Can anyone offer value-oriented Belize tips?
 

There are several of us who've purchased crazy low "mileage run" fares to Belize this past weekend. It's a destination many of us have heard about and wanted to visit, but never quite got there. Well, now we are. :p But instead of a "trip of a lifetime," we're generally dropping in for a few days. And are looking for value-oriented tips to get the most out of our stays.

I've PM'd a couple of flyertalkers for information, but I thought I'd start this forum so that everyone can contribute and benefit from the discussion.

Everyone seems to agree that you want to leave Belize city, and that there are 2 main leisure destinations in Belize: 1) inland eco or adventure travel through rainforest and such; and 2) beach/snorkel/scuba activites on the offshore islands (known as "cayes"). The country is very small, but transportation is somewhat complex in that you have to go by boat or plane to the cayes, and the road conditions can be less than ideal (and rental cars are fairly expensive).

So how do we make the most of our visits? Thanks for the tips!

Firstly, PM me if you want more info also. I'm actually heading to Belize on the 8th of Nov.
I also know of the fares you capitalized upon. I foundout about them just a smidge too late. I would booked something for Feb.

Anyway, agree... don't stay in BZE. If I were you, I'd head straight for the cayes. From there, there are myriad outfitters that will take you to the mayan ruins for a day trip. Although there are more, there are generally two cayes people travel to when in Belize- Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker. Ambergris will have more of a night life and town center. More restaurants too. Relatively laid back.

Caye caulker is even more laid back. I can't believe how slowly time moves when there. Don't get me wrong though... there are still bars and restaurants on Caye Caulker. Fun place. Just more laid back.

If you go to Ambergris, you can find cheap, clean hotels right in town on the beach. Ruby's comes to mind. Also the Spindrift (I've stayed there) or Conch Shell Inn. Ruby's is $40/nt. Great deal. Conch Shell will be slightly more expensive. Spindrift will run you about $70/nt.

I could type so much more. PM me specific questions and I'll see if I can lend some suggestions whether it be getting from BZE to San Pedro or restaurant suggestions.

Thanks, PSU. I thought I'd continue the conversation here so that others can join in, and also benefit from the discussion (I figure there are dozens of us who now "unexpectedly" have to figure out Belize!).

I'm not surprised you recommend Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker, as they seem to be the 2 leading destinations in the country. For both of them, it seems like you can either fly or take the boat. In my case (family of 5), my first instinct is to take the boat because I figure it won't waste that much time, might be an interesting experience and will be significantly cheaper. But if that's possibly the wrong instinct, please correct me.

In choosing between the two cayes, I seem to be hearing that: 1) Ambergris is overdeveloped, but it's still where most of the hotels, restaurants and activities are; 2) Caulker is more peaceful, but perhaps boring. This is what I need to get a handle on, especially in planning a family trip. I'm not a big fan of overdevelopment, so I'm wondering what I give up by going to Caulker.

Finally, if Caulker is a little dull, if I have 5 days, does it make sense to spend a couple of days at a rainforest lodge in addition to, say, 3 nights on Caulker? Or is that too rushed?

Also, it seems like renting a car would be pretty useless because it doesn't get you to the cayes. But I guess it would get you to a rainforest lodge. I suppose the alternative is to let the lodge arrange transport for you (or just stay exclusively on a caye). I was in Costa Rica last year and I much enjoyed having the freedom of my own car.

Any additional tips and suggestions would be most appreciated. Thanks!

iahphx, thanks for starting this thread! I locked in the fare for Belize next May (thank you FT) and so did 6 other couples I work with. I would love any suggestions/help you guys have.

PSUhorty, I sent you a PM and appreciate any help.

The flight is 15-20 mins. The boat ride, 1.5 hrs. If the water is choppy, it will seem like 2 hrs, I've been told. Yes, it is cheaper though. If I recall, RT on Tropic Air is $120/person. The boat is $35, I believe, but you will have to catch a taxi to the boat terminal. With Tropic Air, it's so incredibly simple- it's right there in the terminal. The boat ride could make for a nice family experience though. Some people say they like the boat ride moreso than the flight.

