, diligently pointing out noteworthy sights and meticulously capturing group photographs as mementos of the occasion.||Finally, we drove back to the airport.||My sole critique of the day was the perceived rush and rapidity of the driving, which was attributed to the time constraints imposed upon Albert by the tour company and the scheduled flights.||7/10: breakfast, and snorkeling at Hol Chan and Shark Ray Alley||Breakfast was consistent as it was the entire trip with the large portions that were cooked fairly well. The omelette was slightly over but still good. ||The resort’s own dive service, connected to the resort, is undoubtedly one of the most exceptional amenities offered. Belize Pro Dive Center provides exceptional experiences. We took our 11-year-old daughter for her first open-water, snorkeling adventure in the Caribbean. It was one of the most successful experiences of the trip. Our two guides were exceptionally helpful and understanding. Hol Chan was significantly superior to Shark Ray Alley, as Shark Ray Alley, in my opinion, is merely a tourist attraction where they feed nurse sharks to entice them to come in. Hol Chan allowed for a much more natural experience, as it is a natural reserve with breathtaking reefs.||7/11 Check-in to New Room, Refresher and Beginners Dive, and Pool Day:||We once again utilized the Belize Pro Dive Center for a refresher and beginners dive course to scuba diving. It was an efficient use of time, allowing for a 45-minute dive at Hol Chan, reaching a maximum depth of 28 feet. Overall, this was a very good use of our time. It was a great value, as it enables individuals who have never been scuba diving or those who are otherwise certified to obtain a quick refresher on the essential information necessary for a fun and successful dive experience. We encountered numerous marine creatures, including several close encounters with stingrays, sea turtles, and nurse sharks. All the other coral fish were abundant, with several sightings of barracudas within arm’s reach.||We spent the afternoon at the pool. The most disappointing aspect of Alaia, aside from the food, is the policy that permits non-resort guests to purchase a pool day pass, which accounted for a significant portion of the pool-goers during the middle of the day. These individuals appear to diminish the overall ambiance and quality of the experience. I recommend that Alaia discontinue this policy, as it disrupts the resort’s atmosphere, as the primary reason for paying for a stay is to avoid encountering individuals who are loud, obnoxious, wearing inappropriate bathing attire, and otherwise unpleasant.||We visited the front desk to inquire about the sale of guest passes. They informed us that when the resort is at capacity, they do not sell guest passes on-site, but they can still be purchased online. This proved to be a recurring issue throughout our stay.||We subsequently checked out of the three-bedroom villa and into a one-bedroom suite with an ocean view and a pool view. Overall, the room was exceptionally impressive, meeting my expectations for the hotel.||We dined at The Deck, which was the most enjoyable dinner we had on property. Both of us enjoyed the Reef and Beef, which was the first time that steaks were prepared promptly, served hot, and cooked to perfection. Mine was slightly under medium-rare, with a blue center that exceeded my preference for medium-rare.||7/12: Secret Beach, Pool, Room Service:||On the final day of our stay in San Pedro, we rented a golf cart and drove to a secluded beach. The round trip took approximately 45 minutes. Overall, the beach experience was enjoyable, albeit somewhat touristy as expected. The establishment offered a wide range of activities for children and adults, ensuring everyone’s entertainment.||The cuisine was exceptional, while the drinks were average. Overall, it was a worthwhile experience.||The northern side of San Pedro appears to be more sophisticated than downtown. However, it retains the influence of American culture, evident in its improved roads, better buildings, and significantly reduced presence of street vendors.||One aspect that Alaia lacked was the absence of children’s activities. A simple water park, similar to the one at Secret Beach, would have greatly enhanced the enjoyment for children accompanying their parents.||Upon our return, we spent the afternoon at the pool. It was just after 5 o’clock, and most of the day-pass guests had departed, creating a more relaxed and intimate atmosphere. We also noticed a sign indicating that the pool was reserved for residents at the Alaia, which contradicted their day-pass policy.||The day-pass policy significantly detracted from the overall Alaia experience.||We enjoyed room service in our room, which was exceptional. The staff at the restaurant made an exception and delivered food from our preferred establishment. As usual, room service was of the highest quality.||7/13 Checkout day:||Proceeded smoothly. Elvis, the doorman and Bellman was as excellent as always. He arrived promptly in our room, took our bags downstairs, and waited for us to board our transfer taxi to the airport. We then returned to Belize City to see family before...

