Alaia Belize, Autograph Collection, by Marriott Bonvoy [In-Depth Review]

Have you ever arrived at a hotel and thought, “This is going to be bad,” but then been happily surprised by your experience? That sums up our stay at Alaia Belize.

Our first impression was inaccurate, and Alaia Belize impressed us in numerous ways. From friendly service to great food and abundant amenities, the hotel had something to offer all types of travelers. While many elements of the service at Alaia were incredible, a few surprising problems left us scratching our heads.

Here are the (many) positives and (few) negatives from our 3-night stay in early August 2024 at Alaia Belize, part of Marriott’s Autograph Collection.

Booking Alaia Belize

Alaia Belize, Autograph Collection, is a Marriott Bonvoy property. It’s part of the Autograph Collection brand for independent upscale and luxury properties.

As a Marriott Bonvoy hotel, we could redeem Marriott points for our stay. The hotel charged 69,000 points per night during our early August visit, which included a weekend.

The cash price was $430 per night, including taxes and fees. We’d originally booked when the hotel was charging $462 per night, but we saved money by checking rates in the weeks leading up to our stay.

The discounted Amex Business Card Rate is a benefit of my Marriott Bonvoy Business^® American Express^® Card. This card also earns 6x points per dollar on eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program and comes with complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status.

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Marriott Bonvoy Business^® American Express^® Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

A great option for business owners who stay in Marriott hotels and want automatic elite status.

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Marriott Bonvoy Business^® American Express^® Card

A great option for business owners who stay in Marriott hotels and want automatic elite status.

Welcome Offer

Earn 3 Free Night Awards, valued up to 50k points each for a total value of 150k points, after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership.

3 Free Night Awards

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$1,050

Annual Fee

$125

APR

20.24% - 29.24% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

Business travelers who opt for Marriott as their hotel chain of choice will definitely want to consider the Marriott Bonvoy Business^® American Express^® Card. The card offers great benefits to cardholders like a complimentary hotel night once a year, complimentary Gold Elite status, and multiple point redemption options.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 6x Marriott Bonvoy points on each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy^® program.
• 4x points for purchases made at restaurants worldwide, at U.S. gas stations, on wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers and on U.S. purchases for shipping.
• 2x points per $1 on all other purchases

Cons

• Moderate annual fee of $125 (rates and fees)
• No premium perks like airport lounge access

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Card Highlights

• WELCOME OFFER: Earn 3 Free Night Awards after you use your new Card to make $6,000 in eligible purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership. Each Free Night Award has a redemption level up to 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy^® points, for a total potential value of up to 150,000 points, at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy^®. Certain hotels have resort fees. Terms apply.
• Receive a 7% discount on eligible bookings as a benefit of being both a Marriott Bonvoy^® member & a Marriott Bonvoy Business^® American Express^® Card Member when you book directly with Marriott through an eligible channel for a participating property under the Amex Business Card Rate.
• 6x Marriott Bonvoy points on each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy^® program.
• 4x points for purchases made at restaurants worldwide, at U.S. gas stations, on wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers and on U.S. purchases for shipping.
• 2x points on all other eligible purchases.
• Receive 1 Free Night Award every year after your Card renewal month. Plus, earn an additional Free Night Award after you spend $60K in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Awards can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 35,000 Marriott Bonvoy^® points) at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy^®. Certain hotels have resort fees.
• Enjoy Complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite Status with your Marriott Bonvoy Business^® American Express^® Card.
• Terms apply.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 20.24% - 29.24% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

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Marriott Bonvoy

With those numbers, we paid cash, despite it costing over $1,200 for our 3-night stay. Why? Paying 69,000 points per night would’ve given us a value of 0.62 cents per Marriott point — below our average value of Marriott points at 0.7 cents apiece. Personally, though, I aim to redeem my Marriott points closer to 0.9 or 1.0 cents each, so I wasn’t happy with the redemption value here.

Hot Tip:

If you’re paying for a stay at a Marriott property, consider using a Marriott Bonvoy credit card, such as the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card or Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express^® Card, for high earnings on your bill. These cards also have benefits like elite status, free night awards, and other perks for keeping them in your wallet.

