On the beach, sun loungers, beach towels

Reviews of Villa Rising Sun Beachfront with Private Beach Bar & Dock


Reviews

10

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 97 out of 98 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 1 out of 98 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 98 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 98 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 98 reviews" "

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Amenities

10/10

Property conditions & facilities

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

margo s.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great Stay!
We were a very last minute booking and Mark, Sabrina and Dean bent over backwards to make our stay easy, fun and comfortable. They are around when you need them but not at all overbearing. The house is super clean and comfortable with everything you need and more. We rented golf carts (arranged by dean and delivered within minutes) and it was so fun to cruise around. All of the tours they arranged were fabulous. Hopkins and Sitter River are so great. We’ll be back!
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2024
Response from VrboOwner on Apr 18, 2024
Thank you Margo, for bringing your lovely family to stay with us. And taking your time to write us a review. We truly appreciate it and will look very forward to welcoming you back anytime!

10/10 Excellent

Beth M.

Liked: Cleanliness
Piece of Paradise
This was an amazing week! Going back in the future!
Stayed 7 nights in Feb 2024
Response from VrboOwner on Feb 13, 2024
Thank you Beth for staying with us. We enjoyed very much meeting everyone and having you here.

10/10 Excellent

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Liked: Cleanliness
Just as perfect the second time around
I think that the most reliable recommendation of a property is a return visit. After staying at Villa Rising Sun in 2021, we did not bother looking at other properties when booking our stay in Hopkins in 2024 -- it was just as perfect the second time around. There is no room for improvement -- the interior of the property is amazing, the outdoor tiki bar and beach area is a spectacular space for partying, relaxing, and enjoying the beach and the views. The hosts are wonderful -- they go above and beyond to make sure that your stay is perfect. Perfect suggestions for excursions and dining. Can't say enough good things about Villa Rising Sun -- except that we will book it again when we return to Hopkins.
Stayed 4 nights in Jan 2024
Response from VrboOwner on Feb 11, 2024
We all got together and read your review. You have no idea how much it means to us to hear we are doing a good job, and how much our return visitors impact our lives. It is wonderful making friends from around the world and having them return and catch up with them. Thank you guys, sincerely, from the entire crew!!!

10/10 Excellent

Katie P.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great stay!
Such a great stay! Dean and Mark are very knowledgeable about the area and have great recommendations on things to do and places to go. They also set up our excursions and airport transports for us, so everything was so easy and enjoyable. Definitely recommend!
Stayed 7 nights in Jan 2024
Response from VrboOwner on Jan 30, 2024
Thank you so much Katie. We are glad you had a great time and got to truly enjoy Belize.

10/10 Excellent

April D.

Liked: Cleanliness
Paradise!
This property was amazing. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay. The house was beautiful and very spacious. The private bar outside was where we spent the majority of our time because it was absolutely perfect! The hosts were great. I couldn't have asked for a better way to start our Belize vacation. We will 100% be back to Hopkins and this Villa.
Stayed 4 nights in Jan 2024
Response from VrboOwner on Jan 30, 2024
Thank you so much April. It was wonderful having you guys and thank you so much again for the delicious salmon. What a wonderful treat. We hope you will make it back our way soon!

10/10 Excellent

Erin V.

Liked: Cleanliness
Don't look further, book this location before someone else does
This is an incredibly spacious location, directly on the beach, full of extra amenities. Our family of five stayed and thoroughly enjoyed Villa Rising Sun. Outdoors you're directly on the beach. The family enjoyed the swinging and fishing on the dock. You can wade into the water for a good distance and there is marine life to enjoy snorkeling. The outdoor bar location is a unique feature which we used consistently whether it be for socializing, outdoor eating, a quick drink or shade. They also provide beach loungers, chairs and towels for your use. Inside you have a kitchen which is fully stocked with every cooking or baking need you might have. There is also a barbecue available to grill any fresh catch. The bedrooms are spacious with loads of drawer and closet space. Bathrooms are well stocked with toiletries and extra towels. The team managing Villa Rising Sun is phenomenal. Communication occurs early as they proactively reach out to help you plan your trip - excursions, transportation, food, etc. This communication also includes a letter of information to know about Hopkins, weather, packing recommendations. I found this extremely helpful. They remain in constant communication throughout your stay ensuring you have everything you need or to provide any recommendations if you ask. This villa is a gem. We absolutely plan to return and stay here again.
Stayed 5 nights in Jan 2024
Response from VrboOwner on Jan 10, 2024
Thank you so much Erin. We so much appreciate your staying with us and for the very kind review. We look very forward to having you guys back!

10/10 Excellent

Nova S.

Liked: Cleanliness
Amazing vacation
Mark, Sabrina, and Dean are amazing hosts. We came as strangers and left as friends! They were extremely helpful and made our family vacation so comfortable and memorable! We will be back and will only stay with them! Their home has everything you could ask for and is beautiful! They were full of wonderful tips and suggestions. Thank you all for making our Belize vacation everything we hoped for and more!
Stayed 12 nights in Dec 2023
Response from VrboOwner on Jan 2, 2024
Nova, thank YOU so much. It was absolutely our honor to have you and we look forward to seeing you again.

10/10 Excellent

Sharon B.

Liked: Cleanliness
We loved our stay at the Villa Rising Sun!
The property was gorgeous! It is well equipped, great beds, pillows, and linens. The ocean side cabana is beautiful. Dean was a great asset in helping us organize our golf cart, tours and recommendations for restaurants. Mark and Sabrina were great hosts always checking in to see if we needed anything. A place we highly recommend!
Stayed 6 nights in Nov 2023
Response from VrboOwner on Dec 1, 2023
It was all our pleasure having you stay with us. You guys are wonderful people and we miss you already. I hope the rest of your trip is magical!

