Reviews of Bella's Backpackers Cayo

Staff were really friendly and helpful, tours from the hostel, private room was good. Nice upstairs area and good central location

Nothing

My friend and I were visiting San Ignacio for a couple of nights and we had the most comfortable stay at Bella's. We took the private room with two beds and a bath -- cozy, super clean, well maintained and air conditioned. Plenty of common spaces across four floors, including a well equipped shared kitchen which has pretty much all you could need. They're located just steps away from downtown SI which meant public transit was always accessible. The staff was incredible and offered us every support possible. The resident kittens were a special highlight!

Nothing!

The location is good, but anyway San Ignacio is so small (and is also the only safe, at least during the day, place in Belize mainland). The place is fairly clean and the kitchen is fully equipped (there is also some free fruits). The hotelier was responsive to the messages on booking.com app prior to my arrival, which is very important for the organization of the stay: there is nothing to see in San Ignacio itself, you have to use this place as a base to explore temples in the area, some of which can be visited also on you own, while for some others you need a tour (the hostel provide several of them, which have to be booked ahead). Bear in mind that no tours go to El Pilar as it is just way too risky for attacks, while the situation has improved for Caracol, for which there is no more armed car escorting tourist vans along the road like it was until the near past (now the temple is full of soldiers and the road is patrolled, but you are no longer escorted in columns of cars). Xunantunich can be reached by public bus (2,50$ each way) and you can go to Cahal Pech just on foot.

It is more a party hostel which is not my thing, but that’s a matter of taste. The real problems are others. The aircon in the room was way too strong: luckily, I got a bed in the mezzanine where the temperature was bearable. The are only very small lockers for valuables, not for the luggage) and almost all beds have no privacy curtains. Also, the elephant in the room: tour prices. The hostel will give you a discount with their friend tour company, but still the prices are crazy. They really take advantage of tourists.

Location and staff. Amber is awesome, she answers all the questions and helps with tours, laundry and anything else.

I stayed in the private room and above is dorm and when people walk it can get noisy.

The owner and staff was extremely helping since I was traveling for business.

The wifi signal was horrible and I wish there was air conditioning on my side.

Very nice staff, beautiful common areas and the best: 3 baby kittens that were super playful and always around - made me want to be in the hostel all the time! I'd go back.

the bathroom got easily flooded - not too relevant for me. not very insulated.

Clean, great value place to stay. Close to town.

Minor but no place to hang anything, not even wet towels

Price and location

The springs came through the bed; the private room was not private but rather inside of a dorm; the staff was constantly smoking weed and evangelizing at the bar; the kitchen was a constant state of mess, mostly due to the staff cooking and leaving their pots, pans, plates, and food all astray; locals were hanging at reception smoking cigarettes and selling drugs—again, mostly to the staff Not at all an inviting or comfortable space. Would not recommend.

Location and staff

Lack of food

Great location. Decent communal areas. Staff were friendly.

The whole property felt like it was in need of some serious TLC. The private room we booked was very dirty. The sheet was stained so we asked for a new one and the new sheet was also stained. The floors hadn’t been swept and the bathroom was in need of a deep clean. There were mosquitoes all over the room constantly and there was no way to fully close the windows in the bathroom. The curtains were somewhat see through so you didn’t really have any privacy. The bed was also very uncomfortable. The room we had is not pictured on the website so not sure if we just got unlucky but would not recommend.

Location and helpfulness of the staff

Nothing

Really nice atmosphere and the staff went above and beyond to help me out.

Pedro the barman went out of his way to make us comfortable. Providing a reading lamp, mosquito coil and lending us his own lighter for the stay. Lots of friendly travellers mixing with local staff created a social and interesting travel experience. Free drinking water and rum punch were appretiated.

Mosquitos in the room and general state of disrepair. Chipped mugs, plates and broken pans in shared kitchen.

Good central location in Cayo, staff was friendly and had good recommendations for activities. Kitchen was nice with lots of spices to use. The private room was a bit outdated and the bed quite small. It has a a mosquito net but it’s at the end of the bed so can’t reach the other end and had a bunch of holes in it.

Quite a basic place with all the essentials, clean bathrooms and nice staff

Showers were only lukewarm at best. Though they offer breakfast, this is not a offering done with any conviction.

- the staff was really nice and helpful - the kitchen was big and well equipped - amazing outside area - great location - great activities in the evening - the dorm had an aircon but my bed was under the roof it was boiling hot and nothing from the aircon came to our sleeping area. Because the stairs were really tiny it wasn't possible to take my backpack to my bed. (Note alle of the other bed would have been waaaay better, I was just a bit unlucky) - the bathroom doors are quite thin and one can hear everything at any time

The staff was really helpful and friendly! This was my first time in a Hostel, and I didn't know what to expect fully, but it was comfortable enough and for the price it's what I expected.

Well equipped kitchen Nice social area with free rum punch every night

Lay out of the dorms were a little strange

The room is big The hostel is right in the center but still in a quiet spot They organize tours if you want

The staff that checked me in was high. I was lucky enough to stay in the AC room, but it's a 12 people dorm with one AC. The kitchen needs new pots and better knifes