Location of Alazia Belize

Alaia Belize is on the south side of San Pedro, the principal town on Ambergris Caye (pronounced “key”) in Belize. Though some people refer to it as an island, Ambergris Caye is a peninsula, reachable by flights from Belize’s mainland to John Greif II Airport in San Pedro (SPR) or the ferry that runs between Belize City, Caye Caulker, and Ambergris Caye.

The hotel is a 10-minute drive or 30-minute walk from the airport, though some city elements can be reached in just a few minutes by car or 10-minute walk. Taxis are available on the street, and many tourists rent golf carts to get around.

Checking In

Our arrival was quite simple. We arrived from another hotel on the opposite side of San Pedro. The Matachica Resort coordinated our arrival with Alaia Belize and dropped us off at the small airport when a ride to Alaia was available.

At the airport, we found a driver with an Alaia sign. He quickly located our names on the clipboard in his hand. The driver wasn’t overly friendly but was efficient and quickly got us to the resort, passing this living wall as we arrived.

We hadn’t realized how massive the resort was when booking, so we were shocked by its size on arrival. It presented a stark contrast to the intimate setting at our previous hotel.

The reception area was to the right of the main hallway, and bellhops quickly appeared to grab our luggage and usher us inside, insisting we stop trying to offer to help get items out of the trunk.

Drinking water was available around the clock, though arriving guests received a welcome drink. Choices were pineapple juice or a mocktail that tasted like a combination of soda water and fruit punch.

We were told to relax on these sofas until a front desk agent could check us in. While we relaxed, staff confirmed the name on the reservation and tagged our luggage to keep things organized.

Roughly 5 minutes later, a bellhop showed me to the front desk while my wife lounged on the sofa and accepted the offer of another mocktail. The friendly woman at the desk confirmed our 3-night stay and my Marriott Bonvoy elite status.

Our checkout date was my wife’s birthday, and I’d emailed the hotel before arrival, asking if I could send a card for her and have it waiting at the hotel. The hotel insisted that they would take care of this without me needing to mail a card, and I confirmed with the reception agent that this was noted in our file. It was a simple ask: Slide a “Happy Birthday” card under our door early in the morning on the last day of our stay.

Elite Benefits

I received several benefits from my Marriott Titanium Elite status. The hotel offered a choice of 1,000 points, complimentary breakfast for 2 people each morning, or a bucket of beer to be brought to our room that night.

We chose daily breakfast, which covered the buffet at Sea Salt. We were told that ordering from the à la carte menu wasn’t included, which was fine with us.

I also used 3 Nightly Upgrade Awards for this stay and received confirmation that our suite upgrade had cleared 2 days before check-in. The Vista Suite would’ve cost $531 per night if we’d booked directly into that room.

Finally, we were told that our room wasn’t ready yet, but we could leave our luggage with the bellhops, get a tour of the property, and have lunch. By that time, our room would be ready.

This was the point where we thought our stay would turn sour. Exiting the lobby, we came to a huge pool overflowing with people (far more than the number of people in this picture taken later) and loud music pumping from speakers. “Party in the pool” is a vibe for some people at a hotel, but it’s not ours. Luckily, this wasn’t an issue during our stay.

The bellhop who conducted our tour was friendly, showing us the general layout of the property and room entrances tucked into hallways inside the separate towers, and reminding us that the property was cashless.

We passed an iguana during the tour, and he told us this was common at the property.

Finally, we passed some of the multi-room villas and were told to follow the many signs around the property to find various amenities. We were also told that there was a quiet pool further down the path — much to our relief — and we could continue exploring or walk back to the reception with him as he went to start the next tour.

Resort View Vista One Bedroom Suite

We were upgraded to a Resort View Vista One Bedroom Suite in building 3 near the party pool. Luckily, noise wasn’t an issue.

Suites wrapped around studio rooms in an L-shape. We were glad we weren’t staying in a studio, as these seemed small.

Guests staying in a studio entered the room from their balcony. For suites, the door was at the end of a hallway.

Each building had its own elevator. As we stayed on the ground floor, we never used it.

Rooms also had solid, wooden “do not disturb” signs with magnets on the back to keep them from blowing away.

We stayed in room 1316. The wooden doors to the suites were heavy and prone to slamming.

While I’ll walk you through each part of the suite, here is a floor plan to give you an overview of the layout.

