Belize

[Anonymous]

Has anyone been? We are looking at Ambergris Cay for a March vacation with our 3 year old daughter. Is Belize a good place to go with kids? It looks beautiful and seems to have some great places to stay at very reasonable prices. Is there anywhere in particular that has a good beach for children. Alot of the picture I am seeing seem to have sand on a "wall" and then a drop off into the water. We would like a beach that my daughter can play right at the waters edge and run into the shallow water when she wishes. Any information including specific resorts with this type of beach would be most helpful. thanks!

[Anonymous]

We went to Belize pre-kids and really loved it, but I am not sure if it's the best place with a small child. Ambergris Cay, as I recall, really doesn't have good beaches-- it has sand in the streets, but the water is pretty sea-grassy. Down by Placencia I think you might find better beaches, but some people say it can be buggy there. There are people over on the Fodors.com chat boards who know a lot about Belize, so you might ask over there.

[Anonymous]

Not the best place for kids. They don't have "beaches", though some of the resorts do. You do a lot of snorkeling, scuba, boat trips and swimming off the pier. Water is clear, warm and blue. Also, unless things have changed in the last several years, tehre are not the fast foods that kids love. Great restaurants but may not appeal to a 3 yo, depending on what her eating habits are like.

People are very nice. And, it is beautiful. But, it IS buggy at times. And, (again unless it has changed) LOTS of stray dogs with fleas, etc. Very sad. It was hard for me and my DD is sensitive about animals so it would be hard for her, I know.

But, if you can go without kids, I highly recommend.

[Anonymous]

We went last year with our 4 yo and 8 yo, and they had a great time. We stayed in Placencia (Inn at Robert's Grove), and then inland at Chaa Creek. Both places had chicken nuggets, plain pasta and other kid foods, not to mention lots of tropical fruit. In Placencia, the kids did a little swimming in the ocean but mostly played on the beach (a typical beach...no drop off) and swam in the pool. No trouble with bugs (this was in March.) Lots of birds and wildlife to see (including getting pretty up close with dophins on a boat trip--the kids loved that.) There aren't quite all the creature comforts of, say, a Caribbean resort, but Belize is definitely doable with kids.

[Anonymous]

Belize is refreshing - there is not a Senor Frogs or McDonalds on ever corner, imagine that!

Another place to look at is Roatan Honduras (SP) - they have a fair number of small resorts with family cottages, English speaking (formerly part of British Honduras, the present day Belize), and nice beaches.

March in the sun - I am jealous.