Belize for Nature Lovers

Belize is mostly known as a diver’s paradise with the 2nd largest barrier reef in the world.  Ambergris Caye off the North Coast is the best area for diving. The highlight is the famed Blue Hole as wells as 3 coral atolls.  Even snorkelers have a awesome experience swimming amont the rays and nurse sharks. Manatees and tarpons are also seen.   But there is more to Belize than diving.

Any nature lovers who are interested in the unspoiled will enjoy hiking, quiet solitude, history lovers and adventure seekers.  Sport fishing for tarpon and bonefish are always a draw.  There are some partially excavated Maya sites throughout the country. 

San Pedro is the main town with sand streets, art galleries and a few beach bars.  The Western boarder has a tropical rainforest teeming with birds, wildlife, exotic plants, jaguars roaming the night forest. 

Flying into Belize City is convenient from Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Newark and Charlotte.  There are some extra taxes and service fees and you should check the websites to make sure how much those are.  The temperature is from 70 to 95 degrees during the year.  Rainy season is July to August.  Accommodation are few but cover the gamet from basic diving properties to a few resorts.  For an unspoiled vacation, try Belize.

What is a “Travel Package”?

“I don’t need a package.  I just want to go to ….” (you fill in the blank).

There are different kinds of “travel packages”.  A “package” is the bundling together various components and giving the client one seamless trip.  Without you having to find each piece separately, we do it for you.

For instance:  Start with your transportation.

• Air
• Car
• Rail
• Cruise ship
• Combination

Companies called “Wholesalers” go out into the market place and negotiate with all of the above for lower prices than the public can get.  This becomes one part of the package

The next part is accommodations:

• hotel
• villa
• cruise ship
• motel
• resort
• condo

Where will you stay when you arrive at your destination?  Or maybe you have many stops on this trip and need all kinds of accommodations.  Once again, these prices are negotiated and put into your “package”.

Do you need transfers to and from airports and hotels?  How about sightseeing tours?  All day or part of a day?  How about restaurants?  Do you need to add activities such as skiing, diving, snorkeling, biking, hiking, shopping, golf, or any other adventure?  How about visits to local sites and knowledge of the history of the places you will visit? 

All of these can be included in your package.  The advantage is that you don’t waste your precious holiday trying to figure out where you are and where you are going.  If a foreign language is involved, you might have a hard time finding someone you can talk to.  Map reading can be confusing.  Will you be standing looking at a building or a landscape and know nothing about what you are looking at?

Here are some package trips that give you an idea of what the above is about:

• Disney-Orlando, California or other countries, as well as their new tours
• Las Vegas or Reno or other gaming destinations
• Mexico or Caribbean
• Europe or other countries in the world
• City visits in the US and other countries
• Hawaii or other South Pacific Countries
• Visits to archeological ruins all over the world

The ALL INCLUSIVE vs. Non All Inclusive.  What does this mean?  Some resorts have packages that include all meals, all non-motorized water toys, golf, local alcholic drinks, kids clubs, teen clubs, weddings, honeymoon packages, and many other activities at the resort.  Some destintions have many resorts by the same company and offer you the chance to go from resort to resort for different experiences.  These All Inclusives have taken huge leaps in the last 3 or 4 years.  To name a few are

• Sandals
• Couples
• Beaches
• Swept Away
• Super Clubs
• Palace Hotels
• Any many many individual properties

All Inclusives used to be the exception, now they are the norm.

Talk to a Travel Professional who can give you proper advise, like myself.  Then get out there and “see the world before you leave it”!!

I’m Dreaming of a Wonderful Vacation, Part I

I HAVE A DREAM VACATION.  HOW DO I MAKE IT HAPPEN?  Part 1

 

Let’s try to make it a “dream”, not a “nightmare”.  No matter what your travel plans are, you need a travel professional.  In choosing one, make sure they have the proper certifications:  CTC (Certified Travel Counselor) and MCC or ECC (Master or Elite Cruise Counselor).  Ask how extensive the agent has traveled and are they constantly in training attending seminars and conventions.  There are many “agents” who are only selling memberships and have no concern in your travel experience.  A legitimate travel professional cares about you and constantly following up on all aspects of your travel.

 

First of all is the WHEN?

Next is the WHERE?

Last is the HOW?

 

WHEN??

 

Every place in the world has an idealic time to visit.  There can be spring, summer, winter, and fall seasons.  Places in the southern hemisphere the seasons are direct opposite from the northern hemisphere.  Tropical places have dry seasons and wet seasons.  Desert places have dry and humid seasons. Along the equator the seasons do not vary much.   For travel seasons there is:

 

      High season.  When tourism is at its peak.  Usually based on school and tourist holidays

      Low season.  Uusally based on the weather – the least desirable for the most tourists.

      Shoulder season.  In many places, shoulder seasons are idyllic seasons to travel.  Weather is mild, summer crowds are gone and winter weather has not yet become a problem.  Travel prices are lower in shoulder than in summer.

 

 Holidays need to be considered at your destination.  Sometimes it is a great time to visit a destination and other times it can be very expensive and hard to get accommodations.  For some people, holiday times are the only way they can travel.  PLAN AHEAD.  A professional can give you good advise.

 

Do you like active travel?  In this case you need the best weather conditions for your activity.  You may also need to take some equipment for your trip.  We can give you advise on how to prepare for packing.  There are many weight and size restructions, especially on airlines.