AmbergrisCaye.com Home Forums Belize Life Living in Belize most imprtant things

PS. For those cool shades, bring along plenty of Lens Cleaner!! Very expensive in Belize and very cheap at Walmart.

I was surprised by all you are able to get over in Belize City, but how do you get them back over to the island? One at a time?

About cookware - most cookware lasts plenty long, whether good quality or not - mine is 11 years old and most was purchased right here ------ just wash it and put it away. Selection is erratic and sometimes the most basic thing is just not for sale for months ------ I'd probably buy and bring a set of cookware just to keep sane.

How to get the "Stuff" home to the island from BC - I hire a ponga for the day - either fly over to BC or ride along in the boat depending on time and other circumstances. In BC, hire a large cab (van) by the hour and do serious shopping. When the van is full, we go to the boat and dump the load, repeating that until we run out of time, energy and/or money. Then I get a nice cold beverage & a meat pie, hop in the boat and ride home to AC - unload at the house and viola.

If you buy large items like mattresses, couches, etc. then have the vendor put them on a barge bound for San Pedro.

Skin-care items - I find them to be available, natural and very affordable ------- look for the local products - soaps, potions, lotions ----- coconut oil ----- Mayan Secrets products look pricey, but a little bit of the product goes a long way and in the end they are quite reasonable. Particularly great - "Rainforest Refreshner" / soaps - clay, seaweed, coconut / facial toner / cahune oil is super-effective for removing waterproof mascara and does a wonderful thing for your skin and lashes in the process.

Linda and Kelley McDermott are planning to open a bed and bath / housewares shop in SP soon. That could solve some of our bedding issues.

As for small appliances ----- by the time you buy a blender in the US, ship it & pay duty - you will most likely spend more than if you bought it in Belize City. Prices in the shops here are sometimes a bit more than in the US - but the stuff is HERE and that means a lot less hassle and a certain overall savings to you.

I am finding all of this so helpful! I had planned on bringin a ton of paperbacks, because I read alot. It's nice to know what not to bring. I am really excited because my husband is going to stay back and work for a couple of months. So it will be my 17 year old daughter and myself- just the girls. Things will go a bit smoother with one less opinion on everthing.

Woodland-when/where are you moving too??? And THANKS EVERYONE!!! Great advice!!! C

Hey... I thought you two were leaving yesterday?
So glad your dream is workin!

We are looking at next June/July after she graduates. Our son, who is almost 19 doesn't want to come. His friends think he is nuts. We are looking at AC to live. My husband dives and wants to be right there. We were stationed in Hawaii for 4 years so this is going to be so wonderful.

Woke up thinking about coming home and restocking the larder. It occurred to me that no one had mentioned the "Sausage Factory". Thanks to this wonderful place, we can now get brats, pastarmi,smoked chicken and all kinds of cold cuts. Their products are sold in some of the local stores,such as the Greenhouse and Big Tree, but it is worth the trip south of town to see their shop. It is immaculate and a great selection. We think this is one of the expat endeavors that has had a positive effect on the country of Belize. In addition to providing a product that is top notch, they also purchase all their ingredients from Belizian growers. Check them out.

Excellent Beef Jerkie, too.

Re Woodlandbotanical's comment - we are shipping out about 400 paperbacks from the UK for our house due for completion around end of the year - maybe in the years to come we should set up an informal library swapping network!