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Belize - Anyone been/tips?


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2019 Jul 8, 9:45am   2,938 views  24 comments

by WookieMan   ➕follow (1)   💰tip   ignore  

Thinking of booking a trip to Belize. Anyone have any insight or tips if you've been? I'm more a beach guy(family) if that helps with suggestions. Not too interested with inland stuff outside of maybe a single day trip (would be open to anything though if it's can't miss stuff). Would be a 7-10 day trip. Budget is decent, but would prefer to be under $3k or so for lodging if anyone has suggestions for that (2 adults & 2 kids). $1-2k on excursions off hotel/house related activities. Either January or late March would be the dates if that makes a difference.

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1   zzyzzx   2019 Jul 8, 9:52am  

Shithole!
2   MisdemeanorRebel   2019 Jul 8, 10:18am  

Watch out for the Rashes - some folks go down there and get some nasty tropical rash that is endemic in the area. Also be very careful in the old capital, Belize City. Very High Crime!
3   Tenpoundbass   2019 Jul 8, 11:10am  

I wouldn't bring kids to any South or Central American town, unless I was married into a family that had a large presence there.
4   Ceffer   2019 Jul 8, 11:25am  

The CIA drug running planes can be hired for air tours and parachuting in their spare time.

Actually, I knew a guy who used to take LSD and go diving surrounded by barracuda in Belize. He was one of those crazy and fearless types. I wouldn't recommend that, though.
5   Goran_K   2019 Jul 8, 11:29am  

WookieMan says
Thinking of booking a trip to Belize. Anyone have any insight or tips if you've been? I'm more a beach guy(family) if that helps with suggestions. Not too interested with inland stuff outside of maybe a single day trip (would be open to anything though if it's can't miss stuff). Would be a 7-10 day trip. Budget is decent, but would prefer to be under $3k or so for lodging if anyone has suggestions for that (2 adults & 2 kids). $1-2k on excursions off hotel/house related activities. Either January or late March would be the dates if that makes a difference.


I hate to pile on, but I have been to Belize as a loner (no kids, and wife), and it's not exactly a family destination (is there a reason you want to bring your wife and kids there??!).

I went with a few friends for a destination type bachelor party. If you plan to stay on the Southern Coast (Placencia, etc), you should be fine as long as you stay strictly within your resort. There tends to be less crime warnings for the Southern Coastal area.

- Don't drink the tap water, or if you do boil. The hotel we were at had plenty of bottled water on hand and I only drank that.

- Get you and your family to your physician and tell them you are traveling to Belize. While the resort I stayed at was high class and clean, the workers often come from very poor villages and areas (you will actually feel sorry for them once you hear their stories and tip extra well because of it). You will be at risk for contracting Hepatitis A/B, Measles (yes fucking Measles), Typhoid, and Yellow Fever. Make sure to take your vaccines, and give it 2 weeks at least for your body to build immunity.

- Never ever get tricked into "tours" that will be offered in and around resorts by no name companies for cheap. Some of them are literally rob and dump scams (e.g - you will get robbed at gun/knife point by a supposed cab driver and then dropped in the middle of some sketchy area of Belize City).

- Bring lots of bug spray.

If you haven't been scared off, there are some very legit scuba and snorkeling companies that offer awesome experiences. I did a snorkel tour and had zero problems.

Placencia is the place I would look to stay for overall safety, cleanliness,and access to amenities IMO.

p.s - Make sure your health plan pays for plane/helicopter medivac type incidents. Belize has some poor hospitals, and if you or your family encounter some major medical event, I'd rather been flown to the best hospitals in the area than get stuck with some shack urgent care facility staffed by a nurse that graduated from one of the local schools.
6   CBOEtrader   2019 Jul 8, 11:39am  

My dad used to own this island www.hatchetcaye.com . My childhood dog is buried there.

If you like diving, whale sharks and blue hole and reef shelf dives are all amazing.

HOWEVER, this cave https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/the-crystal-maiden-of-the-actun-tunichil-muknal-cave-belize is the coolest thing I did in Belize.
7   CBOEtrader   2019 Jul 8, 11:41am  

HonkpilledMaster says
Watch out for the Rashes - some folks go down there and get some nasty tropical rash that is endemic in the area. Also be very careful in the old capital, Belize City. Very High Crime!


