We loved our stay, but the Sargassum is killing me!
Let me start out by saying that across the board we gave 5 stars. Carolyn and Tricia (the property manager) were excellent communicators, and kept the property in good condition. We loved the location right on the beach, the patio, and the roof deck. The kitchen had pots and pans, an oven, coffeemaker and microwave (not included: any seasoning/oil/coffee), so if you plan to cook or make breakfast just keep that in mind. We took advantage of Tricia going grocery shopping before we arrived and it was wonderful to have drinks, eggs, yogurt, chips upon arrival, but we needed to go out again to get some olive oil to cook and salt... in the future I would put those items on our list as well.
We made breakfast every day and ate out on the back patio staring at the ocean. We got to read and relax and it was wonderful. Definitely worth it.
Our problems were not with the rental but with the Sargassum seaweed that has been washing ashore. Maybe there are seasons for it? But the five nights we spent at the Ocean View in August there was Sargassum everyday, and certain days the smell was really bad. We were unable to go into the ocean from the bungalow and that was disappointing. Down the beach, there was the Placencia Beach club and they clean away the Sargassum daily and they have a pool, so for 5 USD per person were able to get in the water, and have drinks and relax.
We also booked a Catamaran trip through DayTripper Catamaran tours for 85 USD per person, and it was just us and another couple sailing and we got to go to a private island and for a nominal bribe we were able to hang out on the beach there. They leave from the canal side of Placencia, but was literally just down the street. It's so close to the Ocean View rental.
So that's kind of my point, even though I really really wanted to go into the water right from the bungalow and was unable to do so, the location was still great. We were able to enjoy Placencia. The restaurants, the tours, the bar scene, the roof deck, the back patio, the kitchen, the tv. Also to note, this trip was during Covid. When we first arrived in Belize, the curfew was 10PM, and then a few days later it became 9PM. Masks are mandatory outside, but not indoors while eating in a restaurant??? Or during water activities.
Anyway, we loved our time in Placencia, at the Ocean View, and if Carolyn would have us again, we would without a doubt return.