Extremely dissapointed and concerned with how a hotel this presitigous could have a blatant disregard for the lives and safety of their guests. AMAZING staff, view and water activities with the company connected to the resort, However this “beach” resort has one unforgivable flaw it's pathetic excuse of a “beach.” The extent of marriots “beach” a set of about 10-12 beach chairs and about 20 ft wide area (not joking see pics attached) where the water meets the sand, filled with seagrass, dark murky water with absolutely no visibility. Compared to the pictures on the website this felt like being catfished with all of the rest of the beach being under construction. Now I've been to “bad” beaches in the US (Galveston) but even the lake 10 minutes from your house might have a better “beach” than this. To bypass the seagrass that collects at the shores most local swimming areas and resorts offer a dock with a swimming ladder, of course the marriot a 4 star beach resort does NOT have anything of the sort. This area is also a HUGE safety concern. I am surprised no one has been injured or killed. Now, normally in high traffic zone such as this (there is a dive shop right next to the area with boats regularly passing by and jet skis that drive THROUGH the swimming area as the rental is also located in this 20 ft little beach streach) there are bouys to warn ships this is a swimming area. However at the Marriot there is nothing of the sort. Not a bouy not a warning NOTHING. As a result of this negligence you have teenage boys on jet skis blowing right past people in the water at a dangerously high speed. I was swimming with my head up (much closer to the shore from the limit of the deck given to me by the front staff which again I had to ask what the limit was (there's no warning to guests as to how far to swim). Usually beach regulations require vehicles in swimming areas go very slow and watch for swimmers after a certain “point” indicated by buoys or a sign. If you have children DO NOT let them swim in this beach, all you need is a child looking in the water with goggles and one jet ski. Of course there is no lifeguard on deck either. I am an experienced swimmer who was swimming with my head up and I had to haul butt to get out of the way of a speeding jetski. Again you have at least 2-3 boats passing every fifteen minutes so this is quite a likely outcome. When I expressed this utter lack of safety to the staff and managers they agreed with me that it was extremely dangerous to swim, that they themselves had expressed this to Marriott and bouys should be implemented & recommended I wade in right by the shore and swim in the pool. If I wanted to swim in a pool there's a la fitness right by my home and there's plenty of dark murky water I can wade in right by my home without the worry of being dismembered. The fact that such a glaringly obvious safety concern is known about and NOTHING is done makes me realize this is not a result of negligence but rather a blatant disregard for the safety and lives of guests. If such an apparent safety protocol is ignored I wonder where else they are cutting corners. Belize is a beautiful country and ambergris caye has beautiful areas. However if you would like to enjoy Belize I would recommend booking ANY of the other resorts with better beach access and regard for the lives and safety of their guests. I would not recommend this resort to anyone, even if you are simply planning on getting drunk by the pool. There are cheaper resorts here that actually care about their guests, and the risk is not worth it. We are platinum Marriott members and have had excellent experiences at their Cancun resort but this made me lose all faith in Marriot. I am excited to come back Belize and stay in a DIFFERENT resort with beach access so I can enjoy my stay. Very disappointed, avoid it if you plan on going to the beach at the BEACH resort you are staying at. Hopefully they fix this risk (that again they already know is a risk!!) before someone gets injured or, God...

Overall I rate this resort a high 3/low 4 star.

Resort has been open now for ~7 months and it shows in both good and not so good ways.

The resort has ~68 units in the main building area that are 2 bedroom equivalent. I say equivalent because they have one bedroom and studio lock offs.

One thing to note that while this is an Autograph hotel it is an ownership hotel (units have been purchased) and that plays into the dynamic here (more on that in a bit).

Main hotel rooms have been developed recently and combined with an old Banyan Bay resort (Reef bldgs now) that have been refurbished but not nearly up to resort standards.

Pros: Wait staff and pool side staff are fantastic! Always coming by and checking in and very willing to get you whatever you need (e.g. drinks, food and towels). Several individuals to name a few - Blanca, Nigel, Vanessa, Bianca were great.

Room furniture and design are well done (except studio lanai - comment below).

One bedroom option is a very nice room. Do not waste money on studio!

Cabanas - rental options is great. You just need to spend $75 or $150 (US) in food and drink (depending of the size of cabana) to reserve which is very easy to do (two lunches and 4 drinks during the day will get you there for $75).

On site dock area where you can book snorkel and driving excursions which are fantastic (definitely worth doing!).

The Beach Bar by the dock area is a nice place to grab a drink and a pizza.

On site Covid tests - we prepaid via Maya Air @ $69 per test and since hotel and Maya air are owned by the same person (as we were told) we can have it done on site just show our Maya Air receipt.

Okay: Food and drink options are decent with prices that are fair.

Beach area is nice but…water is not much to swim in as seaweed dominates this portion of the beach area and renders it useless for swimming.

They have golf carts on site for rent (very convenient and new) however when we inquired many weeks prior to our stay they stated the rate was $300 per week (typical of vendors outside of the hotel) but upon arrival we were told $500 per week (we had in writing via email $300). Ultimately (after 15 minutes of arguing) they honored the $300 rate.

We were offered free continental breakfast ($18 value) for my wife and I as part of the Marriott loyalty. We did ask one day can we upgrade to the $24 egg breakfast (willing to pay the extra $6) and was told “no they will charge you the whole amount but some guests have argued and gotten charged just the difference.”

Poor: Check in staff has been adequate at best and sometimes surly.

Studio room is small and balcony is an extremely poor design and has only seating for one person facing sideways (not out as the balcony is far too narrow and open to the hallway on one side).

If you are an elite Marriott rewards member (I am Titanium) forgot about any upgrades or perks. We reserved a studio and asked about an upgrade (which candidly I usually get before I arrive) but was shown a two bedroom in the old Banyan Bay (Reef) section that was the equivalent of being in a basement apartment (dark and musty).

When we inquired about the one bedrooms in the main hotel we were told that was not an option. We spoke with the manager on duty and he said he had 10% open at the moment and could not accommodate our request. After about 30 minutes of discussion he offered us an $18 dollar a night discount to upgrade (off of $125 a night premium). This is where the ownership portion comes into account, since these units are owned and owners are looking for income they will not upgrade you even if there is availability.

Overall: Resort is very nice, service staff is great (minus for the desk), amenities are nice but in general I feel as if they are suffering from “Covid hangover”. What I mean is they are very focused on generating short term revenue and forgetting about long term loyalty and repeat business (e.g. Worrying about $6 vs $24 on a breakfast for a Titanium guest vs a return visit seems oddly...