Today Norm Goldman, Editor of sketchandtravel.com and bookpleasures.com is delighted to welcome Joshua Berman, co-author of Moon Handbooks Belize as a guest. Joshua is a travel expert in Belize, and recently chose this small Central American country for his own honeymoon; he has also lived and written extensively about Nicaragua and Honduras.
Welcome to Sketchandtravel.com and Bookpleasures.com Joshua and thank you for accepting our invitation to be interviewed.
NORM:
Please tell our readers something about yourself and your expertise relating to Belize.
Joshua:
I have lived, worked, taught, and traveled in Central America since the US Peace Corps sent me to Nicaragua in 1998. I have returned to the region since then to write guidebooks, conduct business trips, and visit host friends and family. Last year, I was asked by Avalon Travel Publishing to take over the Chicki Mallan Belize Moon Handbook, which, when it first appeared 15 years ago, was the country’s first and most popular guidebook. I gladly accepted and continued to research and write the sixth edition, which was released in early 2005.
NORM:
Where is Belize?
Joshua:
Belize is tucked away in the northeast corner of Central America, bordered by Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula to the north, Guatemala’s Petén wilderness to the west, and the Caribbean Ocean to the east. Culturally, however, Belize and its hundreds of cayes (islands, pronounced keys) are more Caribbean than Latin. English is spoken everywhere (along with seven other languages). The diversity is astounding, especially considering there are only 260,000 people in the entire country.
NORM:
Do you think Belize is a good choice for a romantic getaway or a wedding and honeymoon destination? Why?
Joshua:
Very. Belize’s tourism agency actively markets the country as a lover’s destination, and there’s no shortage of special honeymoon and romantic packages to choose from:
They can rent their own waterfall for the day at the Hidden Valley Inn.
Couples can get Mood Mud Massages at Maruba Resort Jungle Spa.
They can rappel into the vertical cave shaft together, at the bottom they will find a flower bed strewn next to an underground spring at Ian Anderson’s Cave Branch. The list continues to grow.
Belize’s size (smaller than Massachusetts), easy access (only a two-hour flight from Miami or Houston), and a selection of small, intimate resorts and lodges seal the deal. To cement my support for Belize as a romantic destination, I even brought my own bride here on our honeymoon (ah, the work never stops)
NORM:
When is the best time to visit Belize from the point of view of weather, cost, crowd and availability of flights from USA, Canada and Europe and Australia, etc?
Joshua:
Some resorts differentiate the holiday season from the normal high season, with higher prices and lower availability around Christmas, New Year and Easter, be sure to make a reservation during this period. High season (return: more tourists and rising prices) is generally mid-December to April; it is also the dry season for most of the year, although December, January, and even February can host cold fronts that blow or stand still for days.
Your best bet – be prepared, in both dress and attitude! A week of stormy weather can ruin a vacation planned just around snorkeling, but it can also be the perfect place to explore the rainforest or enjoy the hot tubs and fireplaces at Mountain Pine Ridge.
June, July and August technically fall in the rainy season, and travelers during this time are rewarded with significant discounts on most accommodations. Rain during these months can mean just a quick shower each afternoon, or it may last for days. August is a big month for backpackers and European travelers, while December and February are dominated by North Americans. Several tourism businesses closed completely during September and October, the peak of the hurricane season.
NORM:
Can you give our readers an idea of how much it would cost if the trip came from the US, Canada and Europe, as well as Australia?
Joshua:
Conventional tourist wisdom calls Belize the cheapest Caribbean vacation spot and one of Central America’s most expensive. There are plenty of mid-range and high-end accommodations across the country, ranging from US$25 to hundreds of dollars a night. Exact hotel rates are an elusive thing in Belize; seasonal fluctuations are compounded by various taxes and service charges, sometimes as much as an additional 25 percent. Always make sure the rate you are quoted is exactly the same as the amount you will be asked to pay. And, of course, great deals abound in the low season (May to November), when room rates drop dramatically.
As for food, a budget traveler can earn less than US$20 per day, but you’re on vacation, right? Entrees range from US$5 to US$25, depending on where you are; at San Pedro’s trendiest restaurants, a fine dinner can cost up to US$75 per person. Some resorts include food prices in their nightly rates, which can be a good deal.
Don’t forget to budget for an additional US$40-80 per person per day for activities such as scuba diving, sailing trips and guided tours of Belize’s rainforests, ruins and fascinating cave systems. Experienced independent travelers can get around for less, but transportation can be a hassle.
$10 per person per night is the lowest price for a budget stay, and it will get you anything from cramped, stuffy concrete boxes in most cities to spacious log cabins at Trek Stop (on Cayo) and other backpacker hotspots.
