Helpful tips for planning a trip to Belize

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Helpful tips for planning a trip to Belize

January 23rd, 2009 | Belize - Relocation, Belize - Travel Tips | 1 Comment »

Belize has so many fun things to offer, it is practically impossible to squeeze in everything you want to do in one trip. So, how do you choose which ones to do? Slickrock Adventures suggests taking the following steps to ensure you get everything you can out of your Belize vacation.

Make a list of all the things you want to do and arrange the list in order of the most important. Some things to include in your list are the ruins, the jungle, wildlife excursions, hiking, Belize City, Social events and more. Make sure to put down the location of each event, ie, the Ruins at Atun Ha.
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You can help stop crime in Belize!

January 19th, 2009 | The Best of Belize | 1 Comment »

Okay, so for those who are still concerned about safety in Belize, I found something you can do about it!

The Rotary Clubs of Belize have started a new program: Crime Stoppers Belize.

This community based service enables members of the community to take action to stop crime. If someone has information about a crime that has been committed they are asked to call the toll free number 0–800–922–8477. An international operator takes the information from the caller, who is given a code so that their identity remains a secret. The caller may then call back to check on their tip, using their code number as their ID. If the information they provided results in an arrest Read more

Safety Tips for Travel in Belize

January 12th, 2009 | Belize - Travel Tips | 1 Comment »

I get a lot of e-mails from people planning vacations to Belize asking me about safety. Frankly, I think safety is a hallmark concern no matter where you are traveling to these days. People take advantage of tourists who are unfamiliar with the area, and often unexpecting.

That isn’t to say that you can’t do your part to not become the prey of criminals or tourist traps. All it takes is a little knowledge and some common sense.

Be aware of your surroundings.
Keep at least an eye, if not a hand on your belongings at all times.
Don’t flash money around – carry on you only what you need at the moment.
Use the safe at the hotel

Play Pitty Pat in Belize – The National Card Game

January 1st, 2009 | Belize - Culture | 5 Comments »

The card game Pitty Pat is a favorite past time in Belize, and you can find it in the casinos in the country. So, when you get sick of the Poker, why not try something new for a change, something like Pitty Pat!

Pitty Pat is played with 2 to 4 players using a standard 52 card deck. Pitty Pat is a game similar to rummy. There are many variations to Pitty Pat. A common way to play is by dealing 5 cards to each player. The remainder of the deck is set in the middle of the table and the top card is flipped up and set along side the deck. The goal of this card game is to Read more

Construction and Furniture Company on San Pedro

December 26th, 2008 | Belize - Business, Belize - Relocation | No Comments »

So you like San Pedro so much that you’ve decided to stay. So what is next? Well, that depends. Are you planning on buying property and building? Or will you be purchasing a place and remodeling? Renting an apartment or a condo? Furnished or unfurnished? Whatever the case may be, Graniel’s Construction Company is sure to help.

Graniel’s Construction has been in business for over 15 years, with Armando Graniel still keeping things going. He is a very dedicated businessman who puts his heart and soul into quality work. Graniel’s specializes in custom design and condo and home remodeling using concrete, wood, and thatch. They also build piers, patios, and seawalls, and have a cabinet shop that makes high quality Read more

Grocery Shopping in San Pedro

December 18th, 2008 | Belize - Best Shopping, Belize - Travel Tips | No Comments »

For those of you who like to cook your own meals while on vacation, or at least have some snacks stored up in your hotel room to combat the late-night munchies, there are several different grocery stores in San Pedro that will do the trick. Keep in mind that these are no Meijer’s (for those of you coming from the mid-west), nor are the Publix (for those southern states), however they do stock a pretty large variety of items, and if you are willing to pay the mark-up fees (sometimes as much as 50–100%) you can get everything you want, even your beloved Starbursts or Reeses Peanut Butter Cups.

One of Belize's Best Spas – San Pedro Asian Garden Day Spa

December 15th, 2008 | Belize - Business, Belize - Gringo Favorite, Belize - Gringo Owned Business | 5 Comments »

A report from a very relaxed Gringo in Belize.

As a frequent visitor to many Latin American countries, I have visited a great number of spas and had a decent number of not-so-decent massages. I haven’t been able to find just the right place that matches my needs… until now.

The Asian Garden Day Spa in San Pedro is hailed on many travel sites as being one of the best spa experiences vacationers to Belize have had, and this Gringo can verify, it lives up to its reputation.

San Pedro Seafood Dinner

December 12th, 2008 | Belize - Places to Eat | 2 Comments »

Looking for some good conch fritters and fresh, delicious sea food in San Pedro? Try Caliente’s. They are well known for serving up some of the best food in Belize! You can find them in the Spindrift Hotel, right beside the Pier Lounge. They are open for lunch and dinner.

I would recommend any of the sea food. I’m a fan of anything curry, so the coconut curry shrimp is right up my alley. I have been told that the soup is a must have, and often sells out before dinner time. The ginger shrimp is also excellent.

Meals are reasonably priced, considering how expensive it is to get fish in the North. This is a definite Read more

Marla's Kitchen Serves up Good Eats on Caye Caulker

November 21st, 2008 | Belize - Places to Eat | 1 Comment »

Marla’s Kitchen is a small family run restaurant nestled between the front and middle street on Caye Caulker where you can get a decent meal for under 10 bucks.

Marla’s is on the quaint side; food is served up on a couple of plastic tables and chairs settled on the uneven sand. The menu is pretty simple with your basic BBQ foods and a decent number of side dishes. The seafood is good and fresh, which is the case pretty much wherever you eat on Caye Caulker.

The beer is good and cold, and the family atmosphere, and delicious and inexpensive food make Marla’s Kitchen one of this Gringo’s favorite stops to eat dinner on Caye Caulker. (Don’t try to Read more

The Human Rights Project – You Can Make a Difference

November 21st, 2008 | Belize - Gringo Favorite | No Comments »

I was recently contacted by the Human Rights Project regarding their new mission: “To exceed the act of inspiring and successfully move people from apathy to activism.”

The Gringo Report has teamed up with the Human Rights Project in calling others to action.

To get the ball rolling, the Human Rights Project has developed a beautifully illustrated full color book entitled, The Trouble with the Alphabet, written and illustrated by Caryn West. The book takes you around the world to 26 countries A-Z where children are suffering. Each country featured is also connected to a charitable organization that receives part of the proceeds from each book purchased, as well as all purchases from TheTroubleWiththeAlphabet.com.

Check it out and Read more