Revitalizing Paradise

Introduction:

Creekside Oasis is a rainforest lodge located in the Toledo district of Belize, approximately 7 miles from Punta Gorda town and the Caribbean coast. Creekside Oasis is well-known to the birding community for the large variety of bird species spotted on the property (over 260 confirmed as of this writing). The nearly 40-acre property has been left predominantly natural and is criss-crossed by nature trails, offering opportunities for birdwatching and exploration. Approximately 10 acres have been beautifully maintained and landscaped with dozens of species of flowers and other flora.

The property is also known for offering an authentic Belizean experience without compromising comfort and amenities. Creekside Oasis provides both North American-style lodge rooms with tile floors and air conditioning, as well as traditional, Maya-style thatched casitas. Every room, regardless of type, has a private bathroom and shower, and every reservation includes a freshly prepared, full breakfast.

A little over a year ago, as of this writing, the property came under new ownership. Despite its natural beauty, there were opportunities for improvement that would enhance the guest experience and reflect our commitment to the environment and sustainability. The following is a summary of some of the key improvements made to the property, illustrating the new owners' dedication to providing a safe, comfortable, relaxing, and enjoyable stay.

Comfort Upgrades

The most important aspect of any lodging is offering guests the ability to feel comfortable and rest well. As such, we targeted the most significant aspects of the lodge which impact guest’s comfort.

• Air Conditioning Units: One of the most common pieces of feedback received from guests was around the AC units provided in the lodge rooms. The existing units were small, traditional “window” AC units. While they did (usually) work to cool the rooms, they tended to be noisy and the manner in which they could be operated was inconsistent. For example: some could be operated by remote control while others could only be operated by an on/off switch. Additionally, window units were notoriously inefficient with regard to energy consumption.

  Guest feedback and our commitment to conservation were taken into consideration, and now all lodge rooms have upgraded, split-unit air conditioning. The new units are uniform in style and brand, can be operated by remote, and are more aesthetically appealing, quiet and energy efficient.

• Mini-Fridges in Lodge Rooms: Until recently there was a single mini-fridge which would be moved into a room for certain guests. Usually the fridge was made available upon request, or if there was only a single room reserved at a given time. There has always been a shared refrigerator available for guest use in the restaurant area of the lodge.

  Mini-fridges are now provided for all of the premium rooms. This adds convenience and privacy for guests staying in lodge rooms, and meets the expectations of guests coming from places like North America, where having a refrigerator in hotel rooms is commonplace.

Enhancing Outdoor Experience

• New Porch(es): The back side of the lodge, adjacent to the kitchen, had a small porch that was rapidly succumbing to the elements. It was recently replaced with a professionally constructed, covered deck which can be enjoyed safely by guests and staff.

  The lodge rooms have always shared a nice, an outdoor veranda with ceiling fans, and casitas 9 and 10 also have a small, private veranda. The remaining casitas, however, did not have a convenient outdoor area for guests to relax and enjoy the fresh air and nature. As such, our talented groundskeeper was able to build small porches for the remaining 3 casitas. Now, guests in every room have access to their own outdoor space.

  

• Screen Doors on All Rooms: One of the most straightforward improvements for both the lodge rooms and the thatched casitas, was adding screened doors. Good ventilation, while keeping out biting and stinging rainforest residents, certainly makes for a more comfortable stay!

• WiFi Upgrade: In response to feedback from guests, we've enhanced our WiFi system for better coverage and reliability throughout the property.

Infrastructure and Maintenance

• Exterior Paint on Lodge and Caretaker House: One of the first things guests notice as they enter the property is the caretaker’s residence and the lodge itself. Both needed significant work to protect their exteriors from the humid climate. A high quality white paint was chosen to replace the existing color. White was chosen because it is easy to see when cleaning is required, as well as the fact it does a good job of reflecting the often hot, Caribbean sun.

• New Roof Over Caretaker Veranda: Again, the caretaker house is one of the first things a guest notices on the property. An old, thatched roof over the veranda in front of the house was removed in favor of a more permanent roof. The new roof is larger and more sturdy, offering better shade and protection from the rain, not to mention better curb appeal.

  

• First-Floor Restroom for Groundskeepers: It may sound obvious, but our workers work hard and sometimes nature calls! It can be disruptive to guests, and inconvenient for our groundskeeping staff to remove muddy boots and march all the way through the restaurant area of the lodge to use the restroom. A small, conveniently located building was converted to a restroom for use by groundskeeping staff. This offers them convenience and privacy to get on with their day without interrupting business with guests.

Landscaping

• Tree Removal: While often beautiful, the climate and weather of a rainforest can be unforgiving. The consistent rain keeps the ground fairly saturated and soft. Very occasionally there are increased winds and lightening strikes. In order to mitigate the possibility of trees and branches causing damage to power lines or buildings, it is necessary to keep trees trimmed and, from time to time, to remove trees.

• Plants/Flowers Planted: Birds and pollenating insects thrive near flowering plants and trees. The staff have made a conscious effort to plant more flowering plants around the lodge and in the casita garden area. This increases the biodiversity of the area as well as the aesthetic appeal of the lodge, making for a more beautiful experience for guests.

  

Practical Enhancements

• Storage Room Added: We realized quickly that storage for linens and other supplies was limited within the property. In order to improve cleanliness, efficiency and comfort for the staff, it became necessary to increase the space available for storing items when not in use. An extra storage area was walled off and built below casita 10, in order to free up space in the laundry facility.

Conclusion

At Creekside Oasis, we've spent the last year transforming our lodge to better serve our guests, enhance their experience, and respect our beautiful rainforest environment. From the comfort of your room to the natural beauty outside your door, every change has been made with you in mind.

We invite you to come and experience these enhancements firsthand or return to see the difference. Your feedback is invaluable to us; it shapes our approach and drives further improvements. Please share your thoughts or suggestions on what you'd like to see next at Creekside Oasis. Whether it's through comments below, social media, or during your stay, we're eager to hear from you to continue making this rainforest retreat the best it can be. Thank you for being part of our journey towards excellence in hospitality and conservation.

Ready to experience Creekside Oasis with its new upgrades? Book your stay here and immerse yourself in nature like never before!