Now that we've got our travel dates set (first week of July) I've been frantically searching all over the board for a post I'd read several months ago with a complete and well-thought-out list of items to bring (bug spray, flashlight, etc...). It was just an amazing list and, of course, I neglected to print it out. Anyone remember the post I am referring to? Anyone like to help with a new list or perhaps track down the old?

Just want to say how much we are looking forward to our visit. We are Belize first-timers, but I am so glad I found this web site and this board .... you all are just fantastic and have communicated your enthusiasm for this special place very clearly. Thank you, one and all! I'm sure I'll have more questions as the day approaches!

Here is my well-thought-out list of things to take to AC:

1. Vitamins for hangovers.
2. Directions to BC's and Palapa Bar.
3. Personal injury insurance for golf cart accidents.

(just kidding-I think)

LOL You sound like my kind of traveler! Travel light....have a good time!

Rich, you are too funny. Hear ya about the golf cart insurance. Hey Becky, are you listening?

Trying not to. That's ok, I was just seeing if I could get a rise out of Rich, that was one of the rises I got, smile Rich.

Jill-the info you want are on 2 old threads. If you ask to see topics from the last 100 days they are both on pg. 8 One is by ridiver titled "so what am I going to forget to pack in my luggage" and the other is by diverdeb1 titled "what do you wish you had brought"

I would ride with you any day Becky! It was a blast!

What list?? somebody have a lisp??
Lucky you won't be there with Becky, you'd require extra life insurance.
1. Bring "Get out of jail card"
2. No bathing suits required!!
3. One case of Dog food

Have fun, be smart, don't mention our names when in San Pedro!!!

Jill! I'll be there July 2-17. Where are you staying?

Part of the joy of AC is that you don't need to pack much! Sunscreen, bug spray, and a camera! I spent one week there with only one carry-on. Oh yeah... a hat with a brim is good, and a handkercheif to tie around your neck (to protect the back of the neck from sun). Unless you are a "sun-baker". I'm too old for that -- I try to protect this aging, wrinkled skin!

Kathy

Ken and Lynne, that's hilarious!!!!!!!!! I can't stop laughing!

Jill these guys are having too much fun. Not as much fun as they were having last week but you will understand when you get home. Can't help you locate the thread but let's start with this.

1) Bug lotion
2) Vitamin B (call it a hangover cure or call it a bug repellant, works for both)
3) A hat
4) sunglasses
5) sunscreen
6) a small flashlight (you never know, where are you staying?)
7) the right attitude (don't worry you will have it when you leave)
8) your dancing hips (don't worry you will have them with you when you leave) :^)

Bigmommachris, Those are 2 great threads. Now I have an extra list of things to bring. I guess that just means I bring less clothes (he, he!) Thanks for the info. I hadn't thought of some of that stuff and it'll all come in handy! Sharon

I wrote this in January and IMAHO thought to add to the list;-}

Highly subjective and personally biased advice for Belize
Frank Case

On the mainland you can get + 3% on money exchange if you pay attention. $100 us = 206 BZE. This will be on the road or in a bar. Ask the bartender as a moneychanger will come by to see them. Of course, be careful. Travelers checks also bring a premium and while tricky to cash, in general are no problem. Of course vendors and sellers of small items will have trouble with big denominations.

Maya Beach on Placencia is isolated and the hotels are de facto all inclusives. I mean that getting to and fro is hard and the places are so nice you will want to stay. Prices were reasonable for meal and beverage.

Mangos is a world class barefoot beach bar: it ranks with Pusser’s on St John and the Soggy Dollar on Jost Van Dyke. Not quite up to Foxy’s—no yachts to daydream about. Say hi to Glenn, but DON’T buy him a drink—He needs no encouragement. The food is the deliciously simple fare you’ll dream about when you’re eating another gd Rami noodle. There is a picture window there that frames my favorite daydream…10 minutes later, I’m back.

The best snorkeling I did was from the kayak off false key. the weather was prohibitive this trip—a little cold [Dec-Jan.] Any reasonably fit person could do this from Maya Beach or San Pedro.

For you dark beer drinkers, Belikin Stout is 6.5% alcohol and is an excellent choice as [I believe] it is regulated and is usually the same cost as the usual. High buzz factor. My favorite souveneir is a Belikin "condom" for $5Bze; It keeps the beer cold and marks it as mine. The Guinness stout is different from what we get in the states, sticky sweet, although most Garifuna love it.

The jungle is not designed to accommodate "big-boned" people like me. I realized this as my guide disappeared down a rabbit hole the size of dinner plate. Go anyway. Ditto for caves. Go anyway.

If you can get somewhere without driving use alternative means, as the roads are teeth-rattlers. Balance this against the benefits of local insight, color, and cost of busses. Found no reliable busses on Placencia, although I didn’t try real hard.

In this steamy tropical environment, the #1 travel item to bring is … Coolmax hi-tec underwear. One word—wicking. Nuf said. Oddly enough, #2 would be a sweatshirt or rain jacket. In December and January It was cold at night or on the water in general. Plus, don’t forget a good small flashlight. The new hi-tec ones are great* and the kind that can be a lamp is also great for ambient light or reading. A night light to plug in could be real helpful too, as long as the electricity works.

