In the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Belize Tourism Board (BTB) took the unprecedented step of drawing up guidelines based on international health organization recommendations to ensure guest safety and wellbeing, establishing a coveted designation to which every resort, hotel, and tour organization aspires: Gold Standard Certification.

This is no toothless program and not every property has been able to meet the stringent criteria associated with receiving this designation. That is the reason staff and management at Chabil Mar Resort on the Placencia peninsula were elated to receive notification that the resort had been approved by the BTB.

“This 9-point program went through a rigorous vetting process approved by the Hon. Manuel Heredia, Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation and other authorities associated with our Coronavirus response efforts,” explained Chabil Mar Marketing Manager, Larry France. “In order to comply with rigorous Gold Standard Certification protocols, staff received extensive training in all aspects of hygiene, cleaning, and social distancing protocols.”

Tourists arriving in Belize once Chabil Mar re-opens on October 15, 2020, can expect to encounter state-of-the-art health practices that include reconfiguration of space to allow for social distancing, unprecedented disinfection practices that include sanitation stations throughout the resort, and contact-less check-in and check-out procedures to further ensure guest health and safety.

“I believe that our staff training directives meet and exceed guidelines,” added France. “To make certain these assurances are spelled out in language guests understand, we listed all of these changes our website to explain every step we are taking to make sure visitors enjoy a stress-free vacation.”

“And we are still offering reassurances in the form of our cancellation policies plus discounted packages and specials that travelers in desperate need of vacations are going to find compelling and inviting! We have already begun to take reservations in advance of our October 15th re-opening,” he says.

“Chabil Mar stands ready to offer guests the ultimate respite from care and worry. From beautiful accommodations and fine dining to the amenities visitors have come to expect from this award-winning property, adding all of these safety measures adds to the welcoming environment for which we were already known,” notes France. “Things may look a little different, but nothing about the amazing tours, recreational opportunities, and stunning beauty enjoyed at our stunning resort has changed one iota!”

“Chabil Mar is the only full-service resort, including on-sight restaurant service, property amenities, and bar on the Placencia Peninsula and in the Village, reserved for the exclusive use of guests. Guest Exclusivity has been our policy since the day we opened our gates13 years ago and, of course, continues on. This is sure to please those who value their privacy and safety while desiring personalized service during their Belize vacation.”

A privately owned and held resort located in the Stann Creek District of Belize, Chabil Mar opened its doors in 2005 and has since enjoyed an international reputation. Historically, Chabil Mar — Maya for “Beautiful Sea” — is nestled between a Garifuna settlement and the former Creole fishing village of Placencia and in close proximity to ancient Maya ruins, rainforests, jungles, and the best scuba and deep-water diving in the Caribbean. For more resort information visit the website or call 011 (501) 523–3606. If calling from the U.S. or Canada, use Chabil Mar’s toll-free number: 1-866-417-2377.

After months of being cooped up in quarantine, you deserve a vacation where you can enjoy sea breezes, gorgeous natural scenery, and endless ocean waves. With winter on the way, there’s no better destination than sunny, friendly Belize.

Belize Is Open for Tourism

Belize is officially open for visitors. New safety regulations mean you can enjoy Belize’s best adventures without fear.

What Safety Precautions Is Belize Taking?

Belize has acted swiftly to contain the coronavirus and institute strict regulations. As it opens for tourism again, Belize welcomes all visitors who are willing to follow its safety protocols.

Everyone entering Belize must follow these steps to ensure a safe, healthy vacation for visitors and Belizeans.

• Bring a doctor’s certificate stating you tested negative for the coronavirus within 72 hours of your trip.
• Register on the Belize Health app. This is a contact tracing device.
• Wear a face mask in public and practice social distancing.
• Stay in the Safe Corridor of government-certified operators.

What’s the Safe Corridor?

The Safe Corridor refers to a network of hotels, transportation providers, and tour companies that have received the Belize government’s Tourism Gold Star certification. This means the provider has met a stringent set of safety and sanitation requirements. Only operators who have adopted new standards of cleanliness and safety can hold Gold Star certification.

When you visit, you will stay in the Safe Corridor by using Gold Star certified providers from the moment they arrive in Belize. You will also receive regular, unobtrusive temperature checks. You must update your health status on the Belize Health app.

You will receive a Safe Corridor “Welcome to Belize” wristband when you arrive at the airport. You must wear this wristband to use transportation services, exit the airport grounds, and check into your hotel.

Belize Tourism Board Director Karen Bevans has said, “While visitors will need to adhere to our ‘new normal’ entry requirements and safety protocols, their experience will remain authentic to Belize’s adventurous spirit.”

It’s a good idea to check the Belize Tourism Board for updates.

Enjoy Belize at the Gold Star Certified Chabil Mar

Make your stay truly memorable by staying at the Chabil Mar. Our luxurious Belize resort features individual villas on a private beachfront and many guest-exclusive amenities. 

Visit our website chabilmarvillas.com for more information on 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.