Haha. Belize City is a shithole, it's true. Be careful playing blackjack at their casinos. The locals have bizarre superstitions regarding numbers. If you play incorrectly as per their superstitions (i.e. correctly ) they have a tendency to blame you for their losses.
8   WookieMan   2019 Jul 8, 12:52pm  

Goran_K says
p.s - Make sure your health plan pays for plane/helicopter medivac type incidents.


I get a supplemental policy on every trip outside the states no matter what. $1M for med evac per person on the policy, always. Plus the normal cancellation shit. While not used for its intended purpose (originally hurricane fear) the first time I ever got trip insurance we ended up using it cause my bro in law... well, if you remember the thread. Needless to say $120 saved us $6k.

I purchase some sort of travel insurance every time now. Everyone always thinks about the trip cancellation part and not the getting injured or shot part of these policies. Medical evacuation is six figure shit in an emergency. That's the primary purpose if someone were to think about it.

Goran_K says
I hate to pile on, but I have been to Belize as a loner (no kids, and wife), and it's not exactly a family destination (is there a reason you want to bring your wife and kids there??!).


My wife can fend for herself. I have no interest in having sheltered kids. I just watched my nephew the other night and he was a massive pussy crying for mommy. My kids loved Costa Rica and they're adventurous, so figured let's find a new adventure. I'm a believer of showing kids shit so they're afraid of becoming that shit. Hard to say how it will work out, but it seems to be okay so far. It's not like we're going to the Middle East ;)

OccasionalCortex says
Stay out of Belize City. That is where the center of gang activity is


Would have to fly into Belize City, but have no intention of staying there. I'm extremely familiar with Chicago gang activity. That doesn't make me 100% prepared, but I'd be shocked if it's any worse than what I've seen in the city here. I've seen a lot, so it would take a lot to freak me out there.

OccasionalCortex says
Ambergris Caye, Caye Caulker and the Placencia Peninsula


These are the places I've been looking. So my own research hasn't been too bad so far. Thanks for the tip.

Tenpoundbass says
I wouldn't bring kids to any South or Central American town, unless I was married into a family that had a large presence there.


Did Costa Rica with the kids. Tame as shit. I think sourcing your guides/drivers for your trip is key. Hence why I'm asking for any suggestions. I get there's risk down there, but can't live in fear and not experience cool places. I also have a black belt Ju Jitsu (sp?) dude traveling with us. We'd have to be shot with a gun from a distance to not be able to defend ourselves (which is of course possible). And I'm no slouch myself. Plus we're looking for the touristy areas. So the time in the shithole parts should be limited.
9   Ceffer   2019 Jul 8, 12:57pm  

WookieMan says
My wife can fend for herself. I have no interest in having sheltered kids. I just watched my nephew the other night and he was a massive pussy crying for mommy. My kids loved Costa Rica and they're adventurous, so figured let's find a new adventure. I'm a believer of showing kids shit so they're afraid of becoming that shit. Hard to say how it will work out, but it seems to be okay so far. It's not like we're going to the Middle East ;)


I know a guy who had amazing behaved, productive and nice children. He said he sent them to work in Catholic charities in Central and South America during the summers. They came back so grateful, they did chores, got jobs and could hardly wait to get back to school to study.
10   Tenpoundbass   2019 Jul 8, 1:23pm  

WookieMan says
Did Costa Rica with the kids.


Costa Rica is the Hawaiian get away of South America.

The last time I was in Peru in 2012, I met a neighborhood acquaintance Pepo, he was someone everyone in the neighborhood knew but was wary of.

I was walking back from the store one day, when Pepo and someone he was with, walking toward me. When they got to where I was they pivoted and turned around had me by my arms on both sides. Now mind you, Pervians are Short. I was considering dropping to the ground then coming up with two upper cuts. I was either going to kick the wholly shit out of both of them. Or they were going to stab me in the process. But make no mistake it was about to get very Ugly. No sooner than I was considering my options, no words had been exchanged at this point. My BIL came out of building ahead of us in our path, by chance. As soon as they saw Juan Carlos( The Neighborhood Bad Ass, his reputation of an Ass kicker's Ass Kicker, supersedes him every where he goes, looks like Robert Dinero from the Taxi days). They see him and just let my arms go. Juan walks up pushes them both back and grabs me, and we walked off towards the house. Still not one word was ever spoken through out the whole episode. This is the first time I've even recalled it to anyone. Though it was then I decided I would never visit there ever again.
11   Goran_K   2019 Jul 8, 1:38pm  

WookieMan says
Did Costa Rica with the kids.


