Caye Caulker · Belize
Bella's Backpackers
Bed bug reports
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Confirmed Hostelworld
didnt stay here cause it was closed on goverment orders due to bed bugs and rats. we only heard when we arrived and they lied to our face saying it was construction. and also lied about getting our deposit back
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Possible Hostelworld
Je suis arrivé et il avait dit qu’il était fermé pour rénovation mais en réalité il avait des punaises de lits et de rats … il ne m’on jamais remboursé l’acompte que j’avais payé…
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Confirmed Hostelworld
We turned up to bella’s backpackers to find out it had been closed down by the authorities for ‘renovations’ which turned out to actually be because of rats and bed bugs. The staff are cold and rude, we were moved to a different venue and told they would message us in the morning because they thought they would be open the next day. They were not and turns out they had not been open for the last two weeks yet still taking bookings. We were still charged even though we didn’t stay there.
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Confirmed Hostelworld
The hostel is shutdown because of bed bugs but they still let you book a room - they aren’t refunding.
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Confirmed Google Maps
Watchout bedbugs !!!! I was negatively shocked by this hostel it was so bad the worst I have ever been in. The staff is omg... never seen that, they don't help you at all, opposite in fact, want to make you pay more than the price offered on booking. Everything is dirty, at night we would wake up scratching because of little things in our bed not sure if it's bedbugs or something else but définitly not mosquitoes. When I tried explaining they didn't care. Wouldn't give my money here, plenty of other cheap hostels nearby.
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Confirmed Booking.com
BEDBUGS!!! or I am not sure what was in the bed but we all woke up during the nights in our dorm because something was biting us all night in our beds and we couldn't stop scratching. The staff was so bad, we had the impression to be in their home and that we were annoying them. Didn't want to help anyone and never smiled any minute of my stay. Wouldn't give my money here if I were you. Water not available all the time.
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Confirmed Hostelworld
Pretty average hostel considering the price. The beds in the dorm rooms are uncomfortable and got bed bug bites from one of them. Kitchen facilities are good and Sunday funday was great but hostel itself ..
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Confirmed Hostelworld
worst bed I've ever slept in. Fortunately didn't bring the bed bugs with me
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Confirmed Hostelworld
Disappointing, there were bed bugs in my bed. The staff did spray my bed but I was still bitten the next night. My friend was in a top bunk with no rails which felt unsafe. We were in the “deluxe” dorm but the beds were shaky and the mattress was very worn so I could feel the slats underneath. The communal water wasn’t filled overnight so the people in our dorm stole our water bottles from our beds. Not enough toilets. The full hostel has your room code so other people were entering our room
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Confirmed Hostelworld
The worst hostel I’ve ever stayed in. Bed bugs. Millions of mosquitos. Shower and toilet filled and flooding. Disgusting. I’d rather sleep on the street next time. Someone broke into another dorm while I was staying there, stole someone’s bag and started touching a girls legs in her sleep.
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Confirmed Hostelworld
Great for meeting people. Top location. However is very dirty and I also had bed bugs in my bed. Did get an upgrade though which was a touch! Just need to sort out their cleaning and also make more of an effort with their communal spaces.
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Confirmed Hostelworld
Incredible location and facilities- free kayak and kitchen are especially good. Great areas to chill, and amazing tours on offer- definitely opt for the sunset cruise, with plenty of rum punch. Staff were great and made our stay. Rooms were fine, but do be careful as many friends have experienced bed bugs here.
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Confirmed Hostelworld
I wouldn’t recommend. There are other hostels on the island which a lot more people seemed to stay in, which sounded like a better option tbh. Pretty sure my bed had bed bugs as I was covered in bites every morning. The dorms are just unlocked all the time and we had cats roaming around the beds all the time. The one shower by the dorms was disgusting, and the toilets constantly stank as the bins were small and hardly emptied. There is no AC, only fans which don’t do that good of a job. The lockers are small so can’t fit big backpacks in. Some of the staff were very friendly but some were quite rude and shouted at each other all the time. Sunday funday was amazing but you can do this regardless of whether u stay at bellas!!!!
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Vibe Analysis
Bella's Backpackers is built around a loud social setup: a bar, nightly activities, Sunday Funday, snorkel trips, hammocks, and a dock for sunset. It suits Caye Caulker travelers who want an easy place to meet people and do not mind trading comfort for party gravity. The location is a major part of the appeal, close to the main island action, the Split, restaurants, tour offices, and the water. The back area, dock, hammocks, and bar can make the property feel lively and useful between swims, drinks, and tours. Rooms and facilities are the weak zone. Dorms can be cramped, basic, hot without AC, very cold when AC is controlled centrally, and short on privacy features like curtains, lights, sockets, hooks, or solid storage. Bathrooms, showers, mattresses, bunk frames, kitchen equipment, drinking water, WiFi, and cleanliness can be rough or inconsistent. This is a better fit for a short, social, messy island stay than a restful base. The fun is real, but so are the hygiene, noise, staff, maintenance, and value problems.
Signals to check
- Expect late noise from the hostel bar, nearby bars, and social areas.
- Cleanliness can be poor, especially bathrooms, dorm floors, and showers.
- Beds and bunks may be uncomfortable, creaky, unstable, or missing basic privacy features.
- Private rooms and cabins can feel overpriced for the space and condition.
- WiFi, drinking water, hot showers, kitchen gear, and fridge space may be unreliable.
- Staff help can range from warm and useful to distant or unhelpful.
- Tours and Sunday Funday can be fun, but prices, organization, and inclusions may disappoint.