One year ago, I decided to share my love for travel through The Inn Life. Constantly thinking of how you want to evolve in that process can be a tough. How do I become more than words on a website? More than some pretty pictures?
The anniversary of this blog also happened to fall on my birthday. I knew that I wanted this birthday to be special, to be different from the others. I decided pretty early on that I would plan a trip and do it my way.
By Invitation Only.
The Destination:
Belize, Central America
I wanted the trip to be somewhere I had never been, like Cannes or St. Tropez, but I also wanted it to be realistic and accessible if I truly wanted people to show up. I researched, read many blogs on different areas, and settled on Ambergris Caye, Belize. The photos were stunning! It was Fiji in our backyard, and somehow I never heard of it.
Belize is filled with private islands that you can rent out or exclusive resorts with over-water cabanas that you can book. Belize has unreal scenery and was an untapped space. I thought all these attributes were perfect for the trip.
Trip Tip: There are no direct flights into any of Belize’s islands. They are accessible by a second much smaller plane, ferry, or private boat charter.
The Crew
Curating a proper vibe is key. You really need the RIGHT people to come on a group trip. I go into group trip priorities on my blog post about group trips here. Below, I’ve listed a few key qualities I used to combine a PERFECT #BelizeDat crew:
The proper mix of people must be:
a mix between, fiscally conservative but not broke,
down for a good time but won’t get too crazy,
Willing to “drive da boat” but not to the point of alcohol poisoning, and
respectful of people, their space, and their time
The Culture
Before I began planning, it was important to tap into the local culture. What did the people look like? What and how was their food? What was there to do? I began connecting with people on the island: local chefs, DJs, restaurant and hotel staff. They can tell you the best place to find Belizean street food, a massage or the prettiest beaches. In learning the culture, I also learned that transportation around the island is primarily done through golf carts. A way of life on the Belizean islands that I knew would take some getting used to.
The Planning
When planning a group trip, a ridiculous level of attention to detail is needed. I wanted my friends to see myself through the trip, and I knew that it would be through the accommodations, food, unforgettable experiences and the small touches. I outlined a reasonable pricing structure 5 months before the trip and set up a simple payment plan. I took on initial costs myself to show my friends just how much I believed in what I was creating.
The Details
Solaria Villas
I knew a beach front property was key. Going to an island and the beach not being quickly accessible is basically a crime. In a long research phase, I found a compound of exclusive villas with incredible views and a private dock at which our boat rental would be able to pick us up in the morning.
Welcome Gifts
The villas had an extremely attentive concierge who knew everything about the island. The concierge was extremely detailed and responsive, a perfect match for my granular planning style. Each guest was greeted with a personal gift from me upon arrival. A quick shot of the gift is to the right.
Here are the links to the Solaria Villas below:
Solaria I
Solaria III
Belizean Cuisine
Belizean cuisine is impacted by many different cultures. To understand the food is to understand Belize itself. Belize was once colonized by both the Spanish and the English prior to the English winning the Battle of St. George’s Caye.
The country’s ethnic groups include the following:
People within the Mayan diaspora such as Indian Yucatan tribes.
Kriol people, who are descendants of slaves.
African-born people from Jamaica and Bermuda as well as Honduras.
Mestizo people, a mix of Spanish and Mayan descent.
Day at Sea
Finding a boat for 17 people can be challenging. You have to vibe with the crew on the boat, and they have to prioritize punctuality. You also want the crew to be fun and not too uptight. The boat itself needs to be relatively updated, have at least two functional bathrooms, and have enough room for everyone to just lay out if they want to.
The experience at sea is critical, too. There are several islands off of Belize that you can visit, and marine life is also a very big in Belize. Our day at sea included snorkeling, swimming with nurse sharks, and visiting Caye Caulker. It also included freshly-prepared Belizean ceviche, bottomless rum punch and a boxed lunch from our chef.
Check out the pictures and links below to the company that we used:
TUFF E NUFF TOURS
We Need Space
The only element that is often missing in a group trip is the element of being able to do things alone and being able to find joy in that. Constantly ripping and running to excursions, museums and other places can be tiring. On this trip, I built into our itinerary the opportunity for individuals to get massages, work out or meditate on the beach in the morning, go for a ride on the local golf carts and take some photos around town.
With the best crew, and the right energy, we developed an experience that will be unforgettable. Check out how the trip manifested below.