I've been to Costa Rica, stayed near Culebra Bay(sp??), it's actually a pretty nice place to visit. I call it "Hawaii" but wetter (rained a lot when I was in Costa Rica).

Belize, especially Belize City, is just way rougher. Don't mistake Costa Rica and Belize for "sort of the same thing", they're not. Especially with your wife and kids going with you. I'd be on high alert the entire time unless you're holed up in a resort.

WookieMan says
I have no interest in having sheltered kids. I just watched my nephew the other night and he was a massive pussy crying for mommy.


There's different levels of "tough love" here. A kid crying "mommy" because they didn't get a candy bar does require some tough love. But taking your family into a country that is rife with gangs battling for drug territory, where the police are complicit and profiting off of that criminal business, where high unemployment has lead to anyone with a gun to commit crime of opportunity just to survive, and where bodies get left in the street as a "warning" sign to rival gangs, is an action that should be taken under some level of caution.

Listen to the half dozen people here who have actually been to Belize (since this is your first time), don't underestimate the dangers because you have a Black Belt in Jiu-jitsu coming with you. I have yet to see a Jiu-Jitsu move that can stop .38 caliber bullets fired from an unregistered firearm.

If you're going to stay completely within a resort, that should mitigate most of the risks. But at that point you have to ask yourself, why go in the first place if you're going to be resort camping and doing snorkeling tours solely? Anyway, I hope everything goes well for you, but also hope everyone stays safe.
12   Tenpoundbass   2019 Jul 8, 1:39pm  

Goran_K says
I've been to Costa Rica, stayed nea, it's actually a pretty nice place to visit. I call it "Hawaii" but wetter.


Every Costa Rican I know has that Pacific Islander beauty, and could pass for Hawaiians.
13   Goran_K   2019 Jul 8, 1:44pm  

Tenpoundbass says
Every Costa Rican I know has that Pacific Islander beauty, and could pass for Hawaiians.



Costa Rica, Bahamas, and Turks and Caicos are my top 3 Caribbean destinations that I've been to in my life. Super warm water (probably the warmest I've experienced), and yes, extremely beautiful people. Just watch out for the Jelly Fish, I had a leg full of stings last time I was in Turks and Caicos.

Belize can be nice, but the reality is Belize City has the #2 or #3 murder rate in the entire WORLD. Yes including African cities, or Middle East cities or any US City. It's not a safe place by any stretch of the imagination. Comparing it to "Chicago" is foolish. Belize City is very, very dangerous and makes any US city pale in comparison when it comes to violent crime, rape, and murder.
14   WookieMan   2019 Jul 8, 2:35pm  

When was the last time y'all went to Belize? I've heard it's rough around the edges, but nothing as dramatic as I'm hearing here. Just had a good buddy go there with his family 2 years ago or so for two weeks. They did some of the islands and did some inland stuff as well and he said it was a blast. Never felt unsafe at any point. Not saying you are wrong with your experience, but shit is changing/shifting pretty quickly down there and other parts of Central/South America with regards to tourism and safety. #NotVenezuela
15   Goran_K   2019 Jul 8, 2:41pm  

WookieMan says
When was the last time y'all went to Belize? I've heard it's rough around the edges, but nothing as dramatic as I'm hearing here. Just had a good buddy go there with his family 2 years ago or so for two weeks. They did some of the islands and did some inland stuff as well and he said it was a blast. Never felt unsafe at any point. Not saying you are wrong with your experience, but shit is changing/shifting pretty quickly down there and other parts of Central/South America with regards to tourism and safety. #NotVenezuela


Maybe things have changed since I went (2011).

But I did find this graph from 2016.


Hopefully things have gotten better though.
16   Goran_K   2019 Jul 8, 2:51pm  

OccasionalCortex says

Given the state of public health in the Greater Los Angeles Area, one can say the exact same thing about taking the kids to Disneyland these days.


Both run by Democrats (DNC and UDP).
17   WookieMan   2019 Jul 8, 3:05pm  

Goran_K says
Hopefully things have gotten better though.