Ambergris Caye (AC) is not overdeveloped in the sense that I think you're thinking. Firstly, we should be talking about San Pedro as that is the town on AC and where the hotels, restaurants, activities that you speak of are. You won't find glitzy hotels there. You won't find a McDonalds. You won't find an upper end shopping district. It is still 2nd world. It is still has a very local feel. You are among the locals, for sure. Most streets in San Pedro are sand, although the main street (Front St., I believe) is now sandstone. Last time I was there, they were working on Middle Street.

San Pedro is becoming overdeveloped in this respect- At times, the streets simply can't handle the increased golf cart and vehicle traffic. It might take a bit of time to make your way through town at 'rush hour'. Not a big deal, imo. Secondly, the completion of a bridge just north of town that allows for access to parts of AC further north has facilitated an increase in the construction of resorts up there. These stretch from just north of San Pedro to about 7 miles further. But there aren't many. When you're in San Pedro, this stuff never even crosses your mind. Trust me. You never even see them. San Pedro is a world unto itself, for sure.

Caulker is like a mini San Pedro. Just more relaxed. While time moves more slowy at either, it seems to move even more slowy on Caulker. The town of Caulker is roughly 1/5th the size of San Pedro. There are fewer restaurants and hotels, of course. It is a great place.
Here is San Pedro's 'downtown'. This is but a small part of it, but it all has the same feel. The Caribbean is only about 30 yards over the other side of the buildings on the left:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...e/sanpedro.jpg

Here is Caulker's 'downtown':
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...ayeCaulker.jpg

Imo, you will miss out on some great restaurants if you don't stay or visit San Pedro.

Caulker would get a bit dull for me if I had to stay 5 days there. But if you're into simply reading on the beach, scuba diving, and snorkeling, then Caulker is for you. Don't get me wrong, Caulker is flat out AWESOME. So relaxing. I love it there. But it would probably start to get dull for me after a few days. I can't answer your question about the Rainforest Lodge. I don't know what your family enjoys. From MY Perspective, I wouldn't even THINK of staying off the cayes. You can easily book day trips to the jungles and ruins from the Cayes. I'd feel like I was missing out on so much if I didn't stay on the cayes. Consider staying a few nights in San Pedro and a couple on Caulker. That would be a good plan. But, staying the entire time in San Pedro? Ain't no shame in that. That's what I'm doing... again.

If you go to the cayes, not even up for discussion. Don't rent a car. I don't even know that you can rent them on the Cayes. On the cayes, you rent golf carts. That's all you need to get around and what most of the tourists do. Can't comment on mainland lodges setting up transport for you to the jungle/ruins. Never done it.

I'd like to write more... and I will. But, what is your family looking to do? What type of place are you looking to stay in? Can you guys handle a basic hotel room or suite w/out much in the way of amenities? Mind you, on the cayes, you won't find 4-star accomodations, for the most part. What about food? I'm full of suggestions regarding all of this, so fire away w/questions.

Thanks again, PSU. Your analysis is very helpful.

I think we will definitely go to one -- or both -- of these cayes. And for us -- a family of 5 -- it sounds like the boat is an economic no-brainer (and my wife will feel safer going that way, too).

We often stay in "fancy" resorts, but we don't need fancy resorts. For instance, we had a grand time on Vieques island (off Puerto Rico), which is a place I imagine has some similarities to these cayes.

I have heard that there aren't many beaches on the cayes and that it's useful to stay at a hotel that has a pier so that you can swim from there. With kids, that seems potentially useful. Also, I think I heard that there is more beach on Ambergris than Caulker. That might influence my decision. I've also heard that it's pretty each to get from one to another, so maybe we can do both.

As far as dining goes, we'd love to get simple seafood. If you've ever been to Barbados, where you eat the Friday night outdoor fish fry on the south shore, that's kind of what I'd have in mind. I suspect either island could accomodate this, and the costs would be comparable.

Having recently been to Costa Rica, my hunch is that I could miss the rainforest on this trip and be happy staying exclusively on the cayes. That said, I wouldn't mind a night at a rainforest lodge, but it sounds like it might not be worth the trouble or expense in arranging it.

I went to Belize a couple of years ago. Caye Caulker was a day trip from ambergris and it was tiny and sleepy. After spending time in the jungle ambergris seems busy. I totally recommend the snorkle trips - there is a full day one with a bbq and they take you on a catamaran.

