I have been receiving calls from a nice sales lady representing a property on a southern island off the coast of Belize. She’s been recruiting me pretty heavily to tour their property. I don’t think it’s something that Liz and I are interested in right now. After all, if we’re hunting for a Belizean vacation on a budget, it’s likely that we can’t really afford a vacation property. {big secret – we don’t even own a house yet!}

But, it could have been fun to check things out. Sanctuary Bay. Sounds pretty enough.

The sales lady did say something that concerned me. She told me that Ambergris Caye and Placencia are totally overrun by development and urban sprawl. She said better to come down south where nature has not yet been overrun by developers. Of course, she was trying to sell me on their property, but to what extent was she telling the truth? Are Ambergis Caye and Caye Caulker overly developed and overrun with businesses, clubs and tourist traps?

So far, Lizzy and I haven’t found anything to verify these assertions. Everything we’ve seen suggests these islands are still quite peaceful and exotic. Just to be certain, though, we may post a few questions on tripadvisor and Frodors to see if anyone has any insider knowledge.

We know this. And it is unfortunate. On the bright side, it means cheaper hotel opportunities! Liz, the Budgeting Queen will surely find us the best accommodations for a steal.

But, it does mean we might not get to spend quite as much time lounging on the beach or rubbing on sunscreen. The harsh weather may even ruin some of our tourism efforts and ruin all of our photos.

Regardless, we will persevere and make the most of our adventure. We will adapt to the weather and gear ourselves for the worst. To help us thwart the weather, I managed to find matching jackets just like the ones pictured here. These Marmot Precip jackets are awesome. Sweet jackets that are breathable and waterproof. I got Cayenne for Liz, which we thought was much more red. It’s more of a burnt orange. Mine is navy, though I’d prefer a color closer to Liz’s. When you are hunting for deals, sometimes color preference is something that must be compromised.

Liz and I broke them in last weekend during our camping trip to Maine. It rained all day on Friday but we stayed dry (at least our tops did) while we cruised around Bar Harbor, ME and cooked at camp. Liz made fantastic shrimp on the barbecue. Guess you can eat well just about anywhere.

Don't let a little rain stop you from making a gourmet meal.

Making the most of the weather... with beer.

And you know what? It may not even be that bad. We could get three or four days of sunshine or intermittent rains. I went to Barbados during the rainy season and still had a blast. The weather was mixed; some days were better than others. But the vacation as a whole was pretty great.

This is a pretty important topic for Belize goers. I knew going to Belize there would be mosquitoes to worry about, but viewing an old classmates photo album with photos from a recent trip to Belize made me think twice about researching more about the topic.

A well known fact about Belize is that it has subtropical climate which gives bugs an enjoyable location to set up camp. Mosquitoes present themselves both in the early morning and after sundown. There are also no-see-ums, sand flies, gnats. The Sittee River area is the worst place for bugs in Belize. Also, June to October, which is the rainy season, is the worst time of the year for bugs. Our trip falls right in the highest time for bug presence and I’m not to thrilled about that. So we best be prepared!

My friend said they used all of the pictured bug repellents while in Belize and not one worked. They left with their legs looking like a connect the dot picture as shown below. If none of those bug repellents worked for them, what will?

It is recommended to take an anti-malarial medication with you if you are staying in the remote jungles of Belize. There have been isolated cases of Malaria and Dengue Fever in the dense jungle near the Guatamala border. Also, the grass and dirt seem to run rapid with fire ants that will bite your ankles and feet when walking with flip flops. So be careful! You don’t want to be itching for days and nights on end, do you?

I also read online where a person got an infestation of worms while in Belize. These worms traveled through the bloodstream and exited through various boil like growths on the surface of the skin. The infestation made this person very sick for many months. While it is not likely this will happen to you, it is important to remember that pets and animals in Belize may not be properly cared for and can carry a variety of diseases, parasites, worms, etc. It’s recommended to not wonder barefoot, regardless of how beautiful and tropical the climate is, because this can happen to you.

Also, ticks seem to prosper in the jungles and you should keep an eye out for them in your skin. They can really dig themselves deep and you can’t get rid of them unless you soak in water for about 45 minutes or you have a significant other who loves you enough to pick these off your body for you with tweezers. ICK!

Well, we found it. A place right for our budget. Courtney and I will be staying in Belize City for one night after we return from the jungles and before catching a very early a.m. motorboat to Ambergris Caye. I came across a recommended place to stay called Belcove Hotel. Belcove hotel is situated right on the cove and has great rates. They have options for single occupancy, double occupancy, single deluxe occupancy, double deluxe occupancy, or triple deluxe occupancy. The budgeted rooms offer a double bed or two single beds with the choice of a private or shared bath with fans for single or double occupancy. The deluxe rooms offer a choice of a double bed or two single beds per room with air condition, cable television with worldwide programming and a private shower and bath ideal for single or double occupancy. Pricing is as follows:

–	SINGLE	DOUBLE	TRIPLE
Budget	$27.25	$32.70	-
	$34.33	$40.33	-
Deluxe	$51.78	$51.78	$57.23

They also offer fishing, diving and inland tour activities packages. You can inquire about those rates on the site. Courtney and I won’t need any packages, we will just need a place to simply crash. We will probably be there less than 12 hours. I think this place seems pretty up our alley for what we are looking for.

Belize City and Reef Helicopter Tour – $ 260.00 Take flight on a helicopter tour to see Belize City as few people ever get to see it! For approximately 25-30 minutes, you’ll enjoy a bird’s-eye view of downtown, the Baron Bliss Lighthouse, the Tourist Village, St. John’s Cathedral and the Swing Bridge. This sightseeing tour will give you an extraordinary experience that very few tourists get to witness!

Another option is the Three Sisters Guest House. It offers similarly priced rooms but with shared bathrooms. It’s another option for a person traveling in Belize City on a budget. It also isn’t located on the water- but it does have high ceilings and a fan. Yes, a fan, not air conditioning. So you guessed it. Ruled out. Courtney wants air conditioning so unless it’s maybe beachfront with that cool ocean breeze is wafting into the rooms, I don’t think he will cave in.

In conducting research for our trip to Belize, Liz and I have explored several forums including Yahoo and Fodors. We’ve seen some questions come up repeatedly from people who’ve just chosen to vacation in Belize and are seeking advice on everything from lodging to what to actually do there. It seems as though not everyone is completely aware of what Belize has to offer, nor are they quite sure why they are headed there. Vacation to the career person is like a last minute pardon to a death row inmate. It offers an oft prayed for escape and a chance to start over. But a vacation entered into haphazardly can become even more stressful than the lives we are seeking refuge from. Thus, it is absolutely necessary that one have a plan. A few simple questions should be asked immediately, before any other planning occurs:

1. What is my budget? This question will seriously influence what you do and where you go.
2. Where do I want to go? If you already have this figured out, you likely have the next question licked too. 3. What do I want to do? Answering this may generate an answer to #2 if you haven’t already answered it.
4. How long can I stay? This one can impact #’s 2 and 3 and will likely be influence by #1.

Assuming money and time are limited, then the dynamic that forms from these factors becomes a complicated mess; something like this:

Four variables that must be balanced against each other to ensure a successful vacation

Trip planning has now become a bit of a balancing act between where one wants to go and do and what can be financed given time and monetary limitations. Failure to consider all of these things and your vacation could end up feeling like a trip to the execution chair. Or, the return to home and reality could begin the new nightmare! If you are planning a trip to Belize, or anywhere else, click on our Getting Started link and save your cortisol surges for the office.