New members of the Belize forum, introduce yourselves here - 2018

pkennedy1990 wrote:

The reason I'm looking at Belize, though, as seeing as how I do book translations and I can do that anywhere (as long as I can get online), is that I'd probably fit in better there. As a UK/Irish person there's no language barrier there and I'm actually the same "colour" as most of its population anyway; not so here in Mexico.

I’m not sure what color a UK/Irish person is, fair complexion I’d guess? If so, that’s still a minority in most towns and villages, except the Mennonite communities 

Well booking my trip for Nov of this year, tickets are bad under $400 us.  Starting in San Pedro for the first trip then venture out to other areas on the next two trips

My family including my husband and 6 year old have decided to join my parents when they retire to Belize this year.  We decided to give it a try in Belize since my parents will be moving there also.  My main concern is location.  I need to be close to a good school as we have a 6 year old.  I am a registered nurse and will be working virtual from Belize.  We have lots of reasons to move, just trying to find the ideal location for the family.  School, safety, and access to decent medical care tops the list.  Any suggestions will help.  I am starting to put the to-do list together.  I guess location is my first decision. 

Any help would be appreciated,

There is no 'very good' medical care in Belize. The Basics are covered but any specialised medicine( Heart problems, cancer care etc) is virtually non existent. That is one of the reasons Corozal in the very north of Belize is popular for its access to Mexico. I do not know that area very well so I do not know what schools would be Available.
Can I ask what you mean by  nursing 'Virtual from Belize" is it on line information and advice with a US based medical group. I'm  Just being Nosy. There are regular inquiries on this forum by people wanting to find a nursing position within Belize which is difficult to impossible, never thought of possibility an internet application  financed from overseas, that could help.

That is good to know about Corozal, I had read that there was good care in Mexico City.  I also like the proximity to Houston in case of the need for more specialized care.  I am still searching for a virtual nursing job, they exist and are usually not the best paying as far as US dollars.  I am focusing on medical transcription, or case management.  If I find anything I will let you know.  I am open to other countries also, but I like the proximity to the US.   I have 15 years of case management, utilization review, legal nursing, and ICU so I am searching for a company that allows telecommute.  I know of people that do this type of thing and live in Europe, but I currently do not know anyone in Central America.

RN4KU wrote:

That is good to know about Corozal, I had read that there was good care in Mexico City.  I also like the proximity to Houston in case of the need for more specialized care.  I am still searching for a virtual nursing job, they exist and are usually not the best paying as far as US dollars.  I am focusing on medical transcription, or case management.  If I find anything I will let you know.  I am open to other countries also, but I like the proximity to the US.   I have 15 years of case management, utilization review, legal nursing, and ICU so I am searching for a company that allows telecommute.  I know of people that do this type of thing and live in Europe, but I currently do not know anyone in Central America.

Welcome RN4KU. I live in a small community in Corozal District near Copper Bank and Chinox. There is a brand new poly clinic in Chinox that isn’t open because it isn’t staffed. So you might ask around to see if there’s an opportunity there. However, you may find that it would still pay better if you worked virtually from the states. We’re also kind of remote, 30 minute boat ride to Corozal or 45 minutes by dirt road if the water ferry gods are smiling on you.

Hi Folks,

Just thought I'd introduce myself here...

We are planning a definite exodus out of south Africa, our home country.  India was on our list until I discovered Central america and specifically Belize.  I'm sold!

Thanks for all the great advice and tips here!

I'm new to this board.  I am originally from the UK but moved to Calgary, Canada in October 2005.  Now at 55 my husband and I are thinking of retiring to Belize in 5-10 years.  Looking to purchase  a house in a gated community as we have 2 dogs who I am sure will be around when we finally make the move lol.  Not sure if a ground floor condo would work for us with the dogs.  We are looking at the north of Belize as we want to be close to Mexico.  Just hoping there will still be bargains in the house situation by the time we get there.

Wow that sound alot like me hahaha. I hope you to catch up with you in Belize in future!

surfergirl4900 wrote:

I'm new here, too. I'm considering a move to Belize in the near future. Maybe a short term relocation, for a year or so, maybe more if I like it!  I'm just starting research on areas to live and what the job possibilities are. I don't need a lot, just enough to get by and have an adventure. I'd love any information you have on the topic, especially if you love a particular area. I like to hike, surf, snorkel, paddleboard - outdoor adventures!

Wow that sound alot like me hahaha. I hope you to catch up with you in Belize in future!

