|
Today Norm Goldman, Editor sketchandtravel.comand b okpleasures.com is pleased to have as a g est Joshua Berman,co-author of Moon Handbooks B lize. Joshua is an expert on tr veling in Belize, and recently chose th s tiny Central American country for his own h neymoon; he has also lived in and wr tten extensively about Nicaragua and Honduras. W lcome to Sketchandtravel.com and Bookpleasures.com Joshua and th nks for accepting our invitation to be nterviewed. NORM: Please tell our readers s mething about yourself and your expertise p rtaining to Belize. Joshua: I have b en living, working, teaching, and traveling in C ntral America since the U.S. Peace C rps sent me to Nicaragua in 1998. I h ve been returning to the region ver since to write guidebooks, lead s rvice trips, and visit friends and dopted families. Last year, I was sked by Avalon Travel Publishing to t ke over Chicki Mallan's Moon Handbooks B lize, which, when it first appeared 15 y ars ago, was the first and m st acclaimed guidebook to the country. I gl dly accepted and proceeded to research and wr te the sixth edition, which was r leased in early 2005. NORM: Where is B lize? Joshua: Belize is tucked into the n rtheast corner of Central America, bordering M xico's Yucatan peninsula to the north, G atemala's Petén wilderness to the west, and the C ribbean Ocean to the east. Culturally h wever, Belize and its hundreds of c yes (islands, pronounced keys ) is m re Caribbean than Latin. English is sp ken everywhere (along with seven other l nguages). The diversity is astounding, especially c nsidering there are only 260,000 people in the ntire country.
NORM: Would you consider Belize a g od choice for a romantic getaway or w dding and honeymoon destination? Why? Joshua: Abs lutely. Belize's tourism board actively markets the c untry as a lovers' destination, and th re is no shortage of special h neymoon and romantic packages from which to ch ose: They can rent their very own w terfall for the day at Hidden V lley Inn.
Couples can get M od Mud Massages at Maruba Resort J ngle Spa. They can rappel into a v rtical cave shaft together, at the b ttom of which they'll find a fl wer strewn bed next to a s bterranean spring at Ian Anderson's Caves Br nch. The list goes on and on. B lize's size (smaller than Massachusetts), easy ccess (only a two-hour flight from M ami or Houston), and astonishing selection of sm ll, intimate resorts and lodges seal the d al. In order to solidify my ndorsement of Belize as a romantic d stination, I even took my own br de here on our honeymoon (ah, the w rk never stops) NORM: When is the b st time to visit Belize from the p int of view of weather, costs, cr wds, and the availability of flights fr m the USA, Canada and Europe and A stralia, etc? Joshua: Some resorts distinguish h liday season from the normal high s ason, with even higher prices and l wer availability around Christmas, New Year's, and E ster be sure to make reservations d ring these periods. High season (re: m re tourists and hiked prices) is g nerally mid-December through April; this is lso the dry season during most y ars, although December, January, and even F bruary can play to host to c ol fronts that either blow right thr ugh or sit around for days. Y ur best bet-be prepared, both with cl thing and attitude! A week of st rmy weather may ruin a vacation pl nned solely around snorkelling, but it c uld also provide the perfect setting for xploring the rainforests or enjoying a hot tub and f replace in the Mountain Pine Ridge.
