F.A.Q. Can I drink the water? Yes, Ambergris uses captured and purified rainwater.  The tap water is suitable for drinking. You may also purchase bottled water at many stores. Do I need electricity adaptors? No, the voltage is 110 volts A.C. which is the same as the U.S. Are there any diseases I should be concerned about? There are no serious epidemic diseases in Belize.  No inoculations are required for entry, but anti-malaria tablets are recommended for extended stays in the jungle.   Please check with our doctor. What time zone is Belize in? GMT-6 which is the same as the U.S. Central Standard Time.  Daylight savings is not observed in Belize. Do I need to bring bath and beach towels? No, we provide plenty of each. Do I need to bring travelers' checks or get Belize dollars? No, US dollars and credit cards are very welcome. There are also a few ATM's you might be able to use. Does the condo have internet access? YES! Will my cell phone work? Probably not, but each condo has a land line.  In order to have cell service in Belize, an unlocked GSM (Global System Mobile Communication) 1900 MHz cellular phone is required.  Phones may be activated at any BTL office or Digicell distributor in the country.  Prepaid service works using phone cards that can be purchased many places.  Cellular phones can also be rented for US $5 a day from the Belize Telecommunications (BTL) office at the Philip Goldson International Airport (PGIA).  A $150 deposit is required. (Prices subject to change). How do I get to the condo from the airport? Our taxi van will take you to the condo from the airport.   Are there grocery stores? Yes. There is a small grocery store just 300 feet away from your condo with a great deli counter.  There is a large Super Market on the edge of town ( 1.5 miles away) that carries a lot of familiar food brands, but this store is the most expensive on the island so you may want to pack any snack food you can.  The Greenhouse on Front Street is a better food store as is Marinas.  You can buy cokes and beer directly from the Belican distributorship which is across from the large Super Market. There is also a good wine store called Wine Divine. There is a fish market (hard to find-ask around).   You can find many small fruit and vegetable stands around town. There is also the large Super Market that is more expensive, but carries a lot of familiar foods/brands. Should I rent a car? No, you can only rent golf carts.  You cannot rent a car on the island. People get around on foot, on bikes (we provide complimentary bikes on an as available basis), by rented golf cart, or by taxi. Can you recommend a tour guide ? Yes. our neighbor, Carlos, is the owner of Suya tours and is an excellent guide for snorkel trips and trips to the Mainland to see Mayan ruins and more. We ask him to meet our guests, but seek him out if he misses you. He lives in the green house behind us. TRAVEL TIPS WHAT LANGUAGE IS SPOKEN? English is the official language of Belize. EXCHANGE RATE:   The exchange rate is simple...$2 BZ = $1 US. ELECTRICITY:   The Electricity runs the same as the U.S. 100 Volts AC. TIME ZONE: Belize observes Central Standard Time w/o observing daylight savings. CULTURE: The Ethnic make-up of Belize consists of 44% Mestizo (mixed European & Maya), 30% Creole, 11% Maya, 7% Garifuna and 8% other. WHAT IS AMBERGRIS CAYE? Ambergris Caye is the most popular tourist destination in Belize. Ambergris Caye is a resort island with good lodging, restaurants and water sports. Unlike Belize City, the streets are made of sand and you will not find a building over three stories high. The second most popular tourist destination in Belize is Cayo district where you will find lodges, Maya ruins, butterfly farms, Mennonites, the gateway to Cool Mountain Pine Ridge and mighty Caracol plus all sorts of outdoor activities including river running and caving. Most people choose to stay on Ambergris Caye where they can enjoy the quaint town, slower-pace and beautiful beaches. Most people take day tours to the mainland.  The big tour companies make it a day event and will pick you up in a jet boat and transport you to the mainland. They will feed you and provide all transportation. They are organized, efficient and fun. You will leave in the morning and be delivered back to Ambergris Cay by mid to late afternoon. HOW TO GET TO BELIZE: Belize is easily accessible by direct flights from Charlotte, Dallas, Houston and Miami with connecting flights from many other cities. The Phillip Goldson International Airport (BZE) is the main port of entry into Belize. Four major airlines service Belize out of the U. S.: American Airlines www.aa.com or 1-800-433-7000; Continental Airlines www.continental.com or 1-800-231-0856; US Airways www.usairways.com 1-800-622-1015; Taca Airlines 1-800-400-8222 or www.Taca.com; WHERE IS BELIZE? Belize is South of Mexico off the tip of Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula. Ambergris Caye (Am-BUR-grease Key) is the largest island in Belize. The island is only 25 miles long and is located in the crystal-clear waters of the Caribbean Sea.  The coastline of Ambergris Caye is protected by a 190 mile Barrier Reef, the second longest living coral reef barrier in the world. TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS:   A passport is required of US, Canadian and European visitors.  