2022: Year In Review

17 January 23

 

From Rachael Wilson, Founder: As we sail into 2023, I find myself at a loss for words to express my tremendous pride and gratitude for the absolutely stellar team at AB. Patricia, Josh, and Julianie broke all records in 2022, welcoming our ever-growing number of guests to our spectacular country and showcasing the best of Belize with perfect planning precision, passion, and prowess.

Patricia will share more on these monumental milestones while I share a few personal highlights and look to 2023.

 

 

At AB, we consider ourselves travel experts, but beyond that, pioneers in travel innovation. We strive to uncover deeper and explore further – and with more authenticity – bringing experiential travel to our guests that exceed all expectations.

Some personal Belize travel highlights in 2022 include:
  • Witnessing turtle hatchings at Half Moon Caye, Lighthouse Reef Atoll
  • Getting up close and personal with reef sharks at Long Caye, Lighthouse Reef Atoll
  • Exploring the expanse and wilderness of Turneffe Atoll via catamaran with our sister company, Belize Sailing Vacations
  • Devouring Placencia’s authentic food scene with a Doctor of Food Anthropology, who was raised on a sustainable cacao farm deep in southern Belize
  • Stargazing from Francis Ford Coppola’s private island, Coral Caye

 

The list goes on; however, my incomparable travel experience was sleeping in a [very] rustic, over-the-water thatch cabana at Glover’s Reef Atoll as part of our 2023 glamping initiative. That “last frontier” feeling of sleeping on the edge of a remote atoll, with nothing to hear but the waves crashing on the reef, being woken to the sounds of the calling ospreys at sunrise, and seeing sleeping sharks under your dock can only be described as once-in-a-lifetime.

We are beyond excited to continue to bring you more of Belize in 2023 and are filled with gratitude for you being part of our AB Family!

~ Rach

 

 

 

 

From Patricia Johnson, Director: We welcomed the New Year with a record number of visitors in-country, and we are only now taking the time to reflect on what a great year 2022 was and what we can anticipate for 2023.

Every aspect of our business is on an upward trajectory, so much so that we added a Guest Services Coordinator to our team. You may have heard from Julianie as she and I ensure that all the little details are taken care of for a seamless vacation.

Julianie’s attention to detail, hands-on experience, and meticulousness make her the perfect Guest Services Coordinator.

2022 saw a boost in bookings for Placencia in southern Belize, and this was easily our most popular destination with its golden sand beaches, swaying palm trees, and lagoon-side mountain views. On an international level, Belize was voted one of the Most Desirable Emerging Destinations for the Wanderlust Travel Awards and the Friendliest Countries in the World by Conde Nast Traveler.

At Absolute Belize, we have been celebrating our very own monumental milestones, including:

  • being the only Trusted Travel Experts in Belize on Wendy Perrin’s WOW List for the fourth consecutive year
  • being on the coveted Conde Nast Traveler Top Travel Specialist List for the second successive year, and
  • being featured in the Wall Street Journal
As for me, last year I shared with you all that I was looking forward to family trips and explorations in and out of Belize, and I did just that. Some of my favorite travel memories outside of Belize include the following:
  • My third trip to Costa Rica, but my first time with the entire family. Highlights were taking my kids to the Manuel Antonio National Park and the Arenal area.
  • A 5th-anniversary trip to Cabo, San Lucas, with the highlights being a sunset whale-watching cruise and a visit to Todos Santos.
  • Visiting Antigua and Lake Atitlan in Guatemala with breathtaking views, cultural immersions, and historical sites.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I traveled extensively throughout Belize with family, friends, and colleagues in 2022. Some of my favorite memories include:
  • Traveling to off-the-beaten-path places in southern Belize and participating in authentic cultural experiences such as the Battle of the Drums in Punta Gorda Town, Maya Cooking Class in Indian Creek Village, and Chocolate Making at Ixcacao Chocolate in San Felipe Village.
  • I had the pleasure of visiting Ray Caye, not once, but three times, and as one of our clients said, “this island is magical.”
  • Visiting Turneffe Atoll and the Green Champion of the Year, Turneffe Flats, was undoubtedly one for the books.
I wish I could mention all the places I visited and the memories I made, but know that our recommendations are always based on first-hand experiences and on-the-ground knowledge of this small but diverse destination.We already have some surprises up our sleeve for 2023 and look forward to continued growth and curating incredible travel experiences.

Thank you for your trust, thank you for your feedback and reviews, and thank you for your referrals. We appreciate you!

Happy 2023!

~ Pat

 

 

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