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Q / How do you get to Placencia?
A / From Belize City, Dangriga, and Punta Gorda, there are flights several times a day on the two national airlines; Maya Island Air and TropicAir. We can help you book your flights if you like since we are an agent for both of the airlines.
There is also bus service. Since schedules are complicated, please visit this website for details: http://www.placencia.com/services.htm#trans . You will probably take a bus from Belize City to Belmopan and then Dangriga, and then transfer to a bus to Placencia.
You can also rent a car at the international airport in Belize City. It takes about 3 hours to drive to Maya Beach from Belize City. Private taxis can also transfer you to and from the hotel for a price of around $275 US each way. For a group of four, the private taxi is less expensive than flying.
Q / Can I rent a car at the Placencia airport?
A / You will realize why we are laughing once you see the Placencia airport.
Q / Can I rent a car anywhere in Placencia?
A / If you want to fly to Placencia and then rent a car, you can do it through a local rental company called Barefoot Rentals (011+501 523 3438), with cars starting at $80 US dollars per day. Should they be out of cars, some rental companies in Belize City will send a car down for you. The cost of doing this is approximately $150 US dollars to have a car delivered to you in Placencia. It will cost another $150-200 US dollars to have the car picked up, but if you drive it to Belize City yourself, you can save that charge. Normal car rental fees of $80 to $120 US dollars per day will apply.
Q / What about golf carts or scooters?
A / Barefoot Rentals (011+501 523 3438) has a golf cart rental service. Please contact them for details. At this time we are not aware of any scooter rentals.
Q / How do you get to the Maya Beach Hotel once you have arrived in Placencia?
A / We offer complimentary pickups and dropoffs when you purchase your local air tickets from us. If you book your own air tickets, just let us know your flight details in advance. We will arrange round-trip transfers for US $10 per person. If you are making last-minute plans you would need take a taxi from the Placencia airstrip which will cost US $20 one-way. If you take the bus, it passes the hotel so please let the driver know you wish to get off at Maya Beach. If you drive, you should look for signs for Maya Beach approximately 6 miles after you turn on to the peninsula at Riversdale. Once you enter the Maya Beach area, look for our sign on the left, or the sea side, of the road. If you reach Mangos restaurant or the Frisky Frog restaurant, you have gone a little too far South.
Q / How do you get around from the hotel?
A / Within walking distance you will find a small convenience store and a few small restaurants. If you don’t have a car, you can use taxis to go further. Occasionally the Maya Beach Hotel van will be making unscheduled trips to Placencia Village, the airport, or Dangriga, and if your schedule coincides you are welcome to ride along.
Q / Where are the tours in the area?
A / There are tour operators to the North and South of the Maya Beach Hotel. Some are independent, and some are associated with other resorts. Tour operators will pick you up at the hotel as long as the tours are booked in advance. Read about tours and activities.
Q / Is there Internet service?
A / Yes. We have a small Internet café with computers for guest and public use. If you have your own laptop, you can connect to the Internet using either wired ethernet or wireless (wi-fi).
Q / What sports or activities are included with the room?
A / We have a small number of complimentary kayaks, snorkeling sets, and bicycles available for guests to use on a first-come first-served basis.
Q / Is there a swimming pool?
A / Yes! We have a pool adjacent to our outdoor dining area. It is available to guests of the hotel and the rental houses.
Q / Can I change money at the hotel?
A / There is no need to change your money to Belize dollars (BZ $) before you come. US dollars will be welcome in the hotel and all other local establishments. Important to note - there are currently very few international ATMs in Belize, and none in Placencia. For total fees of approximately 5 percent (fees from both your home bank and a Belize bank), you can get a cash advance from your ATM card or credit card.
Q / Are there facilities for cooking our own meals?
A / None of the rooms at Maya Beach Hotel currently have kitchenettes. Our restaurant serves meals all day. We do offer some beach house rentals, and these do have kitchens or kitchenettes.
Q / What is the beach like?
A / The Maya Beach Hotel is on a long beach with some of the softest sand in Belize. There is about 70 feet of sand between the hotel and the water. Nothing else (except coconut trees, hammocks and beach chairs). The water is very shallow in front of the hotel, and you can walk out several hundred feet in waist-deep water. Walking up and down the beach, you will pass in front of some other developed beach properties as well as some natural sections of beach, perfect for beachcombing!
Q / How are the rooms furnished?
A / Most of our rooms have queen beds, meant to be shared by no more than two people. Our Coconut Room (Deluxe) is larger and includes a queen-sized futon so that small families can stay in one room together. Our Jaguar Room (Standard Plus) has a queen bed plus a set of bunk beds. The rooms have small tables and chairs with pretty views out the large windows. Some of the rooms have an attached veranda for chairs and hammocks. The rooms and furnishings are not fancy, but have a cozy beach feel.
Q / What about power and electrical appliances?
A / Electricity in Belize is 110V/60Hz (same as theUS). The majority of outlets are the same plug type as the US although some places use theUKstandard plug. All of the outlets at the Maya Beach Hotel are the US type. Since the electricity in our area is provided from a diesel generator, voltage variations and surges can occur and we suggest that you bring a surge protector if you are planning to use your laptop computer or other electronic devices.
