column2_01 travel craigdoyle Virgin Media

This week, Virgin Media's travel columnist finds himself unmoved by the City of Angels but won over by some Hollywood glamour in an unexpected location...

"Well, after months of hype the Oscars were finally dished out last week. Last year I was invited to Los Angeles to an after-show party on "Oscar Alley". I found it so over-hyped and underwhelming that I left early and went to a pub with a magician friend of mine - that was the only Oscar magic I enjoyed.

So forget LA, I am going to send you the real home of a Hollywood legend. Well it's one of his homes; it's Francis Ford Coppola we're talking about - he has more than one!

The famed movie director fell in love with Belize in Central America because it reminded him of the Philippines, where he shot the war epic Apocalypse Now. So, instead of taking a few photos like most of us, he built a luxury hotel!

The Placencia resort at Turtle Inn is as good as you might expect from a genius like Coppola. It's luxurious without being obnoxious, the buildings are tasteful and low-key and the location right on the beautiful beach is glorious.

The Godfather of the godfather trilogy is deeply involved in the running of the place. He visits a lot, is regularly seen talking to guests and the restaurant serves food from his own mother's recipe book. I am told he placed every bit of furniture in each of the rooms himself. As with his movie-making, detail is everything.

The nearby town of Placencia was wiped out by Hurricane Iris back in October 2001 but it is rapidly being rebuilt. Of course some big hotel chains are trying to muscle in on the area, but when I was there the traditional wooden Caribbean style pastel houses still reigned. Belize is also fringed by the Barrier Reef which makes it an excellent place for snorkelling and diving.

If the beach bores you then head into the jungle. Just three hours inland from the coast you'll find the eco-resort of Chaa Creek on the banks of the Macal River, where there's cabin-style accommodation ranging from cottages to a tented camp with dining room and bar. The noises emerging from the jungle will either have you jumping for joy or trembling with fear. It's a great experience.

It was also an unlikely place to have a true A-list Hollywood experience. I was having a drink one evening and who should sit down but Cameron Diaz. Now, that kind of thing just didn't happen when filming in Benidorm. Because of the lack of people around she had no choice but to talk to us nerds, but in fairness she was great fun and the following day we went kayaking together (I have a feeling she isn't sitting at her laptop writing about meeting a D-list TV presenter!).

So, who needs Hollywood?

Missed Craig's first column? Click here to catch up!