I don't like passing on other peoples stories unverified. But when it happens to you....
Ever since we first came to Belize for the first time eleven years ago, we have heard little grumbles about the bar in the departure lounge and the individual who runs it.
Well right in front of five tourists sitting drinking their beers at BZ$6 a pop (!)at 5pm last night, he shortchanged my wife. She pointed out she was a dollar short. No apology, but grdgingly he threw a packet of chewing gum down on the counter muttering that he had no change. it was 5pm and he did not even have a single dollar? Really? My wife declined the chewing gum and he said he did not have a dollar and pushed the chewing gum back to her.
We walked out.
My conclusion from this small but unsavory episode? The little stories I have been picking up for the past few years are likely to be true.
What a great advert for Belize.

Chris - you are so right! So many people rave about this little guy that I have kept my mouth shut. Not only does he short change people he gets a feel at every opportunity. The only time I reported this to a couple of people women giggled and said "Oh, but he is so cute about it!" I don't think so. There is a very good restaurant upstairs - why put up with this?

He will get away with that when newbs are buying. But maybe if the old standards among his customers can call him on it and get him to find his moral compass, he will slow it down if not stop. We don't buy from him because I've always thought his prices are too high (since 1997.)

Isn't he the only bar in the area? Who wants to go through security again, just to get a drink, once you are waiting for your plane.

But yes, I agree, his prices are outrageous and getting felt up every time isn't all that enjoyable either. You can avoid getting felt up though, in more quiet times, as you sit in holding area, he will often come over and offer to bring you a drink. If it is busy and you want a drink, then you have to go to him and that's liable to get you a squeeze.

Check your bags, haul yourself upstairs or over to the AA side of the terminal and you'll find a bar/restaurant in either place. Then go through security to the departure area.

American Airlines..confused me for a moment :-0

Hmm . . wonder if a person could get a concession within the security area and give him a little competition?

Hell, the little twerp must have liked you, he always charges me 7.00 bz a bottle, His bar is terrible, no room to sit down not to mention some of the worlds lousiest hot dogs I stopped going there years ago, it's a shame though, he used to run a first class business.

He always greets me as if I'm a long-lost friend, and I loathe the place.

i cringe when someone buys one of those chicken dogs. NASTY!!

He is very entertaining!

i check my bags and go upstairs as well, if i have enuf time...he claims to have the best rum punch in belize...i think it's the worst!i have never gotten belikin in a bottle...always in a cup! sometimes he says he has no beer at all, just to push his punch! and if he shorted me $1 on my change, i would turn down the gum as well, and that would be his tip...he probably would have gotten more.

I love him! Always have to laugh: Best Hot Dogs in Belize - Best Rum Punch in Belize! He rounds off both ways btw.

Entertaining? Makes me laugh? Wonder if they checked their change.
Nasty seems to sum that man up one way and another.
Something needs to be done.
Well he will shortly be featured on Trip Advisor.com because at 5pm on Sunday he short changed the wrong person- a Belize Destination Expert for Trip Advisor.
this is not a plug for TA. But I am mad that most posts agree with my thoughts and no one has said anything until now. I wish I had commented earlier.
For a nasty person like this to be behaving in this way in such a sensitive tourist area is appalling. And what are the BTB/BTIA doing about it? Nothing.

chris45, the operation, the hotdogs, the quality of the rum punch and the being felt up has been a subject of conversation more than once or twice before this.

I will say that he once was attempting to comfort me, because I was so obviously sad to be leaving. It may have been genuine compassion on his part. I didn't have to buy any drinks, so perhaps sincere. He did mention that he particularly likes women built the way I am . . .but I'm not sure that takes away from his attempt to be consoling.

And by the way chris45, don't you think "nasty" is a little bit too strong a word?

I feel you are over-reacting. Many people, myself included, just think he is a character who has suffered from internet publicity.

I often think of my friend Papi and the great little local restaurant he used to have. The internet sent him more and more customers. He became sort of famous in certain circles. Sadly, that may have contributed to the demise of his business and personal life.

i said NASTY an i was referring to the chicken dogs,, still NASTY!

Same nasty Great Dogs made by Gwaltny sold all over Belize. I found him to be rude and slimey and after the first visit never spent another dollah there.

