New members of the Belize forum, introduce yourself here — 2016

Expatty is either a female expat or an Irish expat but mostly my voice entry thingy sucks and I get tired of correcting it

The north end of AC is pretty isolated.  There has been illegal drug smuggling up there.        Not sure of current situation.   and water taxis do not go that far.  There is no golden hour that far north.

belize isnt known for its beaches but the better ones are in the south.  the flip side of that is N. belize is closer to Mexico which you will need for health care and shopping.  There are significant negatives to a third world country when moving from a first world country so make sure you can make the adjustment.  Have someone show you how to use you tube and instagram, they are great tools to help plan.   I had a triple bypass 5 years ago so my dreams of Belize will be confined to visits.

Ivana H;
Welcome to the forum. Belize has been a wonderful choice for us. But that been said everyone's expectations and comfort levels are different. Your comment "Hopefully a trip to Belize to do a little exploring is in the near future" indicates that you are on the right track. You can get several perspectives here on these forms but ultimately visiting for extended periods of time away from the resort lifestyle will provide you with the best insight as to whether or not Belize is for you (and Hubby).

I would recommend visiting and doing a bit of a tour of the country before making any decisions on where to settle. We found that we immediately ruled out some areas and really liked others (that's that personal choice and comfort level thing again). Those areas that are appealing will be the areas to explore further with follow up trips.

Spanish is widely spoken, but English is the official language and does relieve some of the stress when immersing into a new culture with many less than streamline processes. The better beaches are in the south or on the Cayes (islands) but a premium will be paid for those areas. The beaches are in my opinion not as nice as most other vacation spots in other parts of the world. The Northern area has what I would refer to as water front rather than beachfront.

Good luck with your research. Ask your questions to as many people as possible, and let me know if I can help. I have sent a contact request, if you are interested, I'm always happy to share my experience and perspective to help others to make an informed decision.

Thank you, billdoesbelize. I've mostly been reading and it's pretty easy to see who the helpful posters are and who are just absolutely too negative to interact with. I by no means want to go into this with rose-colored glasses, but good grief. As has been pointed out over and over, Belize isn't the US or Canada or the UK (a good thing, as far as I'm concerned). We've just decided that we don't need much to be happy and we may as well do it somewhere where it's warm 

billdoesbelize wrote:

Ivana H;
Welcome to the forum. Belize has been a wonderful choice for us. But that been said everyone's expectations and comfort levels are different. Your comment "Hopefully a trip to Belize to do a little exploring is in the near future" indicates that you are on the right track. You can get several perspectives here on these forms but ultimately visiting for extended periods of time away from the resort lifestyle will provide you with the best insight as to whether or not Belize is for you (and Hubby).

I would recommend visiting and doing a bit of a tour of the country before making any decisions on where to settle. We found that we immediately ruled out some areas and really liked others (that's that personal choice and comfort level thing again). Those areas that are appealing will be the areas to explore further with follow up trips.

Spanish is widely spoken, but English is the official language and does relieve some of the stress when immersing into a new culture with many less than streamline processes. The better beaches are in the south or on the Cayes (islands) but a premium will be paid for those areas. The beaches are in my opinion not as nice as most other vacation spots in other parts of the world. The Northern area has what I would refer to as water front rather than beachfront.

Good luck with your research. Ask your questions to as many people as possible, and let me know if I can help. I have sent a contact request, if you are interested, I'm always happy to share my experience and perspective to help others to make an informed decision.

When you say waterfront, are you saying there are no beaches in the north?

I keep hearing references to "the golden hour." I hesitate to ask, but my curiosity insists I do - what is it exactly?

it is a medical term...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_hour_(medicine)

Ah...I had heard that before, but I'd also heard it in relation to the natural lighting at a certain time of day, probably in something to do with photography. Sometimes I think I read too much, too many little bits of information floating around but not in a really useful way.

(post 88)

have someone show you how to use gmaps, youtube and instagram

katzgar wrote:

(post 88)

have someone show you how to use gmaps, youtube and instagram

Thank you, I'm quite familiar with all those and have been pinching and zooming my way around all of Belize for some time now. Still no substitute  for having actually been there, and until I can make that happen, I thought maybe others could provide some additional insight. Pretty much the reason for coming to this forum, as a matter of fact.