When the first planes touch down at Belize’s International Airport on October 1st, repeat visitors are going to find that things have changed dramatically because so many new protocols have been implemented to keep travelers safe from spreading Covid-19. Consequently, you’ll want to bring along swimsuits, sunscreen and patience, because these re-opening measures could take a bit of time.

Once you land, you will proceed to the airport’s health screening center where your shoes will be sanitized and you will process through thermal imaging cameras to make sure you’re healthy. You will be asked to verify the information on the Belize health app that you submitted before arrival and verify certified COVID-19 test results. Once you pass muster, you’ll proceed to immigrations and customs for the usual checks.

But there’s one qualification that you must meet in order to get on with your vacation: You must show authorities that you have reservations to stay at a Tourism Gold Standard property. This new designation is especially important. It proves that the resort or hotel has passed a rigorous 9-point inspection standard designed to create the safest, healthiest environment of all for guests. These measures include no-contact check-in procedures, stringent social distancing parameters, hand sanitation hubs and regular temperature checks.

Your host will protect you even more by establishing a unique quarantining arrangement that assigns quarters to guests who are suspected of being ill so they remain isolated from other guests. There’s much more, including new and more sophisticated cleaning and sanitizing methods so your accommodations are maintained to World Health Organization standards.

Where can you find a safe place that meets all of these criteria and perhaps a few more? Chabil Mar Villas, where COVID-19 precautions are elevated to an art. While Chabil Mar won’t open for guests until November 1st, that doesn’t mean you can’t make your reservations now – especially once you read about measures taken to keep you in good health during the entirety of your stay.

From social distancing measures to the resort’s cancellation policies, you won’t find a resort as well prepared for your visit as Chabil Mar, and happily, nothing about the resort’s activity menu has changed. You’ll still roam 400 feet of private beach, swim in both of Chabil Mar’s beachside infinity pools, frequent the private pier overlooking the sea and borrow complimentary bicycles, kayaks, paddle Boards.

This is your chance to see how royalty vacation! You don’t have to budge from your lounge chair for sustenance because roaming butler service takes care of your every request for drinks and casual dining as you enjoy the good life.

Reservations should be made as soon as possible because fewer guests than usual will be booked at the resort after November 1st for safety reasons, and packages and specials tend to be grabbed up fast because they save money and take the stress out of the visit you’ve been waiting forever to make!

See what strikes your fancy on our Belize vacation package menu. Go for the gold, knowing that your stay is going to be as safe as it is fun and relaxing and we’re pretty sure you could use a big dose of both right about now!

Visit our website chabilmarvillas.com for more information on 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.

Can a small, lush resort located on Belize’s Placencia peninsula brag too much about awards that continue to be conferred upon this property? Not according to a growing list of entities that include GQ magazine, Fodor’s and Gordon’s Guides, Green Globe and My Vacation Pages, all of which have attested to this remarkable resort’s excellence.

As it has in the past, TripAdvisor has once again shone a spotlight on Chabil Mar by giving the resort not one but two top-25 awards for best Central America Hotel. Both staff and management are thrilled to add these two 2020 honors to the resort’s growing recognition list.

Marketing Manager Larry France suspected that Chabil Mar was in the running for a TripAdvisor award, “But I was over the moon when I learned that we were included in two top-25 categories for 2020: Small Hotels and Best Service. The second is particularly meaningful because our staff takes so much pride in their efforts to make every guest feels welcome and valued,” said France.

“This year has been a particularly daunting one for our people and our property,” adds France. “But we responded to the Corona pandemic with such immediacy and speed by following World Health Organization guidelines for guest safety and welfare, that we were well ahead of the curve. When our management announced that we would open for travelers starting November 1st, 2020, there were plenty of employee high-fives going around because we knew that we had taken every precaution to welcome guests back to our beautiful Eden.”

Placencia has become the trendiest new destination for tourists, and Chabil Mar has responded to the growth in traffic that is bringing people from around the world to this boutique property. Gardens and private villas promise a unique amount of privacy to every guest seeking relaxation and carefree tranquility. From mystic rain forests to pristine beachfront along the Caribbean Sea, the resort has established a reputation for excellence that extends well beyond service and beauty.

“If awards were given for ambience, I’m pretty sure we would win every honor on the planet,” said France. “Our resort specializes in the extra touches that no other property offers. It’s why our mission, to deliver “Beauty by Belize; Luxury by Design” has been actualized and recognized by the authority we most respect: Chabil Mar guests who return year after year. Their loyalty touches us and keeps us working even harder.”

Chabil Mar Villas is a 12-year-old, contemporary, full-service luxury boutique beach resort located along the Placencia peninsula coastline. As the closest full-service resort to Placencia Village, this all-villa resort is known for service excellence, superior accommodations filled with Belizean art and décor, an impressive tour menu affiliated with knowledgeable independent guides, and Café Mar, the award-winning onsite restaurant. For more information about the resort, restaurant, services and 2020 TripAdvisor awards: 1-866-417-2377; https://chabilmarvillas.com.