Mahogany Bay Resort and Beach Club, Curio Collection by Hilton

Mahogany Bay Resort and Beach Club is one of the largest resorts on Ambergris Caye, with around 190 rooms spread across cottages, suites, townhomes and villas on Sea Grape Drive in San Pedro. It is a Curio Collection property by Hilton, built around a marina, a private beach and a beach club, with an outdoor pool with cabanas, a pool bar, a beach bar, a spa, a gym with yoga classes and four on-site restaurants plus a coffee shop. Its accommodation ranges from a king cottage for two to family villas with three or four bedrooms that sleep up to eight, and one three-bedroom cottage has a private pool. The property page lists childcare services, free infant beds and babysitting for a surcharge, which makes it an easy choice for families and groups.

Location and getting around. The resort sits on the south side of San Pedro, around two miles from Central Park, with the airport about a fifteen-minute drive away and the Belize Express water taxi terminal roughly one and a half miles off. Hol Chan Marine Reserve is a short boat or car ride away, so the reef is within easy reach. A round-trip airport shuttle is offered for a modest per-vehicle charge, and golf carts are the usual way to get around the island, so ask the resort about rentals when you book.

The rooms. The range is the resort's strength. The king cottage and the one-bedroom suites suit couples, the two-queen suites and townhomes suit small families, and the family cottages, family villas and townhomes with up to four bedrooms suit multi-generation groups and friends travelling together. Some categories face the canal or the garden, and the private-pool cottage is the one to choose for a special family stay.

Rooms include air conditioning, smart televisions and Wi-Fi, and full breakfast is charged separately, so decide whether you want a meal plan or prefer to eat out around the island. Families should also ask about the childcare options and the best rooms for connecting stays.

Who it suits and what to know. The resort suits families, groups and travellers who want a full-service base with pools, dining, a marina and a beach club, rather than a small boutique stay. It is large and lively, so it is less of a hideaway than the north-side resorts.

Scuba, snorkelling and fishing are available nearby, but the property page does not list a dive operation on site, so book excursions through the concierge or independently. Check-in runs from the afternoon, with limited late arrival, pets are not allowed, and free cancellation applies on select rates, so check the terms if your plans might change.