Just booked a "scouting" trip to Belize this January!

[Kris]

Husband and I plan to retire semi-nomadically at the end of 2018. We have a lst of potential places we plan to live for 6 months or more, beginning with Central America and eventually moving to Europe as more of our retirement funds become available to us.

We just booked our first exploratory trip to Ambergris Caye this January. Staying in a furnished apartment in a complex with enough amenities for husband to be happy with the vacation-ness of it, but still enough like living there that we'll be able to get a feel for what it would be like to settle in for a while.  When I hit "confirm" on the apartment reservation, something clicked inside me... This is step one of eventually pulling the plug!  I am so excited!!!

[rocketpj]

It's been some time since I was in Belize, but my experience has been affirmed by some others I know who've been there more recently.

Basically, the Cayes are amazing, paradise on earth (outside of Hurricane season anyway).  Good to have a way to make a few bucks from the tourists, but not necessary.  However, Belize City is another situation altogether.  You DO NOT go out at night.  I've never felt my 'danger' antennae as strongly as I did in that city - and I've been in a few scary cities.

But I'd consider living there part-time for life on the Cayes.

[Kris]

It's been some time since I was in Belize, but my experience has been affirmed by some others I know who've been there more recently.

Basically, the Cayes are amazing, paradise on earth (outside of Hurricane season anyway).  Good to have a way to make a few bucks from the tourists, but not necessary.  However, Belize City is another situation altogether.  You DO NOT go out at night.  I've never felt my 'danger' antennae as strongly as I did in that city - and I've been in a few scary cities.

But I'd consider living there part-time for life on the Cayes.

Yeah, I've definitely heard that about Belize City, and we will not be stopping there (apart from the airportm that is).

[libertarian4321]

We thought about doing this, but so far, I haven't been able to convince my wife to quit working.

In a couple of trips to Belize, we've never felt, "threatened", but we were largely in tourist areas.

Still, can Belize City (or whatever) be any worse than DC or Baltimore?  Probably not.

[rocketpj]

Still, can Belize City (or whatever) be any worse than DC or Baltimore?  Probably not.

I don't know, but it was worse than Tangiers, Tegucigalpa, Cairo, Rio de Janeiro, Casablanca, Mexico City and Guatemala City, none of which are seen as particularly safe for gringos.  Most of them depend on which neighbourhood you spend time in, and that probably also applies to DC or Baltimore (never been so can't say).  Belize City may have had 'good' neighbourhoods, but I don't know where they were.

That said, it was a long time ago and YMMV.

[Kris]

Still, can Belize City (or whatever) be any worse than DC or Baltimore?  Probably not.

I don't know, but it was worse than Tangiers, Tegucigalpa, Cairo, Rio de Janeiro, Casablanca, Mexico City and Guatemala City, none of which are seen as particularly safe for gringos.  Most of them depend on which neighbourhood you spend time in, and that probably also applies to DC or Baltimore (never been so can't say).  Belize City may have had 'good' neighbourhoods, but I don't know where they were.

That said, it was a long time ago and YMMV.

Just curious, how long ago was it?

There probably are good neighborhoods in Belize City, as you say, but I have heard a number of warnings from well-traveled friends that it's not a particularly safe city.  And also from less wel-traveled friends who look at me in horror because they have heard "Belize is dangerous!" 

Ultimately, I remind them, and myself, that there are areas of Minneapolis I would not go into after dark. But that doesn't lead me to say, "Minnesota is dangerous!"  It's an important balance to be aware but not hysterical. 

[fallstoclimb]

Oh gosh, I loved Belize.

I don't think Belize City is as dangerous as it once was, although I think it's also still not worth visiting.

Make sure you travel inland as well, though.  Swimming into the ATM cave is one of the coolest experiences I've had in my life.

Your FIRE life sounds AWESOME.

[kendallf]

http://jlcollinsnh.com/2013/07/08/they-will-kill-you-for-your-shoes/

^this.

Seriously, I don't want to make light of danger, but you're going to get warnings no matter where you go.  Use some common sense and you will almost certainly be fine.

[2ndTimer]

Very wise.  We had planned on living in Ecuador until we did a scouting trip and concluded that we couldn't be happy there.  We settled on Mexico instead which was better for us.

[Kris]

Oh gosh, I loved Belize.

I don't think Belize City is as dangerous as it once was, although I think it's also still not worth visiting.

Make sure you travel inland as well, though.  Swimming into the ATM cave is one of the coolest experiences I've had in my life.

Your FIRE life sounds AWESOME.

Thanks! We do plan to.  Although our main concern right now is finding a place to "light" for awhile in Belize.  So, much of the awesome travel inland can come later, once we're there.  I'm so, so excited about beginning to explore new places as an expat.  After Belize, our plan is Ecuador for a while.

