Research assistant wanted to help update popular Belize guidebook.

Preferred qualifications:

• journalism/writing/research experience
• guidebook experience or published travel writing
• familiarity with Belize
• already living in Belize a big plus
• highly organized and have laptop
• insane, borderline-compulsive attention to detail

Guidebook work is mostly tedious, tiring, and thankless, with only brief flashes of glory, but it's also an excuse to travel and chance to make some cash. You will need to inspect scores of hotels, bus stations, water taxi terminals, restaurants, etc. Payment is per updated chapter, depends on size/complexity of region, and does not include expense account.

To apply, please send a resume, links to published works, and letter of intent to:

Josh Berman
jberman AT gmail DOT com

We travel through Belize continuously servicing our outlets, have been for 8 years now...recently been to all bus stations, ride the water taxi weekly..know alot of the Hotels, I really know the best for less places to eat and stay..but Im not ajornelest, not so much organised, dont rite much, and mi spellin aint so hot...be glad to help thow....I got a laptop, also a P.C plus have a fone....

You don't necessarily have to be a journalist. Organization and efficiency are key though, as there is quite a lot of ground and properties to cover.

Probably already covered them within the last 6 months..WE TRAVEL ALOT..in Belize, we live here..I have sat in Hotel rooms here and read guide books left in the rooms..and wonder where they get their info...its all wrong....I like the Toucan Trail Books...seems a journalist could hook up with a person living in Belize and do reviews in a question and answer format..I am sure you could find another 10 people like me and do a question and answer and come up with better info than one persons perspective of the country.

Being a published author and international business administrator, I will say one thing. Cooper has come up with an escellent answer for compiling the data you are requiring to update or write your travel guide. Save a lot of time, effort and finance. Good thinking Cooper!

I welcome all applications. Thank you for your interest!

I agree that interviewing key local experts should be part of every guidebook writer's plan when updating a book; of course, it should be done in addition to visiting every single property listed in the book. I always buy beers for knowledgeable expats, Peace Corps Volunteers, and local tourism folks who are willing to help me check my facts--and add to--my own research.

The people you speak of are why some guide books are trash...HELLO.. Peace corp volunteers,,are great...they are being terminated from Belize this year,,due to the fact that Belize is now considered a vacationland..no help needed here???????????? I know them, they are great,, being here helps them as well as us..but they do not travel..Local tourism folks????????????? You need the gringos living here..that have lived here for years.. that eat beans and rice,,,take the bus..spend some money..talk the language,,,or you do not HAVE A VALID PUBLICATION...................

I was specifically referring to knowledgeable expats like yourself, so not sure what the problem is.


This is a joke, right? It's a rare long-term volunteer (Peace Corps, VSO, or other) that has not thoroughly explored his or her host country, taking advantage of the time, language skills, and contacts. In addition, some volunteers work on community-based, small-scale tourism efforts which I can share with my readers. (An example is the artists/tour-guide cooperative in Indian Church.) They also live on small budgets, so always know about cheap places to eat and public transportation -- In short, a goldmine of info for the budget traveler who reads my books.



Yes, absolutely. Although some government tourism folks are useless, others are very helpful; I'm also talking about non-government Belizeans in the tourism industry (1 in 4 Belizeans, right?) -- water taxi drivers, hotel owners, local business group leaders.

All of these people need to be interviewed to add to the legwork and site inspections that I do myself -- or hire someone to do.

I live here -personally hate rice and beans
do not travel by bus but know how to do so
have known Peace Corps volunteers who stayed for a year on AC-
rarley venturing to BZ. City
I speak the national language of Belize -ENGLISH
I spend a lot of money in BZ
Like this paticular guide book
Cooper appears to think that he is the resident living expert on BZ.-why because he sells odd art in Caye caulker