Meet David and Christy
David and Christy are your hosts during your stay at Manatee Villa, Seahorse Villa, or Turtle Villa. From answering questions, making recommendations, preparing meals (if this service has been selected), providing transportation, or just telling you about the area – they are here to make your stay easy and memorable.
When we have no guests, they are looking after the villas, keeping up with routine maintenance and general upkeep.
But when you arrive, they are ready to roll out the red carpet!
Get to know them a little better in Hugh’s blog post about them. Then we’ve answered some FAQ’s below. If you have a question we haven’t covered, just contact us!
What housekeeping services are provided?
Every day during your stay, David and Christy will come into the villa. They either do this while you are out and about, or if it’s a day in for you, they’ll ask if you want them to come in. You can elect to skip services that day, or let them know you’ll be going out later in the day and they will come back then.
Each day, they’ll do a quick clean: making beds, gathering trash, cleaning up the kitchen. They will also take any towels that are on the floor and leave fresh towels (towels on the rack are left until mid-stay). They’ll replace supplies such as bath and facial tissue and just generally check things over to be sure you are comfortable.
Every three days, they’ll change out all linens. This includes bedding and all towels, whether they are on the rack or the floor.
On your last day, David makes a final sweep through the house. He’s primarily looking for forgotten items (it’s very expensive and difficult to ship things back to the States, so we think an extra pair of eyes is a good idea).
Of course, if you need anything during your stay, all you have to do is ask and they will make every effort to help!
Is there a housekeeping / cleaning fee?
Unlike many vacation rental homes, we do not charge a standard cleaning/housekeeping fee.
We do reserve the right to charge an excessive cleaning fee at check out if the house is left in considerable disarray (for example, if you cook lunch on your last day and dirty up every dish and leave food and mess everywhere and then walk out the door). We seldom have to charge this fee (and we don’t like doing it!). We just ask that guests are respectful of the space and of the mess they leave behind.
Are we responsible for cleaning the house?
The short answer is, no. You’re on vacation! We realize that. Who wants to clean while on vacation?
However, we do ask that you be respectful of the space. If you cook a large meal, you don’t have to clean up the dishes. But it’s appreciated if you do. If you track sand into the house, you don’t have to clean it up. But it’s appreciated if you do.
Do David and Christy come and go as they please?
No. David and Christy are there to take care of the villa and help ensure you have a great vacation! They will be involved in your stay as much or as little as you like.
You set the boundaries. If you don’t want them around, just let David know you’d like privacy at the beginning of your stay (you can always change your mind later). If you like to sleep in and don’t want to be bothered with housekeeping until the afternoon, just let them know.
If you’re a social butterfly and want to get to know them (they are really fun), get some great suggestions for places to go and tours, and learn about Belizean culture – invite them over!
You’ll find they are very respectful of your privacy and will only involve themselves in your stay when invited.
Why do you need a copy of my passport? And why do you want to take my picture?
Valid questions! But we have valid answers:
Trust us, David isn’t some international man of mystery, randomly collecting traveler information. Our hotel license with the BTIA requires that we submit monthly reports detailing how many guests we’ve had and the number of nights we were occupied. One of their requirements is that we collect passport information from each traveler, including a copy of the passport. We take your privacy very seriously and never share or distribute this information to any other source.
The second question is much more fun! We love snapping pics of our guests with Hugh, our enormous wooden manatee. Hugh is too big to get in a selfie, so David will help you out with a few pics. Funny, serious, groups, solos – we love them all.
Ok, yes, it’s partly self-serving. We want those pictures to go out on social media with our hashtags #hughthemanatee and #sirenianbayresortandvillas. But we also think it’s a fun way to remember your time at the Resort. Not interested? Just let David know – it’s always your decision!
What do we do if something breaks? What if we need something or can’t find something?
When you check-in, you’ll get David’s cell number.
Can’t find something? Run out of something? TV not working? Just give David a call and he’ll work to make it right.
Please remember, Belize is a developing country. We do lose power, and cable, and internet…. and while those things aren’t within David’s control, he will help as much as possible.
Can we do laundry? Do David and Christy do our laundry?
We have a full-sized, high efficiency washer and dryer at each villa. We’ll be sure you have enough laundry soap to do a load or two. If you’re planning to wash more frequently, you can pick up laundry soap at the grocery store in Placencia.
David and Christy will take care of the laundry for the villa (bedding, towels, robes, beach towels). They do not handle personal laundry.
Do you provide beach towels? What about robes?
We provide beach towels for your use at the Resort. We ask that you not take them from the property (on tours, for example). Many tours provide towels if they are needed.
You’ll find robes in each of the private bedrooms. Please enjoy these while at the resort. Robes are not collected and refreshed during your stay, but hooks are provided in each bathroom to help keep them dry and fresh.
Should we tip David and Christy?
As with any service, gratuity is appreciated but never expected. If you have a great stay and they made it better, we encourage you to show your appreciation.