AmbergrisCaye.com Home Forums Talk Belize Travel credit card use??

Hi
Wondering what your thoughts are on the use of credit cards in Belize. In Mexico we would only use our cards in very reputable places, because there is often problems with small time business. We might want to use a credit card to book scuba excursions, a place to stay when we visit Tikal, restaurants etc. Is american dollars the best currancy in Belize and a trip to Tikal? Are ATM use advisable in Belize? We have heard the transaction fees are high. Thanks Janice

I use my credit card all the time in Belize. There is a foreign transaction fee that shows up on my bill, usually about US$15.00 for a weeks worth of charges. Some credit cards don't have those charges though. I've never had any trouble with fraud or bogus charges on card.

I've never been to Tikal, but I'm pretty sure you're going to have to exchange money for Guatamalan currency.

On Ambergris Caye, there are several ATM's that take US cards. I withdrew $500.00BZ and it cost me $252.00US. Your bank may have other charges though.

Bank 1 is the credit card to use. They don't charge a foreign exchange fee in addition to the fees buried in the foreign exchange conversion.

The best rate in Belize is the direct conversion of US$ bills to local currency. Therefore bring all the US$ currency you can afford to carry.

Nor does my Cap One Mileage Card!

What's in YOUR wallet?

Revwarding. Very very very revwarding.

Thanks for the advice. In Mexico the american dollar rules unless you are in a very small town away from everything.

Yea, but if you use American dollars in Mexico you generally lose on the exchange rate. Most people just give you 10:1, when the actual exchange rate is closer to 11:1.