10/10 Excellent

Kelly Q., Santa Clarita, CA

Liked: Cleanliness
Wonderful Vacation
Villa Rising Sun was a beautiful beachside vacation spot for our family (three teenage boys and a girlfriend) Communication by the the owners, Mark and Sabrina, and property manager, Dean was nothing less than excellent. Since nobody stayed at the property on the previous day, they contacted us to invite us for an early check-in. They all greeted us warmly upon our arrival, with help with our luggage and a tour of the beautiful property. They were all extremely attentive to any need that arose, without being at all intrusive. Dean provided excellent concierge services, not only with excursions, but also with any local restaurant recommendations. The excursions (zip line, rafting, and fishing) and services (spa and chef) that they recommended were all terrific! Overall, it was an amazing stay and we hope to return again soon!
Stayed 5 nights in Oct 2023
Response from VrboOwner on Oct 20, 2023
Kelly, thank you so much for taking the time to write such a thoughtful review. But also thank you all for staying with us. Your family and friend were all so wonderful and we really hope to see you again soon.

10/10 Excellent

Jennifer N.

Liked: Cleanliness
Wonderful Vacation
Fantastic location and property and wonderful hosts. Thank you!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023
Response from VrboOwner on Aug 16, 2023
Thank you so much for staying with us Jennifer and let us know if you end up buying one of those two places. We would love to have you guys as neighbors!

10/10 Excellent

Chris M., Helotes, TX

Liked: Cleanliness
Beautiful paradise in Hopkins, Belize
Wow! If my 13 year old and 16 year old loved it, then it’s really a great place as they can be hard to impress. Nonetheless, we all had a wonderful time at Mark and Sabrina’s property. They literally thought of everything and their property is well appointed. From the amazing private beach in the backyard, to the dock, to the spacious layout of the home, and the AMAZING excursions we can not thank them enough for providing such a wonderful and well needed vacation from all the hustle and bustle. We really enjoyed the snorkeling/catch and cook tour with Meds and Jeff and the cave tubing adventure. Meds caught us a lobster and we saw multiple nurse sharks and stingrays. Book the catch and cook tour you won’t regret it! Dean was amazing as well, always available to us and answered all our questions. You guys really delivered! Hopkins Village was nice, everybody we met was very friendly and accommodating. All the tour guides were excellent. Really can’t thank everybody and the country of Belize for providing a wonderful vacation for our family. Lots of fun memories were created - we’ll be back! The tiki bar was really cool and relaxing, we spent a lot of time out there. Again, 10/10 stars book this place!!!
Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2023
Response from VrboOwner on Aug 16, 2023
Thank you, Chris, for such an awesome review and for staying with us. It really means a lot to us. We will definitely pass on the great review to our Tour Guides as well!

10/10 Excellent

Dave F.

Liked: Cleanliness
On The Beach
We had a fantastic stay at the Villa which had every accommodation we could think of. Thanks to Mark, Sabrina and Dean for all the hospitality. We really felt like we were part of the local community and and all of us had a wonderful time. We will definitely book another trip to the Villa soon! Dave & Dee
Stayed 9 nights in Jun 2023
Response from VrboOwner on Jun 24, 2023
We had a fantastic time having you guys stay with us and are so glad you were all able to enjoy doing so many things while you were here. We are looking very forward to your coming back!

10/10 Excellent

Adam C., Minneapolis, USA

Liked: Cleanliness
Simply Amazing
This property is perfect in every way. The location is ideal. The 3BR are great for a family or group of friends. The tiki bar - we'll be talking about the tiki bar for a LONG TIME. It has everything you need and the attention to detail is impressive. Come ready to unleash your inner-Caribbean Resort Bartender. The hosts are tremendous, handling everything from dinner reservations to excursion bookings. It was like have a personal concierge - you should definitely take advantage of the services offered. There's nothing like getting picked up and dropped off at your place for excursions. We could go on forever, but instead I will echo another review: If this is available for the dates you want to come to Belize, just book it.
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2023
Response from VrboOwner on Apr 15, 2023
We love that you found your new life journey as a Caribbean Resort Bartender. It was wonderful to see you be able to take advantage of our little piece of heaven and enjoy Hopkins with your wonderful family Adam. We would welcome you back ANYTIME!! Also, thank you so very much for the terrific review. It is greatly appreciated.

10/10 Excellent

Brett B., Rathdrum, Idaho, USA

Liked: Cleanliness
Fantastic!
Excellent facility, fantastic service and great hospitality!
Stayed 6 nights in Feb 2023
Response from VrboOwner on Feb 18, 2023
Thank you guys so much for the review, and for staying with us. We really getting to know your wonderful family and hope to see you again in the future!

10/10 Excellent

johnandjohnnette@yahoo.com R.

Liked: Cleanliness
Reeds in Hopkins Belize!
Great 3 brm, 2 bath, nice beach and dock, with a great personal tiki bar and sound system! Owners and managers are great people. Ask for Shelly to do your cooking. Her food is amazing!
Stayed 7 nights in Jan 2023
Response from VrboOwner on Jan 22, 2023
Thanks guys! It was great to get to know you and so glad you had a terrific time. And Shelley wanted us to thank you as well. She really enjoyed preparing all of your meals.

10/10 Excellent

Sarah P., Monticello, IL

Liked: Cleanliness
Gorgeous, Relaxing, Peaceful Stay
We sought a location to relax and reconnect as family and Villa Rising Sun providedus with the perfect location to enjoy the beauty of the local environment and and reconnect with the beauty of eachother as family. From adventure tours to relaxing in the sun to swinging on the dock to swimming in the water the stay felt magical. We also loved experiencing the village of Hopkins and enjoyed Mass at Holy Family down the road on Sunday and enjoyed bonding with our tour driver Dirk. Seeing the beauty of the coral and fish and sealife felt expansive. Who knew that this vibrant world underwater could provide such enjoyment and peace. We are grateful for our time. Villa Rising Sun hosts were incredibly helpful all along the way. We feel deep gratitude for the excellent communication and help navigating Hopkins and other experiences in Belize. We do hope to return in the future and highly recommend this location.
Stayed 7 nights in Dec 2022
Response from VrboOwner on Dec 30, 2022
Hello Sarah and Matt! We really appreciate the terrific review and loved having your wonderful family as guests. I hope you guys will all come back. There is just so much to see and do you can't fit it all in a single stay. Have a wonderful New Year!

