Book Description
You'll never fall into the tourist traps when you travel with Frommer's. It's like having a friend show you around, taking you to the places locals like best. Our expert authors have already gone everywhere you might go -- they've done the legwork for you, and they're not afraid to tell it like it is, saving you time and money. No other series offers candid reviews of so many hotels and restaurants in all price ranges. Every Frommer's Travel Guide is up-to-date, with exact prices for everything, dozens of color maps, and exciting coverage of sports, shopping, and nightlife. You'd be lost without us!
Frommer's Belize brings you the best of the country's Mayan sites, world-class scuba diving, unspoiled landscapes, and sensitively developed ecological and adventure travel opportunities. Personally researched by a longtime resident of Central America, it's the only truly up-to-date guide that gives you such in-depth coverage of this fast-developing country, with recommendations to suit every budget.
Download Description
You'll never fall into the tourist traps when you travel with Frommer's. It's like having a friend show you around, taking you to the places locals like best. Our expert authors have already gone everywhere you might go -- they've done the legwork for you, and they're not afraid to tell it like it is, saving you time and money. No other series offers candid reviews of so many hotels and restaurants in all price ranges. Every Frommer's Travel Guide is up-to-date, with exact prices for everything, dozens of color maps, and exciting coverage of sports, shopping, and nightlife. You'd be lost without us!
Frommer's Belize brings you the best of the country's Mayan sites, world-class scuba diving, unspoiled landscapes, and sensitively developed ecological and adventure travel opportunities. Personally researched by a longtime resident of Central America, it's the only truly up-to-date guide that gives you such in-depth coverage of this fast-developing country, with recommendations to suit every budget.
Customer Reviews:
better than LP.......2007-08-19
I am a planner freak, so I used this book and Lonely Planet for my trip. I ended up relying on the Frommers as it was more detailed, more accurate with pricing, and included alot of stuff LP didn't.
not so good.......2007-07-26
I took the frommers and the lonely planet book to my first trip belize, get the lonely planet the frommers isnt very useful nor as easy to use nor as accurate (even tho its newer)
The Book of Lies.......2007-07-18
A few days into our trip to Belize, my friends and I began calling this the book of lies. I bought it because it was the only 2007 travel book for Belize, but it none of the prices were accurate and some things it suggested doing hadn't existed in years. It was just a joke by the end of the trip and we would read passages and just laugh at how wrong the information was. You're way better off getting the rough guide or lonely planet and checking the internet for current prices.
Love the Frommer Books.......2007-05-13
I haven't taken the trip yet, but the book seems to cover everything I'll need.
Excellent resource for the vacationer to Belize!!.......2007-03-19
This is the newest book available for travel to Belize you can buy. This book contains many helpful hints and tidbits. This book is EXCELLENT and very detailed.
Book Description
Weave your way through jungle rivers to the haunting sound of howler monkeys, escape the 21st century at Lamanai's millennia-old Maya ruins, dive deep with technicolor marine life at spectacular Glover's Reef or just kick back with a fruity rum punch. Whatever adventures you have in mind, this comprehensive guide will take you deep into the heart of Belize. STEP BACK IN TIME - written by an expert in the field, our chapter on ancient Maya culture unravels the past PLAN YOUR TRIP - inspiring island-hopping and touring itineraries, insider tips and over 30 maps REST EASY on any budget with our comprehensive accommodations listings, from beachside shacks to jungle lodges BE INSPIRED - discover the adrenaline junkie in you with details on the best outdoor activities, including scuba diving and river-tubing GO BEYOND with our excursions to Tikal and Flores, Guatemala
Customer Reviews:
Go with Frommers.......2007-08-19
I am a planner freak, so I used this book and Frommers. I ended up relying on the Frommers as it was more detailed, more accurate with pricing, and included alot of stuff LP didn't.
LP is outdated, and it only had general information about Belize....not as specific as Frommers.
