Belize Travel Tips: Things to Keep in Mind
When traveling to Belize, you may or may not need a visa to enter the country, depending on your own location. Those traveling to Belize from the UK, US, European Union countries and many of the Caribbean islands are free to enter the country. People from other countries may need to verify their own situation, but most others need a visa valid for one month, although extensions are available.
While you can follow general common sense travel advice that can be applied to countries around the world, there are some tips and advice that should be followed within Belize.
Although you can spend a fair amount of your time on one of the secluded beaches, you should not wear your beachwear in and around towns or cities. Some consider it more disrespectful and you should dress casually when in this area. Because Belize is more laid back, you only need an outfit for the more formal types of places, but it may never be worn.
You should be aware that your sense of time may be completely different than your sense or awareness of time in Belize. It’s much more relaxed and punctuality is not high on the agenda, so plan accordingly and try not to get upset or impatient. That’s how things are all over the country and it’s something you have to get used to before things finally get done. Losing your temper or trying to force a problem can cause them to close the blinds and you won’t get anywhere.
When leaving the country you have to pay a tax. This should have been included in your ticket, but it’s important to check this when you book to avoid a rather nasty surprise and demand for more money.
In health issues there are no real differences with other Central American countries in terms of possible diseases. The main thing is to protect yourself against malaria so you have to remember to take your pills and repellent. Other than that, your only other real problem may be from something you eat, so common sense should be applied to lessen those chances.
When it comes to cash in Belize, you need to make sure you have enough with you, either real money or traveler’s checks. You may find it difficult to get money from ATMs in cities due to the general reluctance to accept foreign cards. If you are having difficulties, you can get money by wire transfer through different companies and pickup locations can be found online when you are in Belize. Belize is a relatively cheap country to travel to and a little research beforehand can allow you to judge how much money you really need and prevent this type of situation from happening.
These are just a few tips to keep in mind for your trip to Belize, as they will hopefully make your trip there much more comfortable.
