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Tacogirl Belize blog Est. in 2007

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Travel Season Reminders for a Better Travel Experience

by tacogirl 02/11/2017
written by tacogirl 02/11/2017

Planning a trip can be a channeling even with all the guides, travel blogs and apps out there to help you. No matter how well mapped out your travel arrangements are, you cannot always plan for the unexpected but you can do your best.

Travel Checklist

A good travel checklist can help you take the stress out of the adventure. Here are a few things to add to your list if they are not already there.

  1. Inform your credit card companies and banks that you are taking a trip out of the country. Lounging on the beach is way more fun than having to sit on the phone with your credit card company because an out of country transaction is being flagged as fraudulent or your card got blocked.
  2. While traveling it is always a good idea to keep a secret cash stash in an unlikely place. Do not keep it all in your wallet (same for cards), spread some around on your person if you are carrying it. A diversion wallet is a great idea, fill it with an old library card, expired license and a small bit of cash. That way pickpockets will think they got what they wanted but you come out with a win in the end. I have two great money belts that look like a regular belt to hold your pants up – no one would know there is a long zipper on the back side to make it an easy hiding spot. For luggage, toiletries bags make a great hiding spot. Click on travel safe for more useful ideas on where to stash cash while traveling.
  3. Although we do not like to think about bad things like theft happening on our trips, unfortunately, it happens sometimes. Make sure to include your technical devices in your travel plan. Back up all your important files and favorite pictures before you go away. 
  4. Keep both digital and photocopies of all travel documents and a list important phone numbers in case of an emergency.
  5. If you find your international flight delayed by weather, it is a good idea to have easily accessible contact information for the places you want to inform on the other end. Also, a good idea to have a plan B option on the very rare chance you need to stay in Belize City overnight. 

Travel Season Reminders

“The journey not the arrival matters.” – T.S. Eliot

As the high season is fast approaching, Tropic Air would like to take this opportunity to remind everyone of airline procedures, and a few important issues that may affect you in your travels.

Tropic Air – Delayed Flight Procedures

Between November 15th and the end of April, on Saturday’s and peak demand days such as December 26th, Philip Goldson International Airport (PGIA/BZE) can become very congested at arrivals and at security screening areas. To give it a bit of perspective, there are four U.S. based flights and one Canadian that are scheduled to arrive in Belize between 11:45 am and 1:35 pm.

While Tropic Air will make every effort to ensure a quick and smooth transfer, they suggest that you expect some congestion issues, especially if your arrivals are affected by international carrier arrival delays, air traffic control issues or inclement weather.

If your inbound flight is delayed, Tropic will rebook you on the next available flight at no charge. For those heading to the southern Belize, this may mean a flight the next day if daylight and lack of runway lighting are an issue. By law and strictly enforced, all flights must arrive at their non-lighted destination no later than 30 minutes after official sunset. In the event of international carrier arrival delays, Tropic Air will make every effort to expedite your immigration processing and your flight’s departure.

On time passengers will be processed first, then the rebooked passengers, again, with priority given to passengers headed south late in the evening. In rare circumstances, this can mean a wait of up to 2-3 hours. Tropic Air offers all delayed guests the ability to call their resort or hotel and encourages you to stay near the departure gate in the event that your flight is called early.

San Pedro (SPR) runway does have lights so Tropic Air will fly until the last passenger to San Pedro is taken care of.

Booking Times for Flights 

On arrival leave 1 hour for grabbing your bags and clearing immigration and customs. Chances are good that you will be done sooner, however.

taco Tip #13

If you find yourself in a long line to get through customs, dash into the duty free shop (right beside you) and buy something to put yourself in a much likely shorter, “something to declare” line.

For your departure, you are encouraged to allow at least three hours to check-in and clear security at the PGIA on peak days. US Authorities now require all passengers departing to the USA go through a secondary level of security screening which may delay you further. Plan accordingly, with your carrier’s check-in policy in mind, or risk missing your outbound flights.

The reasoning behind 3-hour rule and why Tropic Air advises you follow it. Technically airlines flying back to the states are supposed to close their manifest 1 hour ahead of time so that everyone can be checked against the no-fly list.

Overall 335 days of the year 2 hours is more than enough. However, there are those random 30 days that it will not be, such as a busy Saturday in March. There are popular annual travel times when Tropic is always extra busy at whichever airport you are flying out of. This can generate minor delays to BZE and increased potential for long lineups at Philip Goldson International Airport check in.

