[DAVID L.]

Hi Scott,
On our first couple of trips to Belize we used a cheapo T-Mobile cell phone from Walmart. Had to have it unlocked and then used a SIM Card from BTL (Belize Telephone Limited). We used the BTL pre-paid plan. While we were in the States, I put $5.00BZ on it every month to hold the number (on-line). $50.00BZ will last 3 months before the reminding balance expires. Less than $50BZ will expire in one month. Hence, the reason I only put $5BZ each month before we moved permanently to Belize.

Once we moved, I moved the SIM card from the T-Mobile to my Verizon phone. If the SIM card needs be to cut down to fit the new phone, BTL will do this for you. Now, we get $50BZ on Double Days which gives us $100BZ for 3 months (again, on-line)

This cell phone is for Belize calls and international texting but no data (pictures, internet searching, etc.). Data plans are extra. We use email for pictures.

You can get subscription plans for voice, text, and data. But, for our situation, pre-paid works out better.

We also use MagicJack for calls to and from the US and Canada. We have a Sarasota number that is transferred over internet (VOIP) to our BZ home phone. It is $99US for 5 years. As long as the internet works to your home, this works great. Also, with an APP, you can place and receive calls on your cell phone, as long as, you are linked to WIFI (here, US or Canada).

Hope this helps,
David

[DAVID L.]

Hi Marc,

We have also taken the bus from Mexico to Belize. We caught the bus out of Playa del Carmen. Be careful, there are two bus stations in Playa, so you need to be at the right one. They do have reserved seating. We bought our tickets on the day of travel so my wife and I were in two different rows. (Not necessarily a good idea from my wife’s point of view.) The temp was fine. But, a light jacket or sweater is not a bad idea. We traveled late afternoon into the evening so most people were sleeping with the window blinds drawn. That was not conducive to sightseeing out the windows. Also, when you sleep, you have a tendency to feel colder. We live in Consejo (6 miles north of Corozal), so we took the bus to Chetumal and had a taxi take us from Chetumal to Consejo and through Customs/Immigration.

Hope this helps,
David

[DAVID L.]

Pierre, be careful of the timing. If you are planning to use the duty-free aspect of QRP, you have 12 months from when the QRP application is approved and you pay the addition fees to use the duty-free aspect. If you are planning to move soon including household goods, then apply as soon as possible. Once approved, pay your additional fees quickly. When you move, you’ll need two letters from BTB addressed to Customs. One for your vehicle and one for your household goods. Keep a detailed list of the household goods you are shipping along with the value of each item. Besides knowing what you are shipping is handy to have, BTB will require it for the Custom’s letter. We moved a significant amount of household goods and paid only $300 in duty (for old rakes, shovels, a power washer, and something else). I am not sure how value is calculated. I think it just depends on your broker and the customs officer.
On the flip side, I applied and was approved for QRP. However, we weren’t moving until our house sold in the States. Therefore, once approved, I let the application just sit there for 6 months until we had a contract on the house then I paid the additional fees and started the 12-month clock.

Hope this helps, David

[DAVID L.]

I am sure there is an immigration office in Placencia. If it is like Corozal, you go to the immigration office to request the visitor’s visa. They give you a form to take to the treasurer’s office. You pay either $50 BZD or $100BZD after 6 months. They give you a receipt for the payment which you take back to the immigration office for the stamp in your passport. Be aware that there are heavy/light days and heavy/light hours within a day. Check it out with local expats.

Hope this helps.

David

[DAVID L.]

hey Gary, waited at Blues until 5:30. maybe we can try again another day.

[DAVID L.]

Yes, there is a Snowbirds Ball tomorrow evening. However, we are not attending. Let’s go ahead and do this evening at 5:00pm at Blue’s. OK?

[DAVID L.]

How about Saturday for breakfast at Tony’s Inn?

[DAVID L.]

How about Friday at 4:00pm at Corozo Blue’s. It is on the Bay just south of you. Should be easy to talk there.
.

[DAVID L.]

Make that $2.05 at private exchange places.

[DAVID L.]

The Blue Iguana is not closed. We had lunch there 2 weeks ago. They have newly released movies (within 6 months of theater release) every Saturday night along with darts, band and karaoke on other nights. The owners name is Steve (011-501-630-5595). The restaurant is good and on the ocean. I don’t know if they have rentals.

Another place is Tony’s for a restaurant and accommodations. Blue’s (on the water – a little south of Jam Rock next door to Tony’s), Tony’s or Jam Rock (the owner, Rocky (as it turns out), is a character, very knowledgeable and always has a pickup truck for us to rent) are good places to meet.