We had a nice entry area inside the door with a small table to the side. This was ideal for dropping our wallets, keys, and sunglasses.

Bedroom

Immediately to the right, we found our room and bathroom. The room had earth tones and a ton of natural light. We loved this room. In case you missed that part, we really loved this room.

A comfortable king-size bed was at the edge of the room, sitting under a few pieces of art that evoked ocean vibes.

Each side of the bed had a nightstand, lamp, and multiple outlets. On the left side was an alarm clock, and on the other nightstand was a phone.

Opposite the bed was a large wardrobe, a desk with an uncomfortable wicker chair, and a TV on the wall.

We found an iron and ironing board, hangers, a safe, robes, and wooden drawers inside the closet.

Sliding doors off the bedroom led to an empty veranda.

Main Bathroom

Our bathroom was spacious, separated from the bedroom by a slatted wall and mirror above the dual faucets that fed into a singular stone basin that was beautiful in its uniqueness.

The counter space was abundant, and we found individual toiletries, washcloths, and drinking glasses here.

On a shelf under the sinks, there were 2 wicker baskets. Both held towels, but 1 also held a hair dryer.

Opposite the sinks and counter was a spacious shower stall with a half glass wall and stone construction that we found beautiful. The shower had both a handheld and rainfall option.

Pump bottles of EarthTempo products with a lemongrass scent were mounted on the wall.

A toilet stall behind a mirrored door was at the far end of the bathroom.

Guest Bathroom

Before reaching the kitchen, there was a half bathroom off the entry area. Here, we found a large mirror, a stone sink, and a toilet.

The wicker basket in this bathroom was empty, but many elements otherwise matched the main bathroom inside the bedroom, just in a smaller form.

Kitchen

When we entered the suite, the kitchen was straight ahead. We were equally surprised by its size and abundance of contents.

This was a full kitchen, including a 4-burner stove.

There was a small digital oven.

We also had a full-size refrigerator and freezer.

We found additional appliances like a blender and a toaster in the numerous cabinets and drawers.

We also had a set of pots and pans with glass lids.

In the corner, we had a coffee maker plus packets of coffee and tea supplies.

We found glass storage containers in the drawers, along with a cutting board, measuring cups, a grater, and full sets of silverware, plates, cups, and bowls. On the countertop, we also had wooden utensils and a set of knives.

Oddly, a few of the drawers were missing knobs.

Living Room

To the side of the kitchen, we had a small living room that was small yet equipped with all the essentials. On the wall, there was a TV above another phone and ample counter space. There also was a QR code for ordering room service.

There was an armchair, a glass coffee table, and a large couch. At first, we thought the couch would fold out into a bed, but it didn’t.

Sliding glass doors led to a small veranda with 2 chairs and a small table.

Patio

Sliding glass doors off the kitchen led to a large patio facing the pool. There was a chair, table, lamps, and a large couch out there. A half-glass wall at the end kept the iguanas out. This was a great place to dry our swimsuits and diving equipment.

Amenities

The Alaia Belize was teeming with amenities. Here’s a run-down of everything available.

Free Airport Transfers

If you arrive in San Pedro by plane, the Alaia Belize will provide a free pickup. Expect an email from staff a week before check-in to ask about your plans.

Drivers waiting at the airport have a list of names for guests checking in that day. Once they confirm your name on the list, they’ll load your bags into a van and take you to the hotel’s front desk.

Those arriving by ferry must arrange alternative transportation to the hotel.

Parking

Alaia Belize had complimentary parking available in a dirt lot across the street. For those renting a car or golf cart in Ambergris Caye, first-come, first-served parking was available here.

Main Pool

The main pool complex was large and central to the property. Along with the primary pool, there were smaller sections for children with reduced depths and lounge chairs half-submerged in the water, though there was no ramp to get in — only stairs.

The pool was extremely popular during the day, especially given the hot August temperatures and music pumped from speakers around the pool area.

Cabanas were available for rental around the pool’s perimeter.

And there was also this interesting dry seating area near the swim-up bar.

To the side, restrooms flanked a counter where employees gave out clean towels and received used towels in return.

Quiet Pool

Further from the hotel’s reception area, set in the center of another U-shaped set of buildings, there was a quiet pool. When I say “quiet,” I mean pure silence. People whispered to talk to each other here, and there was no music. Like the main pool, it was circled by lounge chairs and umbrellas.

