About Melissajane

Status:

Expatriate  

Gender:

Female

Currently Lives:

Citizen of:

Past Expat Posts:

Virgin Islands, British

Thailand

Egypt

Australia

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

My Website:

http://http://www.placenciapropertyrentals.com

HR/Relo
Professional:

Provider of Expat-Related Services & Products

Some Forum Posts:

Belize: Coming to Belize:

Once you've visited, if Placencia is your preferred place I run Placencia Property Rentals and would be happy to help you find somewhere to stay. If you have not yet booked accommodation, I recommend Seaview Suites - right in the center of the village, easy walking distance to everything. Melissa

Belize: Planning our move to Belize:

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).

Belize: Placencia/Hopkins Points of Contact:

I am happy to help - Melissa@placenciapropertyrentals.com. I have lived in Placencia almost 8 years now. I do property rentals, but do not sell real estate. Willing to tell the good and the bad, and give an honest opinion. I also back up the other recommendations here - Herbert's name is actually Herbert Kollmann, and his email is Herbert.kollmann@gmx.at

Belize: Local Newspapers:

Amandala, Breaking Belize, Love fm - all news sources that can be read online. I'm sure that there are additional ones.

Belize: Motorcycles:

Very popular way and affordable way for the locals to get around, but most bikes are cheap Taiwanese 250cc or less, or scooters. Remember there is also a reasonably long rainy season! Roads are chip and tar not asphalt, lots of potholes, and no driver training so you have to drive defensively. Come and visit and see before shipping anything down. And don't forget to check customs rates - duty is high on most items.

Belize: Motorcycle rentals?:

In Placencia there are a couple of places - Captain Jaks and Barefoot Services.

Belize: Visiting Placencia:

Seaview Suites is a great spot in the middle of the village - US$89/night plus 9% tax. Easy walking distance to Above Grounds Coffee Shop (owned by a Scottish Canadian) where you'll meet a variety of expats, locals and visitors. Also close to Tutti Frutti Gelateria - awesome icecream - run by Italians, and Pickled Parrot Bar (run by Americans). All with local staff also of course. Call Sara at Seaview Suites and say you heard about it from me (their website availability is not up to date). www. seaviewplacencia.com

Belize: Medication:

Medications are generally very inexpensive - less than US$10 for a course of antibiotics for example. Depends on the medicines. There are no Drugmart type places, all pharmacist drugs are sold in small independently run pharmacys.

Belize: What to Bring for 6 Months:

Essentials: Can opener and wine bottle opener - it's hard to find decent ones. (Beer bottle openers are everywhere.) Underwear and bikinis. prescriptions (the medicines you can probably get here at a fraction of the cost). Leave behind anything important that's leather or paper - it'll mould or rot. Unlocked phone (that takes a SIM card), drivers licence, passport, have copies of these saved somewhere. There is more and more available here - for 6 months you can survive without anything. After 6 months in the tropics what you cant survive without and what you think is important will change.

Belize: How accurate are Google Maps drive times:

Drive time is about right, with no stops. You need 2 hour check-in for international flights.

Date Joined:

3/23/2014

Total Posts:

264

Posts/Day:

0.24