Journal created:
on 23 September 2003 (#1344288)
Updated:
on 22 February 2008
Name:
Belize This
Location:
Belize
Membership:
Open
Posting Access:
All Members , Moderated
This is an excerpt from Lonely Planet
Dabbling its toes in the Caribbean Sea, Belize has more in common with its island neighbors than with the fiery volatility of the rest of Central America. English-speaking, Creole-dominated and with a thoroughly coup-free history, most of this tiny country has an atmosphere so laid-back it's almost comatose.
Belize can be a difficult place to travel - only three of its major highways are fully paved, prices are high for this part of the world, and except in the touristed areas hotels are few and far between.
Belize compensates with some of the best diving in the world, dramatic Mayan ruins looming out of untouched jungle and secluded ecolodges catering to the most sedentary adventurers.
Facts for the Traveler
Visas: Citizens of the US, European Union and Commonwealth countries do not require visas if they have a passport and return ticket. All other nationalities require a visa. British embassies frequently handle Belize's diplomatic affairs.
Health risks: Cholera, dengue fever, hepatitis, malaria, typhoid
Time: GMT/UTC minus 6 hours
Electricity: 110V, 60 Hz
Weights & measures: Metric
When to Go
The best time to travel is the dry season from November to May, but this is also the busy winter tourist season, when prices rise and hotels fill up. It's cheaper to travel in summer (July to November), but keep in mind that this is hurricane season.
Money and Costs
Currency: Belizean dollar (BZ$)
Meals
Budget: US$3-7
Mid-range: US$7-10
Top-end: US$10 and upwards
Lodging
Budget: US$8-15
Mid-range: US$15-25
Top-end: US$25 and upwards
Compared to the rest of Central America, Belize can be expensive. Even if you're traveling there on a budget, you'll pay at least US$15 (and more often US$20) per day for a room and three meals. On the upside, staying at a flashier hotel and eating decently won't push your costs up much higher than this.
It's easy to change US dollars just about anywhere, and US dollar travelers' cheques, pounds sterling and Canadian dollars can be changed at any bank. Other currencies could cause you difficulties. You can change money legally on the street or at border crossings (at a better rate than the banks will give you). Belizean ATMs will not accept foreign cards. Most businesses will accept cold hard US cash money without question.
Haggling is not a popular pastime in Belize, but it might be worth a try if business looks slow. Only the posher restaurants, bars and clubs are likely to expect a tip - 10% is the going rate. In over- touristed areas, tipping tour leaders and dive operators is becoming more common.
The following links were "borrowed" from Belizeans.com
General Links
Belizeans.com - A guide to all things Belizean
BelizeNet.com - General Website about Belize
BelizeCentral.com - Belize Central is where Belize meets Online
Cayogal.Freeservers.com/Index.html - ordering TROPICAL BELIZEAN products on the net
BelizeNews.net - Belize News
Travel Information
BelizeIt.com - Belize It Travel Information
BelizeReport.com - Belize Report is in depth traveller's guide to Belize
Belizean Media Guide
BelizeNews.net - Belize News
Channel5belize.com Channel Five News
BelizeReporter.com - The Reporter
Amandala.bz - Amandala - the newspaper with the Greatest Circulation in Belize
BelizeTimes.com - Belize Times
Guardina.bz - The Guardian
AmbergrisCaye.com/SanPedroSun - San Pedro Sun
LoveFM.com Love FM
BelizeFirst.com - Belize First Magazine
AmbergrisCaye.com/BzLibrary - Electronic Library
AngelusPress.com - Angelus Press is the world's largest selection of Publications and Videos about Belize.
Belize's Natural Resources
BelizeAudubon.org - Belize Audubon Society, protecting Belize's Natural Resources since 1969
Belizean Government and Business Guides
PupBelize.org - Oldest political party in Belize that now controls the Government
UPD.org.bz - United Democratic Party
Belize-Guatemala.gov.bz - Belize/Guatemala Relations (Government of Belize)
BelizeAlliance.org - Belize Community Service Alliance
BelizeX.com - The Cayo Trader
BCVimp.f9.co.uk - Council for the Visually Impaired
Belize-Development.com - Belize Development
BelizeZoo.org - Belize Zoo
Belize-Development.com/BCA/Default.htm - Belize College of Agriculture
Belize.com - Belize Online is a Tourism and Investment Guide
Members.AOL.com/JRGREENETX/INDEX.html - Personal Page dedicated to Belize
Chaac.com - a Personal Page dedicated to Belize
AmbergrisCaye.com - A guide to Ambergris Caye
Corozal.com - A Guide to Corozal
Dabbling its toes in the Caribbean Sea, Belize has more in common with its island neighbors than with the fiery volatility of the rest of Central America. English-speaking, Creole-dominated and with a thoroughly coup-free history, most of this tiny country has an atmosphere so laid-back it's almost comatose.