Harry's Hot Dogs at the Old Palace Casino had real beef hot dogs - loved them! Then his wife talked him into switching to the chicken ones (he and I had a good talk about this.) Wasn't too much longer he closed up.
ANYONE could make a good living with a real CHICAGO type all beef hot dog stand anywhere in town. gosh this makes me hungry!

lol...this post started because someone was shorted a dollar.

have i been over-charged there in the past? probably.

have i gotten more than a few freebies and extra strong drinks? yes.

a dollar...you have to be kidding...hahahaha.

Everytime I have been there I have been treated okay. Sometimes a free drink. If short on Belizian money when leaving forget about it instead of using US. A Beliken key chain every so often. Have I been short changed, don't think so but never checked.

No i don't think nasty is too strong. Where i come from someone who treats my wife the way he did, and apparently 'touches up" other women (although he didnt try it on my wife-luckily for him)would be called nasty. I can offer you some alternatives if you wish....
As far as the short changing is concerned, That's dishonest. Plain and simple. Some may sneer at only one dollar. fine if your standard is that its ok to steal a dollar how about two dollars or ten dollars or a hundred?
Ive said what I've said and I stand by it. he is a nasty little man and dishonest with it. Period.
He is a bad reflection on Belize with tourists leaving the country or entering it.

One does make the choice to step up to his bar or not. Just take a seat in the departure lounge, and ignore the bar.

i guess since you are the hall monitor for trip advisor, your opinion has more credibility then the rest of ours. i have never had an issue with the man. make your report...trip advisor is a joke any way. like everything else in life there are three sides to the story, yours, his, and the truth. very easy to flame someone when they are not here to fight back. send me your address, and i'll send you 10 bucks to go away.

good lord

I need to know, was that a BZ dollar or US dollar?

i don't care what anyone says,,, chicken dogs SUCK!!!
if Jet says it's the best hot dog in Belize,, and you believe it, hooboy.
you know your drunk when: You can walk into a 7-11 at 2am, look at the cheese dog that’s been mutating on the grill since 8am and think, “Man, that looks tasty!”

same thing.

I dunno chris45, while I agree that deliberate shortchanging is never right, I still think you are way over-reacting.

If Jet has ever done me out of a buck or two, that I hadn't planned on spending, I mustn't have thought it any big deal. Why not just consider it an entertainment cover charge for some entertainment you turned out not to enjoy.

For all you know, he'd just done a bank run, or made special change for someone. Maybe people had been giving him twenties all day. Since another person has piped up and said they also got the gum treatment, it's obviously a learned behaviour that has worked for him in the past.

I could be wrong, but I don't think he's living in a mansion on the hill because of his nefarious ways. Do you really want to potentially put a serious dent in his business just because you had a negative reaction to him?

You are starting to sound like a bully that would try to take a man's livelihood away from him, when you don't necessarily have all the details.

He's a character, not a bad man. Sure, his hotdogs are probably bad, but like Barnacle said . . .

How much is a packet of chewing gum now? Truly I do not know!

I think he is a sneaky, dirty, little old man! We went there one time because he was so advertised as the place to go and learned quickly we could not lose the man! We changed seats several times. He was everywhere. Admittedly it was a slower time of the day. He must have been surfing for $$$
Gum is gum, not money. If he is doing this to one he must be doing this to many. A lot of people go through that airport in a given day, week, month....

Fortunately everyone on this forum is allowed their opinion. I expressed mine based on an experience my wife and I had last Sunday. At least some of the posters here agree with me.
I have no axe to grind here, except that (and I repeat) what happened was a bad reflection on Belize.
In general Belizean people are friendly, honest and welcoming to their country. My feeling is that tourists need to be aware of prominent exceptions.

now a real bad reflection on belize is when he boldly states to a new visitor: "Best HotDog in Belize".
he may as well be selling those little cans of wieners

I got short changes by a rude taxi driver in Chetumal a couple months ago. I'm never going to Mexico again. It's a bad reflection on the entire country. (there should really be a sarcasm font)

Yikes, the hot dogs are scary. Ate one.....only once, and never again.

I like Jet. I think he is a hoot and he always treats my friends, my kids & I right. Never had a problem with him in 16 years. My kids think he is hysterical and sounds like Cartman on South Park. To each his own. His rum punch is killer

He's a baad mon in a good way. (Apologies to Punta Rebels and Supa G.)

