How does Belize compare w/ Cancun, Jamaica, Bahamas and like?
 

Not sure where to go for next vacation. Caribbean or Belize. Have a toddler. Need a beach resort. Not interested in historic sites, but rain forest in Belize sounds nice. Not sure how expensive it gets, sand quality, etc. Thank you in advance! (BTW, is everyone on Fodor very rich to afford nice vacation every year?)

Much of Belize has a Caribbean atmosphere, so it's not an either-or situation.

Belize is totally different from Cancun -- roughly the exact opposite. Cancun is a package destination resort enclave, whereas Belize is a country with a diverse culture, rainforest, many islands in the Caribbean, Maya ruins, caves and much more.

Belize is a little more like Jamaica, though its population is much more diverse. Some of its cayes are a little like the Bahamas, but not really.

If you are looking for world-class beaches, you can find better places than Belize. The beaches are okay but because of the barrier reef just offshore, they don't compare with some of the Yucatan beaches or some in the Caribbean such as BVI, Anguilla, Antigua, Aruba and others.

Belize is a little cheaper than most main Caribbean destinations, but the better places are not cheap. You're looking at US$125-$200 for a nice but not super deluxe beach hotel on Ambergris Caye (the most popular destination in Belize) for example. You could pay as little as US$20 double for a simple place on Caye Caulker.

--Lan Sluder