We get into Corozal often (the never-ending shopping list). Our schedule is probably not as tight as yours (we live in the Caribbean, after all) so you name the date and time to meet.

[DAVID L.]

Pierre, there may be a couple of other options. Note that my experience is with USD and NOT CND!
The bad news is that we have working on getting an account at Atlantic Bank Limited (ABL) since Nov, 2015!!! Everyone’s experience is different. Each month the Central Bank asked for another form of documentation. Sometimes the same one several times. As Ann indicates, it is probably due to FATCA regulations.

It is true that being on QRP or a Resident helps. In theory, if you show an investment in Belize (e.g., purchase land or a home) that qualifies you to open an account. I am on QRP, Lynn is working on her Residency status and we own a home, it is still taking 15 months and counting.

Thankfully, we have a USD account at Atlantic International Bank Limited (AIBL). (We also have a mortgage at AIBL but that’s a whole different story and a positive one at that.) We wire USD from Schwab (as Ann discussed) to AIBL. It stays in USDs. When we need to withdraw from the account, it is in USD, which is nice. You give them a day’s notice of the withdrawal. You prick up the USD in Belize City OR you can have it sent to a local ABL branch for pickup, which is really nice!

A credit union may be another way to manage money. It appears that it is much easier to get an account at a credit union. We are checking that out now.

Also, the exchange rate for USD at ABL is $1.9875. Locally (shops, stores, service people) it is $2.00. There are private exchanges that offer $2.10.

I am not recommending anything. Just relaying our experience. I have no idea how this relates to CND.

Hope this helps.

[DAVID L.]

American dollars (USD) are welcome everywhere. All prices are in Belize are in Belizean dollars (BZD). The exchange rate is $1 USD for $2 BZD. In other words, an item that is for sale at $10 BZD is $5 USD. Change is almost always provided in BZD. Many places accept VISA, but not all. Just make sure your credit card will not charge foreign transaction fees. Hope this helps. BTW, you’ll feel very welcomed in Belize.

[DAVID L.]

Pierre, we just brought our dog (Dolly, 70 lb. Yellow Lab) into the country through Belize City Airport. BAHA was the easiest part of the entire process. They were extremely helpful with both information and very accommodating when we arrived at the airport. Pay special attention to timing of the Good Health Certificate from the Vet. Also, pay attention to the timing of shots. Several must be administered 1 month before departure. Our Vet got online and looked at the requirements to provide a professional interpretation of the rules. Finally, be very sensitive to the airline requirements. We were shipping Dolly with us, on the same airplane as we were on, as checked baggage (never say air cargo because the price will go up 10-fold and duty will be charged on the pet. No duty on a pet as checked baggage or carry-on.) for checked baggage, we had to make sure that the temperature was not expected to exceed 85 degrees at origination, intermediate stops or the destination. If they were forecasted to exceed 85, the airlines will not accept the pet and your SOL including your ticket if it is non-refundable. We were at the departing airport 4 hours early. There is a ton of paperwork that the airlines must go through to make sure all documents are in order (just a word to the wise). TSA required the removal of our pet from the crate, dog and crate inspected, Dolly back into the create and then we had to zip tie (we had to supply the zip ties) her create shut. We told the flight crew that our pet was travelling as checked baggage. They double checked to make sure Dolly was on board. They were surprised the Dolly didn’t IM us when she was boarded (airline humor, I guess). We made the 8-hour travel with no problems. Dolly thinks Belize is a lot warmer than she is used too but she loves the water. Traveling with a cat should be easier especially if it is in carry-on luggage. Just watch timing of shots/certificate and the give yourself plenty of airline check-in time.

[DAVID L.]

By ‘Corozal District’ do you ‘Corozal Town’? The district takes in a lot of territory. The town is on the Corozal Bay, just south of the Mexican border (Chetumal). We live in Mayan Seaside (part of Consejo Village) which is 6 miles north of Corozal. We have been researching Belize for over 3 years and settled on Consejo/Corozal as the right place for us. We bought a house 1 ½ years ago and, after several visits, moved here permanently 4 months ago. We would be happy to meet with you and share our knowledge and preferences with you. Just let us know when you’ll be here.

David and Lynn

[DAVID L.]

Have you considered two different rentals? One for in and around Mexico then a separate one in Belize. There are Tropic Air flights from Cancun to San Pedro / Belize City and very good luxury bus service from Cancun, Playa de Carma, Chetumal to Corozal and Belize City. That might evirate the border crossing and insurance concerns.

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