I'm planing to be in Belize 12/2 to 12/15. only a short stay but hopefully long enough to be enjoyable. First I'd like to say that the amount of info. on the net about Belise is incredible. Yet I still have a few questions, I'm going to be traveling on a tight budget, are low priced accomaditions easily found this time of year, or do they fill up quickly? And second can canadian currency be exchanged easily or should I convert here to US dollars first.

This year, due to the U.S. and world economy, and the travel slowdown, it's harder to say what the occupancy rates will be in early December. Hotels are still heavily booked for Christmas but cancellations are coming in and people are not completing their deposits. San Pedro is always the most heavily booked area in Belize -- outside of San Pedro there should be rooms in most price categories.

In early December you'll have an easier time of finding rooms, but I would encourage you to book ahead if possible.

Canadian currency is not accepted routinely in Belize. You can exchange it at most banks, but it's far smarter to travel with U.S. currency which is accepted everywhere and used interchangeably (at 2 BZ to 1 US) everywhere.

--Lan Sluder
Belize First Magazine