Need a few questions answered:<BR>Is there a hotel to recommend near the international airport for 1 night before we go to Ambergris Caye?<BR>Best weather for least rain/bugs? Thinking of April right now.<BR>Any airline to recommend or warn against for transfers from BZE to San Pedro? We are looking at Maya Air.<BR>And I think we have decided for the last 4 nights of our stay on Victoria House beachfront cabanas. Any thoughts? Easy access to San Pedro for other restaurants?<BR>And why has airfare doubled in the last year?? I see about $1200.00 pp rt from LAX, that seems really stiff. Any better options?<BR>Thank you!<BR>I'd really appreciate any information, this planning came up all of a sudden & I haven't had time to do a lot of research.

what time are you flying in? <BR>if you like boat rides, the water taxi is fun (and cheaper) as an alternative to flying. it goes from belize city to caye caulker to ambergris.<BR>but, if you are flying...maya is fine.<BR>re airfare...seems awfully high. friends are flying from wester canada in february for about $700 US. <BR>another option is going with a mexican airline and fly through mexico city.

Just tried Orbitz.com and found a fare of $954 in April. Not great, but better.

Thank you! I'll check Orbitz, every little bit helps. I'm also checking consolidators but haven't got any word back yet. I think AMerican has the market monopolized from LAX. TACA flys but terrible times & Continental is as much as American. Last year the rates were about $600.00, big jump!

Peggy,<BR><BR>Time of the year will have a big impact. I am going in early December from LAX on American through Dallas. $504. Continental was the same price through Houston. I noticed that prices jumped to $775 between Xmas and New Years. I just checked Jan. on Orbitz and prices are back down to $449. If you are flexible with your dates, good prices are to be had. Good luck!

My recommendation for a place to stay near the International Airport would be Villa Boscardi. They have beautiful rooms in the main house and a separate room. Around Us$65-$75 including breakfast. Safe and terrific. They offer a freeshuttle service to and from the airport.<BR><BR>Another pretty good choice is the Belize Biltmore Plaza, in the same area as Villa Boscardi but on the Northern Hiighway. The former co-owner of Four Fort Street Guesthouse is now the GM. The newly renovated rooms are nice, and the restaurant is quite good.<BR><BR>The Embassy Hotel is right at the airport but it is suitable only in a pinch. <BR><BR>April is fine. There are rarely any bug problems on Ambergris Caye, at least not unless you get back away from the water on the far south or North Ambergris.<BR><BR>Either Maya Island or Tropic is fine. They are about equal in service, price, safety, etc. You will save about one-half if you fly from municipal instead of international, though it only makes sense for those traveling in parties of three or more as the taxi fare between the two airports is US$17.50 and there is a time and small hassle factor.<BR><BR>Victoria House is great. You're about two miles from San Pedro.<BR><BR>Airfares are very much dependent on when you fly. Right now, American is offering a round trip fare for under Us$250 from DFW. All kinds of bargains are available if you spend some time looking for them.<BR><BR>Check our Q&A section of our Web edition at www.belizefirst.com for recommendations on how to get to Belize cheaply.<BR><BR>--Lan Sluder<BR>Belize First Magazine

Just pick anywhere in Mexico. I'm sure it cheaper to get there and with less bugs amd more accommodations to choose from. <BR><BR>I've found Belize to be the No Seum/Sand Flea capital of Central America.

Things changed in Belize since became so popular. It used to be a nice place to relax but suddenly became overrun with cheap accommodations and backpackers. Transfer directly to San Pedro from international. It is only 20 minutes flight and there are always flight available.

Puzzled,<BR><BR>The only place in Mexico comparable to Belize, with access to both Mayan sites and the Carribean is Cancun. I just checked flights from LAX to Cancun for the same week that I will be in Belize. Tickets are $539 to Cancun vs. $504 to Belize, so that blows that theory. Also, some of us don't prefer the wall of high rise hotel. I'm sure that Cozemel is not as build up, but it is also more expensive. <BR><BR>So, no need to be puzzled, Puzzeled,

2 questions:<BR>l. is there any good snorkeling right off shore? if so, where?<BR>2. is there any good fishing right off shore? if so, where and do you need a license?

To Putch29:<BR>1. NO<BR>2. NO

There is snorkeling off the shore on islands directly on the reef, such as Tobacco and Southwater cayes, both of which have hotels, and a number of other small cayes off central and southern Belize. There is also some pretty good snorkeling off beaches around the atolls such as Turneffe.<BR><BR>On Ambergris, several of the hotels such as Ramon's and Caribbean Villas have created small artificial reefs around their docks, which makes for okay snorkeling. Generally the farther north on Ambergris you go the closer to the shore the reef is, or at least some coral heads, so in places you can swim out and snorkel.<BR><BR>As to fishing off the shore you can do it on Ambergris and elsewhere, either from docks on the Caribbean side or just by wading out in the lagoon or bay on the back side. But as with diving the best fishing usually requires a short boat ride.<BR><BR>No, you do not need a license.<BR><BR>--Lan Sluder<BR>Belize First<BR>http://www.belizefirst.com/

Thanks so much for the info everyone. I was hoping you would answer Lan. We are wanting to pick the best month for weather & it seemed from the reading I've done March or April is it so I guess we'll just have to live with the airfare.<BR>We have traveled through Mexico extensively & love, also the Caribbean & South Pacific. That is why we are looking for something else. We were looking at the Seychelles or Maldives but don't feel like traveling that far at this time. Costa Rica is a possiblity but the flight times & transfers seems a bit daunting. Just want a quiet pretty upscale place by the ocean with kayaking & snorkeling oppotunities. I'll keep researching & thanks for the help!

Peggy, you might check with Capricorn Leisure www.capricorn.net. We did a package with them a couple of years ago from Chicago including air out to Ambergris Caye and hotel for a lot less than you are quoting for airfare.<BR><BR>We went at the end of March and the weather was great-no rain and no real problem with bugs that I recall.

Message Russ:<BR><BR>Who said Cancun??<BR><BR>Mexico has way more options for travel than Belize could ever dream of. I still don't like the sand fleas and NoSeum"s! Oh ya, hang on to your wallet in Belize City Too!!!!<BR><BR>puzzled