If you want more info PM me - I have my trip itinerary at home and could send you the details (We went for two weeks but we did one week jungle and one week beach)

If you decide on Caulker, the water taxi is only 45 min. You can also take day trips from one to the other via the water taxi (daytime only). Things on Caulker are generally a bit cheaper. I went to San Pedro years ago and am going to Caulker next year because I think it'll be more like the San Pedro that I remember from years back.

In PSUhorty's picture of Barrier Reef Drive or Front Street in San Pedro, I would note a couple of things. The "High Speed Internet" sign in the right front, is where the best PC's and cheap international calls can be had... he also has a good cappuccino machine. Ruby's, mentioned above, is the last tall building with red trim on the left.
A small point for all you Lobster lovers: Lobster season is closed Feb 15th through June 15th. You can still get a live one from an unscrupulous fisherman, but this highly frowned upon...not to mention a hefty fine.

FWIW, I've started making inquiries for some of the more highly rated lodging choices on the cayes, and I'm finding space to be limted this winter. So if you want your first choice, it might be wise to "figure this out" sooner rather than later.

Re: the beaches
Both have similar beaches w/neither being the type of beaches you'd be used to if you went to the east coast or some resorts in the caribbean. They aren't wide on Ambergris or Caulker. But, still no problem laying aournd and reading on them. All beaches are open to everyone on Ambergris. That is, even the nice beach that Ramone's Resort takes care of is open to anyone. We did that for a day- just laid around on the beach and snorkeled at their pier (I recommend snorkleing there if youdon' feel like getting on a boat to take you snorkeling).

Yes, there can be simple seafood to be had on either caye. I can't wait to get myself some ceviche again when I'm there.

Again, I'd stay on the cayes if you're there for only a week. If you really have a hankering for a jungle trip, you can do a day trip from the keys.

Ruby's. Yes, exactly where I'll be in 8 days!
My previous trip, I stayed at the Spindrift which I'm roughly standing in front of in that picture. I'd also recommend the Spindrift.

Actually, in retrospect, Ruby's is the white building w/pink trim. I believe the last one w/the red trim is Celi's.

I'm considering a trip to Belize in May. Thanks for all of the good info on the Cayes. I came across the Black Orchid Resort and am kind of intrigued by it. Any comments? Seems like a good spot to do some non-Caye day trips.

Tripadvisor Reviews

The white building with the pink trim is The Holiday Hotel. Celi's is located inside this hotel. If you can look closer at your picture, there is a greyish round sign in front of the white building with red trim. The sign reads " Rubies Hotel"...(while another sign reads "Ruby's Hotel)...someday I'll figure out how to get my pix online...:)

This isn't related to the "value-oriented" side of tips on Belize,... but I figured it'd be the best place to ask while we have so many Belize FTers congregated in one thread. :D

I've been doing some research on the recommended inoculations for Belize. Although none are required, I see that Hep A and Typhoid shots would be most recommended. Anything else?

Ahhhhh, yes, you are correct! Forgot about the Holidy Hotel! Thanks for the correction. I would have made a bee-line for the white building and pink trim coming from the airport.

Some suggest malaria shots or meds.

Is that for the rainforest? I presume that there's much lower malaria risk on the cayes?

Correct. More of an issue if you are on the mainland. In that case, many recommend it. If out on the cayes, people kind of say you can get one if it makes you feel better, but generally not required.

Exactly so.

PSUhorty, here is a pix of the "Rubies Hotel" sign...you inspired me to figure this out...the kid in the orange has his hands full of something he just got from Ruby's deli. You will notice the pix was taken before the street was cobble stoned. Enjoy your stay. ^

http://i445.photobucket.com/albums/q...ainstreet2.jpg

There are some Belize properties that list auctions on luxurylink and skyauction. Might be of interest.

Maps http://ambergriscaye.com/maps/index.html

Downloadable guides http://www.belizefirst.com/

Thanks for all the tips, guys.

I'll say it again though if you're heading to the cayes in winter -- make your hotel reservations ASAP, especially if you've got more than 2 people. I was amazed at how difficult it was to find good accomodations on Caye Caulker. The prices are good but availability is poor. If you run into trouble, PM me for some realtor contacts.