10/10 Excellent

duane h.

Liked: Cleanliness
You better Belize it.
Amazing hosts and everything was perfect!
Stayed 7 nights in Nov 2022
Response from VrboOwner on Dec 25, 2022
Thank you, Duane, for your review and for staying with us. It was absolutely our pleasure!

10/10 Excellent

Emily S.

Liked: Cleanliness
Family trip
We had the most amazing stay at Villa Rising Sun and would highly recommend to everyone!! Mark and Sabrina made everything so easy for arrival to check in, to helping provide some basic food items before we arrived, and just everyday suggestions. This was extremely helpful since we were traveling with2 small children. Dean, the property manager, was such an amazing help as well with booking excursions or for ideas of places to go in town! Shelley, the cook, was such a nice treat as well when we needed some home-cooked meals as everything she made was delicious! The location was beautiful: water, dock, boat pick-ups, palapa (bar), amenities, all made the trip so memorable, especially for the kids! Looking forward to coming back soon! The Stephens Family
Stayed 13 nights in Nov 2022
Response from VrboOwner on Dec 4, 2022
Hello Emily and Matt! Thank you so much for the wonderful review. We are so happy you were able to take advantage of some of the services we offer and enjoyed Belize. The kids seemed to love the beach and bar lol and we look forward to having you stay with us again!

10/10 Excellent

Kendra P., Sitka, AK

Liked: Cleanliness
Very pleased!
We were so beyond pleased with Villa Rising Sun. Everything from the location to the accommodations and the on-site help with excursions and dining was top-notch! We would recommend to anyone looking for a laid back village vibe!
Stayed 14 nights in Sep 2022
Response from VrboOwner on Sep 27, 2022
We absolutely love you guys and miss you already. We are very much hoping to see you all again for a wedding ;)

10/10 Excellent

Mashelle Z., San Marcos, Texas

Liked: Cleanliness
Outstanding
Everything we needed, wanted. They took care of it from the first inquiry to the last goodbye. Highly recommend!!!
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2022
Response from VrboOwner on Sep 13, 2022
Thank you so much for the kind review Mashelle, and for spending your precious time with us. We are very grateful

10/10 Excellent

josh s.

Liked: Cleanliness
Amazing!!!
Highly recommend staying here with Mark & Sabrina! Dean does a great job helping you plan your adventures. The place is perfect, they are helpful, and you can’t ask for a better place to stay.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2022
Response from VrboOwner on Sep 2, 2022
Josh, we were so honored to have you stay with us. You entire group was absolutely amazing and it was terrific that you were able to bring family to celebrate a BIG birthday. We would love to have you back ANY time. Please send our love to everyone and thank you again.

10/10 Excellent

Kristen F.

Liked: Cleanliness
Fantastic
Fantastic stay! Will absolutely consider this villa again! Thank you, Mark, Sabrina and Dean
Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2022
Response from VrboOwner on Aug 21, 2022
Thank you Kristen for your review and for staying with us. We truly enjoyed having you and hope you will come back!

10/10 Excellent

Larissa B.

Liked: Cleanliness
This is the One!
From the start, communication with the Villa Rising Sun team was helpful and informative. Mark, Sabrina, and Dean are the dream team! We took advantage of the side trip planning assistance. I’m going to bullet point all of the amazing aspects about staying at VRS so I don’t write a novel: *it’s as gorgeous as the pictures *private dock was our daily refuge *tiki bar was a blast, we loved to watch cheesy beach movies in the evening *Dean’s trip planning was knowledgeable and right on for our needs *Mark and Sabrina were always there when we needed them, but never intrusive *Dinner recommendations were always on point — Driftwood was our favorite, watched a drum performance *Even the beach read book collection in the master bedroom was perfect, lol *Mark and Sabrina will shop for fridge items to get you started—so excellent for exhausted travelers *groundskeeper Parks, excellent local information and hard worker *Shelly’s cooked lobster served in the tiki bar on night one made it all feel like a dream *Wawa drum show on night one to bring us into the local spirit *Drum lessons because we really wanted to immerse ourselves *We all loved Dean and Jeanine’s haunted tiki bar rooftop movie experience for a relaxing send off on our last night This isn’t even everything. If it’s available, book it ASAP! This is the first place we have ever vacationed where we want to return again. We will be back to Villa Rising Sun!
Stayed 8 nights in Jul 2022
Response from VrboOwner on Aug 15, 2022
Thank you so much for staying with us Larissa, and for taking the time to write a review. We really enjoyed having you guys and glad you were able to fit in so many adventures. It is so wonderful to see a beautiful family get to experience so many wonders together and we look VERY forward to your return!

10/10 Excellent

Brian R., Mansfield, TX

Liked: Cleanliness
Better than advertised!
I can not speak highly enough or express the appropriate words for how incredible this property and hosts/hostesses were. Mark, Sabrina, Dean, Shelley, Parks, Greg….everyone associated with Villa Rising Sun was first class. From assisting with dinners, booking excursions, local knowledge, guidance and just general conversations were absolutely on-point and helped make this trip to Hopkins one of the best trips we have ever experienced. I felt like we started out as guests but instantly found friends in another country. My family will definitely be returning to Villa Rising Sun and would encourage anyone to not hesitate to experience the wonderful hospitality shown to us. You will not be disappointed!
Stayed 8 nights in Jul 2022
Response from VrboOwner on Aug 4, 2022
Thank you so much for staying with us Brian. Your family and their friends all touched our hearts and many others in the village. We truly did not want you to leave. You all made an impact on the village with your genuine kindness and I guarantee everyone will remember you when you return!

