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Your best bet-be prepared, both with clothing and attitude! A week of stormy weather may ruin a vacation planned solely around
snorkelling, but it could also provide the perfect setting for exploring the rainforests or enjoying a hot tub and fireplace in the
Mountain Pine Ridge.
June, July, and August technically fall in the rainy season, and travelers during this time are rewarded with significantly discounted prices at
most accommodations rain during these months may mean just a quick shower each afternoon, or it may go on for days.
August is the big month for European backpackers and travelers, while December and February are dominated by North Americans. Some
tourism businesses shut down completely during the months of September and October, the peak of hurricane season.
NORM:
Could you give our readers an idea of the costs involved if travel originates from the USA, Canada and Europe and Australia?
Joshua:
Conventional traveler wisdom calls Belize the cheapest Caribbean vacation spot and one of the most expensive Central American. There are plenty
of mid-range and upscale accommodations throughout the country, running from US$25 to hundreds of dollars per night.
Exact hotel rates are an elusive thing in Belize; seasonal fluctuations are compounded by various taxes and service charges,
sometimes by as much as 25 percent additional. Always make sure the rate you are quoted is actually the same amount you will be asked to
pay. And, of course, great deals are abundant in the low season (May through November), when room rates plummet across the board.
For food, budget travelers can get by on less than US$20 per day, but you're on vacation, right? Entres run from US$5 to US$25, depending on
where you are; at the trendiest restaurants in San Pedro, a fancy dinner can cost up to US$75 per person. A few resorts include meal prices in
their nightly rates, which can be a good deal.
Don't forget to budget an extra US$40-80 per person per day for activities like scuba diving, sailing trips, and guided tours of Belize's
rainforests, ruins, and fascinating cave systems. Experienced, independent travelers can get around for less, but transport can be a hassle.
US$10 per person per night is the bottom line for budget lodging, and it'll get you anything from a cramped, stuffy concrete box in most towns to
a generous wooden cabin at the Trek Stop (in Cayo) and other backpacker hotspots.
NORM:
If you had to choose 5 unequalled venues in Belize for a romantic getaway, honeymoon or wedding destination, what would they be and why?
Joshua:
First of all, remember that selecting a place to stay has a lot to do with where you want to be and what activities you would like to do during
your stay: beach or rainforest? Diving or hiking? Reef or ruins? Do you want to get pampered with massages or get sweaty and muddy with your
loved one on a jungle trek?
Get an idea of what kind of trip you and your honey are looking for, then dive in and book it. Following are only a few of
Belize's upscale romantic accommodations that stick out in my mind for quality and intimacy. For more on Belize's ample budget options,
flip through a copy of my book, Moon Handbooks Belize.
Starting on swanky Ambergris Caye, just inshore from Belize's famous barrier reef and three miles north of San Pedro village, you will find
Capricorn Resort, offering intimate beachfront seclusion in one of three bright and tasteful cabanas. Capricorn's restaurant is one of the best
(considered the best by many) on the island.
Situated on 7,200 acres of private property in the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve, Hidden Valley Inn is a quiet paradise for hikers and
birders who will have a blast exploring the resort's 90-plus miles of walking trails and old logging roads and then cozying up in front of their
cottage's fireplace, listening to the birdsong outside (especially nice during the cool, misty, rainy season).
The property encompasses lush broadleaf forest and pine tree habitat. The two diverse ecosystems
are divided by a geological fault line, which marks the edge of a towering 1,000-foot escarpment. Numerous watercourses spring from the mountain
and then cascade down the steep slopes, often into deep, inviting pools; Hidden Valley's trail system runs through it all.
On Placencia Peninsula, Kitty's Place is one of the best and most unpretentious resorts on this long strip of beach resorts call it "low-key
luxury," and check your shoes at the front desk. Be sure to schedule a day trip or overnight on Kitty's private isle, French Louis Caye, 12 miles
offshore with great snorkelling and upscale accommodations.
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