I did Belize last year for the AA/Y, TA/C deals for about $200. I think that Caye Caulker is nice and laid back. I asked a number of locals about where they would go, and they all pointed me towards the laid back Caye Caulker.

One day at the most in Belize City. Too many panhandlers, but still some nice Caribbean restaurants.

That certainly tips the scale in favor of a family beach vacation. :p

I've never done the malaria regimen. Is it still a whole bunch of pills taken for a long time, or is there a new option? Also, I presume it's generally not covered by regular health insurance.

FWIW, I didn't get my Hep A shots until I figured out a way to do it for free (basically don't tell them you want it for foreign travel). I assume it's hard to say you need malaria drugs for your hometown!

I booked tickets from EWR to BZE for my family of 4 Friday, 1/23/2009 though Wednesday, 1/28/2009

My kids are 2 & 4

Any suggestions on hotels that would be good for our family? Something low cost, large or small, near the beach would be good!

From the posts above I'm willing to guess that we should be looking at the Cays, but I would really like to visit one of the Mayan ruins; can this be done as a day trip? Would it involve a boat trip back to Belize City, then a car ride to the ruins? Should I rent a car? Hire a car and guide? Should I split our stay into a few days on one of the cays then a night or two inland?

my idea was basically spend usd 120 for 3 nights, maybe time spent snorkelling, then fly back. i too would be keen on value ideas but im on a student budget.

There are many hotels on the beach. Even the ones that aren't are within a block or so of the beach. But yeah, I would want to be on the beach too. Roughly speaking, there are two types of accomodations on Ambergris.
1. Cheap, no-frills, basic room. You'll have your bathroom, a bed or two, a dresser, and perhaps air-conditioning. However, we always found it nice to leave the windows open and let the breeze cool us as we slept. Jan is in the middle of high season. You will pay anywhere from $50-$125 or so per night at these. These would include the Spindrift, Ruby's, Conch Shell Inn, Holiday Hotel, Lily's, and several others.

2. Bit more costly, better equipped rooms, may have a pool, poolside bar, restaurant, etc. They won't be 5* or anything, but still nice. You could expect to pay anywhere from $150-$300/nt. These would include Banyan Bay, Ramone's (many people stay at this one), Banana Beach, Caribbean Villas, etc. There are others.
Take a look at this site:
http://ambergriscaye.com/pages/lodge/lodging.html
It lists nearly all of the hotels on the island. If I were you, I'd want to be IN Sand Pedro town, on the beach. You are at the epicenter. If you want to be a bit more peaceful, I'd stay south of town. There are some great resorts north of town, but it's a royal b*tch to get to town from there. The road is horrible and you will have to rent a golf cart for the week (not cheap).

Yes, the Mayan ruins can be done as a day trip, but it makes for a long day, especially w/2 young kids. You'll hop on a boat back to the mainland (about 1.5 hrs). You'll then board a bus that will take you to near the mayan ruins. Then, the bus and boat ride back. Long day.

If you stay on the keys, no, you won't need to rent a car or guide. There are many outfitters on both Ambergris and Caulker that will set everything up for you. They'll pair you up w/others who wanted to do the same. Trust me, the outfitters are everywhere. Walk down the beach and you'll see signs outside the dive operator's buildings on the walls. You won't have ahard time getting this set up. Also, most any of the hotels you stay at on the keys will be able to set this up for you too.

Can't necessarily answer that for you. Never stayed back on the mainland. If it were me and i had two, young kids, I'd stay one night on the mainland to make for a shorter day to the ruins. I never went, but I understand the Belize Zoo is excellent too. With all that said, I'd stay on the keys for as many days as possible.

Trekkie, depends on when you are going. You can find hotel rooms for $40/nt during low-season. Ruby's for one. I'm paying $40/nt at Ruby's 8 days from now. I don't need much... just gimme a room on the beach that has a bed and bathroom. During high season, you will pay more like $60-$75/nt for this same room. Still not expensive, but not as enticing as $40. Ruby's will be one of the cheapest on the island, btw.

