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Road trip!

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DragonsAngel
  1/6/2015 00:48 EST

Hi all!

Well, we're doing it...taking a road trip through Belize to see the country, the people and everything we can soak in! This is the first trip there for my husband and I and although we've done lots of online research we know there is nothing like first hand experience. Our intention is first to see if we like it and, if so, if there is a particular area we prefer. From there we intend to do many more trips and eventually look at buying property. We will be starting our journey by heading to Corozal for a couple days, then down to Belmopan and San Ignacio, over through Dangria and then down to Placencia. Eventually we will make our way back up to Belize City and then home.

Any and all advice about what to expect in February is welcome. Weather? Mosquitos? Accommodations? Attractions? Markets? Gifts to bring?

Any suggestions on where to stay in particular locations? Or where NOT to stay? Eat or not to eat?

Thanking you in advance!
~Angel

bobbyveee
  1/6/2015 09:00 EST

Hi . Are you driving Canada? If so in. Feb is busiest month, accom. Will be whatever's left. Belmopan and Belize City you can basically forget. Trust you SPK Spanish to help you through MX and know about all the rules,regs and insurances you need . Good luck,think you need to do a little more research,trust you weren't reading International traveller.

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DragonsAngel
  1/6/2015 09:37 EST

No, we're flying into Belize City and taking a rental car. IL has been rather disappointing, so no we haven't read too much of what they've put out there.

bobbyveee
  1/6/2015 10:55 EST

OK , good way to do it, the roads aren't great, the coast red and the one to Belmopan are OK, accom, is going to be hard to find, well the decent ones that is. If you travel to the cause, do it at end of stay. Take rental car back and fly or ferry to Ambergris Caye. Only golf carts there and Caye Cauker. Only bring simple casual clothing, flip flops,T shirt and shorts is the norm. You can get local currency out of ATM's but tell your bank your going to Belize. Cash is king, for safety sake,only pay in local currency or dollars us , but must not be bigger than a 20 note and unmarked. Good luck.

buckiboa
  1/6/2015 11:09 EST

Since February is still high season I would suggest you set yourself up an itinerary with where you want to go and how many days you want to stay in each area. Then go online and find the hotels, etc. where you are staying and book them BEFORE you come. If you wait until you get here you may not find accommodations. If you want advice on hotels I would suggest going to Tripadvisor for each and scope it all.

DragonsAngel
  1/6/2015 11:24 EST

Thanks bobbyveee! Knowing about the use of cash is great! We plan on CC for our car rental and rooms but know now to have cash for everything else. What you've suggested is pretty inline with what we are planning. I don't mind the idea of staying in barebones accommodations but as I read your responses to him...he is considering booking in advance lol!!

~N

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snakeoildoc
  1/6/2015 11:40 EST

In San Ignacio, I highly reco Betty Guerra's Casa Blanca Hotel on Burns in the heart of SI town. Inexpensive but very homey and clean. I didn't stay at other places but did look a a couple of them. For the money she can't be beat. Also to eat, across the street, at Peter's, KO-OX-HAN-NAH "Let's go eat" in Mayan.

JohnPBelize
  1/6/2015 12:12 EST

I would skip Dangriga and add Hopkins to your list

bobbyveee
  1/6/2015 13:10 EST

Hi. All the advice you've been given is tops, if at poss. As Buck I says, try and book in advance, the popular places will be packed. Trip advisor is half decent especially if a place has had numerous write ups. Enjoy.

DragonsAngel
  1/6/2015 13:35 EST

Yes, thank you all for your advices!!

buckiboa...I've checked out TA a bit but find that most of the accommodations they discuss are resorts Don't get me wrong I like a soft bed as much as the next guy but the frills are not imperative for this trip. I mean we've discussed the possibility of having to sleep in the rental vehicle (SUV) in the event that there is NOTHING else available. LOL! Are we Crazy?!

snakeoildoc - I will be checking Peter's out for sure :)

JohnPBelize - After Dangria then doing Hopkins/Sittee - isn't Dangria worth a drive through at least? Or should it really be skipped all together?

~N

buckiboa
  1/6/2015 18:08 EST

Don't get confused by the term "resort" here. Maybe in Placencia or Ambergris, but in San Ignacio we stayed in a "resort" that was nothing of the sort except it had a swimming pool. It was little wooden cabins where you could see through the floor boards and the bathroom was hardly large enough to turn around in. If you specify what kind of accommodations you are looking for, TA will come up with them. We did not stay at any other "resorts" during all of our travels and never paid more than $70 a night (that was on the high side in Placencia) for the both of
us. Enjoy your trip.

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DragonsAngel
  1/6/2015 22:57 EST

After reading and taking in all your advice I have booked accommodations. It took some changing of our intinerary but we both feel better now that we know where we are staying, lol!