If your passport expires in 6 months, you need to renew it now. Citizens of some other countries are also required to obtain a visa.  Passport, return/onward ticket and sufficient funds (at least $60/night) required. Visa not required for stay up to 30 days. If visit exceeds 1 month, obtain a stay permit from the Immigration Authorities in Belize. AIDS test required for those staying more than 3 months; US test accepted if within 3 months of visit. For longer stays and other information, contact the Embassy of Belize, 2535 Massachusetts Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20008 (202-332-9636) or the Belize Mission in New York at (212599-0233). For information regarding visas in Belize please call 011-501-822-2423. HOW TO GET FROM BELIZE CITY TO AMBERGRIS CAYE: You have two choices. You can take a 1 hour 20 minute water taxi for approximately $33 round-trip or you can take a 15 minute charter flight for approximately $110 round- trip. These rates are for reference only. Please refer to the appropriate web sites for current pricing. The resort is on the island of Ambergris Caye, exactly 2.34 south of San Pedro. IMPORTANT FACTS ABOUT BELIZE: Government: Belize is a democratic member of the British Commonwealth, with a Westminster-style system with a Prime Minister, an elected house of representatives and an appointed senate. The current prime minister is Said Musa, a British-educated lawyer of Palestinian and Belize heritage. Belize is the size of the U.S. State of Massachusetts with a population of 240,000. Ambergris Cay has a population of 4500. English is the official language but Creole and Spanish are also widely spoken. ABOUT SAN PEDRO: San Pedro Town (Saint Peter Town) is the only town on the island of Ambergris Caye. The town of San Pedro is an evolved fishing village where the dress is casual, the pace is slow, the people are friendly and the streets are still covered with dirt and sand. Many of the local pubs have dirt floors and the island's dress code consists of t-shirts, shorts and bare feet. HOW SAFE IS AMBERGRIS CAYE?: Safety is always a concern and common sense should be used anywhere you travel. The most common crimes against tourists are petty theft and pick pocketing. Violent or physical crimes are rare. In general, Ambergris Caye has a much lower crime rate than Belize City or the U.S. in general. FIVE REASONS TO VISIT BELIZE: #1 World-class diving/snorkeling. Regardless of level or ability there is a mask for you in Belize. #2 Maya Sites. Belize is the center of the Maya world. Dozens of ruins can be visited and Cahal Pech, Caracol, El Pilar, Lamanai, Lubaantun and Xunantunich are some of the most interesting. #3 Ecotravel (Wildlife, birds and nature). Most of Belize is untouched and uninhabited with over 500 species of birds and 700 species of butterflies. Rare animals still thrive in Belize's bush. #4 Adventure. Adventures to fit any level including hiking, canoeing, kayaking, windsurfing, caving and spelunking. #5 Cultures. Belize is a fascinating multi-racial, multi-cultural and multi-lingual society. MOVIES FILMED IN BELIZE: Two good movies that were filmed in Belize are Dogs of War (1981) and Mosquito Coast (1986). FUN DATES TO VISIT: The best festivals St. George's Caye Day (Sept. 10-21), Independence Day (Sept. 21), Garifuna Settlement Day (Nov. 19), Marti Gras (recent, celebrated with parades, paint bombs and drinking) and Costa Maya Festival (formerly Sea and Air Fest celebrated with beauty contests, music and dances (late July/early Aug.) WHERE IS CARIBE ISLAND CONDOS LOCATED? The resort is located on Ambergris Caye, Belize just 30 miles north east of Belize City, 2.34 miles south of the of San Pedro Town. HOW MUCH AND WHAT TYPE OF MONEY SHOULD I BRING?: The Belize dollar is tied to the U.S. dollar at a fixed 2(BZ)=1(USD). U.S. dollars are accepted everywhere. Canadian, Mexican and European monies are not widely accepted. Belize Bank has an ATM in San Pedro. There is no need to exchange currency before arriving. Most places accept U.S. Dollars and major credit cards. However, they will charge a 4% processing fee for credit cards. The Belize government currently charges a departure tax of $37.50 per person. Make sure you have enough cash on hand for your flight home. GETTING AROUND THE ISLAND: The most common vehicle is a golf cart. We can arrange to have one delivered to you at the front office. . We provide complimentary bikes. Cab rides are available for approximately $10 U.S. roundtrip. NOTE: All pricing is subject to change. These prices are for reference only. Please refer to the appropriate web sites for current pricing. WHAT TO PACK: How about a couple of swimsuits? You won't need much but some casual clothing like shorts, T shirts, and sandals. For nighttime, you may want to bring casual pants and skirts. A lightweight sweater or sweat shirt will suffice for the occasional cool evening. The island wear is definitely casual and the popular slogan is, "No shirt, no shoes, no problems." Aside from all the standard things you would bring on any trip, the following things will be helpful: Extra swimsuits, light-weight cotton clothes, comfortable shoes, reading material (maps, guidebooks), camera with extra film, small flashlight, hat, dark sunglasses, basic