Jessy  The Job Possibilities in Belize are very  close to ZERO Unless you can somehow have a Job legally offered to you from Belize, and the employer sorting the work permits before you get here chances of any employment, even f possible, is likely to take months. Local wages are from $3.50  that is BELIZE dollars, to as much as $20 Belize per hour. $2 Belize is equal to $1 US.
Most expats that have work in Belize are usually self employed with the required permits, or run their own Business.
If you can get a work you can do on the internet from anywhere in the world,  with payments coming into Belize from the US or another country, and the position is not impinging on the Belize economy I.e. offering goods or services within Belize, that is a possibility.
The Cayes or the Placencia peninsula would be the areas for the sort of hobbies you describe, but they  are the most expensive places to live in Belize.
If you want to come to Belize for a year or two of adventure even to " just get by " thats a wonderful Idea, it's  just Belize is too poor to finance it with  paid employment.

Jessychowxoxo.
yes I hope so and quickly! I trust life if it's my way ... it will be done 

I am new to forum. Been thinking about Belize retirement for some time. I think we want to be in Corozal. We like gardening and hope to rent for about 1 year while looking for a place to purchase. We like Tai Chi and wonder if there are any groups there.

Hello Everyone



I am currently base in Dubai and I am considering  to move to Placencia soon with my family ( wife and two daughters age 6 and 4 ) , I have a job offer already and I am going to accept it .

I have seen many posts about safety in Placencia , what is your take on that ? is it safe place to live for young family like me  .


Any thoughts would be highly appreciated

Thank you and Kind Regards

Nalaka

NDissa wrote:

Hello Everyone

I am currently base in Dubai and I am considering  to move to Placencia soon with my family ( wife and two daughters age 6 and 4 ) , I have a job offer already and I am going to accept it .

I have seen many posts about safety in Placencia , what is your take on that ? is it safe place to live for young family like me  .


Any thoughts would be highly appreciated

Thank you and Kind Regards

Nalaka

As to safe yes, and the people are very friendly. I have a home there, traveling back and forth to Texas several times a year, spending about 6 months in each.

Just a heads up, although I have never been to  Dubai, I have seen many videos and pictures, and read a lot about it. The cultural shock between the two is going to be huge. 

I love Placencia, but going from a place where everything and every service is available, to a place that one can't get many common things without shopping around the whole country, or bring them in with you.  Two examples from our last stay, Needed a replacement vacuum cleaner. Looked in many stores in Placencia, Belmopan, Spanish lookout, San Ignacio, and others...all had shop vacs, but not uprights.....except one place in Belmopan that had one the employees did not even know they had. I found it by accident when i moved a box.     Hair dryer for the wife (at least a reasonable quality one, was almost as hard to locate (at a reasonable price). When making home repairs, the two hardware stores in Placencia, have a limited selection of anything.

Search this forum for lots more info. Just curious, what is your new job?,

Thank you so much , I have heard about theft, breaking in to house etc , will that be safe my wife to stay at home during the day until kids come home ,   I am bit concern on what is written on internet , have you face any problems .  I am in to hospitality trade and job is related to that / Thank you

Just remember you will never see a headline saying "no break ins" in any town  anywhere in the world. Belize is a small country so All crimes are reported in all the major newspapers,  just slanted to each papers  politics.  I Have no knowledge of any major crime waves in Placencia. The main "crimes" you will see or notice in Belize (most areas) is petty theft, don't leave your Bike unlocked outside your fence for even 2 minutes, it will be removed as you obviously did not want it. same with small tools/toys and any movable equipment in your yard. Violent crime within Belize is mainly in the bigger towns and cities and is usually gang related.  Come and enjoy the beautiful country of Belize, Fear of the unknown while understandable will spoil your peace of mind. Hint it is not like Dubia.

My husband and I have traveled to Belize four times and will return again next winter for a longer stay. We will visit Placencia and Hopkins.  We will decide later where else we might go and for what length of time. We have not been there during the hottest months and need to experience that before making longer-term plans. I have logged on to this forum regularly and appreciate the information found here. I'll likely be logging on with questions as they come up.  Thanks, it's a great service.

Fantastic! It's a beautiful country with lots of opportunity.You should feel free to ask anything. You will probably get more than one persons input and advice.
It's wise to visit frequently before taking the plunge, as you are doing. Don't know where in Belize you have been in the past, but explore as much as you can. We all have different opinions as to what suits us best.
Good luck in your quest!