I promise next time I'll try to be better at what you know or don't know

I love Google maps, and Google Earth, and all one can learn from them. Google Earth has a history mode, allowing one to select from all the satellite images that have been published over time. However outside of the USA the images are not nearly as high a resolution, and have not been updated nearly as frequently.

For example on the Placencia peninsula where I bought my 2nd home, there have only been 3 images since 2004. The most current was April 2015. I point this out because since that last image was taken a lot of building and development has occurred. Some areas have changed dramatically even in my favorite sleepy little village. 

lots like this on youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36f2qkm85aI

katzgar wrote:

lots like this on youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36f2qkm85aI

This one is nice too...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2J7MEFDhQPw#t=58.628846

Yes, a great view of the beach

sloputtputt wrote:

This one is nice too...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2J7MEFDhQPw#t=58.628846

Thanks for posting that link. Nice drone video, It not only gave great aerial views of the Village, but it showed my modest home three times at 47, 1:12 and 1:38 seconds. 

A modest home and a hammock is really all you need on the beach in Belize

Will The Old wrote:

sloputtputt wrote:

This one is nice too...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2J7MEFDhQPw#t=58.628846

Thanks for posting that link. Nice drone video, It not only gave great aerial views of the Village, but it showed my modest home three times at 47, 1:12 and 1:38 seconds. 

Was it the big white house? The beach is very nice.

sloputtputt wrote:

Will The Old wrote:

sloputtputt wrote:

This one is nice too...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2J7MEFDhQPw#t=58.628846

Thanks for posting that link. Nice drone video, It not only gave great aerial views of the Village, but it showed my modest home three times at 47, 1:12 and 1:38 seconds. 

Was it the big white house? The beach is very nice.

LOL, no not quite. That is my neighbor's place, he owns the beach bar and sports bar "Tipsy Tuna". My place is about 150 feet inland of there, on the side sidewalk and much smaller.

Watching this video again I can see it was made a least four years ago. I say that because of the absence of newer construction. There is no evidence of Prime Minister Barrow's three story condo building next to DeThatch/Sea Spray, the tall sound barrier fencel separating Barefoot Beach Bar from the cabanas nextstore and no sign of the three story apartment building behind Mings grocery store on the main road.

Will The Old wrote:

sloputtputt wrote:

Will The Old wrote:

Thanks for posting that link. Nice drone video, It not only gave great aerial views of the Village, but it showed my modest home three times at 47, 1:12 and 1:38 seconds. 

Was it the big white house? The beach is very nice.

LOL, no not quite. That is my neighbor's place, he owns the beach bar and sports bar "Tipsy Tuna". My place is about 150 feet inland of there, on the side sidewalk and much smaller.

Watching this video again I can see it was made a least four years ago. I say that because of the absence of newer construction. There is no evidence of Prime Minister Barrow's three story condo building next to DeThatch/Sea Spray, the tall sound barrier fencel separating Barefoot Beach Bar from the cabanas nextstore and no sign of the three story apartment building behind Mings grocery store on the main road.

By looking at the area where you live, I noticed there is no road. Where do people park their vehicles to walk to their house?

There is one main road running through the whole village, and several branch roads off the sides, unless you know exactly where to look they are hard to see them from the angles in the video. Many properties have road access. In my case, I am landlocked so if I ever get a car, I will park in the parking lot across from the Police Station about a block away.

For now my bike parks in my laundry room under my house. Cabs are cheap if I get too lazy to walk or ride, and for occasional drives into the countryside, I can rent a car for about $60US a day.  For the few days I really need a car, it is far more cost effective to just rent. Lots of golf carts are rented by tourist.

Will The Old wrote:

There is one main road running through the whole village, and several branch roads off the sides, unless you know exactly where to look they are hard to see them from the angles in the video. Many properties have road access. In my case, I am landlocked so if I ever get a car, I will park in the parking lot across from the Police Station about a block away.

For now my bike parks in my laundry room under my house. Cabs are cheap if I get too lazy to walk or ride, and for occasional drives into the countryside, I can rent a car for about $60US a day.  For the few days I really need a car, it is far more cost effective to just rent. Lots of golf carts are rented by tourist.

I was watching this video about driving through Placencia.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uu43XODDc6k

It will show a sign that read Tipsy Tuna. Are you close to that sign? Only tourists rent the carts and not buy or rent by people who live there? I am assuming you rent a car when you go to the grocery store. How do you take the groceries from the car to your house if you rent a car.