Tropic Air – Check In Procedures

Tropic Air’s regular procedure for all domestic flights require check-in at least 30 minutes prior to departure. Their International flights require check-in at least one hour prior.

Cancelling or changing tickets: All cancellation or ticket change requests must be made at least 24 hours prior to departure or will be subject to change and/or rebooking fees.

Other useful information can also be found on Tropic’s travel info page.

In addition to an expanded fleet of aircraft (soon to be 12 Caravans), Tropic Air has once again secured additional lift capacity in the form of a 19-seat aircraft for the high season. This will mainly be dedicated to flying the Belize City International Airport to San Pedro and Placencia routes, and should help alleviate normal peak period traffic.

Tropic is also expanding their check-in facilities (from 4 to 12 positions) at PGIA ready the near future.

Seasonal Non-Stop Service to Belize – November Start Dates

WestJet:
Toronto (YYZ) – Wednesday and Saturday from November 1, 2017
NEW Calgary (YYC) – Friday November 3, 2017

American Airlines:
Charlotte (CLT) – Saturday November 11, 2017

Southwest Airlines:
Denver (DEN) – Saturday, November 11, 2017

United Airlines:
Chicago (ORD) – Saturday, November 4, 2017

Insert Yourself Here

In case you need some motivation to start planning a “Belize Trip” imagine laying in the hammocks below with two people of your choosing and sipping a cool cocktail or a Belikin Beer on the beach.

belize adventures

New Coupon Codes

After your International flights are booked you can save 10% on your flights in Belize but you better act fast, as of January 2018 the coupon code deal will be changing. While I am not at liberty to tell you exactly how just yet, I will say if you still want to save cash, within the next two months is the time to book (no matter when you plan to fly).

Flight discount codes

Related

tacogirl

Laurie Norton grew up dyslexic and was very challenged by the school. She never dreamed she would move to Belize and become a writer. A year after her move to Ambergris Caye, Laurie became an entrepreneur and professional writer starting tacogirl blog in 2007. Since then she has helped many people plan their vacations or move. She also has been published in Great Destinations Belize Guidebook, Moon Guide to Living in Belize, Insight Guides, Island Magazine several times and USA Today. Currently Laurie resides in downtown San Pedro and enjoys being a "city girl" on a tropical island.