[Kris]

Very wise.  We had planned on living in Ecuador until we did a scouting trip and concluded that we couldn't be happy there.  We settled on Mexico instead which was better for us.

Mexico is on our list.  Currently, San Miguel de Allende is the town that is most tempting us.

[Kris]

http://jlcollinsnh.com/2013/07/08/they-will-kill-you-for-your-shoes/

^this.

Seriously, I don't want to make light of danger, but you're going to get warnings no matter where you go.  Use some common sense and you will almost certainly be fine.

I agree.  I've traveled a fair amount, and over the years I have heard many people react with shrill alarm at the mere mention of places that are perfectly fine.  Hell, I know people who are afraid to go to downtown Minneapolis in the middle of the day.  I know people who would be terrified to live in my neighborhood because it's right on the edge between a tony part of town and a less tony, slightly more dangerous part of town. 

Still, I do appreciate warnings from people who are well-traveled and not alarmists.  I would not think for one minute of actually living in Belize City.  But I am sure it is possible to go to a doctor's appointment there and not get murdered. 

[choppingwood]

It's been some time since I was in Belize, but my experience has been affirmed by some others I know who've been there more recently.

Basically, the Cayes are amazing, paradise on earth (outside of Hurricane season anyway).  Good to have a way to make a few bucks from the tourists, but not necessary.  However, Belize City is another situation altogether.  You DO NOT go out at night.  I've never felt my 'danger' antennae as strongly as I did in that city - and I've been in a few scary cities.

But I'd consider living there part-time for life on the Cayes.

Absolutely agree. I wouldn't even stay overnight in Belize City on my way to the Cayes. It is just as dangerous during daylight hours. But the cayes are very lovely.

[2ndTimer]

Kris:  When you go to Mexico, check out Jalapa.  We settled there and found it delightful.

[Prepube]

Oh gosh, I loved Belize.

I don't think Belize City is as dangerous as it once was, although I think it's also still not worth visiting.

Make sure you travel inland as well, though.  Swimming into the ATM cave is one of the coolest experiences I've had in my life.

Your FIRE life sounds AWESOME.

I have spent a great deal of time in Belize, and Belize City is every bit as dangerous as it ever was, and maybe worse recently. 

I love the more southern parts of the country and do not care that much for the Americanized San Pedro area, though Caye Caulker isn't terrible.  Give me a boat and a beach house in Placencia, Hopkins, or Dangriga, and i am in heaven.  Next Thursday is Settlement Day, my favorite holiday in Belize.  Its a bad day to travel in the country because everyone gets so drunk they cant stand up, then they try to reenact the landing of settlers on the beach.  Its great fun as long as you are drinking One Barrel and have a Belikin in the other hand.  Congrats on taking steps toward the final approach to FIRE.  If you want more info about Dangriga or Hopkins, or want some names of some nice local folks who can help set up trips there or guides for the reef, Tikal, etc., let me know.

[choppingwood]

http://jlcollinsnh.com/2013/07/08/they-will-kill-you-for-your-shoes/

^this.

Seriously, I don't want to make light of danger, but you're going to get warnings no matter where you go.  Use some common sense and you will almost certainly be fine.

I agree.  I've traveled a fair amount, and over the years I have heard many people react with shrill alarm at the mere mention of places that are perfectly fine.  Hell, I know people who are afraid to go to downtown Minneapolis in the middle of the day.  I know people who would be terrified to live in my neighborhood because it's right on the edge between a tony part of town and a less tony, slightly more dangerous part of town. 

Still, I do appreciate warnings from people who are well-traveled and not alarmists.  I would not think for one minute of actually living in Belize City.  But I am sure it is possible to go to a doctor's appointment there and not get murdered.

I am well travelled to fairly exotic locales in South and Central America and North Africa and I am not a nervous traveller. However, while waiting for a few people to gather to get on a van one morning in Belize City, a couple I was travelling with walked 2 or 3 hundred feet away, and two guys grabbed the man and held a knife against his throat and demanded money. The woman, who is a really diminutive lady a la Audrey Hepburn, stomped over to them and swatted them with her large sunhat, and yelled, "You let go of my husband this second!" They were so surprised that they did, and took off. But there are many stories there with very unhappy endings. I walked around to do the essential business I had, but I wouldn`t stay there again.

I did see people walk across the tarmac at the airport from the big plane to the little one, and that would be the best way to get to the cayes, which are very beautiful, as is the inland.

[Blatant]

Congrats on your step. I'm sure you'll have a blast down there.

[Kris]

Oh gosh, I loved Belize.

I don't think Belize City is as dangerous as it once was, although I think it's also still not worth visiting.

