Beach view of the Ellysian Boutique
Summary
Distancing/Clean Air/Masking
- Gap period enforced between guest stays - 24 hours
- Contactless check-in is available
- Shield between guests and staff in main contact areas
- Social distancing measures are in place
Guest Protection
- Protective clothing is available to guests
- Masks are available to guests
- Guests are provided with free hand sanitizer
- Daily health checks for guests
- Private bathroom
Staff Measures
- Staff wears personal protective equipment
- Daily health checks for employees
Dining
- Individually-wrapped food options are available
Cleaning
- Property is cleaned with disinfectant
Action Plan for Handling COVID Cases
- Designated isolation/quarantine rooms
In the heart of Placencia on the beach is the Ellysian Boutique Hotel. Unlike some of our other recommendations, this hotel is on the more luxurious end of things. They are rated as a Gold Star hotel, which is Belize’s standard for COVID safety, but the hotel has other features which enhance these measures.
One of our primary concerns with hotels is air flow. Good airflow means that circulating virus rapidly exits the area and there is less risk to guests and staff alike. On this count, the Ellysian has several key recommendations. First, each suite has ample ventilation, large windows, individual air conditioning, and balconies that overlook either the two pools or the beach. Added to this, contactless checkin is available to help people avoid unnecessary contacts. While there are some external entrances to ground floor suites, one does need to pass through the lobby to access the stairs. Given that these are inside, the situation is not ideal. However, here the open architecture of the building and staircases, in particular, promotes good interior air flow. There is an interior restaurant with large windows which follows Gold Star standards, but one can also choose to dine outside by the pool, although possibly with fewer options.
For those wishing to isolate more completely, there are in-room dining options. The rooms include microwaves, the possibility of a stocked fridge, and the ubiquitous coffee maker. Some rooms have kitchenettes as well. There are even private bathrooms. It may seem that these should also be ubiquitous, but not all hotels we have surveyed have them.
Like many hotels in Belize, the Ellysian is small. There are thirteen individual suites including a penthouse, and the hotel will service a maximum of 40 guests from unrelated parties. This keeps the potential of unrestricted spread relatively low compared to larger hotels. Additionally, the hotel enforces a 24 hour gap period between guests so that rooms can air out.
Feeling sick before traveling and concerned about cancellation? The Ellysian has a free cancellation policy, and the reservation is refundable (contact the hotel for the precise policy).
Finally, in addition to the Gold Star standards, the Ellysian also follows CDC guidelines for COVID safety and WTTC-Global guidelines, which are, perhaps, the strictest of all.
If you’re looking for a luxury beach stay in Belize where you can feel reasonably safe, we recommend the Ellysian Boutique Hotel.
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