He's a part of Belize lore, the same way Paisano was. Lots of folks had good and bad opinions about him also. I like the hot dogs. He has always treated my wife and kids with respect. I get free drinks since I gave him the Blue Hole skydive photo. Maybe I am biased...

Its amazing how much exitement a dollar can cause. Pretty cheap entertainment. Some people gotta get a life, Get over it.

Loved him and the bar and have the picture of me getting felt up by him too ... I will treasure it always. That and the picture of me getting felt up by the dearly departed Captain Tony in Key West. I just love these kinds of characters and I guess I'm easy.

Well, I have to say I like the little guy. He makes me laugh. And although the hot dogs are not the best in the world, they are pretty good for soaking up the remaining alcohol that I have in my system when leaving for home. I'm sorry that you got ripped off and insulted Chris, but C'est la vie. I've been ripped off and insulted in finer establishments in the good 'ole US of A....
And yes... there is a picture of myself and another ACMB board member with Jet between us where he is laying his head on my chest with all 3 of us giving a high five. And yes it is also displayed in the bar on the shelf to your left. I guess I don't take myself so seriously.
But as you stated in an earlier post, we are able to give our opinions and this one happens to be mine.
Thanks for letting me share.
~Spurs~

I wonder how "friend bartender" would act if the shoe were on the other foot? If he were in an airport departure area and short-changed $1 by a friendly, grinning Eric Cartman pretender? Do you think he'd quietly walk away from being bilked? Think he'd allow himself to be beaten at his own game? Just sayin'.

Jet has never even been to San Pedro, ever. I don't think he goes into any other airport bars.

And ......

perhaps he should be the first person to experience the newly proposed underwater adventure

i like him. he is what he is, and doesnt really pretend to be anything else. no one can deny Bz isn't full of characters - lovable or not - like this. its fine that you came out and called a spade a spade so others know, but we all know in bz things will just continue as before.

so, i happily let him hug me each time i arrive (hey, a tradition, however weird), but then he greets my hunny with the same enthusiasm. hunny gets ONE beer each way & me one dog on the way home - as tokens. WTF, ya know? no one goes there for the quality or atmosphere - its just a 'bz thing' for us visitors...like "please exit into the gift shop", one should expect its a schtick. anyway, JMO.

BTW - there is now a stand selling baked yummies like meat patties & croissants (not great but ok) on the far side of departure.

i don't mind him but he ain't squeezin me either.
it's fun to watch him when a pretty girl comes in, or any girl for that matter.
he is so predictable.
it just sucks that he is sticking with the 'your-in-an-airport-you-must-pay-more-for-your-beer theme. but,,,,,

3 cheers to Chris for thinking of his wife and not wanting someone to treat her in a bad way.

I also think it is good to hear both sides of this as not everyone would appreciate Jet so good to have a heads up.

Never got rum punch at Jets or beer but he does make me laugh and I will go say hi. Google him and some pretty funny stuff comes up.

Stewed chicken at the restaurant upstairs yummy.

Chicken upstairs is the best!!!!
They have great steamed veggies. Yum

Pick on someone your own size...

that's funny!

Pulled Pork sandwich upstairs from tropic desk is Real good!!

Had one this past Sunday. Cole slaw inside the sandwich and a fantastic sauce.

I like the Thai Burrito upstairs. Ice cold beer and very nice servers.

Back to topic, Jet's Bar is convenient when you want a first or last quick libation. Yes, he is expensive. The hot dogs are lethal (I saw LM get sick). Yes he can be lude. He can also be very helpful (he guided me through making an emergency phone call back to the states when I was frantic). He's one of those fixtures/characters at BZE - like Paisano was to AC as Reaper mentioned.

I'm sorry you had a bad experience. I hope that he/his bar doesn't really put you off of this beautiful country. There are so many great things that out weigh him.

I think the only thing that Trip adviser is going to do for Jet's bar is to give him more business. Same as this topic.

I am a newbee to this site and just read the comments. I still have the little drawing he made in 1993, I drew him one too. He may have tried to take a feel but at my age now...go fot it. He buys us a drink just about every trip now. Have lots of keychains, like them. I would never buy a hotdog anywhere, seen what they are made with in the US! We don't always have a drink when in the airport, usually get food upstairs. I would miss the little guy running around. We just laugh at him. What would the airport waiting area be without him...boring. When we bring new people to Belize with us, we send them into his bar on purpose. They can handle themselves. I think it is wrong of him to short change and I hope he reads the comments and stops. Most visitors will tip good but that will stop if he keeps it up. Overall, I still like to see him on each trip.

