This is not a "5 Star Review". If I could leave 6 stars, I'd give them 7.
First off, John and Susan's communication rivals the best on Airbnb. I dare you to find better.
The property? It is located a short (and I mean short) walk from the Caye Caulker airport. That said, the incoming and outgoing flights do not pose a noise problem ... I kind of liked it. It reminded me of just where I was: on an island, enjoying life. I was saddened every time I thought of the flight that would take me away though ...
The neighborhood is the best on the island. To say it is quiet is an understatement. It is not on the "main road", so most traffic going by is on foot, or bike. The street (and surrounding area) are well lit at night, and walking around at any hour is completely comfortable, and safe.
Getting back to the property: their photos and description are accurate to a fault. And they don't do it justice. John and Susan have a beautiful property, and words can't describe how nice it is. What you see on the listing is what you get. The pool is a nice area to relax and read a book, or to cool down in the the warmth of the afternoon. And your sure to have an enjoyable conversation with them at the pool! And with whoever else is visiting. It is a special spot, and I'm thankful that they open it up and share it with friends ... both old, and new.
John and Susan have help from a gentleman named Israel, and his wife Mary. Their assistance in ensuring that we had transportation to (and from) the property, along with checking us in were great. Effortless is an understatement. All we had to do was show up, and they did the rest. Mary ensured our check in was smooth, and she made sure we knew of all amenities, and answered any and all questions we had.
This trip was special for me and my wife; we were celebrating our wedding anniversary. Susan was thoughtful and offered to make us a reservation at a special restaurant that night! I really appreciate the hospitality that John and Susan provided ... you can really tell that they truly enjoy being hosts; from checking in as total strangers, to checking out as casual new friends, John and Susan's genuine warmth and pleasure for sharing Caye Caulker with their guests is evident. Everything from dining suggestions, to setting up activities .... you will not find better hospitality on Caye Caulker. John worked with Israel to set up a trip for us to the mainland to the Maya ruins in Lamanai. Everything from the taxi to pick us up in the morning, to the water taxi to get to the mainland, to the transportation on the mainland, to the tour, transportation back to the water taxi: again, all we had to do was show up. They had it all covered. Have you ever had a little apprehension of trying to book a tour, not knowing what you were going to get? I have. And John, Susan, and their team made it so enjoyable, and easy.
John and Susan also offer bikes for their guests use. This is a special touch, as you'll have to rent bikes at most other spots on the island. Being the "big and tall" guy I am, John was kind enough to let me ride his bike (not that he's big!) on more than one occasion.
The "split" is about a 15 minute walk, or 5 minute ride from the property. This is where you'll find most of the local businesses from restaurants, trinket stands, dive/snorkel shops, and convenience stores. There are convenience stores all over ... you'll never be without a cold beer or water available for long. Everything from nice dining to street food is there. You want to have a fresh grilled fish, conch, or lobster with all the sides at a nice table with a view? You want a burrito from a street side stand? You want nachos or fried chicken at 1am? You've got it. It's all there.
Long story short:
You will not find a better spot on Caye Caulker. You will not find friendlier, more accommodating people on Caye Caulker ... and that's saying a lot, since everyone on Caye Caulker takes it slow, and are friendly.
I absolutly recommend Sandcastle, and will be staying there again.
Thank you John and Susan! (and Israel and Mary!) I hope to see you again soon!