Disappointing.......2007-03-01
As always, the Lonely Planet guide is well-structured with key features such as bus schedules. This particular guide was hit-and-miss with its information, however. Lodging prices were out-of-date (not just seasonally); the Tropical Education Center's prices have nearly doubled. The biggest problem is the outright-misinformed notion that Belize's dry season starts in November; every Belizean told me that it always starts in January or February, hence water levels were still high and wildlife was scarce during my February trip. Several towns and locations of interest were left out, forcing me to buy the Rough Guide. Although the Rough Guide reads like a novel and not so much a field guide, it has more information than the Lonely Planet guide. This was the first trip where nobody I met was using the LP guide.
An absolute must to Belize!.......2007-01-29
Rarely has a book been so useful in traveling around a country. Belize is not so big and the information inside covers most details you will ever want to ask about Belize. Very much in the best spirit of Lonley Guides whose devoted user I have become for any travel to a new destination. Highly recommended for all the Belize travellers (incl. Tikal in Guatemala).
Packed with information.......2007-01-24
A must have for traveler's going off the beaten path. If you're the type that likes to take local transportation and call ahead to hotels, this guide is what you need. If you prefer to stay in an all-inclusive resort, you'll still get inside information about what to do and see locally.
Lonely Planet comes through again!.......2006-03-09
I purchased three Belize guide books, and this was by far the best!
The New Key to Belize(1994) and Hidden Belize(2001) had outdated and duplicate information(word for word!)
Buy the Lonely Planet Book, you will not be disappointed!
Book Description
This new edition gives RV travelers and campers all the information they need to hit the road for Mexico. Chapters are broken up into geographical sections for easy reference, and there is new information on RV travel in Baja and Belize. Routes that bisect or bypass cities are included, to accommodate both visitors who wish to see the hustle and bustle and those who would prefer to get away from it all. Directions, addresses, and maps for virtually every campground in Mexico are provided and make use of GPS coordinates to pinpoint destinations. There are also descriptions of campground facilities and a brief guide to the towns or localities where the campgrounds are located, listing important sights and destinations, local markets, and interesting side trips. Knowledgeably written and accessibly presented, this is the book to take across the border.
Customer Reviews:
Mexican Camping.......2007-10-06
I've been searching on the internet for information on RV (Trailer Parks in Mexico) Resorts in Mexico and it hasn't been very useful. This book however is exactly what I was searching for on the internet but MUCH, MUCH handyer.
A dream becoming reality.......2007-09-01
Thanks to this book, we will be able to get on with our project, drive into Mexico with our Class A. We probably would have done it anyway, but this book makes things easier and with less hassle and waste of time.
We know, now, exactly what and where we will go on our 3 month trip.
Mexican Camping?.......2007-06-08
There is not much useful in this book. Traveling widely in Mexico and checking out many of the suggested stops, few still exist. Just try calling them. One of the few that was still in operation had an overflowing septic tank and was intolerable.
Alas, dry camping with permission is the order of the day. Luckily Mexicans are nice about it. US style RV or tent camping sites are rare as hen's teeth. Since the right to bear arms does not exist in Mexico, security can be a real issue if you make a bad decision. Maybe the best advice, if you do not caravan, would be to drive a decrepit, ratty, small RV so as not to attract the wrong sort.
GREAT CAMPING GUIDE.......2006-02-05
I found the book a GREAT guide for camping with my RV.The publishers website has updates on the campgrounds.
Traveler's Guide to Mexican Camping.......2005-04-11
We found the Churchs book an essential aid in navigating around some of Mexico's cities and finding interesting campsites. Each page is filled with useful information, maps, directions and commentary on camping places that aid in trip planning.
Book Description
The Yucatn Peninsula is today divided among Belize, Guatemala, and Mexico. Travelers to this region discover both astonishing archaeological sites and a stunning array of wildlife, including crocodiles, turtles, lizards, snakes, frogs, toads, and salamanders. This book--written by the world's leading authority on the herpetology of the lowland Maya area--is the only comprehensive field guide to all the species of amphibians and reptiles found there.
