via Belize Globe

How do you define luxury hotel? The topic is subjective. For one traveler, luxury means bed sheets of the highest thread count while another wants 1,000 sq. feet of space plus a marble bathroom dominated by a huge Jacuzzi tub.

Fact is, the 10 best luxury hotels in Belize have plenty in common but each has something unique!

1. Thatch Caye
Find five unique “over the sea” bungalows, four island cabanas and a family-friendly villa at Thatch Caye, nine miles off south-central Belize. Privacy is so paramount, you may have to browse several hammocks if you require human company. That said, Thatch Caye is in close proximity to every dining, excursion and water sport experience you seek.

2. Yok Ha Island Resort
Seeking the quintessential place to chill out? Yok Ha’s five deluxe cabanas seduce vacationers by offering the ultimate in privacy. The food on premises is delicious, so leave only if you must. What’s unique? Grab a bar stool and sip a cocktail while contemplating the Barrier Reef below.

3. Chabil Mar
Privacy and luxury abound at Chabil Mar where 400 feet of private beach front attract repeat visitors who like the idea of jumping out of bed and into the surf. Dine al fresco at Café Mar after laps in one of two infinity pools. Walk to Placencia Village to experience the town’s flavor.

4. Victoria House
Named for “that Queen,” if you check into this 42-room complex, you will be treated like royalty. Located in San Pedro Ambergris Caye, Belize, this island getaway pairs comfort and relaxation with water sports, nightlife and sightseeing. Want to know what Victoria House has in store just for you?

5. Turtle Inn
Visit the Turtle Inn website and you’ll be treated to the sound of waves crashing on beaches to introduce a 25-room seafront hideaway built by Hollywood legend Francis Coppola. What’s unusual? Hand-picked Balinese furnishings and extras only the Hollywood player and winemaker was clever enough to add.

6. Portofino
If Bali is your dream but you’ve no time to go, Portofino can scratch that itch. On the other hand, there’s nothing primitive about the resort’s amenities that include flat screen cable TVs and Wi-Fi connections. Portofino’s treetop suites and the Mansion’s 2,000 (total) feet of splendor could leave you speechless.

7. El Secreto
Picture yourself floating in the hot tub attached to your private villa’s thatch-roofed bedroom. Frequent visitors adore the tropical scenery and the El Secreto Restaurant menu. Your masseuse can meet you at the couples massage cabin or come to your villa. This might be the only decision you’re required to make during your visit!

8. Robert’s Grove
Interior designers created charming, Hacienda-style interiors at Robert’s Grove, a luxury destination that encompasses 22 acres along the Placencia beach. World-class dining at four eateries on premises plus recreational activities, a spa, dive center and marina are guaranteed to satisfy the pickiest tourist.

9. Laru Beya
Laru Beya’s well-appointed decks, beaches and balconies are only three miles away from fine dining and nightlife in Placencia, but the two worlds never collide. Laru Beya means “on the beach” in Garifuna dialect, but you may wish to call it “ultimate luxury” after experiencing the resort’s roof-top Jacuzzi, designed for intimacy and romance.

10. San Ignacio Resort
The San Ignacio Resort Hotel is called “the only jungle in town” because the former private estate was built on a hill along the Macal River, and the trees and plants remain. Inside, find marble floors and exotic hardwood décor plus swimming, dining and more. Stroll to town if you like, but if rumors are true, returning to your digs will remain the highlight of your stay.