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Delvin Kelly
Delvin Kelly
18:38 22 Jun 22
I just returned from my trip to Belize in mid-June 2022. I had been planning the trip weeks / months in advance and... Laurie (taco girl) wasextremely helpful in preparation for my trip. Her intimate knowledge as an expat who was ONCE a tourist, really helps because she is able to share first hand knowledge of how a tourist can explore Ambergis Caye like a "temporary local". An example of this, was she recommended 2 yoga classes for my wife to enjoy while on vacation that we would not have known about otherwise and the class was far better than a class arranged by a hotel, as you get the local experience not a staged one. In addition, she was helpful in providing recommendations for dinner and sharing some discounts she has arranged with local retailers. Reviewing the taco girl blog and reaching out to Laurie is like having a tour guide, but more important a tour guide that KNOWS Belize.read more
G
G
22:52 16 Jun 22
From the perspective of a couple preparing for a permanent move to Belize, Laurie has been enthusiastically helpful in... both answering our questions and connecting us with local resources for our move. Highly recommend you contact her and make use of her valuable services!!!read more
Darrell Moore
Darrell Moore
13:15 18 Apr 22
Laurie was super helpful in providing places to eat, things to do and best yet had ongoing blogs that allowed us to... look back on other places that she pointed out. A fantastic resource for both first time and return visitors of Ambergris Caye!read more
B W
B W
18:01 08 Feb 22
Fantastic service .I needed to find a place where I could buy a local sim card as my UK sim doesnt work in belize and... Tacogirl put me on the right path .Decided to walk across town and discovered so much more in beautiful San Pedro.Many thanks.BWread more
Kristi Palm
Kristi Palm
20:40 12 Oct 21
We have been using TacoGirl for what feels like decades when planning our trips to Belize! It has only been a few... years but she is the first place we stop to see what is happening in our favorite vacation spot. She knows all the best spots to get away and do so many fun things - whether it is relaxing or exploring! We are planning our next trip with our twins and she was the first person I reached out to. Knowing we have a resource like her, makes trip planning a breeze!read more
D Zep
D Zep
12:39 01 Oct 21
Found tacogirl while doing some research on an upcoming trip to Belize. This is the place for all the information you... need to plan your vacation. Incredibly helpful and responsive. I sent an email with lots of questions and received a very quick and detailed response that helped us finalize our plans.read more
Kelley Adams
Kelley Adams
20:19 21 Sep 21
We have been following TacoGirl for years now and before booking any trip to San Pedro we check to see what is... currently happening. We love the emails to let us know when a new blog has been posted. Keep up the great work Laurie, we feel like we know you.read more
Pamela Nixon
Pamela Nixon
18:36 20 Sep 21
I first got my Passport in 2012 and Taco Girl was my first connection back then Great then and Marvelous Now! She's... blossomed and developed into a wonderful contact for any and all information Belize. She goes above & beyond to respond with information that you need whether visiting Belize or relocating! I wasn't able to fund the move then but now that I have much more equity I am doing it.This time she was the 1st person I reached out to! Now I am selling and moving to Belize. She responds immediately! Like I do in my Pet Sitting Business! I was so impressed I followed her all this time. And was not disappointed!Pamela Nixonread more
Chris S
Chris S
17:12 17 Sep 21
Wanted to give a shout-out to tacogirl belize for helping us! She is a plethora of knowledge and was super helpful and... responsive in helping us find longer term stay on the island. Thank you so much for your help!read more
Ty Willingham
Ty Willingham
01:47 20 Aug 21
I've spent the last month exploring Belize. I'm retired & seriously considering moving down to Belize permanently from... the US. I contacted the local San Pedro expert "Taco Girl" to help me get started in finding an apartment to rent. With her help, I've located several places that meet my needs & budget requirements. Thank you Laurie!read more
Greg Cox
Greg Cox
18:58 04 Aug 21
I am very glad I found you and asked you a question about a spice in Belize. You helped me figure out the name of it... and where i could buy it. You went above and beyond to help. Thanks again.read more
Katherine Jones
Katherine Jones
18:41 02 Aug 21
I am so grateful for the time and energy Laurie has taken to share about her experiences traveling to and living in... Belize as well as provide thorough recommendations for planning a trip there. I was so thankful (and honestly surprised) that Laurie took the time to respond to several of my questions via email. I highly recommend reading Laurie's blogs and helping to support her business. Thank you Laurie!!read more
Greg R
Greg R
02:12 29 Jun 21
tacogirl was very nice to share her knowledge with us and assisted with planning our trip to Belize; thank you for the... help and info, it was helpful and allowed us to plan utilize our time accordingly while both on the mainland and islands of this great country.read more
Katherine Carlson
Katherine Carlson
18:46 02 Jun 21
As a Canadian—tired of long winters—I cannot wait to spend some time in Belize. I haven't set foot yet, but I am... yearning for lots of Caribbean adventure. Thanks so much to tacogirl for her endless enthusiasm and generosity of spirit. She is a constant stream of up-to-date information. Her knowledge and love of the area is priceless, and I will need her expertise for future endeavours!read more
Kathleen Ward
Kathleen Ward
18:29 02 Jun 21
We started coming to Ambergis Caye in 2014 and stumble on to Tacogirls blog, so glad we did! We used her 15% discount... at The Premier Duty-Free shop in the airport! It worked great all we did was let them know we read it on her blog . She has great information awesome pictures, we have tried several places she has recommended, all were amazing. Highly recommend reading her blog. Kathleenread more
ksniegoc1
ksniegoc1
17:45 02 Jun 21