I didn't double check the source they are citing, but you'd be surprised that these Central American countries are not that bad if you want to compare them to some American cities. I'm sure Belize city is a shithole, but we've got plenty in our own backyard. I'd guess most of Belize is pretty safe, but I'm cool with any feedback from anyone that's been there.

https://madison.com/news/national/the-cities-with-the-highest-murder-rates-in-the-us/collection_33b57fa7-d832-502d-ad55-aa29609b9a57.html#1

I'm safer going to Belize versus NOLA. So there's that. Don't deal drugs, gamble, look for prostitutes and I'm guessing even with kids it should be fine. Sad we have cities that are worse than 3rd world countries in the US.

(Note my link has it per 10k people just in case anyone missed that. So add the zero)
18   CBOEtrader   2019 Jul 8, 5:38pm  

WookieMan says
I'm sure Belize city is a shithole, but we've got plenty in our own backyard. I'd guess most of Belize is pretty safe, but I'm cool with any feedback from anyone that's been there.


I would NOT explore Belize City w your family, or even alone as there isn't much to see.

Also, the locals will look at you like a target and the cops are basically paid enforcement for the same cartels to whom your kidnapper will try to sell you.

Drug dealers and gang leaders w have large, fast cars and guns. Police will be armed w pea-shooters and scooters w half empty gas tanks .

Go south to placencia or stay near the resorts and/or be sure to have reputable guides and you will be safe.
19   Goran_K   2019 Jul 8, 5:40pm  

CBOEtrader says
I would NOT explore Belize City w your family, or even alone as there isn't much to see.

Also, the locals will look at you like a target and the cops are basically paid enforcement for the same cartels to whom your kidnapper will try to sell you.

Drug dealers and gang leaders w have large, fast cars and guns. Police will be armed w pea-shooters and scooters w half empty gas tanks .

Go south to placencia or stay near the resorts and/or be sure to have reputable guides and you will be safe.


Seriously, listen to this guy. You have a family. I don't want to read headlines about some dude from Illinois who got his family kidnapped.
20   B.A.C.A.H.   2019 Jul 8, 6:08pm  

You guys are creeping me out. I am a Hoalie thinking of going to the Philippines soon to visit some inlaws.
21   WookieMan   2019 Jul 8, 7:15pm  

CBOEtrader says
I would NOT explore Belize City w your family, or even alone as there isn't much to see.


No intention of exploring Belize City. Unfortunately have to fly into it (if we go), but we'll be in and out. If it's that fucked up major US airlines would not fly there. As with any 3rd world, impoverished place, it doesn't do the locals much good to fuck with tourist, especially white Americans. Watch your back for sure, but I've most certainly been in equal situations.

I have witnessed shoot outs in Chicago, so I'm not sure what the Belize City airport can throw at me that I haven't seen. Land and hop in a cab. I'd be surprised if the cabbies are kidnapping you and selling the kids. That generally doesn't end well for them even with a bribed and paid for police force. The money has to come from somewhere and I don't think they'll fuck with tourist.

Anyone have an actual resort recommendation?
22   CBOEtrader   2019 Jul 8, 8:05pm  

WookieMan says
Land and hop in a cab.


You sound reasonable. You'll be fine.

I only stayed in a few places other than our family place when I went to Belize. Our old place is now a dive and snorkling resort. A bit expensive I think, but very cool. www.hatchetcaye.com (they changed the name since hatchet Caye is a reference to pirate remains found on the island, and I guess that's scary?)
23   B.A.C.A.H.   2019 Jul 8, 8:12pm  

TrumpingTits says

I haven't gone to visit mine in 13 years. They always tell me it isn't safe. My wife goes by herself.

My partner, American-born filipino, doesn't want to go. If I go, it'll just be me. And maybe, my daughters' fiance, a Latino young man.

My partner's near-relatives are also native Americans here in California. She says, the locals in PI will spot her and the rest of them just as if they were Haolie Americans. She thinks she'll be kidnapped.
24   B.A.C.A.H.   2019 Jul 8, 8:14pm  

HEYYOU says
   
 

Holiday in America. There is no chance of being a victim of any crime thanks to the wisdom of Republican & Democratic voters.


Was the Vegas Massacre a Hoax?

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