In Placencia we've booked at Paradise Hotel and then in Corozal we've booked at the Copa Banana. I spoke with one of the owners of the Copa and she was fantastic! Her advice has helped me clarify how much time we need for the things we want to do and see, as well as given a better perspective of the time we may spend travelling between places.

I want to thank you all who replied, for being so helpful and, because of your replies, making me feel welcome. On other forums I've experienced a much less welcoming atmosphere. So thanks for that!

I'll certainly be sticking around and trying to learn more from all your posts!
Cheers!

johndeverteuil
  1/7/2015 01:30 EST

Dragon and Angel,
all good advise above, as far as lodging also look at VRBO sites as another option. Most will rent for a minimum of days and not for a single night or two.
The drive will be really nice, BUT Belize controls speed with an amazing amount of speed bumps randomly placed on the highway. They are marked by signs and they will be as you approach a town and exit the town. Western Highway has the highest traffic accidents in the country. Just be cautious as people fly down that road.
Gas stations are far and few between so fill up when you can as this ain't Kansas.
Belize City, DO NOT go to the South side of the river in the Downtown area.
Placencia: There is a Bar/ Restaurant called the Flying Pig as you drive down the newly (4yrs ago) road to Placencia. Nice place to stop and the owner and folks there are happy to discuss the advantages of living in Belize.
You are coming down during peak season so plan ahead as everyone has advised. If you come in the summer for a later trip you can wing it a little bit.
Enjoy

DragonsAngel
  1/8/2015 00:27 EST

Hey John,

You know we didn't even think about VRBO but now that you've reminded us...!

I will heed your warning regarding the south side of the river in downtown Belize City (we weren't going to spend too much much time in Belize City anyhow) but I HAVE to ask...why? Common sense tells me because of Crime and drugs and such but if there is more you can tell me I'd appreciate it.

Knowing that the speed bumps are much like those in Mexico I can already see our drives.... Me watching everything like a hawk taking it all in. Him nonchalantly driving us down the road until.... My hand goes up frantically "BUMP BUMP BUMP! Babe, slow down!" His reply, usually casual "thanks babe, I didn't even see a sign." Lol!

~N

johndeverteuil
  1/8/2015 00:58 EST

The crime is much higher in that area of Belize City. Just like any other major town in the world there is an area with a higher crime rate.
The speed bumps are not the ripple ones you find in Canada or the US, these are more like ramps, the big humpy ones.
Tell Dragon to look for the sign that appear like large Breast, he will not miss them. :)

Lillymac
  1/8/2015 06:22 EST

If you need a place to stay when you arrive try the Bamboleo Inn, it's very close to the international airport.
Cate and Dan will take great care of you. Pick up or drop off from airport is free. Look them up

abooluqmaan
  1/8/2015 08:12 EST

Do you have a telephone number for either the Bamboleo Inn or for Cate and Dan? Thanking you in advance

DragonsAngel
  1/9/2015 00:08 EST

Thanks lillymac - I have added the Bamboleo Inn to my list.

And John - I told Dragon about the signs and he's pretty confident he won't miss them now ha!

Olorin
  1/9/2015 15:51 EST

Along the lines of the road trip question, we will be making the drive from Belize City to Placencia end of this month to check out the country on the way between (have been to AC a couple of times, but want to have a chance to see more of the country, rather than just fly over it. So my question is what do folks on this forum recommend as far as the path---just take the Hummingbird Highway all the way from Belize City to Belmopan, then to Dangriga, then down to Placencia? Is it worth going into Dangriga (while on route) just to pop in and see what it looks like and anything there to see? Go off the path into Hopkins to see what is there?

DragonsAngel
  1/9/2015 16:38 EST

What Dragon and I have decided to do with our trip is this... We will be using Placencia as 'home base' for several days in the south end and Corozal in the north. During the days we are in Placencia we will use one to go check out Hopkins/Sittee and Dangria. The other days we will use for touring other areas/towns. If you have the freedom with your schedule this approach may work well for you :)

Melissajane
  1/12/2015 15:16 EST

Yes, go Belize City to Belmopan then the Hummingbird. Do not take the Coastal Road - it is unpaved and has potholes big enough to lose a car in. Dangriga is probably not worth a stop for real estate hunting. Most expats only go there to visit the government offices (transport/land tax/immigration maybe). Hopkins is a growing destination. Placencia more established, more infrastructure.

phill333
  1/23/2015 21:56 EST

Suggest you stop and stay in Hopkins Village on your way to Placencia. The Garifuna music is wonderful, the 2 mile beach is stunning and never is crowded. There are a variety of places to stay -several quite reasonable. Check it out on the internet. We have been going there for 6 years and love it. We just started building a home as we now know it is the place for us to be happiest in Belize

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