It was my first time visiting Belize and San Pedro so naturally I had a ton of questions when it came time to planning... the travel. Taco Gril's blog was an invaluable source of information for all the travel questions in Ambergris Caye. I was able to learn a lot of basic information, as well as many tips and tricks. In addition when I reached out to Taco Girl for advice on finding a local photographer and a restaurant recommendation, she was very quick to respond and gave me many helpful suggestions. She also provided a lot more information from a local's point of view, which was much for valuable than than a typical guidebook. Thanks to her helpful suggestions we were able to celebrate my daughter's birthday at a nice restaurant, and had a great photo family session with a local photographer. I'm very thankful for all her resources and knowledge.read more
Myra F
Myra F
01:30 25 Mar 21
I started coming to San Pedro Belize in 2007 and that is when I met the online presence of Taco Girl. Her blogs on the... island and area are very personable and informative. She gives out promo codes from time to time so watch out for those. You cannot go wrong with someone who was a tourist and now lives here for quality info. Thanks Taco Girl for helping make my trips memorable!read more
Corey Holm
Corey Holm
04:38 25 Feb 20
I take the seniors from our academy to Belize every year for their senior trip. One of the first people I contact when... I start planning the trip is Laurie with TacoGirl Belize. She knows the island of San Pedro better than anyone else out there. Trust me, I have looked. If you are looking for the best restaurants, hang outs and shops then Laurie help plan your vacation.read more
Carol Taylor
Carol Taylor
15:53 24 Feb 20
Love Taco Girl Blog @LaurieNorton!I've been reading this blog since I started visiting Ambergris Caye in Belize almost... 10 years ago. It is filled with helpful up-to-date information and recommendations that I wouldn't necessarily find on my own. Laurie Norton's knowledge and extensive network on the island provides her with the ability to share perks/discounts/coupons with her readers, which come in handy year after year. Things on the island change daily - new businesses pop up constantly and LaurieNortonstays on top of these developments. Whenever I plan my return trip to the island, I always check her blog first - and I recommend you do the same. Trip Advisor ain't got nuttin' on Taco Girl!read more
Heidi
Heidi
20:01 20 Feb 20
Laurie's blog is my official “go to” source for tourist and local information on San Pedro. Of course, it’s always nice... to see her guides on “what to do” in San Pedro, but I also appreciate her “insider” advice and human interest stories on what it’s like living as a local on the island. There is so much information it's amazing! Thank you Laurie!!!read more
Nick Goodman
Nick Goodman
21:23 30 Nov 19
I am considering a move to Belize and I have serendipitously found tacogirl.....what a treasure! She is full of great... advice, helpful hints.....knows everybody on Ambergris Caye and has a thousand useful recommendations and suggestions. Whether you are planning a vacation or relocating, you should make use of the many services she has to offer…..read more
KellyDivePhotography
KellyDivePhotography
20:58 30 Nov 19
I’m so pleased to see tacogirl's blog on Google. Laurie's blog is my official “go to” source for tourist and local... information on San Pedro. Of course, it’s always nice to see her guides on “what to do” in San Pedro, but I also appreciate her “insider” advice and human interest stories on what it’s like living as a local on the island. I especially enjoy her guest articles, providing a different perspective of all things San Pedro. Her tipping quide is a classic, and don’t forget her Tropic Air flight code and on-island discounts. You’re not up-to-date with what’s going on in San Pedro if you’re not regularly reading tacogirl's blog.read more
Sandra Godfrey
Sandra Godfrey
15:58 23 Nov 19
I have known Laurie (Taco Girl) for several years. She has been a wealth of good information for me in all of my... pursuits in Belize. I highly recommend her for any services you may require.read more
William Jones
William Jones
13:39 06 May 19
Do yourself a favor. Read this BEFORE any trip to San Pedro - Ambergris Caye or Belize in general. Not saying “do what... everyone else says”, but Laurie has frank and honest info which will make your stay in country a little more fun, a little more informative, and often at a great cost savings. Best thing: it’s unbiased, honest, and factual. Personal note: thank you for your personal tailored help in answering mine (and my wife’s) questions.read more
Kimberly Robinson
Kimberly Robinson
18:28 03 May 19
Taco Girl (Laurie) is amazing. She has so much knowledge about Belize and has great connections with many of the... businesses in Belize. Because of her connections she is able to offer many perks and discounts that you wouldn't have been able to find otherwise. She is super responsive and I always go to her for all my travel needs. From golf cart rentals, to spas, to places to eat. She's got the inside scoop on all!read more
Michael Rieck
Michael Rieck
20:22 21 Apr 19
Since 2003, my wife and I have been to Ambergris at least once a year to experience the fantastic diving. About twelve... years ago we me Tacogirl on a blog giving us discounts on golf carts, local airfares, and restaurants. Over the years we have grown a friendship and I look forward to her weekly blogs about he changes on my favorite home away from home. The island changes every year, and she always shows you what to see, do, and eat.read more
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Belize Blog Est. 2007

belize travel specialist

ABOUT ME

I took the plunge and moved to San Pedro Town on the Island of Ambergris Caye, off the coast of Belize, Central America. Originally from Canada, I made the life-changing move to escape winter for good (in 2006) after one three week vacation. If you have any questions or want Belize help planning and booking, please feel free to contact me.

SPARKING MY DESIRE

A few childhood memories that shaped my desire to move to Belize from a young age. Sailing in the Virgin Islands, seeing a rainbow out the window of an island hopper as we flew from Virgin Islands to Puerto Rico, Christmas in Hawaii and many trips to Florida.

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