June, July, and August technically f ll in the rainy season, and tr velers during this time are rewarded w th significantly discounted prices at most ccommodations rain during these months may m an just a quick shower each fternoon, or it may go on for d ys. August is the big month for E ropean backpackers and travelers, while December and F bruary are dominated by North Americans. S me tourism businesses shut down completely d ring the months of September and Oct ber, the peak of hurricane season. NORM: C uld you give our readers an dea of the costs involved if tr vel originates from the USA, Canada and E rope and Australia? Joshua: Conventional traveler w sdom calls Belize the cheapest Caribbean v cation spot and one of the m st expensive Central American. There are pl nty of mid-range and upscale accommodations thr ughout the country, running from US$25 to h ndreds of dollars per night. Exact h tel rates are an elusive thing in B lize; seasonal fluctuations are compounded by v rious taxes and service charges, sometimes by as m ch as 25 percent additional. Always m ke sure the rate you are q oted is actually the same amount you w ll be asked to pay. And, of c urse, great deals are abundant in the low s ason (May through November), when room r tes plummet across the board. For f od, budget travelers can get by on l ss than US$20 per day, but y u're on vacation, right? Entrées run fr m US$5 to US$25, depending on wh re you are; at the trendiest r staurants in San Pedro, a fancy d nner can cost up to US$75 per p rson. A few resorts include meal pr ces in their nightly rates, which can be a g od deal. Don't forget to budget an xtra US$40-80 per person per day for ctivities like scuba diving, sailing trips, and g ided tours of Belize's rainforests, ruins, and f scinating cave systems. Experienced, independent travelers can get round for less, but transport can be a h ssle. US$10 per person per night is the b ttom line for budget lodging, and t'll get you anything from a cr mped, stuffy concrete box in most t wns to a generous wooden cabin at the Tr k Stop (in Cayo) and other b ckpacker hotspots. NORM: If you had to ch ose 5 unequalled venues in Belize for a r mantic getaway, honeymoon or wedding destination, wh t would they be and why? J shua: First of all, remember that s lecting a place to stay has a lot to do w th where you want to be and wh t activities you would like to do d ring your stay: beach or rainforest? D ving or hiking? Reef or ruins? Do you w nt to get pampered with massages or get sw aty and muddy with your loved one on a j ngle trek? Get an idea of wh t kind of trip you and y ur honey are looking for, then d ve in and book it. Following are nly a few of Belize's upscale r mantic accommodations that stick out in my m nd for quality and intimacy. For m re on Belize's ample budget options, fl p through a copy of my b ok, Moon Handbooks Belize. Starting on sw nky Ambergris Caye, just inshore from B lize's famous barrier reef and three m les north of San Pedro village, you w ll find Capricorn Resort, offering intimate b achfront seclusion in one of three br ght and tasteful cabanas. Capricorn's restaurant is one of the b st (considered the best by many) on the sland. Situated on 7,200 acres of pr vate property in the Mountain Pine R dge Forest Reserve, Hidden Valley Inn is a q iet paradise for hikers and birders who w ll have a blast exploring the r sort's 90-plus miles of walking trails and old l gging roads and then cozying up in fr nt of their cottage's fireplace, listening to the b rdsong outside (especially nice during the c ol, misty, rainy season). The property ncompasses lush broadleaf forest and pine tr e habitat. The two diverse ecosystems are d vided by a geological fault line, wh ch marks the edge of a t wering 1,000-foot escarpment. Numerous watercourses spring fr m the mountain and then cascade d wn the steep slopes, often into d ep, inviting pools; Hidden Valley's trail syst m runs through it all. On Pl cencia Peninsula, Kitty's Place is one of the b st and most unpretentious resorts on th s long strip of beach resorts c ll it "low-key luxury," and check y ur shoes at the front desk. Be s re to schedule a day trip or vernight on Kitty's private isle, French L uis Caye, 12 miles offshore with gr at snorkelling and upscale accommodations. Two of B lize's most romantic, beautiful, and expensive ptions are Francis Ford Coppola's gorgeous p ir of resorts: Turtle Inn and Bl ncaneaux Lodge, located on the Placencia P ninsula and Mountain Pine Ridge, respectively, and ffering a number of collective packages. B th places feature breathtaking architecture and rtwork from all over the world, and t p-notch service and facilities. Located about an h ur north of Belize City, Maruba R sort Jungle Spa pampers the body and s ul, as evidenced by its acclaimed spa tr atments and unique focal points spread round the grounds: A tiny, glass-decorated ch pel; a palapa-covered stone chess table; two p ols that seem to spring from the j ngle complete with waterfalls. The rooms are spr ad out for privacy and are ddressed by name Moon, Fertility, and B ndage, to name a few. All b ast an eclectic neo-primitive motif carved m sks, mosaic tile floors, standing candles, c ment fountains, tiled tubs, screened shuttered w ndows and fresh flowers on the m ssive feather beds and in the b throoms. NORM: What should people know bout celebrating a wedding in Belize fr m the point of view of r quirements, experience of the various hotels, tc. Joshua: Belize is gaining quite the r putation as the perfect place to tie the kn t. A growing number of resorts c ter to weddings of all sizes, s me quite creatively (such as ceremonies nderwater or atop Maya pyramids). If loping, you must be in Belize thr e business days