This field guide allows identification of all native and introduced species of amphibians and reptiles of the region.
features nearly 180 color photographs and 180 drawings.
offers valuable techniques for field identification, and a glossary of herpetological terms.
provides in each species account: description, natural history, similar species, and geographic distribution (complete with maps of each animal's range).
includes suggested readings for those who want to know more about a particular species.
illustrates all tadpoles.
describes the most characteristic vocalizations of the reptiles and amphibians in the volume.
introduces the physical geography, climate, and vegetation of the region, with emphasis on the habitats of amphibians and reptiles.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent field guide.......2001-08-28
This book is perfect for anyone interested in herps in the Maya Forest. Complementary to Campbell's field guide, but also includes great line drawings, range maps, and characteristics to distinguish from similar species. Also, better photos than in Campbell's guide. If I were to buy one field guide for the area, I'd choose this over Campbell's.
An exceptionally well laid out field guide.......2001-02-09
A Field Guide To The Amphibians And Reptiles Of The Maya World is a comprehensive survey of the crocodiles, turtles, lizards, snakes, frogs, toads, and salamanders found in Belize, Guatemala, and Mexico. This exceptionally well laid out field guide allows the easy identification of all native and introduced species of amphibians and reptiles of the region; is enhanced with 180 color photographs and 180 drawings; provides valuable techniques for field identification; includes a glossary of herpetological terms; and for each species gives a full description, natural history, and geographic distribution information (complete with maps). There are suggested readings for those who want to know more about a particular species, even descriptions of the most characteristic vocalizations of the reptiles and amphibians surveyed. A Field Guide To The Amphibians And Reptiles Of The Maya World is a "must" for any personal, professional, or academic library collection of natural history and herpetology reference works.
Amphibians and Reptiles of the Maya world.......2000-08-23
Julian C. Lee's field guide of the amphibians and reptiles of the Maya world is excellent. The color photographs make it easy to identify the animal in question; the maps give the reader the distribution of the form; the text gives a short synopsis of the characters and natural history of the taxon; the photos, line drawings, and the PRICE make it all worth while. Any person visiting the outback of the Yucatan Peninsula needs a copy of this book. All Nature Touring Companies should have it available for their clients. A wonderful addition for any professional herpetologist bookshelf.
Book Description
"This is a first-class book that will enable users to identify any bird they encounter in Belize."
—Victor Emanuel, President, Victor Emanuel Nature Tours
With nearly six hundred identified species of birds—and an average of five "new" species discovered annually—Belize is becoming a birding hotspot for amateur and professional birders from around the globe. Thousands of birders visit the country each year to enjoy Belize's amazing abundance and variety of both temperate and tropical birds in natural habitats that remain largely unspoiled. But until now, despite the growing need for an authoritative identification guide, birders have had to rely on regional field guides that offer only limited information on Belizean birds.
Birds of Belize provides the first complete guide to the identification of all currently known species—574 in all. The birds are grouped by families, with an introduction to each family that highlights its uniquely identifying characteristics and behaviors. The species accounts include all the details necessary for field identification: scientific and common names, size, plumage features, thorough voice descriptions, habitat, distribution, and status in Belize. Full color, expertly drawn illustrations by noted bird artist Dana Gardner present male and female, juvenile and adult, and basic and alternate plumages to aid visual identification throughout the year, while 234 range maps show the birds' distribution and seasonality in Belize. A comprehensive bibliography completes the volume.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent for novice and expert bird enthusiasts.......2007-09-06
I have several bird books for Central America but this is by far the most comprehensive guide on birds of Belize. There are numerous illustrations and the information is very thorough. If you're looking for a guide to Belizean birds, this is for you.
very good.......2007-03-29
really good bird book lots of interesting facts but just too big to take out in the field!!
The one THEY use!.......2007-03-25
Belize is a bird watcher's paradise. I bought this book right before my first trip to Belize in June of 2006. As an amateur bird watcher, I found it immensely easy to identify birds with this book as a guide. It is somewhat hefty, and a little cumbersome to carry around in the steamy jungles, but its printed on high-quality paper with water-resistant paper boards, and well laid out for quick reference. My wife and I stayed at two resorts during our trip, and all of the resident expert bird guides carried this book! The plates are wonderfully hand drawn in color, which is much better than color photographs for any field guide. Another couple we met also had this book, but felt the drawings of some of the species were not on par with other publications, but obviously a volume dedicated to the single country you are in makes this volume well worth the price.
