Go To Belize With Us
Travel Tips
Preparation
Read When Helping Hurts. This is a must
read.
Medical Information
For medical information and vaccination recommendations, we refer you to your personal physician, your county health department's International Travel Office. Be sure to inform them that you will be in remote areas and not just in Belize City. Their recommendations will be dependent on where you are traveling.
- A few Tips
- Be sure you are up to date on all immunizations recommended by your personal physician and International Travel Office of your County Health Department
- Ask your physician about whether you need to carry any medications with you in case of Traveler's Diarrhea, upset stomach or other illness that could be contracted there.
- Ask your physician about whether you need to take prophylaxis medication for Malaria or other illness in Belize.
- You can also find information on travel to Belize at the and the Center for Disease Control at http://www.cdc.gov/travel
- These items are not exhaustive. Your personal physician will be able to determing better what you need to do to prepare for a trip to Belize and also to determine whether you are healthy enough to travel to Belize..
Medical/Travel Insurance
We must have proof of your international medical coverage. If you don’t have international medical coverage (most domestic policies don't cover international travel) there are several online agencies who specialize in travel insurance. Some also cover travel insurance related items such as missed connections, delayed/lost baggage, etc and some only cover medical costs. Be sure to read the schedule of what you are covered for before purchasing a policy. We need to have a copy of your policy in hand before you travel with us. Here is a short list to check out.
InsureMyTrip Travel Insurance Quotes
AccessAmerica.com - Travel Insurance for Leisure and Business
We do not accept any responsibility for these vendors. The list is simply included to help you obtain international medical insurance.
Be Sure to Bring These Items
Toiletries: Listerine, tooth brush, makeup, hand sanitizer, small insect repellent wipes, spray insect repellent, any other toiletries you usually take on a trip
Toilet paper, liquid body wash and shampoo in small bottles if we are not staying in a person's home and not at a hotel. These items are supplied at Tony's in Corozal
Clothes: You can get them washed at the hotel so don't bring too much. Dress (for ladies) or Long pants are important for Church. Capri’s, jeans, shorts, khakis are fine during the week.
Sun Screen, hats, sunglasses
Closed Toe Shoes
Leather Work Gloves
Your personal medications that you usually take every day along with those recommended by your physician.
Luggage:
You are allowed to bring Two suitcases
of no more than 50 lbs along with your
carry
on
bag
and
personal
item. One suitcase
will contain your personal items and the
other will be reserved for carrying
items that the group is transporting to
Belize. We usually use old suitcases
from Thriftsmart and leave them there.
If you have an extra suitcase and would
like to use it for the group materials
then bring it back filled with
souviniers you may do that.
Be sure you carry your medications, a change of clothing and any essential toiletries in your carry on bag in case your luggage is delayed or lost.
Communicating with Home
We have internet access at the hotels if you bring a laptop or netbook.
Text messages on your cell phone are the cheapest way to communicate. Check with your carrier for a list of their charges. Also check to see whether your cell phone is compatible with their system
You can rent a Belize cell phone for your trip at the Car Rental agencies next to the airport.
Other Information
Mac's cell phone in Belize is 011 501 625 6466. It costs $3 per minute to call the States, and incoming calls are free. Leave this number with anyone who might need to reach you.
In Belize City, we stay typically at The Best Western Biltmore http://www.belizebiltmore.com in Belize City or at Ernest Betsons, the pastor.
In Corozal, we stay at Tony’s Inn http://www.tonysinn.com. Both have very good restaurants.
They both can wash clothes for you. Therefore, you only need 4-5 changes, and get your clothes washed there. This allows you to carry much less weight.
Often we go to http://www.jaguarpaw.com for fun and go cave tubing.
Things to Remember While in Belize
Food: do not eat anything that has not been cooked. The tap water in your room at the hotels is safe for bathing but not for drinking or brushing your teeth. We recommend drinking only bottled water or soft drinks.
Never pass up a clean restroom!
Drink lots of bottled water daily
Keep mosquito wipes in your pocket
No giving to beggars, dependence is a huge issue. If you see a need, ask your group leader or Mac!
You may be approached by people who are drunks or on drugs.
Alcohol consumption is discouraged.
Belizians are used to being let down by visitors and are surprised when you return, be careful what you promise.
Flexibility: Belize time is different. They have a much more laid back pace.
Relationships: make friends, respect them, look for the good
Americans think they have all the answers, and can be very arrogant. Things in Belize don’t work like we think they should.
This is a young country, 27 years old.
Valuables: don’t take any! No reason to offer temptations
Belize Culture
Belizeans speak English, don’t be surprised. Our Belizeans friends do understand.
Many have been to the US. Transportation is hard for them. 10% have access to cars and trucks. Buses and bicycles are the norm. Gas is very expensive as is electricity
All in the name of Jesus, God’s Kingdom
Politics: PUP and UDP are the political parties
They grow much of their own food
A lot of what they think of America is the TV scenes
Micro enterprise equals one job. Americans think in terms of mass production