In my 25 years of traveling to Belize I can't remember a trip without Jett's bar and without Jett except when he had a heart attack and had to take off. Sure he's a hustler - ever tried to make a living in a poor third world country? To me he's a quirky part of the fabric of the place I love. I don't drink there, my spouse has spend hundreds of dollars there. To each his/her own. I personally will remember to not put too much faith in Tripadivsor recommendations in the future if a $1 short change (was it BZD dollars/USD?/confused?) can give cause to a flaming review.....it's a sad little world to be so big and beautiful.....

I will watch for the Tripadvisor review and write my own. We can overcome the bad with a good review.

Never had a dealing with the man since I usually fly out of Cancun, but I just wanted to comment on the sneaky change of the post title....!(which I've taken the liberty of changing back to it's original form since it's the fair thing to do for the original poster)

Who did change it?

I wouldn't miss a stop at Jet's when traveling to Belize. He is a kind and gentle soul and has always been very sweet to me. He did goose my mother last April. Keep in mind that I am 50ish. I explained to her that it was a rite of passage and that he was harmless.

!

I think it is part of the experence......a [#%!] poor rum punch and a goose!

Hello tropical living, let's face it, Jet is way over 70 years old, so please go and pick on someone your own age IMHO. I am convinced he is one of the nicest people in Belize and very much instrumental in building our tourism during the many years he has been running Jet's Bar at the old and new international airport buiding - You can't please everybody! I took the liberty of changing the subject back to loving him as too much negativity can be fatal. Stay positive!

Just putting in my vote in favor of Jet. It will be a sad day when I arrive at BZE and he is not there. Drinks are perfectly fine with me.....plus, how many airports sell beer for $3US a glass?......He does give me a hug, but no goosing. Fifty must be a safe age. I agree with the "weird traditionalists". And I plead guilty: I like the hotdogs.

Like I said in my last post....I've never met the man so I can't give my opinion on whether he's a lecherous little creep or a warm, loving ambassador for the country of Belize.

But my opinion, nor your opinion, nor anyone elses opinion gives us the right to change the original poster's thread title which as far as I can see is a statement of his experience at the International Airport.

I think it would be more appropriate for anyone with differing opinions and experiences to start their OWN thread instead of hijacking this one by changing the original title without the original poster's consent.

I'm no hall monitor, but let's face it, this practice could easily get out of hand if left unchecked.

I used to be a hall monitor, but someone with the ability to change thread subjects stripped me of my powers, such as they were.

I have to agree with everyone here (and I'm running for mayor); Jet is a lovingly lecherous, warm little creep of an ambassador for Goodson International. Heck, he's the only bar game in town in the departure lounge and, even if I can't say Belikin is the best beer I've ever tasted, he has it. I've paid a lot more for a beer in many airports in the states but have to admit I'm a little put out that he's never given me a goose or even a grouse.

He does act like he remembers me (and he probably does because I quit counting money very carefully when I'm on vacation and always tip him or his boys) and that's always a good feeling.

He does like the ladies. I think his height has great bearing on how those pictures make things look. Or maybe he just enjoys his perspective to its fullest...so to speak.

I'd like to own that bar, though.

CatMo, I'm sure that bar is for sale.

SHESOLD !

OMG, as my kids say. If you thought Jet's was bad when Jet ran it, can you imagine the issues if Ernie becomes the boss?!!!???

But, I bet we could get Crown and a damn good Tequila!

If Ernie became the boss, would he continue Jet's unique methodology of keeping "in touch" with his customers of the hormonal persuasion?

Jet is not so much into goosing as he is into nuzzling ta tas! After all, he is the perfect height!

Ernie gooses???

nuzzlin' ta tas AKA motor-boatin'

Is the past tense of "Ernie gooses", "Ernie geesers"?

LOL, believe it or not..I am defending a lawsuit with allegations of "motor boating".

That's hilarious...I needed a laugh!

Does "geesers" have anything to do with 'futball' ?

Go back to bed. Four more days and you can get up again

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Great 2 page article and pictures about Jet and Jet's bar in the latest edition of Caribbean Travel and Life. :-) A trip to Belize wouldn't be the same with out him and his rum punch. It's how I know my vacation has started.

Do you have a link to the article?