Rooftop Pool and Seating

A third pool was on the rooftop above the 2 main buildings at the hotel’s front entrance. It was neither large nor deep, but the infinity layout and views were fantastic.

The rooftop pool also had views to the ground below, thanks to some transparent parts of the bottom.

The rooftop was accessible using elevators near the reception desk. These weren’t large, but there were 2 of them.

The rooftop area had restrooms, and the pool area was for adults over age 18 only. Signs made that clear as soon as we stepped out of the elevator.

Around the perimeter of the rooftop, there were swing chairs and some great views.

Closer to the pool and the restrooms, there were also more intimate seating areas with chairs and sofas.

Beach

Alaia Belize had a large amount of beachfront space, and the beach was a central element of the property. A small wall divided the beach from the walkway and beachfront villas.

Signs around the beach made it easy to navigate the massive property, and staff kept the beach clean throughout the day.

Unfortunately, the sea wall in front of the property was being rebuilt during our stay (which we knew about in advance). The noise and construction work drove many people away from the beach.

Several games were available on the beach, including miniature soccer nets, cornhole, a bowling game, oversized Jenga, and a huge chess set.

It was also possible to have private dinners or weddings on the beach.

Returning to the pool, there were showers and foot wash stations to get the sand off.

On-Site Dive Shop

Belize Pro Dive Center was on the pier off Alaia Belize. Here, we could book numerous water activities, such as snorkeling, diving, deep-sea fishing, and sunset tours. The dive center was reachable by calling reception and asking the employee to connect you.

Playground

On the walkway between the main pool and the quiet pool, before arriving at the spa, there was a small playground with a few swings, slides, and climbing equipment.

K’in Spa and Wellness Center

Alaia Belize had a large spa that we could enter from within the property or from the street entrance.

Inside the building, friendly employees at the reception desk could book services, explain options, and check guests in for treatments.

The spa offered more than massages. It also offered haircuts, styling, manicures, and much more, as evidenced by the multi-page book of offerings.

The spa was open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. You can view the available services here.

Fitness Center

Across from the spa reception desk was a fitness center.

The gym had a long, narrow layout. One end featured cardio equipment, and the other had weight machines. Exercise balls and mats were along the walls.

Wi-Fi

Wi-Fi was available throughout the property. In the public areas, service was solid; in our room, not so much. The further we went into our suite, the slower and less reliable the internet connection became. For example, speeds averaged around 2 Mbps for downloads in our bedroom.

Activities

Alaia Belize had daily activities, and the schedule was available in several locations around the property, including reception. Yoga, bonfires with s’mores, live music, and other activities happened on a rotating basis.

Shop

In the spa and fitness center building, there was a small shop that sold sunglasses, clothing, hats, sandals, swimsuits, and souvenirs.

Food and Beverage

Alaia Belize had numerous food and beverage outlets, and the variety was a nice element during our stay.

Sea Salt and The Terrace

These 2 restaurants operated out of the same location. During breakfast and lunch, the indoor and outdoor spaces functioned as 1 restaurant: The Terrace. At dinner, the indoor space became a separate space: Sea Salt. The Terrace remained open for dinner in the outdoor space.

This outdoor space was near the reception area and poolside bar, and it included both table settings and more relaxed seating.

We had breakfast daily at The Terrace, which offered daily specials such as crepes and huevos rancheros.

There was also a standard menu each morning, which was not covered by our complimentary breakfast benefit. This menu included pastry baskets, omelets, lobster tacos, pancakes, and more.

We had the breakfast buffet every morning, and the spread was impressive. There were wraps and salad fixings.

There were also cold cuts and a variety of pastries.

Bread and cheese options were also plentiful.

There were a handful of fresh fruit options daily and 5 to 6 hot dishes that rotated each morning. These included eggs, potatoes, bacon, and steamed veggies.

There were also options like oatmeal, granola, yogurt, coffee, tea, juice — much more than we could eat in a single meal.

The Terrace was open for 3 meals daily, starting at 6:30 a.m. Sea Salt was only open for dinner and served Mediterranean fare.

Vista Rooftop

Vista Rooftop was open for dinner nightly, starting at 6 p.m. The menu focused on seafood, including both Caribbean offerings and sushi. The setting near the rooftop pool was fantastic, though it could sometimes get loud.