10/10 Excellent

Melina S.

Liked: Cleanliness
Hopkins Getaway
Loved staying at Villa of the Rising Sun! Such a great place in a great village, was super sad we had to leave.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022
Response from VrboOwner on Jul 14, 2022
Thank you for your review and for staying with us. We are happy you enjoyed our beautiful little village and Villa Rising Sun for your stay!

10/10 Excellent

Andrea M.

Liked: Cleanliness
UnBelizable Week At Villa Rising Sun!
To anyone fortunate enough to come across this property and read the reviews, I can just say to believe every review and appreciate every comment. I had a dream to visit Belize a few years ago so during my search on VRBO I came across this gem. I have been a VRBO member for years and the 1st thing I have ever learned is to READ THE REVIEWS! So, I saw this property that seemed perfect, so immediately I started reading EVERY review. After just a few I was SOLD. It was everything I was looking for from relaxation to family adventures to helpful recommendations for great food and shopping. Once booked, I was quickly welcomed by Mark, Sabrina, Dean, and the entire crew to make sure we had the vacation of a lifetime. I spent several months emailing back and forth with Dean, who helped us plan an amazing itinerary for the week including Cook your Catch with snorkeling (we saw a sea turtle and 2 sharks), Mayan Tours, Birding, Flyfishing, Ziplining, an ATV ride through the jungle to Waterfalls and not to forget our first night of dancing, drumming at our private Tiki Bar and dinner cooked at home for us by Shelly. My dreams and expectations were met during our week vacation. So, if you are looking for an adventurous trip where you feel safe, and well accommodated while visiting (maybe the most friendly place on Earth), then look no further. To Mark & Sabrina, Thank you once again for everything! I KNOW we will meet again. To Dean, Thank you for working with me all those months and understanding my family's desires, disabilities, likes, and dislikes, and working with me to make the absolute PERFECT itinerary. To GTKB (Get To Know Belize) Having the opportunity to hang out with these gentlemen was honestly an honor. Gregory, Dirk, Medz, Jeffery, etc are a few of the guys that helped make this trip so awesome. Some of the nicest people I have ever met and will remember forever. I hope this review was helpful to anyone who is considering Hopkins, Belize. If you are, I would suggest go for it, book it, and let the adventure begins. Work with Dean to plan your itinerary and take advantage of great owners who will make sure your trip is amazing from beginning to end and getting you started with whatever you need. Thank You VRS & GTKB Family! xo
Stayed 7 nights in May 2022
Response from VrboOwner on Jun 7, 2022
This may be the most touching review we have ever seen. You have no idea how much this touched all our hearts. We all literally had tears in our eyes after reading this and Josie and the guides as well. Thank you guys so much XXXOOO Your VRS Family!

10/10 Excellent

Peter C.

Liked: Cleanliness
World-Class Hospitality
Our family of 5 enjoyed our week stay at Villa Rising Sun so much we booked another week for next year before leaving. Sabrina, Mark, and Dean were amazing hosts and the location spectacular. Everyone in Hopkins was authentically kind and welcoming. If you're lucky enough to find available dates to stay at the Villa Rising Sun, don't hesitate and grab them! A truly memorable experience awaits.
Stayed 7 nights in Apr 2022
Response from VrboOwner on May 24, 2022
Thank you for the review Peter and we can not wait to have your family back. We really enjoyed having you and you are part of the VRS family now for certain!

10/10 Excellent

H.Warren

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Mark, Sabrina and Dean were amazing hosts. Provided us with ingredients for our first meals and drinks, helped suggest and organize appropriate tours for our family and had regular check ins. Could not have been any better!
Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2022

10/10 Excellent

Rachel S.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great spot for a family!
Hard to overstate how awesome our trip to Belize was and Mark & Sabrina’s house and property was a huge part of that! Our family of six slept well here—super comfortable beds, everything you need, a cleaning refresh during the week which was a huge bonus. Beach bar, dock, all the beach spots to sit were just paradise—we even saw a manatee right off the dock. Easy walk to several places to eat, very local flavor, felt like practically the only people for miles on the beach. Dean set us up with great local guides and recommendations. Everyone was available anytime we needed them. Highly recommend and will return here!
Stayed 6 nights in Mar 2022
Response from VrboOwner on May 18, 2022
Thank you so much Rachel. We very much enjoyed meeting your wonderful family and hope you will come back.

10/10 Excellent

Dave E.

Liked: Cleanliness
Truly a fantastic get away and experience
Phenomenal! Everything is “spot on”! From scheduling activities to all the helpful suggestions! Mark and Sabrina along with Dean and Janine are the best hosts you could ask for during our stay! We hit the jackpot finding this VRBO and will be returning! All around beautiful time spent !
Stayed 15 nights in Mar 2022
Response from VrboOwner on May 18, 2022
Dave, thank you Angel and your entire group. It was wonderful to meet and make friends with you guys. We truly miss you and look very forward to next year when you return!

10/10 Excellent

Jason M.

Liked: Cleanliness
Highly recommended!
Accommodations & location were great, but the people were even better. Mark, Sabrina, & Dean bent over backwards to make sure we got in all that we wanted to do, even on short notice on a rain day. House was very clean, comfortable, and conveniently located to many nice restaurants and bars. Lots of activities to keep you busy but also the perfect private setting to relax and enjoy the sound of the waves. We are alread discussing a return trip with the kids!
Stayed 7 nights in Feb 2022
Response from VrboOwner on Feb 21, 2022
Hello Jason and thank you all for staying with us and for your review. We do hope you will come back and bring the kids, that would be awesome!

10/10 Excellent

Melissa E.