Trip to Belize.......2007-03-23
We found Birds of Belize to be very helpful in identifying the colorful birds of this tropical nation. We also slipped into the Mayan ruins of Tikal in Guatemala for a day and saw the Black-headed Trogon and Montezuma Oropendola. Along the bus route we saw the Wood Storks flying over distant wetlands. Most of our time was spent in the Cayo district where we enjoyed the friendly Great Kiskadee, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Blue Grosbeak, Baltimore and Orchard Oriole. The parrots kept us challenged, going from tree to tree. And oh, what a disappointment when we learned of Macaw Bank, just down the road from us where those beautiful creatures apparently come each evening. We would have loved to seen the Toucan also. But we did see 50 birds during our 12 day stay. On bus trips we also saw the Lineated Woodpecker. Got a sling book bag made by the locals to carry this heavier book. We probably should have left the book home on our boat journey to Caye Calker for snorkeling; because even the salt water seeped through the bag on a corner of the book. There were a couple of birds which we simply could not identify. Just couldn't find them in the book. Immatures, females, or vagrants? We shall treasure the record of our bird list in the back of the book from this trip to Belize. We were pleased to have taken this helpful identifying bird book with us on the trip. Would have been lost without it.
At last! THE Belize bird guide.......2006-05-04
Due to its small size, proximity to the USA, English speaking tradition, tropical biodiversity and fairly well conserved natural environment, Belize is growing to be one of the most popular destinations for birders. However, until recently the country lacked a national field guide. This book therefore fills a major gap in the bird identification literature.
The book covers all 574 species recorded in Belize at the time of publication. After brief but informative introductory chapters, a group of 56 colour plates is dedicated to every species. As a refreshing change, all migrants are illustrated, reducing the need to carry an additional field guide to North American birds. A brief text accompanies each plate on the facing page, while the full species descriptions are found separately in the main body of text. Range maps for 234 species are found at the back of the book.
Although this book will not replace the immensely authoritative Howell & Webb's "A Guide to the Birds of Mexico and Northern Central America" (on Amazon: ISBN 0198540124) for Belize, it is certainly a much more portable guide to carry into the field. A must for birders planning a trip to this friendly patch of Central America.
Average customer rating:
|
Michelin THE GREEN GUIDE Mexico Guatemala Belize, 1st (THE GREEN GUIDE)
Michelin
Manufacturer: Michelin Travel Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 Guidebooks
| Reference & Tips
| Travel
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Central America
| Latin America
| Travel
| Subjects
| Books
Guatemala
| Central America
| Latin America
| Travel
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Mexico
| Latin America
| Travel
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Michelin
| Guidebook Series
| Travel
| Subjects
| Books
Green Guides
| Michelin
| Guidebook Series
| Travel
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Travel
| Subjects
| Books
Look Inside Travel Books
| Trip
| Specialty Stores
| Books
ASIN: 2061578012 |
Book Description
This title in the acclaimed Michelin Green Guide series brings you the best of Mexico, Guatemala and Belize in a single volume. Experience the bustling Mexico City, one of the biggest cities in the world. Unravel mysteries that lie buried in the legendary archeological sites of Tikal and Uxmal. Stroll the historic streets of the colonial cities of Puebla and Zacatecas or relax on the sugary white-sand beaches of Cancun and Cozumel. A country of unique attractions, Mexico is known for the popular legends of its people, fiestas, as well as for its fine handicrafts. This edition includes listings for hotels, restaurants, cafes and nightlife spots in selected cities.
Book Description
A how-to guidebook written by an American couple who retired to Belize. It details many of the benefits Belize has to offer North American retirees, including: year-round warm weather, world class diving, and sportfishing. It outlines Belize's low cost of living and inflation rate. It gives information on free medical care and government land give aways. 144 pages. Color/B&W photos. Illustrations. Weight: 0.5 pounds. Size: 5.5" X 8.5" X 0.4"
Customer Reviews:
False Advertising.......2003-10-20
Okay, I haven't even read the book, I'm simply reacting to the title.