Make sure you travel inland as well, though.  Swimming into the ATM cave is one of the coolest experiences I've had in my life.

Your FIRE life sounds AWESOME.

I have spent a great deal of time in Belize, and Belize City is every bit as dangerous as it ever was, and maybe worse recently. 

I love the more southern parts of the country and do not care that much for the Americanized San Pedro area, though Caye Caulker isn't terrible.  Give me a boat and a beach house in Placencia, Hopkins, or Dangriga, and i am in heaven.  Next Thursday is Settlement Day, my favorite holiday in Belize.  Its a bad day to travel in the country because everyone gets so drunk they cant stand up, then they try to reenact the landing of settlers on the beach.  Its great fun as long as you are drinking One Barrel and have a Belikin in the other hand.  Congrats on taking steps toward the final approach to FIRE.  If you want more info about Dangriga or Hopkins, or want some names of some nice local folks who can help set up trips there or guides for the reef, Tikal, etc., let me know.

Thanks! I appreciate it!  I can definitely understand your feelings about San Pedro. We think it will perhaps be a good starting off point for retirement. Our main reason for looking there is that there will be enough of an expat community to get us through the first months of our expat retirement: lots of people to ask about things like tax preparation, visa renewal, and stuff we didn't know enough to look into before we pulled the plug. I anticipate us staying there for six month to a year, and then moving somewhere less glutted by people like me. ;)

[Nancy]

Congrats! This is awesome and what my husband and I will hopefully do as well. Please keep us posted on what you find!

[arebelspy]

Yes!  Following.  :)

Belize has, for years, been our #1 spot outside the U.S. to eventually settle.

Right now we're traveling full time, and probably will be for years, but I think if we settle somewhere in the states it will be in Oregon (the PNW is just beautiful), and if it's outside the states it'll be Belize.  (That's subject to change... maybe we find some other place we love, like Thailand or something, but that's the idea for now).

Belize has the perfect storm, in my mind: Great weather, cheap, English speaking, outside the U.S.  I read several books about Belize, even, to learn a lot about it, but haven't been there yet.

I wouldn't live on Ambergris Caye, personally.  Too expensive, too touristy.  I'd like to live on the mainland.  More rural.  I agree with those that said to avoid Belize City, and there are very few places in the world I'd say that about.

If we moved there permanently, it'd be to do a homesteading type thing.  We've looked at places to buy there.  Some have tons of fruit trees that just grow naturally (oranges, mangos, limes, avacados, etc.), you could get a garden going, some chickens, goats, rabbits, whatever, have off-grid utilities--a big water storage tank, solar chargers, etc.

Here's an ad, for example, that I saved for a place I found a few years ago:

FARM FOR RENT
Farm For Rent In Georgeville, Cayo, Belize. 10 to 18 acres. Two houses. Two cabanas. Large wood work shop. Could rent with equipment. Many fruit trees. Fish pond. Much more. $750 US per month. Negotiable. Contact Phone number [redacted]. Email [redacted]  (August 21, 2012)

Two houses and two cabanas?  You could house like 10 people there.  Fish pond?  Wood working shop?  And the $750/mo. is negotiable!?

I'd love to have a place like that with a bunch of friends.  If you were splitting the rent with some people, the cost of living will be about $100-300/mo for rent, depending on how many people, a lot of the food will come from the farm--you could have some chickens for eggs.  Do lots of reading and hanging out in tropical paradise.

Sounds perfect.

[Daisy]

Ambergris Caye - I spent a week there on a diving trip in the 90s.

A friend of mine that went in our group loved it so much, he claimed he would retire there. I should ask him if he still thinks that. He is on the retire early plan, but now has a family and might not want to move them down there. He spent the whole week walking around barefoot on the beach and streets - well when we weren't diving.

I must say that Belize has the best diving I have done. I live in South Florida and had been diving around home for about 2 years when I went to Ambergris Caye. The reef there was beautiful and full of colorful sealife. Diving the Blue Hole was great too. On the way there by boat, we overnighted on a small island I called "Gilligan's Island" and we slept on hammocks. That's one of my favorite travel stories.

I dove the Great Barrier Reef about 10 years later and reflected back on my diving in Belize and realized I loved diving in Belize much more. The GBR just didn't do it for me as the Belize reef did.

Oh, and the really cheap lobsters we had in Ambergris were a huge plus. I wonder if they are similarly priced these days.

[Longwaytogo]

Still, can Belize City (or whatever) be any worse than DC or Baltimore?  Probably not.

Not sure where you live, but cracked me up that these are the 2 US cities you threw out there as I live smack in the middle of them. Is that really our rap now? What about LA, Detroit, C'mon man!!

But seriously Kris, sounds amazing! Congrats and I'll look forward to hearing about it.