Liked: Cleanliness
Pure perfection from start to finish
Our stay at Villa Rising Sun couldn't have been more amazing. Communication pre-during-and post was perfect. Dean, Mark & Sabrina took such amazing care of us - checking in to make sure all was well, or to give us some recommendations and/or helpful tips. The sealife off the dock is unreal: barracuda's, stingrays, jellies, and manatee's!!! What a gift to be able to watch such a diverse ecosystem up close. By the time we were (sadly) leaving, it felt like we were leaving family. Suggestions for future guests: 1. book Shelley to come to the villa to cook for you at least one night - delicious. 2. take ALL the restaurant suggestions - our fav was Maxime's - a simple beach restaurant with the most amazing dishes), with a close second being our experience at Chef Rob's. 3. upon arrival, immediately order Janine's "Bacon me Crazy" cinnamon buns - incredible! 4. order the fresh juice - the ginger/lime is the greatest for margs! :) 5. We did the snorkeling and bioluminescence tours - HIGHLY suggest both. The reefs are pristine and the bio tour will blow your mind. Thank you Villa Rising Sun for making our first (but not last!) trip to Belize so magical. Can't wait to figure out our next dates with you!! xxx Melissa, Lisa, Karen & Ang
Stayed 10 nights in Jan 2022
Response from VrboOwner on Jan 27, 2022
Thank you Melissa, you ARE family now. We all enjoyed you gals so very much. Thank you for sharing some of your tips with the guests, that helps a lot! Hurry back guys...we miss you all

10/10 Excellent

Darren R.

Liked: Cleanliness
Above & Beyond
Villa Rising Sun did not disappoint. The property is as beautiful as the photos depict. The Villa is clean, spacious, and you will find all the amenities you could possibly need. Mark, Sabrina, and Dean are there to ensure you have everything you need and can help facilitate any of your adventures. We had a little hiccup in our trip and they came to our rescue! If your looking for a private and beautiful place to unwind, look no further!
Stayed 5 nights in Jan 2022
Response from VrboOwner on Jan 21, 2022
Thank you Darren and Amy. We truly enjoyed having you and hope you can come back again when we can spend more time together. Thank you for the kind review.

10/10 Excellent

bride s.

Liked: Cleanliness
Perfection in paradise
From booking until after we left, the amazing folks from Villa Rising Sun took care of us. Hands down the most connected, caring and considerate hosts I’ve run across. They’ve developed a VIP page that gives incredible, easily digestible info about the property, transportation, activities, and a whole array of other entertainment options. While there we dove, kayaked, biked, snorkeled, had wonderful meals, luxurious on site massages, and enjoyed every sunrise. We loved our first night out listening and dancing to Garifuna music at the local pizza joint. And eating at Maxim’s was everyone’s favorites. Who knew chicken could taste that good? Villa Rising Sun even arranged for the local yoga instructor to teach a great class outside of her normal schedule to accommodate us. The house itself was perfect for our group. Loved having indoor and outdoor dining options (with a well-equipped kitchen), our own palapa bar, and very comfortable AC and fans. Highly recommend laying down the blue pad in the dock net, listening to rolling waves and birdsong while watching the stars give way to the morning light. And do yourself a favor- order some stormcloud. Thanks Team Villa Rising Sun for helping create a perfect vacation! Already looking forward to our return.
Stayed 4 nights in Jan 2022
Response from VrboOwner on Jan 11, 2022
Bride, thank you so much for staying with us and for the wonderful review. People like you are what makes this the best job in the world, seriously. Your group was just amazing and we really enjoyed being in on the surprise with the guys. What fun. Please come back, we miss you all and there is so much more to see and do and we would love to share that with you.

10/10 Excellent

Jason C.

Liked: Cleanliness
Days in Paradise!
Don't miss this booking, the Villa Rising Sun Team will take great care of you and the space is everything you could possibly want in a beach house! From time of booking to the end of your stay (and beyond!) you are in good hands here. Definitely take advantage of their available services, we were very happy we chose to have Shelly cook for us 2 nights, spend a day out on the Cook your own Catch (which accommodated us for some snorkeling time, both of which were fun and AMAZING!), and our night with the drummers! From age 7 to 65 our group of 6 were very comfortable and there were no boring moments during our 4 night stay
Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2021
Response from VrboOwner on Jan 6, 2022
Thanks so much Jason and we have already heard from your referral. You guys are the best and we loved having you all with us. Please come back soon and tell everyone we said hello :)

10/10 Excellent

Chad W., Cumming, GA, USA

Liked: Cleanliness
What a gem
We are so lucky to have found this little slice of paradise in Hopkins Village. This was a last minute booking for us but we couldn’t be happier with how it turned out. Mark, Sabrina and Dean were extremely helpful with planning our stay. Dean suggested excursion options and dinner reservations. We highly recommend this complimentary service because it’s emailed to you weeks before you arrive and laid out in a day by day itinerary. We have 2 teenagers and our excursions consisted of 2 in the jungle and 2 on the sea. We thoroughly enjoyed them all! We can’t say enough good things about the village of Hopkins and the people. Everyone was so welcoming and we loved their laid back culture. The Villa is well stocked and easily accommodated our family of 4. There is an awesome private Tiki bar right outside the back door but we loved the dock even more. From fishing to swimming and amazing sun rises the dock was a huge hit for our family. Even though a little nervous about the 2.5 hour drive, we rented a truck from Crystal Car Rental and it was the right decision. It was an easy and scenic drive. Make sure you stop at Hibiscus Fast Food in Cayo to and from the airport for the best burrito you’ll ever eat.
Stayed 7 nights in Dec 2021
Response from VrboOwner on Jan 15, 2022
Hello Chad and thank you all so much for coming to Hopkins Belize and staying with us. We absolutely loved having you and hope you will come again. We are thrilled you guys had such a great time and got to get away and enjoy yourselves. Hope to see you again next year!