I've spent a bit of time travelling and lodging in BZ, starting in 1992, and I can assure you that no gringo can live there for $450/month-not at what he/she regards as "living". It is the most expensive country in Central America, and, while beautiful and friendly and easy (English spoken) it sure ain't any bargain. And I love the country.
The authors blow all credibility with that "$450/ month" balderdash. Why not entitle it "Free Money?" Same difference.
Jerry
There has to be something better out there.......2001-09-26
First of all, Bill and Claire Gray need to hire a good editor. Even a bad editor could improve this. Their book is so full of punctuation and grammar errors that it makes reading difficult and continually annoys.
Beyond that, the book is brief, anecdotal, and incomplete. It's poorly organized and badly illustrated. I simply don't understand the positive reviews. I'll be looking for something better since I'm hoping to spend time in Belize soon and possibly retire there.
Granted, the Blair's have shared some helpful hints from their years of living in Belize. There are tips on entering the country, transportation, and immigration. Some of these, though, seem unreliable and vague.
If this were the only book on the subject it might be worth having, but I'm guessing there has to be something better out there.
Excellent-Entertaining-Factual Retire to Paradise Guide!.......2001-06-16
Belize Retirement Guide has impressed me as much more than then other retirement guides! When I read it, I felt like I had a guide right next to me and that I was actually visiting Belize. The Gray's have provided a guide that is both entertaining and factual which you will understand, after reading it, could only have been written by someone who actually lives there and done that. They provide you with both the Pro's and Con's of moving to and living in Belize from their first hand knowledge and not armchair or internet research. I found the Belize Retirement Guide to be an excellent resource for anyone considering either visiting or actually retiring to Belize. If you have ever dreamed, like I have, of retiring to a warm tropical climate where living is much more affordable than the U.S., then the Belize Retirement Guide will help you beyond anything else I have discovered before. Everything you need to know is available in this complete guidebook. Just be careful, however, because after reading the Belize Retirement Guide you may find yourself calling your travel agent the next day to book a flight and you just may be ready to make it a one way ticket.
Hats off to the Gray's for a most helpful book!.......2001-06-15
Just returned from Belize-had a great time , will be returning in November. I just can't praise the retirement guide enough.It was with us all the time as a quick reference and gave my sister and I that special "edge". After practically memorizing "Belize Retirement Guide before we departed , it was as if, when we arrived , we were visiting an old friend. I could find no category in which comment or assistance and addresses or phone numbers had not been included.
We have found a house to rent and are planning on retiring in Belize.
Expat experts!.......2001-05-28
Of all the books I've read on Belize, and I've read plenty, the writings of Bill and Claire Gray are the only works I've found that are written by expatriates actually living in Belize.Their writing is a love affair with Belize.If you want to find out about living in Belize they are where we should start.
Book Description
With more than 700 color paintings arranged by families for quick comparison of similar species, and with detailed information on range, habitat, size, and voice, this field guide describes and illustrates 1,038 species of Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, and El Salvador.
Customer Reviews:
Mexican Birds.......2007-05-13
As someone new to birdwatching I needed to find some good field guides at several points on my recent World Cruise and I bought Peterson's Mexican Birds to use for my visit to two points in Mexico. I found this a quite impressive book, considering the fact that it covers over 1000 species in such a small book, but it is perhaps too concise. The illustrations are good, with arrows showing distinguishing points to look for with closely related species. But all illustrations are in a separate section from the main desctiption and many show only the bird's head. Many birds are not shown and the reader needs to look in one of Peterson's other (US) guides Also, there are no maps, just short defintions of the ranges.
It is not a full field guide and does not give details of habitat but it can be used for identification. (I already had Western Birds which filled the gaps for me.)
As Mexico has so many bird species I suspect that this is the best that can be produced in a book of pocket size. I would recommend it as a handy pocket guide to take in the field. For longer use in Mexico the reader may need a supplementary source of fuller details. It is certainly excellent value for money.