Belize can be a difficult place to travel - only three of its major highways are fully paved, prices are high for this part of the world, and except in the touristed areas hotels are few and far between.
Belize compensates with some of the best diving in the world, dramatic Mayan ruins looming out of untouched jungle and secluded ecolodges catering to the most sedentary adventurers.
Facts for the Traveler
Visas: Citizens of the US, European Union and Commonwealth countries do not require visas if they have a passport and return ticket. All other nationalities require a visa. British embassies frequently handle Belize's diplomatic affairs.
Health risks: Cholera, dengue fever, hepatitis, malaria, typhoid
Time: GMT/UTC minus 6 hours
Electricity: 110V, 60 Hz
Weights & measures: Metric
When to Go
The best time to travel is the dry season from November to May, but this is also the busy winter tourist season, when prices rise and hotels fill up. It's cheaper to travel in summer (July to November), but keep in mind that this is hurricane season.
Money and Costs
Currency: Belizean dollar (BZ$)
Meals
Budget: US$3-7
Mid-range: US$7-10
Top-end: US$10 and upwards
Lodging
Budget: US$8-15
Mid-range: US$15-25
Top-end: US$25 and upwards
Compared to the rest of Central America, Belize can be expensive. Even if you're traveling there on a budget, you'll pay at least US$15 (and more often US$20) per day for a room and three meals. On the upside, staying at a flashier hotel and eating decently won't push your costs up much higher than this.
It's easy to change US dollars just about anywhere, and US dollar travelers' cheques, pounds sterling and Canadian dollars can be changed at any bank. Other currencies could cause you difficulties. You can change money legally on the street or at border crossings (at a better rate than the banks will give you). Belizean ATMs will not accept foreign cards. Most businesses will accept cold hard US cash money without question.
Haggling is not a popular pastime in Belize, but it might be worth a try if business looks slow. Only the posher restaurants, bars and clubs are likely to expect a tip - 10% is the going rate. In over- touristed areas, tipping tour leaders and dive operators is becoming more common.
The following links were "borrowed" from Belizeans.com
General Links
Belizeans.com - A guide to all things Belizean
BelizeNet.com - General Website about Belize
BelizeCentral.com - Belize Central is where Belize meets Online
Cayogal.Freeservers.com/Index.html - ordering TROPICAL BELIZEAN products on the net
BelizeNews.net - Belize News
Travel Information
BelizeIt.com - Belize It Travel Information
BelizeReport.com - Belize Report is in depth traveller's guide to Belize
Belizean Media Guide
BelizeNews.net - Belize News
Channel5belize.com Channel Five News
BelizeReporter.com - The Reporter
Amandala.bz - Amandala - the newspaper with the Greatest Circulation in Belize
BelizeTimes.com - Belize Times
Guardina.bz - The Guardian
AmbergrisCaye.com/SanPedroSun - San Pedro Sun
LoveFM.com Love FM
BelizeFirst.com - Belize First Magazine
AmbergrisCaye.com/BzLibrary - Electronic Library
AngelusPress.com - Angelus Press is the world's largest selection of Publications and Videos about Belize.
Belize's Natural Resources
BelizeAudubon.org - Belize Audubon Society, protecting Belize's Natural Resources since 1969
Belizean Government and Business Guides
PupBelize.org - Oldest political party in Belize that now controls the Government
UPD.org.bz - United Democratic Party
Belize-Guatemala.gov.bz - Belize/Guatemala Relations (Government of Belize)
BelizeAlliance.org - Belize Community Service Alliance
BelizeX.com - The Cayo Trader
BCVimp.f9.co.uk - Council for the Visually Impaired
Belize-Development.com - Belize Development
BelizeZoo.org - Belize Zoo
Belize-Development.com/BCA/Default.htm - Belize College of Agriculture
Belize.com - Belize Online is a Tourism and Investment Guide
Members.AOL.com/JRGREENETX/INDEX.html - Personal Page dedicated to Belize
Chaac.com - a Personal Page dedicated to Belize
AmbergrisCaye.com - A guide to Ambergris Caye
Corozal.com - A Guide to Corozal
ambergris caye, baron bliss, beenie man, belize, belize city, belizean, belizeans, belmopan, boney m, bounty killer, british honduras, brukdown, byron lee, calypso, calypso rose, cayo, chirmole, conch soup, corozal, fry jacks, hattieville, johnny cakes, la isla bonita, ladyville, lighthouse reef, lord kitchener, lovindeer, mayan history, meat pie, mighty sparrow, orange walk, panades, pitty pat, powder bun, punta, punta rock, reggae, san ignacio, san pedro, shyne, soca, tamales, the cayes, the dragonaires, turneffe reef