10/10 Excellent

Amanda H.

Liked: Cleanliness
Highly Recommend!
Beautiful place and amazing and accomodating hosts! Can't recommend this place enough!
Stayed 6 nights in Nov 2021
Response from VrboOwner on Jan 5, 2022
Thank you so much Amanda. We are very happy you enjoyed your stay and we enjoyed having you. Everyone from here says hello and please come back! Mark & Sabrina, Dean, Ms. Juana, Shelley and Theo

10/10 Excellent

Brenda P.

Liked: Cleanliness
Like our own little resort!
From the warm welcome to the amenities, these hosts win hands down. The house is beautiful and immaculate and they thought of everything from coloring books and laser tag game to a fully equipped kitchen to the welcome basket of goodies. Mark and Dean were always nearby if we needed anything. but never crowded us and let us feel that the place was ours. The beach front bar and dock were so awesome. We all enjoyed taking turns as bartenders and listening to music while relaxing on the provided lounge chairs or hammock. We honestly loved our stay and would highly recommend Villa Rising Sun to anyone wanting a comfortable and fun stay in Hopkins.
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2021
Response from VrboOwner on Nov 18, 2021
Hello Brenda and thank you for taking your time to review us. We really do appreciate it. You guys, owning property down here, certainly made it very easy. And it's terrific to finally meet you guys. We all hope you will come stay with again in the future :)

10/10 Excellent

Katy K.

Liked: Cleanliness
Standing ovation!
I try hard not to give properties a 5 star review -- knowing that I need to save the 5 stars for the truly exceptional places. But Villa Rising Sun has earned it. The property itself is as beautiful and amazing as it looks on line -- and then some. As beautiful and well-appointed as the house is, the beach bar in the back of the house is where we were happiest spending our time -- a well-equipped bar with a great sound system and spectacular beach view. But what made Villa Rising Sun truly worthy of a 5-star review, is the efforts that the homeowners (Mark and Sabrina, who live upstairs) and the property manager (Dean -- next door) went to to ensure that we had the vacation we wanted. I requested assistance arranging a surprise birthday dinner for my husband with a GariFUNa drummer and punta dancer. THEY CRUSHED IT and then some. Mark perfectly teed up the surprise arrival of the drummers and dancers and it turned into a spectacular party. But then again, we found that a party is likely to break out if Mark is present. Unforgettable birthday celebration with them letting us join in with the drumming and dancing and helped with the punta dancing skills --leaving my husband with sore hips for days from his efforts to get the butt-wiggle right. We also signed up for the Cook and Catch fishing trip. which was a lot of fun. We were unable to get to the island where the cooking was to take place but, no problem -- Mark invited them to cook the fish at Villa Rising Sun. The food (cooked by Medal, our fishing guide) reflected his extensive culinary experience and would have been at home on any plate in the finest restaurants around. Yuri (our Russian boat captain) and Blain (who we kept busy supplying us with drinks on the boat) joined us. Mark showed up and another party broke out with Sabrina and Dean joining us. It was raining rum and Beliken and vodka and we had lots of laughs while getting to know some wonderful people. Our golf cart ran out of gas on our way to breakfast but fortunately they had provided us with a phone to contact them with any issues. Dean arrived with a gas can within minutes. We owe Hopkins an apology. We had not been to Hopkins before and wanted to spend a few days checking it out. We had so much fun at Villa Rising Sun that we sort of neglected Hopkins. We intend to make up for that on our next trip to Belize, and we certainly intend to stay at Villa Rising Sun again.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2021
Response from VrboOwner on Oct 31, 2021
Katy, thank you so much for the terrific review. If we could review guests you three would be five star all the way. We really all hit it off and had so much fun with you guys. We will certainly be keeping in touch with one another and can't wait for you to come back. Tell the guys we send our love! Mark & Sabrina, Dean, Shelly, Juana (your crew)

10/10 Excellent

Melessa D.

Liked: Cleanliness
Beautiful villa in Paradise
We were greeted on arrival by friendly staff who took appropriate health measures due to Covid. They were so helpful throughout our trip. Always willing to help and offer suggestions. The property is beyond beautiful and better than expected! The house was immaculate, the tiki bar became a favorite place to hang out with all the right amenities! The ocean is right out the back door with beautiful sandy bottom for wading and snorkeling. The village of Hopkins was close and convenient and all of the locals were friendly and welcoming. Can’t wait to go back!!
Stayed 7 nights in Oct 2021
Response from VrboOwner on Oct 14, 2021
Thank you Melessa for staying with us and such a wonderful review. We could not be happier that you guys had a great time and we had a great time having you here. We can't wait for you all to return soon!

10/10 Excellent

Anh L.