NORM:
If you had to pick 5 unequaled places in Belize for a romantic getaway, honeymoon or wedding, what would they be and why?
Joshua:
First of all, remember that choosing a place to live has a lot to do with where you want to be and what activities you want to do during your stay: the beach or the rainforest? Diving or climbing? Coral or ruins? Do you want to be pampered with a massage or sweat and muddy with your loved ones on a jungle trip? Get an idea of what kind of trip you and your honey are looking for, then dive in and book. Here are just a few of Belize’s upscale romantic accommodations that stand out in my mind for quality and intimacy. For more information on Belize’s ample budget options, go to a copy of my book, Moon Handbooks Belize.
Starting from majestic Ambergris Caye, right on the coast of Belize’s famous barrier reef and three miles north of the village of San Pedro, you’ll find Capricorn Resort, offering intimate beachside seclusion in one of three tasteful sunny cabanas. Capricorn restaurant is one of the best (considered the best by many) on the island.
Set on 7,200 acres of private land in the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve, Hidden Valley Inn is a quiet haven for hikers and birders who will have fun exploring the resort’s trails and old logging trails throughout the 90-plus miles of the resort and then relaxing by the fire. their cottage, listening to the birds chirping outside (especially great during the cool, foggy, rainy season). The property includes lush broadleaf forest and pine tree habitat. The two diverse ecosystems are separated by a geological fault line, which marks the edge of a 1,000-foot steep cliff. Numerous streams emerge from the mountains and then flow down steep slopes, often into deep and inviting pools; The Hidden Valley trail system runs through it all.
On the Placencia Peninsula, Kitty’s Place is one of the best and most modest resorts on this long beach resort calling it “simple luxury,” and check your shoes at the front desk. Be sure to schedule a day trip or a night out on Kitty’s private island, French Louis Caye, 12 miles offshore with great snorkelling and upscale accommodation.
Two of Belize’s most romantic, picturesque and expensive options are Francis Ford Coppola’s gorgeous resort couple: Turtle Inn and Blancaneaux Lodge, located on the Placencia Peninsula and Mountain Pine Ridge, respectively, and offer a number of collective packages. Both venues feature stunning architecture and artwork from around the world, as well as top-notch services and facilities.
Located about an hour north of Belize City, Maruba Resort Jungle Spa pampers body and soul, as evidenced by its acclaimed spa treatments and unique focal points dotted around the grounds: a small, glass-decorated chapel; palapa-lined stone chess table; two ponds that seem to emerge from the forest complete with waterfalls. The rooms are spread out for privacy and are named Moon, Fertility, and Bondage, to name a few. All feature carved masks of eclectic neo-primitive motifs, mosaic tiled floors, standing candles, cement fountains, tiled tubs, shuttered windows and fresh flowers on the large feather bed and in the bathroom.
NORM:
What people should know about celebrating weddings in Belize from the point of view of requirements, different hotel experiences, etc.
Joshua:
Belize is gaining quite a reputation as the perfect place to tie the knot. A growing number of resorts cater to weddings of all sizes, some quite creative (like an underwater ceremony or atop a Mayan pyramid). If elopement, you must be in Belize three business days before submitting your marriage application to the Office of the Registrar General (tel. 501/227-7377, not open on weekends or local holidays). You get the documents back the next business day for your ceremony. If you are divorced or widowed, bring a photocopy of your death certificate or divorce certificate. The Belizean government charges a US$100 fee for a license and you will need a birth certificate or passport.
NORM:
How far in advance should couples prepare for their honeymoon, romantic getaway or wedding in Belize?
Joshua:
Honeymoons and vacations are easy and don’t take much time in advance when booking, except around holidays and at the more popular resorts. If you’re planning a wedding during the high season that requires a lot of guest rooms, book a year in advance if possible. Otherwise, a few months is usually sufficient.
NORM:
What resources are available on the Internet regarding weddings and honeymoon holidays in Belize?
Joshua:
Several wedding specialists can facilitate paperwork, ministerial, flowers, book hotels, celebrations, etc. including Katie Valk for anywhere in the country, Iraida Gonzales in San Pedro, and Lee Nyhus in Placencia.
NORM:
Is there anything else you’d like to tell our readers that we haven’t covered?
Joshua:
Yes, check out my WEBSITE for new links and developments on romance in Belize and beyond; I have the most popular Belizean forums and news posted on my links page. Also, MY PUBLISHING SITE will soon feature sample itineraries and other excerpts from my book, to make planning your Belize trip easier. Finally, remember the words of the prophet Kurt Vonnegut, Bokon: A strange travel advice is a dance lesson from God.
Goodbye everyone, Joshua