According to multiple witnesses who overheard a chat between iconic novelist F. Scott Fitzgerald and the legendary Ernest Hemingway, Fitzgerald said, “You know, the rich are different from you and me.”
His statement was met with Hemingway’s acerbic comeback: “Yes. They’ve got more money.”
While it’s true that celebrities are different, we share lots of commonalities. For example, while stars expect the best of the best, they don’t necessarily limit that desire for excellence to their personal worlds. For prominent showbiz entrepreneurs like Robert Redford, Robert DeNiro, and Richard Gere, delivering the service and experiences they expect to receive has made them extraordinary hosts and resort owners. And, the same can be said for famed movie director Francis Ford Coppola. Among elite resorts, few receive as many effusive reviews as Coppola’s two prominent properties in Belize: Blancaneaux Lodge and Turtle Inn, both part of the Coppola Family Hideaways.
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- Blancaneaux Lodge, Mountain Pine Ridge
It can be hard to choose between the two because they’re both so unique, but both deliver experiences guaranteed to be distinct and memorable, so you can’t go wrong by staying at either.
Blancaneaux Lodge
The view from the Sunrise Villa at Blancaneaux Lodge.
If you seek exclusivity, privacy, and intimacy, this Coppola Family Hideaway, tucked inside a verdant Belize rainforest, is Eden embodied. It was opened to the public in 1993 after serving as a family retreat for years.
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- Photo Credit: Blancaneaux Lodge
Given so remote a setting – inside the Mountain Pine Ridge Reserve – the Coppolas committed to retaining this hideaway’s rustic charm. Blancaneaux Lodge hosts just 20 private, thatched-roof dwellings, each adorned with hand-crafted Guatemalan furnishings and art. Outside these luxe units, guests are treated to the soothing sounds of waterfalls.
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- Photo courtesy of Blancaneaux Lodge
The sheer scale of personal services enjoyed by guests is impressive. Montagna Ristorante chefs craft all manner of Italian and Belizean cuisine using produce picked from the onsite organic garden. Guests are invited to luxuriate within the onsite spa, take guided birding treks, hike trails, and float down rivers. But what excites this year’s summer visitors most of all is the current special that includes a 4th night free as long as it’s booked by July 1, 2023.
It’s the excuse you’ve been looking for to make this enchanting place your 2023 vacation experience!
Turtle Inn
Sofia’s Beach House at Turtle Inn
For some Caribbean travelers, only beachfront tranquility will do, and Coppola’s Turtle Inn never disappoints. It was acquired in 2001 by the family with the goal of turning it into a refuge for weary vacationers unwilling to settle for the ordinary. This 25-room property is made up of individual thatched-roof hideaways filled with Balinese décor.
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- Turtle Inn’s Poolside Cottage
Turtle Inn is located in Placencia, a quaint former fishing village filled with boutiques and eateries. Guests, however, may find it hard to peel themselves away from the resort thanks to gourmet dining at Mare Restaurant. Here, just-caught seafood and Coppola family recipes for Italian fare come together for unique culinary experiences. Explore the elegant wine cellar. Grab your share of privacy at the intimate Gauguin Grill or enjoy the ultimate in casual dining at Auntie Luba’s Kitchen located on the beach. Plus, the Laughing Fish Bar and the Skip White Bar are places guests frequent when they want to socialize with the small number of guests staying at the resort.
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- Photo Credit: Turtle Inn
Come for the beach, and stay for the food and libations that make this lovely enclave of Caribbean charm the best escape ever. And why not make your stay cheaper, too? Book a stay at Turtle Inn by July 1, 2023, and a four-day respite can become five. This offer applies to any booking dates between now and mid-November 2023.
One More Delightful Coppola Hideaway
Image courtesy of La Lancha
For travelers who wouldn’t go abroad unless they could see more than one country, La Lancha, a Coppola Family Hideaway in neighboring Guatemala, should make your list. This haven of rest and relaxation sits close to Western Belize. It offers access to the world-famous Tikal Maya ruins, elegant dining, and plenty of unique amenities.
In sum, no matter which hideaway you choose, you’re bound to be treated like the star you are!
All photos courtesy of Coppola Family Hideaways.