The Deck

Located near the dive shop at the edge of the beach, The Deck was open for dinner every night starting at 6 p.m. It served Caribbean and international options based on locally caught seafood and local produce.

There were both open and covered seating options and tables inside a small building.

Seating was also available at the beach’s edge, and these tables were popular. It wasn’t possible to guarantee one of these spots without a reservation.

Blue Hole Poolside

It took us a bit to understand that the name of this food and beverage outlet applied to both the restaurant-esque section and the seating behind the swim-up bar, which had seating on the dry side. Blue Hole Poolside was open for lunch every day.

Blue Hole Poolside offered light bites, such as burgers, chips and guacamole, tacos, and a hummus trio.

Piano Bar

At the far end of the building that housed the reception desk, Piano Bar was open from 3 p.m. to midnight daily.

True to its name, it had a piano. To be honest, the piano was most frequently used by guests waiting their turn to check in, though it was also used for performance at some points in the evening.

In-Room Dining

Room service dining was available around the clock from menus of any open restaurant or from the menu at The Terrace all day.

Ocean Side Pizzeria

Alaia Belize bragged about its pizzeria, but we found it odd. There was no dining location, such as a pizza restaurant. Instead, we could order pizzas to our room or a table near the pool. This option was available during lunch and dinner.

Resort Pool Swim-Up Bar

The pool’s swim-up bar offered a full range of drinks, and staff could also bring drinks to lounge chairs or cabanas near the pool.

Beach Bar

Between the quiet pool and The Deck, the Beach Bar had a sandy setting with a rustic vibe. It also had live music at night, typically someone playing a guitar. The bar was open from 11 a.m. to midnight.

Service

Service at Alaia Belize lived some high highs and some surprising lows. Let’s start with the elements that left us scratching our heads.

When we arrived, the control panel in our bedroom was dirty and covered in sticky “gunk.”

There were also mold spots on the handheld shower — something we found rather shocking.

Then, there was the birthday request. I’ll give them an A for effort, but execution missed a little. If you recall, my wife’s birthday was on the day we checked out. I’d asked for a “Happy Birthday” card under the door on the final day. Instead, we found a display in the kitchen when we arrived.

All I could do was laugh and explain the mixup to my wife when we checked into our room and found this waiting for us. At least they tried, I guess.

When we returned to the room on the second full day of our stay, the air conditioning kicked into high gear for an unknown reason, and then the roof started leaking into the foyer between the entry and the kitchen.

We called the front desk and explained what was happening, and it took nearly 15 minutes for someone to arrive. When they did, both maintenance and housekeeping employees came together to fix the issue and clean the floor after the work was done.

Our biggest concern was that there might be a problem in the room above us, which we communicated to the staff. Once they departed, we never heard any more about this situation, so I’m not sure what the final result was.

Staff throughout the property were really friendly. They showed a genuinely helpful attitude, whether at a restaurant, at reception, or just passing us on a walkway.

While the employees at the towel hut were friendly, they surprisingly ran out of towels twice during our stay, so we had to wait for more towels to come from the laundry before heading to the dive center for the scuba excursions we’d booked before check-in.

The check-in and checkout experiences were top-notch in terms of service, but the true highlight was an experience at the Vista Rooftop. When we visited, we looked at the menu but considered moving to a different restaurant due to the loud music. The employee informed us that the hotel had a policy to let us eat wherever we pleased.

If we liked the poolside setting of The Terrace but preferred the menu of Vista Rooftop or The Deck, we could sit wherever we liked and order from the menu of any restaurant on the property. “Your job is to enjoy dinner, and our job is to get the food to you wherever you want to sit,” he explained. We thought that was amazing.

Final Thoughts

Our 3-night stay at Alaia Belize, Autograph Collection, had some definite positives. The property had an incredible number of amenities and truly offers something for everyone.

Service had a few bumps in the road, but our overall experience was more positive than negative — despite some of the issues being rather perplexing, such as mold on the shower handle at a luxury hotel.

At checkout, we settled our account quickly. A friendly employee confirmed our ride to the ferry port for the boat back to Belize’s mainland, and staff appeared to assist with our luggage. They bid us a safe journey and quick return with broad smiles as we left.