At our high school, senior year spring break is a big thing. Some parents get together and plan a trip for the senior class (and parents/families). It's typically been in the Dominican and I've heard mixed reviews on whether this is a fun trip or not (for the parents). The kids, of course, all have fun. We asked Austen if he was interested in going but he said he'd rather do "our" spring break and chose to spend his last high school spring break with his best friend and our families in Belize.
We departed on a Saturday (first year we didn't leave early for break and I heard about it from my kids!) and took a quick 4-hour flight into Belize City. From there, we had a private shuttle take our party of 10 through the Belizean countryside to our rented house on the water. When we arrived, the staff met us outside. Yes, staff. Now, I've rented many beautiful houses before and this house was spectacular from the all ensuite bathrooms to the pool to the beach. But what really set this place apart was the staff that was present for us during our stay. We had Juan the chef. Marvin the landscaper and Consuela the housekeeper.
Juan made us all of our breakfasts during the week we were there (our favorite was the Belizean breakfast of eggs, bacon and fry jacks) as well as a few lunches and two dinners. It was so nice having a chef for a big group especially in the mornings to have breakfast ready for us when we awoke and even to prepare us two dinners after all day excursions when we didn't feel like going out again. His food was delicious and the best part was he did all the dishes too! Marvin was great too and raked our beach daily and kept our pool clean. One day he scaled the palm trees on our beach for us and knocked down some coconuts so we could all have fresh coconut water. Delicious. Consuela came and swept and cleaned our place almost every day and stocked us with fresh towels as well as made spa appointments at the house for us. We were truly spoiled all week and we will miss the pampering of this amazing staff.
Aside from being pampered at the house all day, the girls and I indulged in massages while the boys went reef fishing to catch our fish for grilling by Chef Juan that night. They caught a Barracuda and Yellow Tail Snapper. Austen learned how to filet a fish too. But I felt bad eating those poor guys.
Our Weekly Menu
Another day we ziplined, went tubing down the river and jumped in a waterfall (well, Hailey tripped and fell in which really freaked out Tom because there was a big rock below where she fell). She was fine aside from the big red mark on her stomach because of her bellyflop. The girls conquered their fear of the zip line (heights) probably made doable by the other tween/teens in our group.
We rode ATVs. Peyton tried to manage one by herself but the shifting of gears was old school and difficult so she rode with me while Hailey rode with Tom. I don't think I've ever been so dirty in my life! We were filthy! But our guides were awesome. Cut down some sugar cane for us to eat and brought us some fruta de pan or breadfruit which Chef Juan grilled up for us for dinner one night and it tasted just like french fries.
Dinner at Inky's 19th Hole
We spent one whole day at an island off Belize. We traveled through the crystal blue waters in a small speed boat and the waters were a bit rough that day so that ride out was certainly an adventure for 45 minutes or so. We swam, hung out on the swings in the water, drank, went down some slides, played some chess (large piece game), putted some golf balls, ate, drank some more and got ourselves nice and tan before boarding our boat back to the mainland.
We went to dinner at a few of the Belizean restaurants made possible by the two golf carts we had to get around town. We played mini golf one night; got in more than a few games of pool volleyball; held some dance parties; and retired early some nights due to the sun and the amount of activity we had in a day.
It certainly was an "unbelizeable" vacation coupled by the 80 degree and sunny weather we had all week. Austen said he had a good time and more memories were made with good friends. Peyton said she would have preferred a more posh vacation as she thought the town and restaurants weren't quite up to her standards but she did like the house! Of course because I picked it! Hailey enjoyed herself too and loved that we had a ping pong table where she could practice her game (she's quite a player now).
Our final spring break with Austen is one that we'll always remember, Of course Peyton is already planning what she'll do on hers.
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