We have stayed a lot of placed but always wanted to have a vacation where you can walk out the door straight on to the beach. This place delivered! This is a great house in a beautiful location with all the amenities you can want. From the minute we arrived, we had top-notch service from the management company and from William on site. The property is just a little far out from town, but the privacy is worth it, and you get used to the short golf cart drive very quickly. There are plenty of options for dining and groceries within a very short golf cart ride, and your even closer to great places like Secret Beach than you would be closer to town.

The Good: Marvin and William are absolutely amazing. They are attentive, helpful, knowledgeable and made our stay much better than what it would have been without them. The welcome message that was engraved into the sand was a special touch. William and Marvin were great with our kids. They spent a lot of time with them, showing them the property and teaching them about traditional medicines, plants and about the history of the island. They put together games for the kids, like a hermit crab race, which our kids loved. Marvin and William would make themselves available to take our kids fishing off of the docks. I believe our children will look back fondly on the trip and remember Marvin and William forever. The large size of the home provided space for everyone so that we weren't always on top of one another. The welcome gift and the phone app was most appreciated and helpful for our stay. The property management company is also top notch. The Bad (and ugly): There are a number of items that would have made our stay much better. First and foremost, the sargassum/seaweed MUST be removed prior to and during the rental. One of the main factors in choosing this home was that it is beachfront with a dock. Swimming and lounging on the beach was impossible. The foul/sulfur smell required that we spend most of our time indoors or travel to secret beach to avoid the stench. The mattresses and pillows are totally unacceptable. The mattresses are extra firm and are equivalent to sleeping on the floor or a piece of plywood (which I believe are used instead of box springs). Although, tile is necessary due to the sand, the tile is slippery, I suggest sandpaper grip on the stairs to prevent people slipping and hurting themselves. The water pressure is low, which affects one's shower. Not a deal killer at all, but be aware that your shower won't be anything like it is at home. Although John's bar/grill (next door) is currently closed, please be aware of the proximity of it to the property. If it opens again, it could either make or break your stay, depending upon the guests you have with you. The property management company indicated that they would look into addressing a number of the items. Hopefully your stay will be better than ours.

I can't say enough good things about this house. If you stay here, you won't be disappointed. Everyone was wonderful and easy to work with. Carolyn was really helpful in the months leading up to our arrival, quickly answering any questions we had and to share insiders tips about the island. William and Marvin who take care of the property were ready to help with anything that came up while we were there. The house is right on the beach, an easy walk to Rojo (great for a drink or a bite), and super comfortable. The rooftop pool is fantastic for cooling off in the day or watching the sunset. The palapa in the yard is wonderful for coffee and sunrises or rum punch and evening tunes. The dock is lovely for afternoon relaxation and wildlife watching. The house is well set up and comfortable, with everything you need for a great vacation. It's a peaceful escape from the hustle and bustle of San Pedro, and about a 20 minute golf cart ride back to town for scuba trips or delicious dinners. We were a group of friends coming to Belize without our husbands or children, and it was perfect for us. We are now dreaming of coming back with our whole families, because it would also be perfect for families and children. Honestly- what a wonderful house in a wonderful part of the world!

This was our 2nd time to visit San Pedro, Belize and stay at Castillo de Arena! We loved it just as much the 2nd time, and cannot wait to plan a 3rd trip with our kids. We had the pleasure of meeting Carolyn & Ted this time and were so pleased to see William and the pups as well. Marvin was so great too! The Moran's have a wonderful home on a beautiful beach with unbelievable snorkeling right outside the front door. You really do not want to miss this gem! We love Belize! The Lindleys & The Wises ~ AKA The Wisleys

This was our 2nd time to visit San Pedro, Belize and stay at Castillo de Arena! We loved it just as much the 2nd time, and cannot wait to plan a 3rd trip with our kids. We had the pleasure of meeting Carolyn & Ted this time and were so pleased to see William and the pups as well. Marvin was so great too! The Moran's have a wonderful home on a beautiful beach with unbelievable snorkeling right outside the front door. You really do not want to miss this gem! We love Belize! The Lindleys & The Wises ~ AKA The Wisleys

We just returned from a fantastic week at the Sand Castle. Carolyn and Ted were fabulous hosts, and the house was a perfect location for exploring Ambergris Caye. Transportation to the house was quick and easy with Carolyn's assistance, and she helped us to book a fun boat trip and having a cook come to the house one evening as well. The boat trip was a definite highlight, with a day filled with lobster spearing, fishing, and amazing snorkeling on the reef. The house is located on a quiet beach area that felt secluded while offering a lot of amenities close at hand. John's Escape next door was an easy place to enjoy wonderful food and drinks, as was Rojo just a short walk down the beach. Definitely make a stop at the Truck Stop for delicious cocktails. We couldn't have asked for a better time and will definitely be back to enjoy it again!

We LOVED staying here. It was a short ride by golf cart to town and walking distance to food via the beach. It is close to Secret Beach too which is a plus. We did two excursions and both picked us up from our dock. The caretaker, William, was wonderful. He really made our stay that much more special by answering tons of our questions, and being so kind and helpful. I'd stay here again just to see William and his dogs. The golf cart was waiting for us at the house when we arrived,and the owner was so kind as to help us arrange excursions and the golf cart. What a perfect vacation!

We had the time of our life! Snorkeling, kayaking, diving, kite boarding (yes it was windy). A golf cart is a must, it made our traveling easier. We went all the way up to the north end and stopped at a small place to have a beer. Hol chan and shark ray alley is a must. Secret beach, not so secret, but lovely for just hanging in the water with no waves. The property is gorgeous. I loved the fact that it was fenced off and that we had our own private dock. The pool was a added bonus. We Had Aurora and her husband cook for us one night and it was wonderful. We would stay here again. Thank you for sharing:)