Travel plan idea blog

I was on a similar cruise a couple of years ago. I remember that the excursions in Belize were a little expensive so decided to go into the town. Frankly, I couldn't agree with you more. After being offered the opportunity to buy drugs 3 times within 10 minutes, I headed back to the ship. Although I have heard that many excursions there are exceptional, the town itself was to be precise, filthy. I realize that it is a 3rd world country but I believe that Honduras is as well and found the people delightful and the tour of the surrounding areas truly beautiful.

Yes I was there two times and I have no desire to go back, I wasn't sure if I would get mugged by drug traffickers Also did not like the herassment in Mexico. My favorite cruise was to Bermuda and Alaska.

My husband and I just went to Belise last October, as one of the destinations on a cruise.

The cruise port is completely fenced in, with Security Guards patroling everywhere. The excursions you were taken by bus, beyond the city, and there were NO stops within the city..... you just look out the window. They take all the measures they can to keep you safe. More so here then everywhere else we have been in the Caribean. That speaks volumes to us.

The scuba diving there was very good. But then Palancar Reef is the second largest reef system in the world.....second only to The Great Barrier Reef off of Australia. So even though we do not snorkle, we assume the snorkling is very good too.

We will book another Western Caribean Cruise.... only because we scuba and the Palancar Reef runs along the coastline of Cozumel Mexico, Belize & Roatan Honduras.

If we were planning a cruise, to visit what is above water in these places..... we would not. We do not find their cruise ports very enticing or their excursions (Other then the scuba) very exciting..... though if your a height junky several of those destinations have the Zip Line excursion. I have not tried it..... there wasn't enough time with diving too.... but from what I have heard from people other people on the ship, it is awesome. They also said that they had to book on-line before they ever went on their cruise because every time they have tried to do it before, it was sold out.

Hope this was helpful.

Roni

No, you are not wrong about the place. The first night we were there some shady guy approached us about buying some drugs from him.I felt like we were always looking behind our backs. We stayed at Caye Caulker the rest of the vacation and that was'nt so bad once we got away from the riff raff.

i to have been to belize. i however liked it very much. as for the people being poor, they seemed to be very freindly. we had a good river tubing experiance. and then did some shopping too. i even had one escort there to help find a tee shirt. he was about 9 or 10 and he ran from booth to both to find me a 3x shirt. he later came running back with a 2 x shirt look at me with a disapointed look on his face and said to me "they don't have a fat man's shirts anywhere." i gave him a dollar and told him to find someone else to help. dirty little turd

We went on a cruise 4 years ago to Belize. My wife was told by a woman that she was going to be robbed so she should just give her money to her. People there wear spitting at us and we just decided to go back to the ship. Very scary place.

Our daughter has lived in Belize for 20 years and our viists are INFREQUENT for the same reasons you mention in your comment. I STILL suffer from flea bite syndrome. The food, nice if you like rice and beans. There are a very few good places in the keys!

My husband and I went on a Carnival Cruise and Belize was also one of our stops. I had heard some wonderful things about Belize but like you got the "ghetto excursion". I would give it another change but not on a Cruise.

I am assuming that your cruise ship docked in Belize City. Belize City is rough and can be scary, but when we have been on Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker we felt extremely safe. Our snorkeling trips and trip to the ruins were great. And the people were so warm and friendly...in fact, the people are one of the reasons we would go back. Caye Caulker is still underdeveloped, but again, the people were super. We have flown from Belize city to the island and have also taken the boat across. We like taking the boat with lots of locals on board, however you have to take a taxi from the airport to the dock. The taxis are old, but our driver was a well informed, kind man. So yes, you might want to try it again and go to Ambergris Caye and run around the little island on a golf cart just like the locals and others visitors. Very few cars on the island.

Went on the same itinerary a last year. Costa Maya was my favorite place but we also loved our stop in Belize. We took a boat to a small island with a bar, limited food and another boat ride to snorkel. This island was the most tropical setting I have even been in, and I've been to many tropical locations throughout the caribbean and US, including Hawaii. The island was awesome and after the snorkel, which was pretty good, we had a very relaxing day in an incredible setting. I've heard the area just outside of the port was not so nice so we never left. We got on the boat right from the ship docking area. Would do same excursion anytime without doubt.