Hi everyone,

I'm new to this forum. My wife and I are thinking about moving abroad in the next couple years and I've read a lot of good things about Belize. Just trying to gather as much information as I can right now. Would love to live on Ambergris Caye, but that might be too expensive depending on what kind of job I can find. Corozal interests me, mostly because of affordability. We have two young children, a third on the way. Having a decent school nearby is important. I know it might not be the ideal time to make a move like this, but have heard it can be done. I'm really looking for a better quality of life. I want us to be able to enjoy our lives and kids more, and get out of this rat race.

Employment is probably my #1 concern. I understand finding actual jobs in Belize is nearly impossible and the ones you do find pay nothing. What are most expats doing for work who aren't yet retired? Where are people finding decent virtual/remote jobs? I've seen that a lot of people start their own business. What kind of businesses are people running? I'm not exactly a high tech/IT person, so anything like that wouldn't be an option. My background is in golf and athletic field management, but I'm open for a big change if it means living in a place like Belize. My wife is a teacher, so it might be easier for her to find work. However, one reason for moving would be so she doesn't have to work as much anymore!

With the kids being so young, education is also a main concern for us. I've seen that private schools are your best bet, but how much do they cost? And how bad are the public ones really?

If anyone can provide a realistic timeline for a move like this, that would help a lot. Any insight, advice, information or even opinions on our plans would be greatly appreciated! Thanks a lot everyone!

-Brett

Hi.  My wife and I are planning to move to Placencia June 2019.  We are coming for a visit in August.  What is the best way to get there once we arrive at the Belize City Airport?  Should I rent a car and drive there, or take a local flight?  Once there, besides walking, what is the best way to get around?  We plan to spend most of our time checking out the village and looking for a place to rent long term.  We plan to come down one or two more times, so if August is too early to find a place to live, when would be the best time to be able to find a place?  Thanks, this forum has been a great deal of help so far. please keep it up.

Thank you very much for warm welcome my friends! I would be very happy to share my ideas and I also have a bunch of questions as I plan to come to Belize soon!

Welcome to the forum!
It really depends on your agenda, how long you will be in country, if you plan to look at areas other than Placencia, and exactly what you are looking for. If you plan to look at other areas of the country, or plan to do some sight-seeing, then you can rent a car at the airport and drive to Placencia, which would be a 3-4 hr drive. You could also fly to Placencia from  Belize City, and rent a car in Placencia, though your vehicle options would be more limited. As for timing in looking at lodging, I don't think it makes any difference at all.
Good luck in your endeavor, and enjoy your time in Belize.

@bbk106
Unless you can work online or start a business, there is virtually no chance of employment in Belize. The exception would be a Belizean company that recruits you for a specific job that a Belizean can't fill. The other option would be to start a business. Some have opted for a restaurant or resort, some have opened art studios, some have opened bars. If you have a particular skill, it is possible you could pursue that avenue. You might be able to start an athletic related venture, like a batting cage or a driving range.
As for schools, I can't comment.
Timeline - that's up to you. Some people have relocated in a couple of months, others over several years time. Until you visit, you won't really be able to determine that.

Thank you Julien,
My name is Patricia, I am a retired biology teacher, 62, newly divorced, an orchid enthusiast, crazy about nature, and hate Minnesota in winter.
I am interested in buying property in or near rainforest where I can build a self sustaining Earthbag house that is solar powered and grow orchids. I would like to get involved with the orchid society and eco tourism. My plan is to build extra living areas to accommodate guests how are also orchid lovers and function as a B and B.
I have seen some properties that are cleared and think it would be great to reforest, only leaving enough space for solar panels and maybe a couple horses.
I am terribly social and looking forward to making many new friends in Belize!
Will be down there this November with my nephew to look at properties and make connections.

Cheers,
Patricia

Hey everyone, my husband and I are lookingfor the best place to live.  Either on an island (caye caulked I've read was good less touristy) or near a beach.  I think the jungle and such is pretty, but we could always visit those areas lol. Would you say near Placencia or Hopkins or Caye Caulker? We don't necessarily need something with a crazy night life, but would love to gather with people occasionally.  What do ya'll think?

welcome

look for cayo, we are in spanish lookout.


solar, rain water, off grid

There are a number of options, just depending on what you really want. We had the opposite perspective, as in we bought in the jungle because we felt we could always visits the beaches and cayes - a 30 min drive to Hopkins.
If you live on a caye, you are relegated to travelling from the caye to the mainland by water taxi or private boat - not everything is available on the cayes, or affordable.
Both Hopkins and Placencia have cayes and the reef between you and the Caribbean Sea and the beaches are not clear azure water or soft white sand. Placencia probably the better of the 2, though we love Hopkins. Lots of expats in San Pedro, Caye Caulker, San Ignacio.