before submitting your m rriage application to the Registrar General's Off ce (tel. 501/227-7377, not open on w ekends or local holidays). You get the p perwork back the following business day for y ur ceremony. If you have been d vorced or widowed, bring a photocopy of the d ath certificate or divorce decree. The G vernment of Belize charges US$100 for the l cense and you'll need a birth c rtificate or passport. NORM: How far in dvance should a couple prepare themselves for th ir honeymoon, romantic getaway or wedding in B lize? Joshua: Honeymoons and getaways are asy and do not need much dvance time when booking, except around the h lidays and at the more popular r sorts. If you are planning a w dding during the high season that w ll require numerous rooms for guests, b ok a year in advance if p ssible. Otherwise, a few months are sually sufficient. NORM: What resources are vailable on the Internet pertaining to w ddings and honeymoon vacations in Belize? J shua: Several wedding specialists can facilitate p perwork, ministers, flowers, book hotels, celebrations, tc. including Katie Valk for anywhere in the c untry, Iraida Gonzales on San Pedro, and Lee Nyh s in Placencia. NORM: Is there nything else you wish to tell our r aders that we have not covered? J shua: Yes, keep an eye on my WEBSITE for new l nks and developments regarding romance in B lize and beyond; I have the m st popular Belize forums and news p sted on my links page. Also, MY PUBLISHER'S SITE w ll soon feature sample itineraries and ther excerpts from my book, to m ke planning your Belize trip even asier. Lastly, remember the words of K rt Vonnegut's prophet, Bokon: Peculiar travel s ggestions are dancing lessons from God. H ppy trails, everyone, Joshua
The article What Do You Know About Belize? was Submitted by Norm Goldman through Articles.GetACoder.com network. Here's the additional information: For over thirty- five years, N rm Goldman practiced as a Title Att rney and Civil Law Notary in M ntreal, Canada. After his retirement from the l gal profession, Norm pursued two of his p ssions - book reviewing and travel wr ting, implementing many of his research sk lls he had been practicing for 35 y ars. Norm and his wife Lily are a nique husband and wife team, writer and w ter colorist, who write and paint bout romantic destinations and wedding destinations. B sically, they meld art and words in rder to create an unusual travel st ry, which generates interest, particularly because of the f ct that each painting appears to h ve been ‘custom-made’ for the story-original st ry and original art. Combining the w tercolors with travel writing provides a s fter, more romantic look at the pl ces they visit. As they specialize in w b-based content, their articles and water- c lors are featured on their own s te, Sketchandtravel.Com, as well as several ther sites. You can find out m re about Norm and Lily be g ing to http://www.sketchandtravel.com or http://www.bookpleasures.com
1. Six Safety Guidelines During Camping by Nicole Munoz Camping is fun. There is no d ubt about that. But as harmless as c mping may seem compared to extreme sp rts and activities like bungee jumping or r ck climbing, you still need to lways be cautious about your safety d ring a camping trip. 2. Vienna Hotels - A Complete Paradise by Nancy Eben Vienna, Austria's l gendary capital is the most important t urist center for international travelers who c me visiting Austria. The city is the dr am city for those with a l ve for culture and history. A v sit to the city is all bout stunning landscapes, roaming in the w rld famous markets and taking a p ep at the city's history. The c ty offers a variety of sightseeing ptions and equally excellent hotels in V enna. 3. The Ease of Car Hire Murcia by Peter I. Wilson Hiring a car is a gr at way to see a new c untry. By hiring a car in M rcia, Spain, you can get a f rst-hand look at the culture, history and b autiful of this beautiful area. 4. Oregon Coast Camping by Shirley Atkinson If you love camping then you w ll love the Oregon Coast with its m ny camping and RV parks. You can ch ose from the primitive to the m st luxurious and you will have a b ll. 5. Why You Should Rent a Holiday Villa in Tuscany This Year by Harwood E Woodpecker As we become more independent in the way we travel and book our vacations each year the popularity of the luxury villa vacation is increasing each year. Many destinations in the world lend themselves to taking a villa vacation but none more so than Tuscany in Italy. Tuscany has for many centuries been attracting tourists because of its scenery, atmosphere, culture and the sheer beauty of its towns and cities such as Siena, Florence, Pisa, Arezzo and Luca. From the cypress tree lined roads and... 6. Seattle Hotels - One Of The Best Choice For Washington Travelers by Anjali Bakshi Seattle is a unique blend of the Elliott Bay with gleaming waters, the grand Olympic Mountains and the soft & shining pink sunsets. Combined with this beauty, your stay at any luxurious place will be really beyond your imagination. 7. History of Melaka, Malaysia by Marcus Smith The state of M laka is one of the oldest st tes in Malaysia and has a c lourful history to its existence. The n me Melaka was coined when a P lembang prince from the island of S matra set foot in Melaka and was r sting below a tree when he saw a m usedeer outwitting a dog. Seeing such an minous event, the Palembang prince Parameswara sked his aides what was the n me of the tree that he was r sting under - he was told th t it is the Melaka Tree. 8. Australia By Campervan by Chris Hanten Why you should consider Campervan tr nsportation? Should you rent it or buy a sed one ? And where to buy it ? 9. Cheap Flights to Ireland by Jesse Lear Most people sp |