:-( I get the mag by snail mail. I can't seem to find it on their website yet.

web usually gets more updates fromm the current mag about 3 weeks after it hits the streets. Some teasers hit right away to spur both e and print subscription sales. Some articles never make it.

C - you have a fax?

888-453-1489.....muchas gracias~~

now I gotta go the post office & get it..........hate that place

Someone please post link here if they catch it online would love to read that.

uncle sam still holding on to my copy grrrrrrrrr

I was a bartender for 15 years and never allowed anyone to "fondle" me. Tip or no tip. I did my best to keep the little twerp at arms length and short of slapping the sh*t out of him nothing worked. I'm paying him for a overpriced drink, lousy hot dog, poor quality rum punch (taste like Hawaiian Punch) short changed every time and suppose to let him fondle me? I don't think so. So now FTWB buys me a bottle of water, brings it to me and he goes to the bar and has his beer. Next time we'll go upstairs.

"FTWB"?? wassat?

FTWB = Frank The Wonder Boy

DING DING DING Big E wins first prize!!!

I wonder why Jet never fondled me ?

Maybe yer chest is too big/small/saggy for his liking.

Hairy???

I am beginning to feel a little left out as well....

oh come on. we're all one of the above:big/small/saggy/hairy.

One or all?

Way to go Ernie, it's gonna take some time to get that picture out of my head....

I feel a little left out also....no fondling, but as a short gial, I guess I just got Jet's head cuddled into me...never felt offended, just amused. I will continue to visit him every time I am blessed enough to come back to Belize. I will have a picture taken every time. Like everything else I enjoy, this will not last forever.

Jet has a sideline. Last time I saw him he spent the whole day in the passenger seating area looking intently from every face back to his cell phone. I'm guessing he had a picture there supplied by the Embassy, who were looking for a fugitive. He was terribly obvious, needs to learn how to be proper "spook"!

Thats quite funny. Surely with his stature he's the perfect spy material as few would think him dangerous yet he's as lethal as the Monty Python rabbit.

Papashine, I'll wax my chest. Better now ?

Ouch. That hurts...I hear.

Another way to handle this would be to bring single bill only, pay him the exact amount ( no tip) and be sure he has change for the next person!!

Maybe I'll look into opening an "old fashion" burger stand, with steak fries, big ole fat tasty burgers...dang, makin myself hungry!

Avoid Jets

Wow, I'm supprised so many of you have been goosed/touched up etc and don't mind !!

To those of you feeling left out, you could always send me the few $ by paypal that you think you might get overcharged there along with a picture of yourselves and I'll meet you all for a 'hugging' session.....LOL !

Oh, and whilst I agree that $1 is nothing to get stressed about, I'd be more annoyed by the reaction of being fobbed off with some gum. I'm a decent tipper, so $1 would not be an issue, his reaction to being told he'd short changed me would, so would be motorboating the OH......even I don't get to do it :-(

As a female traveling solo, I stopped by Jets 2 weeks ago for a quick beer and hotdog. The little man was extremely obnoxious and sexually harassed me the entire time!. So much so, the group of fly fishermen sitting next to me even signaled to see if they could help.

I have been there at least 5 times in the past several years and thought he was harmless flirt. I hate to report that Jet is surely losing it...

He's quite receptive at being told to [#%!] off so don't hesitate.

He was WAAYY too busy motorboatin' you...poor thing, he coughed up a hair ball!

Well, he wont have that problem next time, Im getting wax'd

Seeing as how you will be sporting a Speedo whilst you bring me frosty beverages poolside...don't forget the bikini area...PLEASE!

My bikini area or yours

Hey you two, this a PG rated website!!!!!!!!!!

Bite me

I'll assume you’re talking to KA…..

Dont assume anythang !

Careful Bob, if you get a mouthful of Ernie you might cough up a hairball!

I am still pissed at the little fella b/c he ran out of beer on the busiest day that Tropic ever had. He could have at least walked across the tarmac and gotten another case of beer for us....

LOL at CBT.. it always surprises me (not sure why after all this time) how many times different Belize businesses are NOT prepared for business. Sorry you had to miss the first Belikin stop at the airport. Last nite, I went to the fundraiser concert at the Paradise theatre (was absolutely fabulous!). The bar ran out of white wine BEFORE the concert even started. At the after party (which was advertised) they had no white or dark rum to start with at that bar! My gang did survive BTW.