Why you should NOT book before you arrive in Belize - Tips for easy-traveling in Belize

There’s just too many details to account for when you’re traveling to mother nature’s best-kept secret: Belize. From how to get to Belize, how to get from the airport to your hotel, where to eat, and what to do in Belize...this would require you to do so much research that it’ll exhaust your brain!

So what if you don’t know how to get around the Philip Goldson International Airport when you land? There are signs posted all over the airport that will surely guide you. Belize is also an English-speaking country so you can definitely stop a local and ask them for directions (don’t forget to tip them for the information they’ve given you).

Also, who would want to spend hours upon hours reading travel blogs about some of the top things to do in Belize like zip lining across some pristine tropical forests in Belize or diving one of the world’s largest sinkholes? Your brain will hurt after all that reading! It’s best to just wing it and go with the flow.

Everything from what to pack to Belize and what to do or where to go in Belize requires too much research! But, if you’d like to know, you can check out these helpful blogs that will give you an idea of how to get to Belize and how to get around the Philip Goldson International Airport as well as traveling tips in Belize’s official travel guide.

Aside from all the planning and preparation, booking your tours and transportation in Belize ahead of time is totally unnecessary. After all, the rates that you’ll be paying online for tours and shuttles are the same prices if you book at a dive shop or at a tour operator’s office. You’ll have a ton of cash on you, so don’t worry about the extra foreign transaction fee and some higher prices when paying at the office with credit cards.

Many online forums will tell you that booking your tours on-the-spot will be cheaper; but, that’s not always the case. Your results will vary, and there’s a lot of luck involved. Typically, the prices stay the same, so might as well you book ahead online and save yourself the walk to a tour operator’s office....or not. You decide!

Booking a shuttle last minute? This is one of our favorites, especially at the airport. Since shuttle companies technically can't take passengers on demand, you'll have no choice but to use an airport taxi. It's fine if you're just going into Belize City. The rate is $25 per ride, but you don't get to split the fare with other passengers in the taxi if you don't know them. Traveling beyond Belize City to an inland destination? Then be prepared for the "tourist tax", and don't expect air conditioning. But it's ok because you don't want to get stranded, so you can haggle a bit although you have no leverage. This is the most exciting part! Whatever you do, don't book and pay for a shuttle online and have a driver waiting for you as soon as you arrive. It's just too convenient, and quite a boring start to your trip.

Did you know that Belizing.com is the largest marketplace for tours, transportation, and other services in Belize? That means you can compare prices from different providers, contact them directly, ask for discounts, and book securely...all from the comfort of your home. You will surely find the right tour operator that offers the perfect services for you and your group.

While you’re here in Belize and don’t have any activities penciled down in your itinerary as yet, you can easily enjoy and admire the beautiful landscapes or seascape. Whether it’s a balcony on the island or a deck nestled in the jungle, you’ll be sure to appreciate the beauty of nature in Belize.

Until you can get a tour date confirmed last minute, you can always enjoy what’s free in Belize -  mother nature’s wonders! It’s the little things in life that matter. On your beachside balcony, you can sit with a refreshing cocktail and listen to the waves crashing onto the shore; or, you can borrow a pair of binoculars to go bird watching at your lodge’s trails! You’ll surely be occupied while you wait for a tour confirmation.

If you would like to know about some of Belize’s best nature tours and destinations, then check out this blog about The 7 Best Belize Beach Destinations to Visit in 2019 or Unforgettable National Parks and Protected Areas in Belize.

If you haven’t pre-arranged your tours online, then you’ll be required to do so at a tour operator’s office. Visiting these offices is always a good time! The agent will surely greet you with a warm smile and help you iron out all the details with the tours that you’re interested in.

While you’re sure to meet some friendly faces, it is not guaranteed that you’ll be attended to right away as there may be other travelers waiting to be signed in for a tour or fitted into their appropriate gears. Don’t worry though, you’ll also be able to enjoy Belize’s finest heat - and I’m not talking about Marie Sharp’s hot sauce (which you should definitely try while you’re in Belize).

A good read during your wait is our People of Belize blog. You’ll get to learn about the many cultures and ethnic groups in this melting pot!

There’s absolutely no fun in comparing prices from the comfort of your bedroom on Belizing.com when you can do it in person after you arrive. You’ll get so many extra steps on your Fitbit while visiting multiple offices, and you’ll get your tan in the process. It’s a win-win!

And if your tour gets canceled due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances, you’ll have twice the fun revisiting the offices, having friendly conversations, and getting your refunds immediately. It’s just not as much fun when you get refunds online from Belizing.com because we make it a really boring and hassle-free process.

Fanny packs are coming back in style, and since you’ll have to carry around all that cash with you, it’s a perfect opportunity to wear a fanny pack. It will be fun to show off all your cash while you pay for your food at a restaurant, or while you pick up souvenirs at the market. You should bring all large bills because although it’s hard to get change for larger bills, the smaller bills may not all fit in the fanny pack.

While you’re here, you don’t want to leave your cash-filled fanny pack in your hotel room either, so you’ll look quite fashionable walking down the beach with your fanny pack.  You’ll have ample opportunity to be noticed with your fanny pack since you’ll have so much fun visiting different tour agencies to find the best value and availability for your tours.

If you visit sites such as the ATM cave where you can’t take your belongings, your fanny pack will be perfectly secure in the tour van.

Don’t worry about having exact change, the tour agency or shuttle driver will be happy to keep the change as a tip. And if you fall into some rare misfortune and lose the fanny pack, at least you’ll get to spend more time in Belize waiting for family and friends to wire you more cash. Or maybe you’ll have a backup credit card in your wallet which will come in quite handy at the vast minority of places that are able to accept credit cards. It will be yet another round of adventure that will be so worth the extra foreign transaction fees and higher prices. It will be especially adventurous to find a place that can accept American Express or Discover cards.

The convenience and security of booking online with no foreign transaction fee on Belizing.com is for fashion-less overcautious travelers. You’re adventurous and fashionable!