Liked: Cleanliness
Paradise Found
We were a group of 5 ladies on a much needed girls trip and just got back home from Belize and Villa Rising Sun a week ago. The friendships we made, the adventures we had and the memories created will last us a lifetime. All of it was possible because of the incredible team and over the top 5 STARS customer service we received. Mark, Sabrina, Dean and the rest of the team made everything seamless for our vacation. They were extremely responsive, accommodating and reassuring. Even before our trip when we were on the verge of canceling due to the uncertainty of Covid. While we were at VRS, they took care of all our requests and needs including tour updates/changes, restaurant reservations, covid tests reservation, private cooked meals by Shelley, local Garifuna drummers and so much more! The house was perfect for our needs with 3 bedrooms and 2 baths. The property was breathtaking, especially the dock. It was incredible to have such a gorgeous view and beach right in the back yard! We loved the tiki bar also. All the amenities (towels, toiletry, etc.) were provided and they even stocked the kitchen with a few grocery items we requested prior to our arrival. Sabrina got us a loaf of cinnamon bread from a local seller. It was so good!! Dean was available right next door whenever we had any questions or requests. Mark and Sabrina were right above us on the 2nd level of the house. We felt incredibly safe the entire time there. We did multiple tours, but by far the most spectacular one was Cook Your Catch. Our tour guides (Med & Jeff) took us fishing, then snorkeling, then to a private island (Bread & Butter Caye) where we got to hang out on the provided lounge chairs, hammocks, covered pavilion while they prepared our meal with the catch we made that day. It was amazing! The other tours we did was cave tubing and Jaguar preserve hike. They were both great. One of the best part of the tours was hanging out with Greg our driver. He was so sweet, fun and totally put up with our shenanigans. We got to know him and his entire family hanging out at Ella’s Cool Spot where we had the most delicious meal. Ella herself was so fun to hang out with too! We also enjoyed going to the Big Dock, Kat’s Coffee, and Thongs. All in all, this was an unforgettable trip. We are so glad we did not cancel due to Covid. Everyone we encountered made a lasting impression and hold a special place in our hearts. Villa Rising Sun is truly a slice of paradise.
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2021
Response from VrboOwner on Sep 14, 2021
What a thoughtful review Anh. Thank you and the other ladies so much for choosing us. We all so much enjoyed having you. From the drummers, to our Tour Guides, to all our staff and even people you met in the village, everyone has commented on how kind, thoughtful, and fun you all were. You definitely have a lot of friends in Belize and several have already asked when you are coming back! People like you make a difference in such a positive way. Thank you for allowing us to be a part of your family. Love from Belize, Mark & Sabrina, Dean, Ms. Juana, Jose, Shelly, and everyone else you touched!

10/10 Excellent

Sherri W.

Liked: Cleanliness
Beautiful and Private
Best hosts ever! They give you your day of privacy as soon as they help you whatever you need or want. Seriously! And, what a welcoming community. It's less touristy and more real. We love privacy and this place has it. You can go to tour places, but come home to your own private beach (great neighbors too). Be sure to have a massage on the beach and use their optional cook. Wonderful, traditional foods served and cleaned up right in the house for a great price. Writing this makes me want to go back right now! Don't miss the Spice Farm, ruins, snorkeling and Cocoa Farm. Incredible
Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2021
Response from VrboOwner on Aug 29, 2021
Thank you so much for your review Sherri. We truly enjoyed having you all here and you are very welcome to come back any time, you guys were terrific! We are glad you got to enjoy so much during your vacation. Shelly wanted us to thank you as well as Ms. Juana and Dean. Your Villa Rising Sun Team, Dean, Mark, Sabrina, Jose, Ms. Juana

10/10 Excellent

James B., Ann Arbor

Liked: Cleanliness
very helpful hosts beautiful property
The hosts Mark and Dean made every effort to make our stay as enjoyable as possible. The setting was beautiful right on the beach and the house was very large, clean and very well appointed, unusually the supplied knives were sharp, most VRBO places have very dull ones a minor point but illustrating the care that they take in equipping it, the host Mark lived upstairs and Dean next door. Both are long term residents Mark getting income from renting and Dean arranges tours. Though we tend to be self sufficient, Dean was very helpful in making suggestions for tours and Mark made excellent restaurant suggestions. Great hiking nearby in the Jaguar preserve Tiger Fern fall has some lovely swimming pools after a short but vigorous hike. I rode my bike up to the somewhat close Bocawina National Park and hiked into antelope falls, a spectacular natural infinity pool at the top with a view commensurate with the massive drop. The supplied bikes would be a bit tough to make this trip as there is some upward road and the supplied bikes are single speed beach cruisers, I brought my own bike. This type of self guided trip is a lot cheaper than guided ones and at least as pleasurable.The location is reasonably central, though most of our driving tended to be toward the capital. Xunantunich ruins though a drive are well worth it (also can be self guided) as definitely is the ATM cave you do require a guide for this one (skeletons lying around from Mayan human sacrifices, visit it before someone does something stupid to close this cave) Horse back riding with Banana Bank near the sleepy capital Belmopan also worth doing as is a paddle up the nearby Sittee River, rent your kayaks at the Sittee River Marina for $5 an hour. We skipped a boat ride to the reef for snorkeling (too windy and very expensive), and though we went cave tubing it was mobbed with cruse boat clients and felt touristy to us.
Stayed 8 nights in Jul 2021
Response from VrboOwner on Aug 6, 2021
James it was wonderful having your family. We are so glad you had a good time. You are definitely the most adventurous guests we have had to date so your recommendations to future guests adventure seekers should be very helpful. Thank you for staying with us and coming to our little Village. We truly appreciate it!

10/10 Excellent

Melissa G.

Liked: Cleanliness
You Absolutely Cannot Go Wrong with Villa Rising Sun!
We just spent 10 days at the Villa Rising Sun and there wasn’t one in our group of 5 who was ready to go home. The owners, Mark and Sabrina, the property manager Dean, and Josie from Get to Know Belize Adventures, GTKBA, took excellent care of us starting many months before we even checked in, answering all of our questions and setting up the absolute perfect vacation for our family. The property is also amazing and makes you want to move in immediately with Mark and Sabrina, but it is truly the people of Hopkins that make all of the difference. Everything was waiting for us when we arrived, including a surprise from Mark and Sabrina - a cake to celebrate my daughter’s graduation, Father’s Day, and my son’s birthday. This came at the end of a meal that their friend Shelley cooked for us, and I just cannot recommend that experience enough! Shelley and Brenda cooked for us our first night after traveling all day and then we had them back a couple of days later to give us a cooking lesson so we can do our best to recreate some of the delicious Belizean favorites, using Shelley’s cookbook, which she provided for us after our lessons. Shelley and Brenda stayed for dinner with us and we got to learn more about them and their families; it was a fabulous night! Our driver from GTKBA, Greg, was awesome, always on time, and stayed with us on our adventures to provide some more fun on each one. We rented a 5-person golf cart from BTKBA and it was perfect to get us around the village to do some shopping, check out many local restaurants, and watch the drumming at Driftwood, which I also highly recommend. Our down days were spent at the Villa, floating on the huge floaties provided at the villa, swimming, using the provided kayak, or sitting at the amazing private beach bar under the ceiling fans playing games. This vacation was absolute perfection, compliments of everyone in Hopkins, but particularly Mark, Sabrina, and Dean. Truly amazing people who I really hope to have the pleasure of hanging out with again some day. So go to Hopkins Belize and the Villa Rising Sun now!
Stayed 9 nights in Jun 2021
Response from VrboOwner on Jul 21, 2021
We could not be any happier that you guys had such a great time and so much appreciate your detailed review. It really does help set expectations for future guests. We had a meeting with our staff and partners and read your review to all of them and EVERYONE said to tell you to PLEASE come back soon! XXXOOO, Dean, Mark, Sabrina, Juana, Jose, Shelly and Brenda, Greg, and all the others working in the background to make this all possible.