I would definitely find a local taxi driver to take you around. Stay away from planned excursions which immediately identify you as a tourist. Unfortunately, many tourists have created an unfavorable image of the U.S. by treating the local people rudely, as though they were servants, and trying to flaunt their money around. This has caused considerable resentment in many Latin American countries. I've seen this in many places on more than one occasion. The area around the docks/piers in any port is never in the best part of town. Also, if you don't speak or at least try some Spanish, this can be a problem. The Mexican people appreciate your trying to speak their language - you're in their country after all.

Have been to Belize one time - and it was one of the best vacations ever!!!! Amergis Caye - then to Caya Espanto - the most amazing and wonderful place to be spoiled absolutely rotten. The food was to die for, the service beyond your wildest dream and the staff was top notch. From what I have read and experienced - a cruise ship port is not the best way to judge a country! If you really want to give it a second chance - then get to a different area. I think you will be pleasantly surprised! We found the English speaking country to be very welcoming and friendly we never experinced anything bad...Sherry

I have been to Belize twice on Carnival Cruise Lines and have had a great experience both times. I didn't spend any time in Belize City other than to shop at some of the fenced in area stores for the tourists. The cave tubing tour which is about 1 hour out of the city was great. I would recommend going back but take a tour that gets you out of the city.

I refuse to go anywhere that doesn't look and act exactly like home. Until Belize City steps up and gets a Starbucks, McDonalds, and transforms itself into my vision of paradise I'll never go there.

My wife and I spent a week on Ambergris Caye and had a wonderful time. The snorkeling was the best in the world, the jungle was exquisite, the Mayan ruins were amazing and we found the locals to be quite friendly. Food was reasonable and the Belikin was cold. I have told many people that Belize is a great, great place to spend your travel dollars. We flew in to Belize city and took a puddle jumper to Ambergris.

John,

You are a complete idiot! I can't believe you just said what you did. I don't think you should leave your neighborhood in that case cause you have your own version of paradise right there - between the Starbucks and McDonald's. The world needs less fools like you. Stay in you corner!

The cruise ships take you to Belize City which is not a nice place, it's like going to California and only seeing downtown Los Angeles, not pretty.Belize people are very friendly as long as your not a nasty tourist, although Belize City does have the worst element the country has to offer. They need to stop someplace else. The Maya mountains are great as are the Turneffe islands. Other nice towns are Punta Gorda and Orange walk by the mexico border. Give it another chance but stay out of the City if on a cruise ship. Why not just go on an island excursion from your cruise ship. All have good places to eat and nice places to walk.

and another thing, John stay home you are NOT a third world type of guy. Is your idea of enjoying the great outdoors cracking open a window at the Hilton?

After Spain, Belize was one of my favorite vacations ever. Belize City is nothing like the rest of Belize. In my opinion, the only thing you should do in Belize City is fly in and out. A cruise ship stop is not going to do Belize justice. And if you're not a traveler who's willing to forgo a few creature comforts, like air conditioning or fast food, Belize should not be on your travel list. Caye Caulker and the Mayan ruins in the inland are unlike any other place in the world.

Sure, it's always the fault of the American tourist "flaunting his money around the nice third-world people." Total hogwash. I would never go to that filthy country - enough of this political correctness!

Your problem is that you were on a cruise, with very limited and specific places you can really go when you disembark. Belize is WONDERFUL but is far better when you have a land-based vacation with beautiful places to stay, good guides to bring you to the best snorkeling places or other activities... and you don't need to give up the creature comforts (Blancaneaux and DuPlooy's are amazing inland resorts!)... we have been twice, to very VERY different parts of the country, and would definitely go back. But never as a cruise port of call stop.

Don't stop in mainland Belize. take the hopper to Ambergis Key. There is a great beach and the second largest reef in the world. Great SCUBA diving. Friendly safe place
B

Sorry to state the obvious Sanya and Traumachef, but John was mocking the previous commenters.

Meeyus,

It is obvious by your comment that because you have never been to Belize, or anywhere else beyond Podunk somewhere, you have no idea what is there. Nor do you have any conception of how some people act when they're away from home. Yes, I think it best with your attitude that you don't go to Belize. Chances are, you would not be welcome.

i am an american that has grown up in belize since i was 7. i now live back in the states for college but i go back to belize every chance i get. it is a wonderful place. the beauty of the islands and mountains is unmatched. out of all the places i have been i will always continue to go back. it is a wonderful place and yes there are people that will find faults in everything but you cant let one bad experience that someone talks about and exaggerates stop you from going and experiencing the wonderful natural beauty for yourself. i definitely recommend the islands especially the ones down south around plasencia, as well as the mountains because there is so much to do inland in belize and you also have to visit the mayan ruins. please dont let some people discourage you from visiting.