Travel in Belize, Central America; Belize, a great place to spend a vacation trip.

We will be expanding our list of recommended hotels in Belize shortly (and including photos of the recommended hotels). Each recommended hotel will get its own special pages, dedicated just to the selected hotel. All the new Belize and Belize City listings will be posted by mid January. Even though most major hotels already have their own web site, finding those sites is not easy. Even the directories of Belize hotels vary in their coverage. For example, it was impossible, even after six hours on the Internet, to get the proper information on the Ramada Reef Hotel (which is now the Princess). Since this was my favorite hotel in Belize City, and since I had already stayed there and knew about it, what about the tourist who is looking for a hotel but has never been in the country before? But I found an even better hotel for Belize City, see following.

Based on our visit to Belize City in January 2000, we recommend the Radisson Fort George as the best hotel in the city.

To help tourists and business people visiting Belize, we are gradually expanding our coverage of beautiful Belize. So come back in mid-January, since we will be photographing hotels in Belize during early January.

We already list many pleasant places to stay. Because there are no revolutions in this country it has taken the lead in tourism. Belize is a popular vacation destination for people from all over the world.

To see "full treatment" of a hotel, check out our pictures of our favorite hotel in the middle of the ruins of Tikal (links at the bottom).

My favorite places to visit in Belize are the Maya sites in the far south, by Punta Gorda, but until the highway is completely paved, do yourself a favor and fly there. A lovely jungle inn was finished near the ruins of Lubantun but I was unable to find any information about that hotel on the Internet. If you visit the ruins of Nim Li Punit, please say hello to the guards there on my behalf--they were a considerable help during the stelae-photography project which I directed here several years ago.

For backpackers in Punta Gorda I recommend Nature's Way Guest House. Otherwise I suggest the St. Charles Inn. All are modest and basic, but the owners of these two places are family people and live on the premises.

When crossing over from the Mexican border I have tended to stay at Tony's, in Corozal, because they have a more protected parking area, tel. 501 4 22055. You can rent boat and capitan to visit nearby ruins of Cerros across the Bay. Elsewhere (out on the street or highway) your car may be broken into. Breakins to tourist cars also reported by people visiting ruins of Santa Rita de Corozal.

Of all the many wonderful lodges in Belize, the fanciest that I have had a chance to experience personally is Chan Chich, USA tel 1-800 343-8009. Other famous lodges can be found but I have not yet had the opportunity to sample them. As I do we will update this Web site.

Near Altun Ha I recommend Maruba Resort and Jungle Spa (Belize tel 501 3 22199, USA phone 1-800-Maruba 7, (713) 299-2031. A more economical place is near the bridge outside of Orange Walk Town. I have stayed at the Chula Vista north of town--owner and family are pleasant and helpful, tel 501 3 22227; basic but clean and safe.

In Orange Walk Town, if someone offers to "protect" your car while you go in to a restaurant, be sure to pay this "insurance." It will cost you far more to repair the ice pick holes in your tires otherwise. If you come from urban areas of the USA you will be familiar with the protection scam. Just consider it as a cultural experience, but be sure to report incidents to local police, to your local embassy, and to the Belize Tourist office. If the authorities do not realize how rampant this scam is, they will not be encouraged to combat it. As long as you are "street wise," then you are all set for your experiences in this fascinating country.

In general, however, you can look forward to a wonderful time in Belize. I can go from one end of the country to another and still get waves and smiles from the many people I have met while doing archaeological research or leading tour groups. On the subject of tour groups, realize that Belize has a new law requiring a licensed Belize guide to accompany all groups.This is one of many factors which results in making Belize the most expensive travel destination in the Maya area, almost 200% more expensive in lodging and 300% more costly in taxi fare. I personally still enjoy visiting Belize and have brought many friends to learn and love the country and its diverse population.

Near Belmopan my favorite place to stay is the Banana Bank Ranch. Their jaguar provides memorable photographs to show back home. Phone 501 8 12020, fax 23505.

In Belize City itself I have stayed at the Fort Street (not to be confused with the Fort George Hotel several blocks away). Fort Street, however, has only shared bath. Their evening meal, though, is a nice alternative to hotel fare elsewhere (tel 501 2 30116; of course be sure to come and go in a cab, as for everywhere in Belize City). Unfortunately, the ugliest concrete building in Belize just was constructed directly across the street, totally ruining the quaint British colonial atmosphere of this street. As a result we checked ou the Big House, several blocks away. The area of the Big House is still romantic. The Big House appears to be slightly more upscale as well.

My original personal favorite in Belize City, however, was definitely the Ramada Royal Reef. This modern hotel is worth its asking price, tel 501 2 32670. This fine hotel changed hands and was the Fiesta Inn, and still maintains that web site address, www.fiestainnbelize.com. This hotel is now the Princess Hotel and Casino. E-mail for reservations is resprinces@btl.net. Since the Princess was under renovation recently (Jan 2000), I stayed in the Radisson Fort George instead (Belize City). The Fort George is definitely improved now, over when I first knew it several decades ago. The service and service personnel are polite, friendly, and helpful. Our room was wonderful. Our review of the Radisson Fort George will be posted shortly.

Since Belize is famous for Maya archaeology, be sure to visit the various Maya ruins. Keep in mind that it is illegal to buy artifacts (and equally illegal to bring them into the United States). Besides, most of what you will be offered are clever forgeries. Respect the national historical patrimony of Belize, and stick with purchasing native handicrafts, T-shirts, and other items which you can find throughout the country.

Most of the people heading for Belize will go diving. I recommend Captain Morgan's Retreat for Ambergris Caye. Their telephone number in the USA is 1-888 653-9090, e-mail belizevacation@yahoo.com, web site: www.belizevacation.com. I tend to recommend only hotels where I have stayed myself and naturally only hotels that were pleasant. This January we will be researching a complete write-up of Capt Morgan's Retreat, complete with photographs of all their fine facilities.

Further south go for Rum Point Inn, owned and operated by Corol and George Bevier for over two decades, USA1-800 747-1381, in Belize, 501 6 23239. If in the mood for diving, also consider the Bay Islands of Honduras, especially the Bayman Bay Club on Guanaja Island.

Recommended hotels for BELIZE CITY and elsewhere in Belize