Jeff_Costa_Rica

Any preference between Maya Island Air or Tropic Air? I have a work trip to Belize coming up and am looking to avoid a bus trip of several hours from Punta Gorda to Belize City. Thanks.

hopefulist

MisterB2

Some people have their favourite, but both airlines offer good service.

Jeff_Costa_Rica

Thank you, hopefulist and MisterB2. It's good to get input from both of you.

volcanogirl

We've used Tropic Air and were very happy with them, no experience with the other provider.

Jeff_Costa_Rica

Thanks, volcanogirl. That's two votes for Tropic Air.

Costa Rica and Panama are now down to one scheduled domestic airline each after many years of having two. Tinier Belize still manages to support two.

volcanogirl

Yes, sorry to see Nature Air go. Hope you have a a great trip.

Jeff_Costa_Rica

Thanks, volcanogirl. The trip will be to update the Fodor's guide to Belize.

It's always troubled me that Nature Air could crumble so quickly. AIrlines do survive plane crashes. Not to minimize the crash that occurred over Christmas 2017, but that was the end of the airline and it all happened very fast. There must have been something more wrong with operations than we realized.

volcanogirl

That's exciting; hope all goes well. I agree, it all happened so quickly, kind of shocking.

MisterB2

Here's a TA post from a customer who has used both, and is satisfied with both...
https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopi...ize_Cayes.html

volcanogirl

We had an interesting experience on one of our Tropic Air flights. There was a kid on our flight who wanted to be a pilot, and the pilot invited the kid to fly up front with him and sit in the cockpit. Thought that was pretty cool. The security is so different than in the States. We were given laminated passes that said Tropic Air when we checked in, and then when we boarded they just took the passes. No seat numbers, rows, or anything.

Jeff_Costa_Rica

Thanks for the link to the TA discussion, MisterB2.

As long as the kid wasn't allowed to touch any of the controls, volcanogirl, I'm fine with that arrangement.

hopefulist

I've gotten to sit in the copilot seat a few times - pretty cool.

Jeff_Costa_Rica

As long as they didn't let you touch the controls, hopefulist.

hopefulist

They did not.

volcanogirl

hopefulist, that's so cool. Lucky you! We loved flying so low over the water; the water was gorgeous and so clear.

Jeff_Costa_Rica

volcanogirl

Glad your trip was a success - wow, talk about good customer service. What a nice touch.

Jeff_Costa_Rica

It really was.

Lots of new stuff is going on in the south. People in Placencia are fond of saying that they're going to be "the new San Pedro." That might be a bit of a stretch at the moment, but they are on their way to something. I had to laugh at the American couple I met over breakfast there one morning. They kept calling the place "Placenta."

And you know what? Even Belize City has a cool new hotel and a cool new restaurant to add to the Fodor's book.

volcanogirl

Haha, that's pretty good!