I'd like to know how I would go about taking a bus from belize city to Tikal. We have no time constraints. Also would like to know of some budget places to stay along the way and also in Caye Caulker

There is a daily "luxury" bus, more of a van, run by Linea Dorado from Belize City (the Marine Terminal) to Flores. Believe the fare is still US$25 one-way.<BR><BR>Cheaper would be a regular bus. Novelo's is the major carrier on the Western Highway route, with many buses daily to the border at Benque Viejo. US$2.50 regular, $3 express.<BR><BR>At the border you would change to a Guat bus to El Remate, Flores.<BR><BR>There are many budget places in and around San Ignacio, which is about 9 miles from the border. Among the best ones are Martha's, The Trek Stop and Aguada, but downtown San Ignacio has a number of cheap places including Hi-ET, Venus, Balmorel, etc.<BR><BR>You will also find a number of inexpensive places in the Peten, around El Remate and in Flores.<BR><BR>On Caye Caulker there are many budget and low-moderate places -- Tom's, Trends Beachfront, and Tree Tops being among the places I like best.<BR><BR>--Lan Sluder<BR>Belize First

Lan-<BR>Thanks for the information...this forum is a great resource as is your website Belize First!

Be careful of going to Tikal. I was in Belize 3 years ago and was advised against going to Tikal by lots of people. It seems that Guatamalan rebels were stopping buses and robbing passingers. We were told by a VERY reliable source that if we insisted on going, to take the earliest bus and return before nightfall. Not to scare you, but you really mush check it out! And don't listen to everything Lan has to say, he has a vested interest in betting people to Belize, making his advise suspect.

I do agree with Craig about Lan. It getting to the point where he and Katie are owerhelming this board. I am planning my trip to Belize and I have some questions but there is no point in posting them here because instead of getting answer from the fellow travelers I would get info from these two people. They do give some good info but they are NOT objective. <BR>

Harley;<BR>I'm planning my second trip to Belize, and would be willing to answer questions. I tend to ignore responses by Lan - I just don't read them. He bugs me though, I'm afraid that others don't realize his stake in the Belize tourist industry, and take his word as all true. Anyway, please don't let one man sour this site!

Fact: I publish a little non-profit magazine on Belize (ad-free, so I write anything I want without fear or favor), I have written or co-written several books on Belize, and, by the way, I've updated and revised the Belize sections of the current 3rd edition and upcoming 4th edition of Fodor's Belize & Guatemala Guide. <BR><BR>Fact: If you don't like my information or opinions on Belize, that's fine, but I have no vested interest in any hotel or any other tourist interest or business of any kind in Belize. In fact, hotel owners and operators in Belize, and the Belize Tourist Board, sometimes take offense at my opinions about the negatives of Belize, of which there are many (and also many wonderful things). <BR><BR>And I also post my real name and real e-mail address, rather than hiding behind a phony e-mail address and making snide, uncheckable remarks about others. <BR><BR>Guess I would ask: Whom would a rational person believe, a writer who has covered Belize for more than a decade and who presents candid information that anyone can check (and either agree with or disagree with) ... or someone who makes vague, unproven references and doesn't have the courtesy (or the intestinal fortitude) to post his/her real name and address when attacking others.<BR><BR>One of the prices we pay for freedom on the Internet is to have to put up with the kind of person who, rather than expressing an opinion openly and honestly, sends anonymous notes attacking others. <BR><BR>--Lan Sluder

LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Too bad Lan this is a way you responded. Maybe you should learn from Katie and in some cases it would be better to not say anything. But you couldn't resist, could you? Most of people on this boards post fake addresses (there were several discussions on this topic) because they avoid to be spammed. For you there is no choice, you have to post your real name and address in order to advertise your product even if you don't say that you advertising your books. This information you included often enough in your e-mails to let people know what your products are. Be nice Lan and do not compare others to yourself. <BR>

You're right, Harley, I shouldn't reply to your type of message. It's one thing to avoid spam, and it's another to hide behind it after attacking another person anonymously. <BR><BR>So you continue to post all the helpful information you do on Belize, and I'll continue to post my information (and to do the Fodor's guides), and folks can judge for themselves which is helpful and which is not.<BR><BR>--Lan Sluder