Instead of spending hours at an overcrowded mall or scrolling Amazon for frivolous gifts, spend time together this holiday season. Instead of making multiple trips to the grocery store, make lasting memories that will endure for a generation. Escape the winter woes and bask in the glorious weather of Belize at Francis Ford Coppola’s beach front refuge—Turtle Inn Resort, one of the Family’s Hideaways.
This Christmas you can give your family the greatest gift of all: quality time with one another and enriching experiences. What are you waiting for?
Consider starting a new holiday tradition: a winter vacation to the tropics! A holiday at Turtle Inn offers stress-free family time, no cooking and cleaning and trying to keep the kids entertained over the school break. The beach at their doorstep is their natural playground and parents can kick back and unwind. Situated on the sandy shores of the Placencia Peninsula, Turtle Inn is an ideal setting for both relaxation and adventure.
This Coppola Family Hideaway Is The Perfect Place for Families
The coral-studded Caribbean Sea at your front door and jungle-shrouded Cockscomb Mountain range in the background; the choices of activities are nearly endless. View amazing wildlife. Enjoy incredible diving and snorkeling. Explore ancient Maya cities. Or, delve deep into a mysterious underground labyrinth of caves. Belize has it all, and Turtle Inn affords you the perfect basecamp from which to experience the best adventures. Hike, bike, zip-line, kayak, and learn about the fascinating history and culture of Belize. It’s the perfect destination for families because there’s something to appeal to everyone. Escape the hyper-commercialized mentality of a North American Christmas, and give the gift of experiences instead of ‘things.’ Memories are a gift that you don’t outgrow, one that lasts and can be cherished.
Francis and Eleanor Coppola were inspired by the breezy and beautiful Balinese style of living and designed Turtle Inn in a similar al fresco, rustic, yet elegant fashion. Indonesian artwork, elaborately carved wooden doors, and hand-woven rugs adorn the open concept quarters. Meandering stone paths through tropical foliage and soft lighting lend a romantic feel to the resort in the quiet evenings.
Where Adventure and Relaxation Meet
Turtle Inn is also home to the largest wine cellar in all of Central America with over 1000 bottles in-stock (including all the Coppola varietals, obviously) and a wine tasting experience like no other. It may appear that this is a retreat that only adults can appreciate, but nothing could be further from the truth. Little ones will be enchanted with the property as well. They can feed the friendly turtles at the welcome pond, borrow bikes or paddleboards, swim out to a floating dock in the warm clear sea, or tour the organic garden and become an assistant pizza chef at the open-air brick-oven pizzeria kitchen.
There’s also an adult-free gelato bar complete with children-sized tables and chairs. Families love the solitary, thatch-roofed cottages that give guests privacy and seclusion. Kids won’t even complain about bath time when they can pick between the deep, Japanese style soaking tub or the bamboo-faucet outdoor shower in the cottage’s private walled garden.
Take a total 180 from hectic holiday schedules and enjoy deep relaxation at Turtle Inn’s renowned Sunset Spa. Bordering the placid Placencia lagoon, the open-air Balinese Rice House sets the scene as perfectly as an award-winning filmmaker would. Enjoy a world-class Thai massage by therapists who have studied and honed the ancient practice at the Sacred Wat Pho Temple in Bangkok. Organic scrubs and nature herbal treatments complement the holistic experience. Face the New Year rejuvenated and invigorated!
Turtle Inn decks the halls for the holiday season, but their New Year’s Eve soiree is particularly memorable. Mix and mingle under the stars and ring in this new year with a beachside toast and fireworks over the sea.
All Images courtesy the Family of Coppola Hideaways Belize.