Q / What are the restaurants like?
A / Besides the Bistro at the Maya Beach Hotel, there are some others. Mangos is a thatched-roof bar and restaurant on stilts just a few hundred yards down the road from us. The casual restaurant will be reopening its kitchen in late 2007. Prices are similar to what you would pay in the US for a meal. The Hungry Gecko, above the nearby convenience store, is another open-air restaurant with reasonable prices and a very casual atmosphere, serving Belizean and Honduran food. Other hotels and resorts in the area have restaurants that are open to the public as well, such as Bella Maya, Singing Sands, the Green Parrot and The Placencia Hotel.
Q / Are the beaches private?
A / One of the great things about Belize is that the public is always allowed to use the waterfront. Locals and tourists wander up and down the beach to their hearts’ content, although in quiet Maya Beach you often have the beach to yourself.
Q / Is it safe?
A / Belize is a developing country and the Placencia Peninsula is a little isolated, so you should be aware that emergency services such as police, fire or rescue services are very limited and are not usually able to respond quickly. Placencia Village has a nurse and part-time doctor and it is a 20 minute drive from Maya Beach. Please take precautions to safeguard yourself and your belongings when you travel. The hotel has a small safe for guests' small valuables.
Q / Can I drink the water?
A / The Maya Beach Hotel collects fresh rainwater, treats it with cholorine and runs it through filters. If you prefer bottled water, it is readily available in the hotel and at local shops.
Q / Are there bugs?
A / Sandflies (no see'ums) and mosquitoes are sometimes present in the Maya Beach area, but well-maintained beaches do help keep the bugs at bay. DEET-based repellents work well to repel mosquitoes and sandflies, and other products like Avon Skin-So-Soft's Bug Guard are also popular repellents for sandflies. If you are extremely sensitive to insect stings or bites, you will probably prefer to sleep in an air-conditioned room. The Maya Beach Hotel maintains our beach and facilities in ways that control flying insects, but it is a natural, subtropical environment.
Q / Do I need a passport and/or visa?
A / Everyone needs a valid passport to visit Belize. Americans, Canadians, EC passport holders, and many other nationalities may visit Belize without obtaining a visa in advance. Please visit this website http://belizetourism.net/info/enrq_wkpmt.html to see the entry visa requirements for your nationality.
Q / Should I exchange money before I come?
A / In Belize, there is no need to have anything but US dollars when you arrive. There is a fixed rate for the Belize dollar (BZ $) against the US dollar (as of May 2004 the rate is 2 BZ$ = 1 US$). Most establishments will accept US dollars and will give you change in Belize dollars. Most will also accept traveler's checks. ATMs are scarce, and credit cards are only accepted in some places and the exchange rate you receive is poor. Our recommendation is to bring part of your money in cash and part in traveler's checks (in case of theft). If you are traveling from outside the United States, you should exchange your own currency into US dollars before you come.
Q / What will the weather be like?
A / The climate here is subtropical. The temperature is almost always in the high 80s to high 90s during the day. In the summer, nights are very warm and in the winter there is more relief from the heat with temperatures dropping in to the high 60s and low 70s overnight. There is normally less rain between the months of November and April but there is a chance of rain year-round and especially in the summer.
Q / What should I bring with me?
A / Dress comfortably and casually. During the day you will probably be most comfortable in shorts, but at night you may prefer lightweight long pants or jeans. Most of the nightlife is casual but you may also see casual chic in some of the more upscale or trendy establishments. If you plan to visit the jungle you should definitely bring long pants and long sleeves as well as good hiking shoes and a hat. Even during the drier winter months, rain is possible so you will probably appreciate a lightweight rain jacket and waterproof hat. There is no need to bring your own bottled water or toilet paper as they are readily available. The nearby convenience store stocks products like sunscreen, insect repellent, film, batteries and personal care items, but it may be less expensive to bring those things from home. Don’t forget your camera!
Q / What about vaccinations?
A / There are some diseases in Belize that you can be vaccinated against before your trip. These include Hepatitis A and B, Typhoid, Malaria, and Influenza. Ask your doctor which vaccinations are currently recommended or visit an immunization clinic.
Q / Where is Belize?
A / Belize is on the Caribbean (East) coast of Central America, sharing borders with Mexico, Guatemala, and Honduras.
Q / Is Belize Spanish speaking?
A / Actually, Belize is officially an English-speaking country. However, Spanish is the first or second language of many Belizeans so you may have a chance to use Spanish when you are here.
Q / What are the people like?
A / Belize is a very diverse country, populated by Mestizos (44%), Creole (30%), Mayan/Indian (11%), and Garifuna people (7%). The remaining 8% of the population is made up of North Americans, Europeans, and Asians. While people live rather harmoniously, there are distinct cultural differences that can be seen in towns throughout the country. While at the Maya Beach Hotel, you will likely meet Belizeans of all sorts.
Q / How big is Belize?
A / In terms of population, Belize has approximately 240,000 residents. Its physical size is roughly the size of Massachusetts, or about two thirds the size of Belgium. Belize has around 240 miles of coastline on the Caribbean.
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