Readytogo2013
1/9/2015 00:25 EST
Hello,
My wife and I are in the very beginning stages of planning a year long trip to Central America with our 16 month old son next year. We want a break from the rat race here in America. I want to hit the breaks and live for awhile. We have money saved and we an to save all this year and move sometime early 2016. We obviously would be on a budget because we would work right away or maybe at all. If I could get a small job I would maybe do that at some point, but right now we are researching the best place to go. Probably would have to be 1400-1800 per month to live. I keep leaning towards Belize. Seems like the most laid back and least amount of red tape to be able to stay there for a year. We are not of retirement age. I'm 32 and she is 40. WHi says you have to use all your retirement years when you are over 60?? Anyways, any advise about where to go or any info on realistic cost of life in Belize would be awesome. I want to do this sooo bad and it is passed the dream phase. We are planning. I just need a destination. Is Belize affordable, safe ,
Ok for a 2 year old, and could we get a job if we wanted to?? Could we get residency fairly easy if we wanted to stay? Any info would be great. Belize seems like a great option although I read it's smaller and less jobs available. But the job thing won't matter right away anyways. I'm raming at this point. Just looking for advice or anyone in my simar situation that actually made the move?
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bobbyveee
1/9/2015 07:37 EST
Hi. You can stay as long as you like in Belize,just have to have the passports stamped every 30 days pay 25 bucks each time per passport for the first 6 months then 50 bucks thereafter. No way you will get a job. Jobs are for locals only. If you stay on the cause they are more expensive and more fun for younger people and you can walk everywhere or take a cheap taxi . Good luck
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johndeverteuil
1/14/2015 01:22 EST
For a cheaper residence and long term stay then you will be looking at the Mainland area. In the north is Corozal and Orange Walk, both good locations and lots of agriculture in the area to reduce cost. If you want you can also drive across the border into Mexico and visit the SAMs store (yes WalMart). As far as a Job, possible but you must get permission from the Government. Do some internet research on your own and find out how. If you contact the various agencies in Belize they will respond within a year so do this prior to going. Bobby is correct in that Belize is adamant about employing Belizeans first. Not sure what you do now, but find something similar in Belize.
Ok down south is nice and more remote and has fewer employment opportunities. Belize City has more employment but more expensive. Hope that helps.
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HappyMoon
1/14/2015 09:48 EST
Your situation sounds just like ours in 1999! I was 33 and my husband 40 at the time. We had an 8 month son and emigrated out to Belize. We had been here in 1996 at the end of a backpacking trip around the world, crossed the border at Guatemala and loved it immediately. We have met quite a few other expats here who felt the same as soon as they arrived in Belize too. We came here for 6 months first to see how we felt about it (a bit like your planned trip as we had a business in the UK) but even though there had been 3 years (and a baby) since we last visited we felt just the same about Belize and after a couple of months of looking found our paradise in Cayo. We knew from our first visit that Cayo was where we would make home as we love the farm lifestyle and jungle living that is possible over this way. We bought a piece of land in a remote location, built our house and 16 years later here we are! It actually gets better the longer we have lived here. This is an amazing place to raise children, we are surrounded by natural wildlife, dripping jungle and have had so many pets etc...that would be difficult in the UK! As we were remote we decided to home school the children and they are doing exceptionally well in their studies. When we came out here the internet was in it's infancy, but by 2002 we had our satellite system up and running and have enjoyed all that has offered day and night ever since. Life has been pretty exceptional here but there is no doubt we have "missed out" on having family around us, and as we are from the UK (no direct flights to Belize) we have not had as many visitors, especially as many of our friends have had young children like us during this time. Nevertheless, I wouldn;t change a thing. Come to Belize with the right attitude and you will love it here, but expect to have to adapt and change. I actually like the person I am here more than the person I was in the UK as the pace of life and lack of stress in Belize really helps!
We didn't expect to be able to emigrate as we had a business in the UK, but with determination (and the growth of the internet) we found we could manage it from afar and still make ends meet. With the low cost of living in Belize (especially being off grid as we are) we found we could afford to live a good lifestyle here though we do not live the same as we would in the UK. For example we certainly don't have wine every evening... in fact we find we don't want it as it is hotter here etc. You adapt and change but it's no sacrifice if you are doing what you want to do!
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alleghenystringband
1/14/2015 10:05 EST
Do you have or have to have any air conditioning in your area? Also, are there any Catholic parishes nearby?
Thanks,
Jackie
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Jasoia
1/24/2015 03:44 EST
Your place sounds absolutely amazing! I would love to hear more about it and maybe even see a picture of it. Thanks, Jason
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