Hey guys. When I was down last year I took your advise and bought liquor at the duty free at the airport and saved a bunch of money. But I took the boat out to the island and this year I will be flying out. Can I carry my booze on the plane in my carry on or do I have to put it in my checked luggage? As a diver my checked bag is already pushing the 50lbs limit. Any input would be greatly appreciated.

It has to go into a checked bag........the over 3oz of liquid rule applies to Tropic & Maya also.

Your booze must go into your checked luggage, you shouldn't have a problem with Tropic if you have a bag over the 50lb limit

thanks guys. YOu don't happen to know how much a person can get duty free do you? I drank so much I forgot. Can't wait to get back down there.

I could be wrong but it seems like 6 bottles. No prob withe the weight.

You could flat pack an extra bag or box in your luggage for the bottles. Even if Tropic charge you for it as cargo, you are only looking at $8-10 for the box.

Ernie, I'm sure it's only 4 bottles per person.

I think its 4 litres per person so equates to 6 normal size bottles

I buy my duty free bottle on my way back home from BZ, and it is fine on the first leg of the flight, but when I hit transfer point at Houston, the bottle has to be stowed in my checked luggage or it will be confiscated. Well, isn't that a kick in the pants? Generally, checked luggage is not back in your hands at that point. In order to keep them from confiscating your dutyfree booze, you can go over to the Continental desk before going up the escalator to security (over to the left of the luggage screening machines), and they will sell you a $20 box, that is supposed to protect your bottle. They then box it up, tape it up and put it into special luggage handling, right then and there. They give you a matching claim slip for it and it should arrive in one piece on the special luggage carousel at your home destination. (make sure duty free store puts those plastic mesh protectors on your bottles). I still have my original $20 box, and I take it down to BZ with me and use it over and over again, so I've got my monies worth out of it. Buying a new box every time I bought a duty free bottle would completely defeat the purpose of buying duty free. I hope this helps.

You know that little duty free shop they put in the terminal at Goldson when you come into the country? how does that work? Like, I thought duty-free was supposed to be taken OUT of the country, not purchased as you enter.

Yes, normally that is the case, however Goldson now has an "entering" duty free store. You can buy more items there and take them in as "duty free" than you can take in if you buy them in Houston or Miami, etc.

Really??? I am ofthe belief that it has to go into your CHECKED luggage. I've seen several people get yanked out of security and have to go buy the box you mention, since their checked bags are already back in the system. Or do you Canuks get special perks?

Booze has to go in checked luggage. Anything over 3 oz, for that matter....in Houston, they confiscated my brother's bottle of Marie Sharpe's because he forgot to check it and had it in his carry on bag.

Doggone it!! Of course, I meant to type "checked" luggage!! Else why would one need to go through all the hassle with the box, etc. Heck, maybe I meant to say "plankton".

you mensa say plankton?

Doggoneit, of course, I mensa "plantain".

Aw right, maggots , listen up ! Ya buy 8 bottles, drink 2, the go on your happy ass way !

It's called......."only in Belize"!

Whatever it is.......it's a great deal! If you're a smoker you can buy two cartons duty free.

Since you buy it before you go through customs would it not be subject to the same restrictions as if you bought it in Houston, Miami, Etc?

Free To Import:

Wearing apparel, jewelry, toilet requisites and any portable article reasonably expected to be carried by him for his own private and personal use, and in the case of a passenger eighteen years old and over;

-Wines or spirits not exceeding one liter in all and
-Tobacco, not exceeding 250 grams or Cigars, not exceeding fifty, in number, or
Cigarettes, not exceeding Two Hundred in number
-Goods to the aggregate of BZ $200.00 through and International Airport (BZ$50.00 at other entry points) belonging to a Belizean passenger (including a passenger under eighteen years old) which accompany that passenger and were acquired abroad by him for his personal use or as souvenirs or gifts and admitted as such by the Comptroller of Customs.


A passenger may claim an allowance through an International Airport twice a year and once a month through other points of entry.

By the way, I just read an article in our local paper that said the FAA may lift the ban on liquids in carry ons as soon as next year! Back to the good ole days!

Can anyone explain to me why you can't bring in any of these duty free items in via a land border. I think I know the answer is also "Only in Belize" but.......

I am not sure about if you enter another country via land, whether or not you can bring in duty free items. For Belize, anyway, and even going into Mexico from Belize, there is no duty free shop, therefore, there are no items to buy "duty free".