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Belize An Ideal Honeymoon Or Wedding Destination
oday Norm Goldman, Editor
of href="http://www.sketchandt Joshua is an expert on traveling
avel.com" in Belize, and recently chose
title="http://www.sketchandtravel this tiny Central American
.com" country for his own honeymoon; he
target="_blank">www.sketchandtrav has also lived in and written
el.com and href="http://www.bookpleasures.co Honduras.
m"
title="http://www.bookpleasures.c
om"
target="_blank">www.bookpleasures Welcome to Sketchandtravel.com
.com is pleased to have as a and Bookpleasures.com Joshua and
guest Joshua Berman,(href="http://www.stonegrooves.net invitation to be interviewed.
/contact.htmlco"
title="http://www.stonegrooves.ne
t/contact.htmlco"
target="_blank">http://www.stoneg NORM:
rooves.net/contact.htmlco)
author of Moon Handbooks Belize
(href="http://www.moon.com/catalog Please tell our readers something
/belize.html" about yourself and your expertise
title="http://www.moon.com/catalo pertaining to Belize.
g/belize.html"
target="_blank">http://www.moon.c
om/catalog/belize.html. Joshua:
I have been living, working, Belize is tucked into the
teaching, and traveling in northeast corner of Central
Central America since the U.S. America, bordering Mexico's
Peace Corps sent me to Nicaragua Yucatan peninsula to the north,
in 1998. I have been returning to Guatemala's Petén wilderness to
the region ever since to write the west, and the Caribbean Ocean
guidebooks, lead service trips, to the east. Culturally however,
and visit friends and adopted Belize and its hundreds of cayes
families. Last year, I was asked (islands, pronounced keys ) is
by Avalon Travel Publishing to more Caribbean than Latin.
take over Chicki Mallan's Moon English is spoken everywhere
Handbooks Belize, which, when it (along with seven other
first appeared 15 years ago, was languages). The diversity is
the first and most acclaimed astounding, especially
guidebook to the country. I considering there are only
gladly accepted and proceeded to 260,000 people in the entire
research and write the sixth country.
edition, which was released in
early 2005.
NORM:
NORM:
Would you consider Belize a good
Where is Belize? choice for a romantic getaway or
wedding and honeymoon
destination? Why?
Joshua:
Joshua: endorsement of Belize as a
romantic destination, I even took
my own bride here on our
honeymoon (ah, the work never
"· They can rent their very stops)
own waterfall for the day at
Hidden Valley Inn.
NORM:
"· Couples can get Mood Mud
Massages at Maruba Resort Jungle
Spa. When is the best time to visit
Belize from the point of view of
weather, costs, crowds, and the
"· They can rappel into a availability of flights from the
vertical cave shaft together, at USA, Canada and Europe and
the bottom of which they'll find Australia, etc?
a flower strewn bed next to a
subterranean spring at Ian
Anderson's Caves Branch. The list Joshua:
goes on and on.
Some resorts distinguish holiday
season from the normal high
Belize's size (smaller than season, with even higher prices
Massachusetts), easy access (only and lower availability around
a two-hour flight from Miami Christmas, New Year's, and Easter
or Houston), and astonishing be sure to make reservations
selection of small, intimate during these periods. High season
resorts and lodges seal the deal. (re: more tourists and hiked
In order to solidify my prices) is generally mid-December
through April; this is also the backpackers and travelers, while
dry season during most years, December and February are
although December, January, and dominated by North Americans.
even February can play to host to Some tourism businesses shut down
cool fronts that either blow completely during the months of
right through or sit around for September and October, the peak
days. of hurricane season.
Your best bet-be prepared, both
with clothing and attitude! A NORM:
week of stormy weather may ruin a
vacation planned solely around
snorkelling, but it could also Could you give our readers an
provide the perfect setting for idea of the costs involved if
exploring the rainforests or travel originates from the USA,
enjoying a hot tub and fireplace Canada and Europe and Australia?
in the Mountain Pine Ridge.
June, July, and August Joshua:
technically fall in the rainy
season, and travelers during this
time are rewarded with Conventional traveler wisdom
significantly discounted prices calls Belize the cheapest
at most accommodations rain Caribbean vacation spot and one
during these months may mean just of the most expensive Central
a quick shower each afternoon, or American. There are plenty of
it may go on for days. August is mid-range and upscale
the big month for European accommodations throughout the
country, running from US$25 to "· Don't forget to budget an
hundreds of dollars per night. extra US$40-80 per person per day
Exact hotel rates are an elusive for activities like scuba diving,
thing in Belize; seasonal sailing trips, and guided tours
fluctuations are compounded by of Belize's rainforests, ruins,
various taxes and service and fascinating cave systems.
charges, sometimes by as much as Experienced, independent
25 percent additional. Always travelers can get around for
make sure the rate you are quoted less, but transport can be a
is actually the same amount you hassle.
will be asked to pay. And, of
course, great deals are abundant
in the low season (May through "· US$10 per person per
November), when room rates night is the bottom line for
plummet across the board. budget lodging, and it'll get you
anything from a cramped, stuffy
concrete box in most towns to a
"· For food, budget generous wooden cabin at the Trek
travelers can get by on less than Stop (in Cayo) and other
US$20 per day, but you're on backpacker hotspots.