health kit, insect repellent, sunscreen, Pepto, favorite snacks, battery operated radio, light wind/rain breaker, binoculars, small day pack and energy bars. You won't need to dress up, and should leave fancy jewelry at home. Belize can be hot, so prepare adequately for the sun with sun glasses, wide brimmed hats, and plenty of sun block. For night time and exploring, it's a good idea to bring loose cotton pants. Again, a sweatshirt or sweater should suffice for the evening. You may do a lot of walking, so bring comfortable all-terrain walking shoes and a spare pair in case they get wet. DIVING AND SNORKELING EQUIPMENT: For Diving, Snorkeling and Fishing: If you're diving or fishing you can bring your own equipment if you wish. Diving and snorkeling gear is available for rent. When you book a fishing trip with a guide, the fishing gear is included. If you plan to take jungle day tours to the mainland you'll need hiking boots, loose cotton pants, and insect repellent. As a basic rule, if you cannot get along without it, bring a spare. This applies for contact lenses and glasses, sunglasses, flashlight and any personal medications. CUSTOMS: Visitors may bring in personal effects, such as wearing apparel, jewelry, binoculars, cameras and laptops. Each person is allowed to import one carton (200 only) of cigarettes and one bottle of alcoholic beverage, duty free. WEATHER: The average high temperature in Jan (80/70), Feb (80/71), Mar. (83/74), Apr. (85/76), May (87/79), Jun. (87/79), Jul. (86/79), Aug. (86/77), Sept. (86/77), Oct. (84/75(, Nov. (84/75), and Dec. (82/73). The average water temperature is 83 degrees. The rainy season is June-July with quick downfalls followed by sunshine. IMPORTANT & MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION ABOUT BELIZE After you have made your international flight reservations, you will need to make arrangements to get to the island.     To get to the island, you have two choices.   You may take a water taxi or a charter flight.   The last water taxi leaves at 4:30 pm.  It takes approximately 20 to 30 minutes to go through customs. The water taxi port is approximately 20 minutes away from BZE. If you arrive into BZE anytime after 3:15, you may simply want to schedule the charter. I would be happy to arrange the charter flights for you.  Please let me know the passenger names, international arrival times and international departure time. I will coordinate our preferred cab driver to pick you up on time and escort you back to the resort where you will be presented your key and condo instructions.   Upon arrival, we will also request our on-site tour operator, Suya Tours by Carlos, to greet you and help arrange any tours you find interesting. Please visit my web site www. CondosinBelize.com  for information on Suya Tours.   Carlos does all mainland and snorkeling trips.   He does not do diving.    You may also ask Carlos for recommendations of quality dive operators.   Based on guest responses, the best dive operators on the island are www.ecologicaldivers.com and Amigos Del Mar Divers www. amigosdive.com .   The Belize economy is dependent on tourism. As with any tourist destination, please avoid being vulnerable and exercise caution. It is best to leave expensive jewelry at home. Although we have not had problems, it is better to be safe than sorry. Always lock up your condo when leaving, even for a minute, including deck level windows, and be sure to keep all items safely stored inside your unit overnight. We do have a safe in the office for your convenience. Be sure you have enough cash on-hand for your return flight home to pay the Belize Deportation Tax which is currently $37.50 per person. If you have cash, you will save yourself from being inconvenienced. There is a ATM in San Pedro at Belize Bank. There is also a Atlantic Bank ATM around the corner from the post office.  The Atlantic Bank ATM (it's not a bank) accepts international cards and is a good option when the Belize Bank is not working, which is not an infrequent event.  The one in the Scotia Bank only accepts its owns cards, so it is not an option. Please remember that Belize is a 3 rd world country and their phone system is not always reliable. Please leave my name and number as an emergency contact person – Deborah Neisius (317)569-0291. If the phone systems are down, we can always rely on the Internet.   We offer FREE wireless Internet access in addition to Internet services found at a number of Internet cafes on the island.   The nearest Internet  cafe is across from Royal Palm villas. CONDO TIPS:   The tap water is suitable for drinking.   You may also purchase bottled water in town.    Please help our environment by turning off the lights, AC and fans if you will be out of the condo for an hour or longer.   If you use the AC, please make sure all the windows are shut.   Leaving the windows open while running the AC may cause the unit to freeze up and cease to function.   Ask our groundskeeper to adjust any air flow vents if needed.      The balcony doors tend get stuck in the locked position so if you go outside make sure the door can be opened from the balcony side before you close the door.   Finally, please conserve water in the shower and remember that you are on an island.

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