@ARS- The shared homestead you describe does sound pretty sweet and cheap to boot!

[Bearded Man]

We thought about doing this, but so far, I haven't been able to convince my wife to quit working.

In a couple of trips to Belize, we've never felt, "threatened", but we were largely in tourist areas.

Still, can Belize City (or whatever) be any worse than DC or Baltimore?  Probably not.

Actually, in my opinion, they can. At least in Baltimore I can carry a gun.

[UnleashHell]

so you are all saying that I shouldn't have been wondering around Belize city last week?


was only for a few hours though. The city didn't look too bad but not my idea of a home base.

[daymare]

I hope your scouting trip is successful and enjoyable!

My husband and I were in Belize this past January, spent 5 nights near Orange Walk Town, and 4 in Ambergris Caye.  We had a lovely trip, and the people we met were terrific.  However, it was still very sad to see such poverty, ie on the bus between Belize City and OWT, plus those two places.  Ambergris Caye was ... obviously more developed, not quite so dirty/dusty.  It's very tourist-y, with many people renting golf carts and riding around in them (we used bikes, obvi).  It's quite loud/polluted.  The prices weren't all that cheap.  I definitely enjoyed our trip, so I don't want to come off as negative.  But the poverty was really tough to see, so I guess I learned that I couldn't live somewhere like that.  (So obviously, plenty of areas in the US that I wouldn't want to live in as well.)  We didn't do any diving, but I've heard it's absolutely the best in Belize, so here's hoping you two can experience that.

I quite liked the Belikin stout, so definitely check that out as well. :)

[MMMaybe]

I think being in a place like that is harder outside of tourist season. Thats when you really see if you like it. When its just you and the people who really live there 365 days a year.

We lived in the Bahamas for a couple of years and I think you really do figure out after a while if you are the kind of person who enjoys being there full-time or whether its just not lively enough for you. We met people who were living full time on an island with under 100 residents. Yikes, some of them seriously needed some time off the rock, they had gone fully troppo.

[Eric]

Husband and I plan to retire semi-nomadically at the end of 2018. We have a lst of potential places we plan to live for 6 months or more, beginning with Central America and eventually moving to Europe as more of our retirement funds become available to us.

I'm curious about your residency status plans.  Are you going to just do Tourist Visa and renew periodically through travel, apply for Residency (I think Belize is pretty easy (comparitively) from what I've read), or play it by ear to start?

[coolistdude]

I'm also very interested in Belize (yay English and landscape!!). Last I checked, for their retirement program starting at age 45 you need $24k/yr. Are you guys going that route? I know it is possible to live on much less than $2k/month in the country depending where you reside. This could heavily reduce the amount I need to save up for retirement. Is there an alternative strategy one can do before age 45?

[flyingaway]

We were in Costa Rica to "experience" the local life last week. The hotels that we stayed were in $60~$80 range per nights, except the last night at a Hilton Garden Inn. My wife complained a lot and told me that the hotels do not meet her standards, which are usually all-inclusive resorts. We have been talking about slow travels after retirement. It seems that there will be a long way to go before we can actually do slow travels.

[Kris]

I'm also very interested in Belize (yay English and landscape!!). Last I checked, for their retirement program starting at age 45 you need $24k/yr. Are you guys going that route? I know it is possible to live on much less than $2k/month in the country depending where you reside. This could heavily reduce the amount I need to save up for retirement. Is there an alternative strategy one can do before age 45?

We may do that eventually, if we decide to stay long term. We have no plans to buy property, at least not at first, so we think we'll probably end up staying, for example, about a year in Belize, living 3-6 months here or there. From there we'll probably go somewhere else like Costa Rica for a while. Maybe at some point we'll find a place we want to be semipermantly, at which point, we'd get a residency permit.

[Kris]

We were in Costa Rica to "experience" the local life last week. The hotels that we stayed were in $60~$80 range per nights, except the last night at a Hilton Garden Inn. My wife complained a lot and told me that the hotels do not meet her standards, which are usually all-inclusive resorts. We have been talking about slow travels after retirement. It seems that there will be a long way to go before we can actually do slow travels.

Ugh, too bad. Well, on the plus side, it's better to know that now. Do you think she might manage to ease into it slowly? I don't know, though, if an all-inclusive isn't cushy enough...

[arebelspy]

I'm also very interested in Belize (yay English and landscape!!). Last I checked, for their retirement program starting at age 45 you need $24k/yr. Are you guys going that route? I know it is possible to live on much less than $2k/month in the country depending where you reside. This could heavily reduce the amount I need to save up for retirement. Is there an alternative strategy one can do before age 45?

That's what we want to do, but hit the same wall you did (with your final question)... the age limit on it is much too old.  :)