The youtube videos are very much appreciated this morning - temp here is about 15 deg.....brrrrrr

Ivana H wrote:

The youtube videos are very much appreciated this morning - temp here is about 15 deg.....brrrrrr

Ouch!! Where I live here CA I don't have to worry about snow. At times, the temps will get down below freezing, but no snow. Except in 1978, it snowed 2 inches in the Silicon Valley. It was something to behold.

It will be great to live in an area where you don't have to worry about cold weather at all. Three hundred and sixty five days of Summer is ideal.

sloputtputt wrote:

Ivana H wrote:

The youtube videos are very much appreciated this morning - temp here is about 15 deg.....brrrrrr

Ouch!! Where I live here CA I don't have to worry about snow. At times, the temps will get down below freezing, but no snow. Except in 1978, it snowed 2 inches in the Silicon Valley. It was something to behold.

It will be great to live in an area where you don't have to worry about cold weather at all. Three hundred and sixty five days of Summer is ideal.

Absolutely - flip flops and shorts year-round 

sloputtputt wrote:

I was watching this video about driving through Placencia.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uu43XODDc6k

It will show a sign that read Tipsy Tuna. Are you close to that sign? Only tourists rent the carts and not buy or rent by people who live there? I am assuming you rent a car when you go to the grocery store. How do you take the groceries from the car to your house if you rent a car.

Yes close to Tipsy, see previous post.

Some locals own a cart. Renting a cart is almost as expensive as renting a car.
My occasionally renting a car was also covered in previous post.

Closest Grocery store is about a 1- 2 minute walk. Several more Grocery stores and fresh produce stands within easy walking distance. 

Placencia Village is not huge. On the main street, I can ride my bike from the pier at the South end, to the most Northern grocery store (Top Value) in about 6-7 minutes.

Ivana H wrote:

sloputtputt wrote:

Ivana H wrote:

The youtube videos are very much appreciated this morning - temp here is about 15 deg.....brrrrrr

Ouch!! Where I live here CA I don't have to worry about snow. At times, the temps will get down below freezing, but no snow. Except in 1978, it snowed 2 inches in the Silicon Valley. It was something to behold.

It will be great to live in an area where you don't have to worry about cold weather at all. Three hundred and sixty five days of Summer is ideal.

Absolutely - flip flops and shorts year-round 

Indeed...

Ivana H wrote:

Absolutely - flip flops and shorts year-round 

  Yes!!!!!  Swim suits, shorts, T-Shirts and flipflops, keeps the wardrobe expenses to a minimum. 

Disclaimer: in the winter time I need the occasional long sleeve shirt and sometimes a windbreaker when it gets down to 70 at night. 

no thongs though. retirees cant wear thongs.....it aint fittin.....literally

I've yet to wear a shirt of any description during daylight hours - excluding when the wife tells me to !

Pgthefatman wrote:

I've yet to wear a shirt of any description during daylight hours - excluding when the wife tells me to !

thats a visual I didnt need

Hi all,  I'm Chris and my wife Deborah and I are looking into relocating to Placencia at the end of 2017. Big step for us

GideonCduToit wrote:

Hi all,  I'm Chris and my wife Deborah and I are looking into relocating to Placencia at the end of 2017. Big step for us

I hope you share your experiences and processes. I've been doing a lot of online research and I feel like Placencia is where we will likely end up, albeit not until probably 2018. I'd be interested to follow you guys as you "blaze the trail," so to speak.

Will certainly keep everyone updated every step of the way.

Hi guys, hope everyone has had a good Christmas and New Years. Like most people on here myself, my husband and our son (almost 2 year old) are moving to belize later on this year to build ourselves a off grid sustainable home and a small community of homes in the same fashion. To go with the all the other amenities I want to also set up a restaurant( which is my background). The restaurant industry is what I know and love, while my husband is the engineer and spear heading the rest of the project. I have been looking into the restaurant industry in the country and have found some useful information. The reason for this post is to see if you guys can help with some input on the type of cuisine that would work well in belize? What is missing in the market?
Looking forward to hearing your advice and tips.
Thanks in advance.

2017? Prisilla😎

@Cochise8933 > can you please contact the team privately if you have any questions? Thank you. Christine Expat.com

It was not a question, just a fact. Sorry to have ruffled your feathers. Have a wonderful day.

Given that there alot of retirees in Belize perhaps diabetic and heart friendly menus would be good