TripSavvy Names Chabil Mar Villas “Best Overall Resort” in Belize!

Chabil Mar Belize Resort

Is there a difference between award-winning Belize resorts and those who don’t make the cut? The question is easily answered when guests arrive at Placencia’s Chabil Mar.

What does it take for a Belize resort to beat out the competition on the popular TripAdvisor website? The resort must be unique. Gorgeous. Upscale. And it helps that guests rave about their personal experiences, sharing details that are so descriptive, readers hungry for vacations are compelled to see the property for themselves.

Word is spreading fast that Chabil Mar, a full-service resort on the Placencia peninsula, is the recent recipient of TripSavvy’s “Best Overall Resort” designation. Located near charming Placencia Village, Chabil Mar is known for being meticulous about the tiniest detail. From the moment guests arrive to be handed a cocktail and greeted by fresh flowers, they’re on tropics time.

A haven far away from the real world

Today’s hectic pace can turn even the most tranquil individual into a bundle of nerves and caring staff at Chabil Mar Villas understand that. You’ll be escorted to your lush lodging where every room faces the sea and marvel at the size of your accommodation. Suites run between 950- and 2000-square feet; some have personal verandas. For larger parties, digs with lofts and two bathrooms are available.

Not every frequent visitor to Chabil Mar is interested in taking advantage of the resort’s exciting tour menu because they’re in Belize to chill and decompress, but exploration of the 18-mile stretch of the peninsula-—on either the Caribbean or the lagoon side—-is one of the more popular ways to get to know more about the area.

Ride a bike around the peninsula or spread your aquatic wings by borrowing a resort kayak or paddleboard when you’re not enjoying either of Chabil Mar’s infinity pools. Of course, you can take tours–but there’s a way to do just that and save money, too!

The very best deals of all

What’s the best way to get your money’s worth at this newly-recognized “Best Overall Resort” in Belize? By selecting one of the vacation packages designed to cater to every traveler under the sun. Browse the menu and see so many options, deciding could be tough.

What is the ultimate advantage to opting for a package? Everything is included–your suite and gourmet meals at Chef Daniel’s Café Mar, in-country transport, taxes and service charges plus select tours all appear on one bill. If you don’t want to open your wallet again during your stay, you don’t have to!

Large enough to get lost on the grounds but small enough to feel like heaven, Chabil Mar delivers on service, beauty and value, but if you’re still on the fence about booking your vacation in paradise, this virtual tour could make the decision for you.

Visit our website chabilmarvillas.com for more information about Belize, and don’t hesitate to send us an email, or call US/CAN Toll Free: 1-866-417-2377, Local: (011-501) 523-3606, if you have questions or need help in planning a Belize vacation.

How To Build A Palapa‎

If you took a helicopter ride over Belize’s lush mainland and cayes, you might notice what looks like Hawaiian hula skirts fanned out into circles on the ground below. Upon closer inspection, you’ll discover that those circles are actually skillfully-woven roofs made of palm fronds that are so tightly wrapped, layered and interfaced, rains can pour down but anyone standing beneath this umbrella of vegetation will stay dry.

These thick umbrellas—known as a palapas—are part of the beauty and history that is Belize, and if you’d like to see some of the most beautiful ones, visit Chabil Mar Resort, an award-winning all-inclusive resort located in Placencia where the art of the palapa has been taken to new heights.

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At the end of the resort’s long pier stands a serene palapa that invites guests to relax and de-stress (see pic above). Not far away is Chabil Mar’s other palapa: it tops a gathering place considered the epicenter of Chabil Mar Resort’s social scene. Finding a seat at the Kaleidoscope Bar & Lounge (see pic below) isn’t easy as the night moves on and stars come out, so get out from under the bar’s palapa if you want to see them!

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Why are palapas frequently a part of Belize’s landscape? Because they represent history and the clever use of natural resources, pairing tropical charm with practicality: Mayan settlers built thatch-roofed huts thousands of years ago for shelter and to this day, their ancestors still craft them. If you’d like to follow in their footsteps, our instructions can help. Chances are, you’ll finish faster than they did since you’ve probably got some nice tools!

1. Acquire five bamboo poles—four poles of equal height that are tall enough for people to stand under, and one that’s at least 12-inches longer for the center. Use a table saw to trim one or more to make lengths uniform.

2. Decide where to build your palapa. Dig a post hole in the center of that area. Next, dig four post holes at equal distances from the center pole and from each other. They should be at least 6- to 8-feet apart.

3. Follow package instructions to mix cement with water so it resembles thin pudding. Fill each post hole half-way with cement mix. Use a large funnel to direct the liquid cement into the holes.

4. Put one pole into each hole and then verify all heights to be certain they’re uniform; make adjustments before the cement sets if necessary. Fill each hole to the top with the remaining cement mix.

5. Craft makeshift supports of scrap wood to brace the poles. You can nail or screw one to the bamboo if necessary. Use mounds of earth to brace other scrap wood so poles don’t budge while the cement hardens. Wait at least 24-hours before removing supports.

6. Make a frame. Measure the distances between the outer four poles. Cut lumber to size and attach them to form a square. Next, measure the distance from the four outer poles to the center. Cut wood to size and attach with screws. When you look up at the finished frame, you should see spokes radiating to the center.

7. Cover the frame with pre-cut sections of plywood so there’s a solid base for attaching palm fronds.

8. Use an industrial stapler to attach palm fronds, starting at the outer edges and moving into the center by fastening layer upon layer of fronds. Work in a circle. As space decreases, you may have to cross, weave or prune fronds for a good fit. The overlap should be so solid, you can’t see an inch of frame or plywood.

9. Hold a palapa-warming party. Invite friends and neighbors over for tropical drinks beneath your work of art.

Visit our website chabilmarvillas.com for more information about Belize, and don’t hesitate to send us an email, or call US/CAN Toll Free: 1-866-417-2377, Local: (011-501) 523-3606, if you have questions or need help in planning a Belize vacation.

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