As far as eating, you can eat there on a budget. It's called street food and it's darned good there. From one bar to the next, walk the town at night and get a tamale for a couple bucks. Lunchtime, you'll find guys BBQing chicken roadside. I did this one day for lunch. Excellent. You can still get good ol' chicken tenders at restaurants if you like. Or a good burger relatively cheaply. But if you're into eating the seafood everyday, it could start to get costly.

Snorkeling- I think I paid $35 for a half day. Went to three different spots. It was spectacular. If you have your own snorkel gear, you can simply snorkel by one of the resort piers... for free. Many head to Ramone's pier. That's where I went for a few hours. While not as spectacular as the coral reefs, it was still pretty darned cool. Many, many fish.

Do resverations for the ferry from the mainland to the Cayes have to be made in advance? What about flights on Tropic Air?

If I wanted to spend 3 nights on the one of the Cayes for the beach & swim experence, then two nights inland to see the zoo and at least one of the Mayan Ruins, can anyone suggest a hotel on the main land that would be safe and clean for a family - no frills is fine, but safe and clean are a must.

Can anyone fill me in on what shots or vaccinations are required or suggested for US visitors?

For the boat- no need to make reservations.
for Tropic Air, yes, I'd make them (you can do it on-line). Although, it's usually not a big issue. Many don't and just catch the next flight out to Ambergris Caye. They depart every half hour. The benefit of making the reservations is that they know you are arriving into BZE. If your flight is delayed, they'll wait for you or book you on the next. If you are booked for the last flight of the day to Ambergris Caye, they'll wait OR depart then come back for you. Tropic Air is not like the US airlines. They won't leave you hanging. Very nice airline and people.
I know nothing of hotels on the mainland.

Most don't get vaccinations. But if you do- Hep A, Typhoid, and Malaria. I'd do some research elsewhere to be sure though. You will be on the mainland for a day or so. Don't put your health in my hands.

The most popular ruin day trips from Ambergris Caye are Lamanai and Altun Ha. See http://www.tanishatours.com/ for descriptions. I'd book a tour since the boat/bus/boat rides are coordinated for you.

There's no malaria vaccine. There are a number of drugs used for prophylaxis taken for different periods of time depending on the drug. I have United Healthcare PPO with rx plan administered by Medco and they covered Malarone (I imagine they cover other drugs as well). I didn't have to explain anything. FWIW I don't plan to take it for Belize.

Did you find something yet? Don't know what kind of place you're looking for or your price range but this place is fairly new so may have availability http://www.cayecaulkeraccommodations...idevillas2.htm

Yes, after about 8 rejections, I found a condo with one of the real estate agents. Caulker accomodations do seem CHEAP, though -- maybe that's why bookings are strong!

I saw another posted a link to day tours off the cayes. That would appeal to me, but the price tag (like $140 pp) makes it a no-go for my family (1 outing would double our total on-the-ground expenses!). Are there any less expensive options? My guess is I need "kids go free" to make it a plausible expense for me.

How are people getting from BZE to Ambergris or Caye caulker? Seems like airfare is about 60-70 one-way which is the same as the airfare from US to BZE. Now, really?

The boat is cheap. Here's a schedule and pricing. Note the prices are in Belize dollars -- and you get almost 2 Belize dollars for 1 US dollar.

http://www.cayecaulkerwatertaxi.com/pricing.html

From a first timer perspective, flying to Caulker seems a little silly, since it's only a 45 minute boat ride. Flying to Ambergris (1 1/2 hour boat ride) just seems unnecessary. It's apparently a 20 minute and $25 taxi ride to get to the boat dock from BZE. I understand there are also some flight savings leaving from the local airport instead of the int'l airport, but if you're going to take the time to switch airports, it seems like you might as well take the boat.

In booking my AA flight times, I thought I'd avoid the 6:00 am departure for a slightly more civilized 7:30 am departure -- especially since it only arrives 1 hour later. The problem, however, is that the later 3:30 arrival might miss the last boat to Ambergris (there's a 5:30 boat to Caulker, so no problems). Just something to keep in mind. If you're trying to get to Ambergris from the 3:30 flight without spending your first night on the mainland, you might have to fly.

The linked website shows a 4:30pm boat to San Pedro. Like you I land at 3:30pm (1/23/2009)

Does anyone know how long of a taxi ride it would be to catch the boat?