Disappointingly Incomplete.......2007-04-03
Having loved and used Peterson's excellent Texas guide for years (my first copy having disintegrated years ago, the cover now coming off the second), I found this book woefully disappointing. The back cover states that 1038 species are described and illustrated -- not true! While the illustrations the book does contain are quite wonderful in their usual way, most of the birds already found in Peterson's other North American guides offer only a cursory two or three line description, and no illustration at all -- only the letters E, W, and/or T, which means, simply, go look it up in one of the other books!
Unfortunately for me, I found this book at the last minute at my local public library just before a plane trip to Mexico and only learned about its limitations as I was reading the chapter on "How to Use this Book" after I was already in the air. I am glad I didn't BUY the book. I just wish I had at least brought my Texas guide with me, but I didn't realize I needed it.
The book would have been more appropriately titled, "A Field Guide to the Mexican Birds that We Didn't Already Cover" or "Mexican Birds You Didn't Already Know". Unless you are an expert birder and already know most North American birds by sight, this book is only good as a supplement. Although I had been birding for over 30 years, I found this book to be completely useless as a stand-alone field guide.
agree with other reviewer that this book is useless.......2007-03-08
As below, this book does not include birds in the other peterson guides. Far better books are out there.
Close to useless.......2007-02-17
This book does not include plates of birds that are included in Peterson Field Guides from Western North America, Eastern North America or Texas. So, unless you have their guide books memorized for these locations, the Mexico guide book is basically useless. Alternatively, you could buy all four books (Eastern NA, Western NA, Texas, and Mexico) and carry them all with you. Or you could just purchase a different, stand-alone guide book with plates of the most or all of the birds in the region.
Pages are falling out! This is a Field Guide???!!!.......2006-08-01
Attention, publisher and smart shoppers: Can we all agree that even paperback reference books should be securely bound to support repeated, long-term use? A BIRD BOOK should be bound like a Sherman tank because it ought to withstand being tossed into a backpack and perused in the swampy jungle. My copy of Roger Tory Peterson's "Mexican Birds" is almost new and I've opened it just a couple dozen times inside our air-conditioned home in Ixtapa. Yet this morning, as I was trying to determine whether the yellow-bellied bird in the Parota tree outside our window was a Great Kiskadee or a Boat-billed Flycatcher, I set the open book down on my desk and eight of the color plates separated from the binding! What Lesser Yellow-Headed Vulture engineered the binding of this book? (made in U.S.) I own Penguin paperback detective novels that hold together better than this, even though I don't need them to do so. So to the publishers, I must quote the purported cry of the extinct Do-Do Bird, "DUH!" To my fellow birders, I say, come to Mexico! We have woodpeckers and Egrets galore, White-Throated Magpie Jays (who have twice hovered a few feet in front of our faces, yodelling softly while they watch us back!), Yellow-Winged Caciques (who gather together in trees by the hundreds at bedtime and whoosh out in a long, musical procession at dawn) and much more! (I list only birds we see DAILY in our Club de Golf, Ixtapa neighborhood!) But when you come, bring a field guide with a better binding than this one. Happy birding!
Book Description
Imagine living in Belize. Author Lan Sluder left his life as a newspaper editor to make a home there, and shows readers how to make their own dreams take shape. With Lan's expertise, future expats will get the information they need on visas, money, jobs, housing, health, language, culture, and history. Whether it's a thatched cabaña in Placencia, a jungle hideaway in the Cayo District, or a retreat in lively Ambergris Caye, there's a place that matches their budget, needs, and dreams. With Living Abroad in Belize, it's easy to make the dream become a reality.
Customer Reviews:
Great Book.......2006-11-03
Mr Sluder seems very knowledgeable about every aspect of moving, living and getting along with the people of Belize. I found his book left nothing out about making a decision to move there. All that remains is taking a trip to the country and making up your own mind. I have been to Belize on vacation and found the country and people very pleasant. However, after reading the book I have decided to stay in the USA.
Hilarious!! The "Plan 9 From Outer Space" of travel books.......2006-07-04
This "travel book" is one of those rare items that crosses the line. It is so wretchedly bad, its really quite funny.
For those unfamiliar, the movie "Plan 9 From Outer Space", is widely regarded as the worse movie ever made. The parallels with this book are striking.
