Time: Local time is GMT -6.

Electricity: Electrical current is 110/220 volts, 60Hz. Flat blades with round grounding pin or rectangular blade plugs are used. Most of the electricity is provided by Diesel/Generator Sets.

Language: English is the official language and the one most commonly spoken, but you will hear Creole, Spanish, Garifuna and Mayan as well.

Health: No vaccinations are required for entry to Belize although Hepatitis A and typhoid immunization is recommended. Travelers arriving from a yellow-fever infected area require a vaccination certificate. Cases of dengue fever have occurred, and seem to be on the increase, so insect repellent is strongly advised. Malaria prevention is recommended for those traveling outside Belize City. Potable water is available in most areas of Belize but it is advisable, if in doubt, to drink bottled or boiled water. Medical facilities are poor in the city, and almost non-existent elsewhere. Cases of severe illness or injury usually require expensive medical evacuation. Adequate medical insurance is therefore vital. For divers there is a hyperbaric chamber at Ambergris Caye.

Tipping: Tipping in Belize is voluntary but as in any country, good services should be rewarded with a 10% tip. Upscale hotels and resorts may add a 10% service charge to guests' bills and this usually goes to the porter and maid who assisted you. