sundevil3
3/9/2017 11:02 EST
Hello all!
Just joined the forum after reading the posts off and on for quite some time.
My wife and I are in the early stages of planning a move to Belize from Arizona. We had considered making the move a few years ago but then my wife got pregnant with our second child and those plans went on hold. In the interim, my wife has actually taken a job as an Executive Assistant (via the web) for a company developing a resort and residences in Belize and we are finally taking our first steps to make the move.
In spite of many months of reading on this forum and other locations, we still have a million questions so I thought I might write up a little about us and our plans and see what advice anyone may feel like offering (or what holes you can poke in our existing plans.)
Us: My wife and I are both in our mid-30s with two kids under the age of 7. We have not visited Belize yet but we are planning a trip there in the next 1-2 months to do some initial evaluation.
Location: We are primarily looking in Placencia at this point (as that is the primary development location for my wife's employer) but certainly still considering other locations. Proximity to the beach is a big priority for us though.
Income: My wife is working for a property developer in Belize so she will be keeping that job (or perhaps taking a different one within that company.) I currently work an IT job in the United States that can be done entirely remote (with some limited travel to US sites) so my biggest concern right now is consistency of internet connectivity in Belize (as I am not yet sure if I will be telling my employer that I am moving to another country.) From what i have read on here, it sounds like there are a variety of Mi-Fi and other options available for consistent and decent-bandwidth internet connectivity but I would love to hear some more opinions on that.
Education: We have one daughter in Kindergarten and another in pre-school. I am thinking we would home school (perhaps via some web-based school program) once in Belize but am certainly open to local schools as well if anyone can provide any advice there.
Healthcare: Looking for some advice here. I am a little lacking on my health research but am considering leaving my current full-time job in favor of a long-term contract position as this would provide greater monetary compensation to be used to purchase health insurance/care (rather than getting health benefits through my current FT job which, I suspect, will not be of much use in Belize.)
Housing: We have a pretty good network of knowledgeable folks in country given my wife's job but have not delved too deeply into this topic yet. Renting seems pricey (at least in Plancencia) and most places I could locate in an internet search appear to be catering to vacationers renting for 1-2 months at the most-- I suspect there are cheaper options for 6-12 month rentals but that is just an assumption. If anyone can provide some general pricing info on longer rental options, I would love to hear whatever you can offer.
There are obviously a million other factors and questions but I think i have written enough of a book for a moment and don't want to scare anyone off by writing a novel for my first post on the forum.
As I said up-front-- we am soliciting whatever advice/guidance/warnings that anyone here would like to offer and greatly appreciate anything you can teach us about our upcoming journey.
Thanks!
Post a Reply
 0 0 abuse
|
|
CRB
3/10/2017 13:30 EST
We are moving 6/1 to Placencia. Finding long term rental is hard. I have done a lot of research & can refer you to a couple of places depending on your budget, bedrooms & location.
Health care is very cheap there. Most of the people I have talked to just pay out of pocket. Remember you can just go to the pharmacia to get meds that you can't do without seeing a MD first. Some meds do require a script. I am a retired nurse & there are others that can help informally. Don't think there is a clinic there.
Post a Reply
 0 0 abuse
|
|
|
|
Melissajane
3/10/2017 14:49 EST
I have lived in Placencia 8 years, and run Placencia Property Rentals. I may be able to help you find accommodation. Rentals of 6mths to a year are definitely more economical than vacation rates, but Placencia is a more expensive art of the country. Lots of property owners will not rent to people with kids or pets - no matter how perfect your little baby is (human or animal), so this reduces the places available.
Education - there is a public school for primary age (St Johns) and a private school in Placencia (Peninsula International Academy). The private school is currently just primary, but is looking to develop high school as well. There are lots of homeschoolers also.
Internet - lots of people work online, If it is crucial (ie a daytrader) you will struggle. If it doesn't matter if your reply takes 5 minutes, or possibly an hour, you'll be fine. Average speed here is 2mb. There are 3 different internet providers in Placencia, lots of online workers use one, and have another as back-up.
Healthcare - small stuff you just pay for direct. There is a public medical center in Placencia, plus a private clinic. Both doctors do good work. The pharmacy is well-stocked, and the pharmacist, Nina, is very helpful. For serious stuff/emergencies there no hospitals closer than an hour drive, and preferably you want to get to Belize City - 3 hours drive, or emergency airlift.
There are more and more young families moving to Placencia (it used to be more of a snowbird destination), so you'll do just fine. Search facebook for Placencia moms homeschooling and you'll find a couple of groups who do organized get togethers (for parents and kids).
Post a Reply
00abuse
|
|
sundevil3
3/10/2017 15:28 EST
Thanks to both folks who responded. That is all wonderful information and reinforces some of the preliminary things i had found in my own search.
The only concerning thing there for my situation would be the internet speed/reliability. A good deal of my current job entails me being on web-meetings for several hours a day and slow/unreliable internet would likely make that impossible.
I may be seeking another job before making the move so i can definitely take that into consideration in my search.
From what i had heard previously, it sounds like the main issues with internet in Belize are a government monopoly on ISPs that kept speeds low and prices (very) high. I think i recently read something that said that had change in the past year or so but could be wrong.
One other option i assume i would have there is satellite internet (unless there is a ban of some sort; i dont know how anyone could prevent one from getting that.) I know that does not really come cheap either but, as internet is a sad reality of my current job, it is a situation i must figure out before making any move
Post a Reply
00abuse
|
|
5allan1
3/10/2017 17:59 EST
It is a well documented fact that the internet in Belize is the slowest and most expensive in the region. Only 25% of the population has access to it because of cost according to the last Belize census.
Be wary of advice from expats or locals on here giving you advice when it is clear they are also trying to sell you something. Thats a no brainer.
Health care in BZ is excellent at a very basic first aid level. Beyond that it is pathetic. 911 is a joke, ambulances are ill equipped with poorly trained paramedics. ER/trauma/ICU care is prehistoric. To move there with kids is dumb and irresponsible, home schooling not withstanding.
Post a Reply
00abuse
|
|
Melissajane
3/10/2017 18:19 EST
Here are the plans and prices for the 3 providers in Placencia.
http://www.belizetelemedia.net/residential-services.php#hsi
https://www.digicell.bz/en/digiservices/prepaid/prepaid-data-plans
https://sites.google.com/site/southerncablenetwork/mango-creekplacencia-branch
https://smart-bz.com/services/#broadband
https://smart-bz.com/services/#lte
Post a Reply
00abuse
|
|
|
|
toddwinston
3/10/2017 21:06 EST
…for anyone who wants the truth on internet in Belize check the links above.
I emailed our house in Belize that has four units and free internet for each unit to ask my manager what we are paying for internet. Here is the response;
"We pay 80 BZD for 1 Mbps internet. The speed varies during the day. I just (7pm) use speediest by Ookla. Download was 1.65 Mbps and upload was 0.82. It is fast enough to watch movies, use Skype for all off us. If somebody need a faster one it can be easy upgraded"… I have no idea what the internet speed terms mean.
Anyhow I hope that helps you,
Todd
Post a Reply
00abuse
|
|
waljoa
3/10/2017 21:17 EST
thats good if its available where you live, but its not here near Dangriga
Post a Reply
00abuse
|
|
Mikxx
3/10/2017 21:50 EST
Hello
the internet in Belize is usually very slow as the prices for faster connections are ludicrous.
In Mexico, Europe and North America usually speed in the cities are up to 200 mbps, so 200 times the speed Allan mentioned he got in his house.
In Belize a 16mbps line from BTL or Smart costs around 200 USD a month. And that is the fastest you can usually get.
Some people in Consejo get internet and TV from Mexico at fast speeds.
Post a Reply
00abuse
|
|
|
|
sundevil3
3/13/2017 12:16 EST
Thanks for the follow up. 1Mbps is not ideal but not too bad. The plan pay for currently in the states is supposed to supply 25Mbps download speed but I know from my own testing that I am usually getting more like 2-5Mbps at best. I realize that still represents a substantial difference over 1Mbps as a maximum but I suspect I can still make that work.
Post a Reply
00abuse
|
|
sundevil3
3/13/2017 12:45 EST
Thanks, that is helpful first-hand info. I think those speeds should be sufficient for my needs but I will have check it our first hand when i am down there next month for the full "virtual" reality to sink in
Post a Reply
00abuse
|
|
|
|
