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COST MONEY AND
BANKS |
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Belize has a generally well-deserved reputation as being one of the
more expensive countries in Central America, and even on a tight budget
you'll spend at least forty percent more than in, say, Guatemala.
Perhaps as compensation for the general cost of living you can at least
travel in the sure knowledge that you'll be paying the same fares as the
locals, and you'll never be subjected to mysterious (and sometimes
illegal) border crossing charges
Currency, exchange and banks
The national currency is the Belize dollar
which is conveniently fixed at two to one with the US dollar ( US$1=Bz$2
); US dollars are also widely accepted (sometimes preferred), either in
cash or travellers' cheques. This apparently...
The national currency is the Belize dollar , which is conveniently fixed
at two to one with the US dollar ( US$1=Bz$2 ); US dollars are also
widely accepted (sometimes preferred), either in cash or travellers'
cheques. This apparently simple dual currency system can be problematic:
it's all too easy to assume the price of your hotel room, or trip for
example, is in Belize dollars, only to find payment is demanded in the
same number of US dollars - a common cause of misunderstanding and
aggravation. All Belizean notes (divided into 100 cents) and coins carry
the British imperial legacy in the form of a portrait of Queen
Elizabeth, while quarters are called "shillings".
You'll find at least one bank (generally open Mon-Thurs 8am-2.30pm, Fri
8am-4.30pm) in every town, and also in the main seaside destinations of
San Pedro, Caye Caulker and Placencia. Although the exchange rate is
fixed, banks in Belize will give slightly less than Bz$2 for US$1 for
both cash and travellers' cheques; on the other hand, moneychangers at
the borders will often give slightly higher rates, especially for larger
sums; anywhere else beware of rip-offs. You can usually buy US dollars
from the banks and sometimes from hotels or restaurants.
Credit and debit cards are widely used in Belize, with Visa the best
option, and are increasingly accepted even in smaller hotels and
restaurants, though you might pay an extra 5 or even 7 percent for the
privilege - check before you pay. Although banks can give you a Visa/Mastercard
cash advance over the counter, Barclays is the only bank which doesn't
impose an extra charge to use plastic, and also has the only ATMs which
accept foreign-issued cards.
Costs
Even travelling as a couple it's difficult to survive on less than US$18
a day per person - though it can be done - but US$25 a day will cover a
decent budget hotel, meals and drinks, bus travel and a short taxi ride,
for example. For a simple room...
Even travelling as a couple it's difficult to survive on less than US$18
a day per person - though it can be done - but US$25 a day will cover a
decent budget hotel, meals and drinks, bus travel and a short taxi ride,
for example. For a simple room you can expect to pay at least US$9
single, US$15 double, whereas a night in an upmarket lodge will set you
back anything from US$65 to US$150 (though it's always worth asking for
a discount out of season). Food and drink are fairly pricey too, with an
average breakfast costing around US$4-5, lunch US$5-7, and dinner US$6-8.
A small bottle of Belikin beer , the only local brew, costs at least
US$1.60; imported cans cost twice as much.
Bus travel is much more reasonable, with the longest journey in the
country, from Belize City to Punta Gorda, costing US$12. A taxi ride
within a town costs US$2.50 for one or two people; for more passengers
and longer rides agree a price beforehand.
Hotel rooms are subject to a seven percent tax , usually added
separately (and many of the more expensive places will also impose a
service charge of around ten percent). There's also an eight percent
sales tax , which applies to most goods and services (including meals in
restaurants, though not to drinks). It doesn't apply to hotel rooms,
though some package operators may slap it on anyway; check carefully to
see what you're paying.
Leaving Belize you must pay a US$10 exit tax , plus the PACT
conservation fee of US$3.75, at all departure points. |
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