10/10 Excellent

Steven C.

Liked: Cleanliness
Best VRBO Ever!!
Mark, Sabrina and Dean could not be more wonderful!!! It felt like we were staying with our family! They were so accommodating and kind! They helped with planning our activities and recommended delicious restaurants! We hope to stay with them many more times!!!! Love, love Villa of the Rising Sun! The property is beautiful and with 3 bedrooms 2 baths it fit our family of 6 perfectly!! Definitely the right place to stay!!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2021
Response from VrboOwner on Jun 14, 2021
We already miss you guys. What an awesome family! It was very special having you and so happy you had a terrific time and got to do and see so much. Thank you so much, Dean, Mark, Sabrina, Jose & Juana

10/10 Excellent

Stephen C.

Liked: Cleanliness
vacation paradise
Everyone in our family had a great time. The owners and manager treated us like family. A great place to relax and plenty of adventures for everyone.
Response from VrboOwner on Apr 14, 2021
Thank you Stephen, for staying with us and taking the time to put in a review. We really enjoyed having you all stay at Villa Rising Sun. It was a pleasure having you and we hope you will come back to stay with us again. By the way, Tango and Zoey miss the kids very much lol! Best Regards, Dean, Mark, Sabrina, Jose, Juana, (Tango and Zoey)

10/10 Excellent

Nihara C.

Liked: Cleanliness
Most amazing vacation rental ever!
If you are thinking of staying here, don't hesitate! Staying at the Villa Rising Sun is like visiting family. Mark and Sabrina (the owners) and Dean (the property manager) will take excellent care of you and make sure you have an absolutely wonderful time. The house itself is pure magic and the property looks exactly like the pictures. You'll be staying in a perfect beachfront villa. Your "backyard" will be a private stretch of beach with your own tiki bar (no joke!), a stunning dock, a hammock, and beach chairs. We pinched ourselves every time we stepped outside. The beach itself continues on far beyond the property--we took long walks on the beach every single day. When we weren't sunning at the beach, we were off on amazing excursions that Dean organized for us--including a snorkeling and fishing trip, a zip-lining and river tubing tour, and a boat ride on a bioluminescent bay. Dean also helped us with restaurant reservations, and connected us with an incredible cook who made dinner for us (and cleaned up) several nights during our stay. And when our golf cart got a flat tire while we were enjoying lunch at Ella's Cool Spot, Dean drove up with a new golf cart for us and took care of the other one. We literally had to do nothing but just relax and enjoy. It was perhaps our best vacation ever. We can't wait to go back.
Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2021
Response from VrboOwner on Apr 4, 2021
We so much enjoyed having you, Trin and the kids. You are such a wonderful family and now you have family in Belize. We can’t wait to have you back!

10/10 Excellent

Shawna C.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great spot for a fun vacation
Mark, Sabrina and Dean did a fantastic job of helping us with things to do, memorable experiences and great dining. Very friendly and all fun to be around. The Villa was great with a fantastic beach and we enjoyed the outdoor bar almost every night! I would highly recommend Villa Of the Rising Sun to anyone!
Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2021
Response from VrboOwner on Mar 11, 2021
Thank you so much for staying with us. You were the perfect guests and we can’t wait to have you back.

10/10 Excellent

Elizabeth H.

Liked: Cleanliness
100% will be back!
A++ property, owners, managers, etc!! Seriously organized and made our vaca stress free!
Stayed 14 nights in Dec 2020
Response from VrboOwner on Jan 5, 2021
Thank you for coming down over the holidays and sharing your family with us. It was wonderful to get to know you and so happy you were able to have such a great time. We are all looking very forward to your returning! Dean and Crew

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveler

Liked: Cleanliness
Everything we expected and more!!
This property is amazing. We traveled with 3 adults and 2 young children (5 and 2) and we had an amazing stay at Villa Rising Sun. The property was immaculately prepared and ready for our arrival. The owners even stocked the refrigerator with the groceries we asked for. The beach was clean and got raked every couple of days so you would wake up to freshly manicured sand. The house was plenty big for the 5 us and had all the amenities you could ask for with kids. (board games, frisbees, soccer balls, etc) The housekeeper came every day and would reset the house. The owners upstairs were there when we needed them, but gave us all the space you would want to enjoy the family time. They helped us book our tours and came thru on every request that we came up with. Even helping track our travel issues and flight cancellations. We were down here for a wedding and the location to the resorts was ideal. My family and I had an amazing time in Belize and can not recommend this property any more highly. I can't wait to visit this property again and see our new friends.
Stayed 10 nights in Mar 2020
Response from VrboOwner on Apr 6, 2020
It was such a pleasure for all of us to meet your beautiful family and it was great you all got to enjoy some of the activities Belize has to offer. We certainly hope you will come back for a visit once things get back to normal. Be safe and know you have new friends in Belize!