I can help you. You can email me for more detail : ***

We're a Canadian couple and have been spending winters in Arizona but want to broaden our travel experience before we get much older. After a lot of reading and talk, we are very interested in living in Belize, at least part of the time.

We're retired and I write. We don't golf or dance or party much but we are very curious about the world around us.

Joanne and Gerald

Move around and see different areas that’s a great idea. I was trying to figure out why going to a beach area didn’t sit well with me. I love the hills and rainforest and would like to stay in the midst of it for a bit to try it on and see how it feels. Thanks.

I’m a former private school art teacher here in Philadelphia. My focus now is my health, photography and real estate investment. I’m trying not to get attached to any specific ideas in Belize but let’s be honest.... I have a wish list. But a little bout me first... I love to garden and would like to experience hobby farming or small scale farming. I’ve done some urban farming/indoor growing here in philly. We had backyard chickens and all. Once I considered getting a couple of dwarf goats shipped to west philly to put in the backyard I knew I had to think bigger. I just enrolled in a two year certified herbalist course online. I love plants and nature as a whole.

So I want to stay unattached  to any specifics because I have a budget. I’ve never been to Belize. I have an idea of what I MIGHT want to try. I’d like to visit and look around, even stay in different areas. I’m very much attracted to buying a property in the lush hills of the countryside. This will allow for lazy days at the beach sipping mojitos. So my wish list...
-buy a parcel
- have modest home built
-have home  managed for investment  income
-expand if applicable

I’m very excited to visit. What type of tour can allow me to stay in a nice beach resort then an authentic stay in a village or rainforest area?
Maybe I’ll make my own arrangements

Thanks in advance good people.
I will see you soon

thanks so much for the warm welcome!❤

@Phillyman
There are a number of tourism companies in Belize that can provide both caye and rainforest experiences in the same trip. Hamanasi, Lodge at Jaguar Reef, Sleeping Giant and others, but you might prefer to plan your trip on your own. Going through a tourism company would make your trip easier as far as getting to the cayes and back, and in planning any adventures you might want to try, but it is not mandatory. We have always done our own planning.  Good luck in your adventure.

Have to ask what Colour are you?
if you stand out  as different in Mexico then what makes you think you won't stand out in Belize?  I too am Irish/British, I am pretty sure I am not being seen as a local.
The population is a true mix of All skin colours from the very  fair skinned Mennonites, and all shades of tan  people  that are Ethnic Maya,  Asian,  from other Central American countries to the very dark Skinned Garifuna. It has little history of racial tensions and most expats of all colours are welcomed.

Oops that was reply for PFkennedy,  have to remember to note what I am replying to as the forum does not thread direct replies.

Several, some 100% live in Belize  and some live there part time. Also some who have lived there in the past and still deliver their past experiences ( at least one contributes only negativity these days)  Keep reading the posts you will soon recognize those that do live in Belize.

New to the forum. My wife, two children (son 5 and daughter 8) and I are planning a visit soon. Hopefully, Thanksgiving time frame. Our intent will be to explore the country and figure out if it is a place we lead to move to. Live, work, be on mission and immerse ourselves in a different culture. Live some what of a simple life and gain more time freedom. We have a couple of acquaintances there who love it! So, I have this desire to come check it out. See how we can serve and live.

SOunds great. I haven’t been there yet and plan to go in September with my family. Welcome! Lots of helpful people on the forum.

If one needs to have paid employment to allow your dream, then it needs to be "on line" work, and your salary needs to come from outside of Belize.
Employment for expats in Belize is very difficult to obtain and needs a work permit   
( added expense )  and is very low paid . 
You Mention the words "Mission" and "wanting to serve", unfortunately even charitable and unpaid volunteer work requires a work permit.
Despite the poverty and the definite needs of Belize, the Government requires that all employment, paid or unpaid, has to be offered to citizens and legal residents first and can only be offered to an expat if NO qualified Local candidate is available.
If you have a unique skill or Qualification that is an asset to the country and otherwise unattainable in Belize you have a chance of employment. Alternately if you are in a position to start or buy an existing business in Belize the Work permit will be easier to obtain.
Please DO come and visit this wonderful country, but you need to  do a lot of research to see if you can indeed attain your dream.
Warning you will likely get posts on here saying not a place to bring your children to, education Bad medical care bad and such like, it is unlikely they were ever in Belize with children or recently so they  are offering opinions from observation only.
But yes Healthcare is very basic, and the roads are terrible.