First off, forget the title "Living Abroad In Belize". It has absolutely nothing to do with the book itself. You have to admire the publisher and/or writer for not even attempting to build a story around the title. Instead, they ignore it completely, perhaps hoping no one notices.
Next the pictures, there are many throughout the book. While most travel books have professional pictures directly relating to the country, these appear to be someones vacation snapshots. You could enjoy yourself just browsing through these photos wondering "What were they thinking"
Finally the writing. What seems like an attempt to copy Mark Twain, is more reminiscent of articles found in the free Supermarket shoppers or the over the top language of diner menus.
I could go on, but don't want to give away too many details of this wacky, wierd and wonderful publication. Its more fun to discover them yourselves.
Bizarre is an understatement.......2006-05-02
After reading some of the following reviews, let me first state the following. I am not a part of any coordinated conspiracy against the author, nor do I know the author. I do not live in Belize, have no business interests there, and have only visited once. (in 2003 for a training seminar.)
With that being said, this book does not get a good rating. There is no ulterior motive against the author, but this book is not worth the money paid. I was at first disappointed when it became evident that "Living Abroad in Belize" had nothing to do with the title or even description. However as I read on, my opinion changed to this is one of the truly strange books I've ever encountered.
When I began reading, it was "Deja Vu all over again" The introduction was too familiar as were many of the articles. When I got to the story about a couple building a luxury resort in the jungle and all the problems they faced, I finally remembered where. They were from a book I read several years ago called "Belize Adapter Kit" by the same author, Lan Sluder. (I had purchased it in preparation for my 2003 visit.)
Basically "Living Abroad in Belize" is "Belize Adapter Kit" with a new title. The question is why? "Living Abroad" is advertised as "Author Lan Sluder left his life as a newspaper editor to make a home there". Clearly he did not. There is no story about a move, only many of the same listing of facts about Belize and people he says he met as in the previous "Adaptor Kit". So why have a new book saying you did "make a home there"? The original "Belize Adapter Kit" had useful information for someone thinking of moving to the country or living there for a short while. "Living Abroad" has nothing about what's its like to actually move, it's a simple guide book.
I'm left with several questions:
a]Why publish this under such a grossly misleading title? Is this a vanity book? Is the author actually trying to convince other people or himself that he is a Belize resident?
b] Can I get my money back?
c] What has Mr Sluder done to anger so many people? As one can ascertain from other reviews, there does seem to be a lot of "animosity" toward him. Thats quite an accomplishment by itself.
The One Star Reviews Are Utterly Bogus.......2006-02-22
I own land and a house in Belize and have been involved in Belize related business for many, many years. I also have many friends all over the country, including a close friend and business partner.
I am totally disappointed in the unfounded attacks I am reading here. It is no surprise several just offer a sentence or two and are not even "reviews" by any sense of the imagination. I have no doubt it is some sort of (co-ordinated?) personal animosity towards the author. I am not going to waste time reviewing the "reviews," I think most astute readers can see them for what they are - hateful trash.
This work is absolutely useful in relating information to anyone interested in moving to Belize or even doing business there on a regular basis. I can say this from many years of personal experience in Belize.
Lan covers large and small issues and provides very keen insight in business, cultural, and sociological areas. For instance, individuals meeting business partners or friends may be confused as to the relatively weak handshake compared to what most North Americans are used to. But that is just the Belize way. The book is filled with this kind of very helpful information that foreigners would never know.
Anyone that has used one of Lan's books or website knows that he is a serious student and friend of Belize. This book is another reflection of that.
The Real Belize.......2006-02-13
This is the title to my new book, not yet out. I have read lans, if there were ever a time for an honest look at Belize and the people that want to live, play, own or sell it. The time is now.