* get a "leash" as mine is now in the bottom of Blue Creek cave. Remember the movie "The Gods Must Be Crazy"? I fantasize a doomsday cult of fish worshipping the fading beam.

It’s true that the Maya, the Garifuna, and the Mestizos are among the friendliest locals you will ever meet [The Ex-pats are cool too]. Sadly, the friendliest are often the ones who want to sell you drugs. Cuidado. My limited travel in Bze tells me that this is a safe trip: because of the isolation, even on the mainland it is an island mentality as there is nowhere to hide. Thieves don’t last long. Islanders look out for each other: I had two different people warn me off of a certain fellow who attached himself to me. A different time the police chief in Seine Bight sidled up to me to say, "John, He’s cool." Use normal travel radar and you’ll be fine.

The water taxi from Bze City can be cold, jarring and jam-packed. For two, including taxi from Municipal airport, the cost is $40 US[International is more $—both for taxi and flights]. From Muni to San Pedro, Tropic Air is $104 US for 2. Take the Airplane. Especially after a long day of travel.

Those fancy schmancy pens don’t work: they smear due to humidity and heat. A Plain old bic is best, or a mechanical pencil. If you want your postcards to come quickly, give them to someone you trust at the airport, and have them mail them—remember then, U.S. stamps.

A bicycle is the way to explore the island. The southern area was hit really hard by H Keith, especially where the trees were thinned and the mangroves cut. I felt anxious due to the destruction: palm tree tops gone, whole beach front lots gutted, some houses left askew. Look from the sea and you can see the octagonal house tilted. If you ride down there, don’t be still as mosquitos will bodily carry you away to eat later. The North side fared better and almost looks scrubbed clean—check out the plain just North the ferry. North of the ferry you can take a golf cart. I heard Journey’s End was still closed. I made it as far as the Palapa bar where I met the old Texan couple who own the dredging company. Although she broke her shoulder in the hurricane, it brought them a lot of business. South of the dump you can only take a bike.[Not too much to see south except the awesome destruction].
When possible self propelled is the best way to go. My partner was in a kayak and said, "Watch out for that rock—I mean Manatee!"

The more brown and black faces you see in the restaurant, the better value the food. While Elvi’s was great[I had the shrimp kabobs] and Sweet Basil is a first class place with a world class view, Papi’s near the ferry is a great value and you can keep your ear close to the ground.

Everybody has a hurricane story. It came up fast and went to class IV suddenly. Most [a lot?] of people did not get off the island. The ferry guy said, "I saw death’s face."

Leave the garish tee shirts at home. Especially the WWF smackdown variety. You’ll give us ugly Americans a bad name.

Go native early: Lose the shoes, forget the watch[try this on--it is Pavlovian]buy a local tee shirt, develop a morning routine, learn some names, have street meat for lunch, light a candle at the church…

Get off the beach or dock before the incredibly intense swarm of mosquitoes swoop at about 10 minutes past sundown. Otherwise bathe in DEET and smoke a rope as the smoke will keep them at bay. DEET and Belikin should both be applied liberally, early, and often. Bug damage is directly proportional to the amount of fragrance you apply. Cleanliness is highly overrated. For morning showers use no soap or shampoo. that way you’re clean but don’t smell like the buffet line at Bloodsuckers Corral. Scrub up at night for your honey if you like, but go au natural during the day. DEET is the only fragrance you should emit.

If you hear a drum, go towards it. Punta rock is infectious and a "Jump up" will follow. Take approximately 1 million tiny steps and dance like your back has no bone. More research is needed to figure out how hips are made to move like that. Please get back to me on that.

Be flexible—be in the moment and paying attention to cues. My inner voice was telling me to get on that empty plane to San Pedro instead of schlepping gear to the water taxi. Four hours and 1,000 jolts in the water later, I realized my mistake. When it started to rain on New Year’s Eve $15 Bze got us into the Lion’s Club for their party—Can’t get more local than that.

Big Frank, that was sheer poetry.... thank you... you have a gift. KC, we'll be at duPlooy's in the Cayo District for two nights and then at Paradise Villas for the remainder of the trip. Coming from Houston-- how about you?

Thanks for helping me find the original thread for "the list" and all the additional comments are welcome. I'm warming up my hips, ready to punta when we get there!

Wow Big Frank! Great report. When will you start writing a book? Put me on the list of people who want the first edition. Now I know why skeeters love me so much. I am to clean!!! They are probably already sharpening their sucking instrument waiting for me to arrive.

Bring your sense of humor and a huge smile on your face. You will have a great time.

JillB
You're trip is DITTO of our trip last year. DuPlooy's and then Paradise Villas. You are indeed in for a real treat. Both places were Maaaahhhhhhvelous. Have a wonderful time.
Debbie

Jill,
We are leaving July 2 from Houston on Continental 1231 at 1:25p... any chance we are on the same flight?

We are staying 4.5 miles north of town. Is Paradise Villas north of San Pedro?

Kathy

Yes, same flight as ours! We'll be heading off to duPlooy's for two nights, then to AC to stay at Paradise Villas which is just on the north edge of town. Are you Houstonians, or are you coming in from somewhere else? Let's see if we can meet, at least at the airport! Can't wait for our trip!