vacation, right? Entrées run
from US$5 to US$25, depending on
where you are; at the trendiest NORM:
restaurants in San Pedro, a fancy
dinner can cost up to US$75 per
person. A few resorts include
meal prices in their nightly If you had to choose 5 unequalled
rates, which can be a good deal. venues in Belize for a romantic
getaway, honeymoon or wedding
destination, what would they be
and why? Belize's famous barrier reef and
three miles north of San Pedro
village, you will find Capricorn
Joshua: Resort, offering intimate
beachfront seclusion in one of
three bright and tasteful
First of all, remember that cabanas. Capricorn's restaurant
selecting a place to stay has a is one of the best (considered
lot to do with where you want to the best by many) on the island.
be and what activities you would
like to do during your stay:
beach or rainforest? Diving or
hiking? Reef or ruins? Do you "· Situated on 7,200 acres
want to get pampered with of private property in the
massages or get sweaty and muddy Mountain Pine Ridge Forest
with your loved one on a jungle Reserve, Hidden Valley Inn is a
trek? Get an idea of what kind of quiet paradise for hikers and
trip you and your honey are birders who will have a blast
looking for, then dive in and exploring the resort's 90-plus
book it. Following are only a few miles of walking trails and old
of Belize's upscale romantic logging roads and then cozying up
accommodations that stick out in in front of their cottage's
my mind for quality and intimacy. fireplace, listening to the
For more on Belize's ample budget birdsong outside (especially nice
options, flip through a copy of during the cool, misty, rainy
my book, Moon Handbooks Belize. season). The property encompasses
lush broadleaf forest and pine
tree habitat. The two diverse
"· Starting on swanky ecosystems are divided by a
Ambergris Caye, just inshore from geological fault line, which
marks the edge of a towering Placencia Peninsula and Mountain
1,000-foot escarpment. Numerous Pine Ridge, respectively, and
watercourses spring from the offering a number of collective
mountain and then cascade down packages. Both places feature
the steep slopes, often into breathtaking architecture and
deep, inviting pools; Hidden artwork from all over the world,
Valley's trail system runs and top-notch service and
through it all. facilities.
"· On Placencia Peninsula, "· Located about an hour
Kitty's Place is one of the best north of Belize City, Maruba
and most unpretentious resorts on Resort Jungle Spa pampers the
this long strip of beach resorts body and soul, as evidenced by
call it "low-key luxury," and its acclaimed spa treatments and
check your shoes at the front unique focal points spread around
desk. Be sure to schedule a day the grounds: A tiny,
trip or overnight on Kitty's glass-decorated chapel; a
private isle, French Louis Caye, palapa-covered stone chess table;
12 miles offshore with great two pools that seem to spring
snorkelling and upscale from the jungle complete with
accommodations. waterfalls. The rooms are spread
out for privacy and are addressed
by name Moon, Fertility, and
"· Two of Belize's most Bondage, to name a few. All boast
romantic, beautiful, and an eclectic neo-primitive motif
expensive options are Francis carved masks, mosaic tile floors,
Ford Coppola's gorgeous pair of standing candles, cement
resorts: Turtle Inn and fountains, tiled tubs, screened
Blancaneaux Lodge, located on the shuttered windows and fresh
flowers on the massive feather 501/227-7377, not open on
beds and in the bathrooms. weekends or local holidays). You
get the paperwork back the
following business day for your
NORM: ceremony. If you have been
divorced or widowed, bring a
photocopy of the death
certificate or divorce decree.
What should people know about The Government of Belize charges
celebrating a wedding in Belize US$100 for the license and you'll
from the point of view of need a birth certificate or
requirements, experience of the passport.
various hotels, etc.
NORM:
Joshua:
How far in advance should a
Belize is gaining quite the couple prepare themselves for
reputation as the perfect place their honeymoon, romantic getaway
to tie the knot. A growing number or wedding in Belize?
of resorts cater to weddings of
all sizes, some quite creatively
(such as ceremonies underwater or
atop Maya pyramids). If eloping, Joshua:
you must be in Belize three
business days before submitting
your marriage application to the Honeymoons and getaways are easy
Registrar General's Office (tel. and do not need much advance time
when booking, except around the country, Iraida Gonzales on San
holidays and at the more popular Pedro, and Lee Nyhus in
resorts. If you are planning a Placencia.
wedding during the high season
that will require numerous rooms
for guests, book a year in
advance if possible. Otherwise, a NORM:
few months are usually
sufficient.
Is there anything else you wish
to tell our readers that we have
NORM: not covered?
Joshua:
What resources are available on
the Internet pertaining to
weddings and honeymoon vacations Yes, keep an eye on my WEBSITE
in Belize? for new links and developments
regarding romance in Belize and
beyond; I have the most popular
Joshua: Belize forums and news posted on
my links page. Also, MY
PUBLISHER'S SITE will soon
Several wedding specialists can feature sample itineraries and
facilitate paperwork, ministers, other excerpts from my book, to
flowers, book hotels, make planning your Belize trip
celebrations, etc. including even easier. Lastly, remember the
Katie Valk for anywhere in the words of Kurt Vonnegut's prophet,
Bokon: Peculiar travel
suggestions are dancing lessons
from God. Happy trails, everyone, Joshua
About the Author:
Norm Goldman is editor of: www.sketchandtravel.com & www.bookpleasures.com. The former is a travel site and the latter is a book reviewing site.
Norm and his artist wife, Lily, meld words with art and focus their travel articles on romantic and wedding destinations.
They are always open to invitations pertaining to properties and destinations located in New England, New York, Florida and California.
Source: www.isnare.com
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