Book Description
Whether you're looking for the stunning Maya ruins of Xunantunich, the varied forests of the country's highlands, or world-class diving spots like Glover's Reef Atoll and the renowned Blue Hole, you'll find the information you need in this guidebook. Suggested travel strategies and lists of must-see sights provide you with real judgments so you can decide where you should go, stay, and eat—without hassles or regrets. Included is extensive information on outdoor activities, such as hiking, fishing, boating, sea kayaking, windsurfing, surfing, snorkeling, and scuba diving, plus essentials such as transportation, dining, and accommodation options for a range of budgets. Complete with maps, photos and illustrations, there are also sidebar topics on subjects such as island-hopping, cooking, religion, and bar lingo. Moon Handbooks Belize covers all the essentials for a uniquely memorable trip to this up-and-coming travel destination.
Customer Reviews:
Best advice, although a little out of date.......2006-10-21
My husband and I just returned from a 16 day trip to Belize, and this was definitely our favorite guidebook on the trip! We bought this book as well as Fodor's Belize, and together they were the perfect combo. The Moon book was right-on for budget travelers who want to be more than a tourist--the authors' sense of humor & interest in getting to experience new cultures really made the book. We used the local buses for transportation and tried to stay in places under $50 US (which isn't hard in Belize!), and this book was right-on with recommendations and descriptions. The only negative was that it is getting a little more out of date in regard to lodging, restaurants, and prices, but that's why we bought the Fodor's book as well (Fodor's Belize 2007 edition). Overall, this book is 5 stars, and because of it, we had an awesome trip!
great handbook.......2006-09-03
i found this handbook absolutely fantastic during my 4-weeks' travel through belize! the authors really know their stuff. every recommendation was great. i found it much better compared to the lonley-planet non-up-to-date version.
An Award-Winning Guidebook.......2005-09-28
It's fitting that this 6th edition of Moon Handbooks Belize has won the prestigious Lowell Thomas Award granted by the Society of American Travel Writers (SATW) in the Best Guidebook category. Joshua Berman has done a splendid job adapting and updating a previous edition by Chicki Mallan - Moon Handbooks Belize has been reborn! It's a state-of-the-art example of Moon's new book design, and you won't find a better guide to Belize than this.
Simply perfect.......2005-02-04
Really perfect for all trips to Belize. Was very helpful and complete. Nice job.
J.
This review is for the New 2004 6th Edition.......2004-12-09
NOTE: Josh has just finished updating for the new 7th Edition, which is in press and should be out by Fall 2007. The 6th Edition was published in November 2004. Joshua Berman spent months traveling and living in Belize while working on the major update for the 6th Edition. The Moon Handbook has been my favorite Belize Travel Guide since the 4th Edition and it's great to have a fresh update! Just, FYI, I am a marine scientist, living and working in Belize half-time...about 6 months each year. From my perspective, this handbook gives the most TRUE represenation of Belize... and I have all the others on my bookshelf. Unfortunately, the publisher selected a cover photo that was taken on a Pacific Ocean Coral Reef. The species on the front cover to not exist in Belize. Fortunately, the information inside the book IS most accurate. Just remember, during your visit, "If ya drink di watta, ya mus com bak".
Books:
- Frommer's Brazil (Frommer's Complete)
- Glen Denny: Yosemite in the Sixties
- Guide to Colorado Backroads & 4-Wheel Drive Trails, 2nd Edition
- Guide to Colorado Backroads & 4-Wheel Drive Trails, 2nd Edition
- Handwriting Analysis
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- Retreats That Work: Everything You Need to Know About Planning and Leading Great Offsites
- Jay's Journal of Anomalies : Conjurers, Cheats, Hustlers, Hoaxsters, Pranksters, Jokesters, Imposter
- Financial Crime Investigation and Control
- Hospitality Sales: A Marketing Approach
- Linux Pocket Guide
- Magic Tree House Boxed Set of 4, Books 9-12: Dolphins at Daybreak, Ghost Town at Sundown, Lions at
- Language, Culture, And Society: An Introduction to Linguistic Anthropology
- Using the Microcomputer in Cost Accounting: Lotus 1-2-3
- Interregional Input-Output Analysis of the Chinese Economy
- Leaving Atlanta: A Novel
Lonely Planet Belize
Moon Handbooks Belize
Belize Map by International Travel Maps
The Rough Guide to Belize, Third Edition
Belize: Reefs, Rain Forests, and Mayan Ruins
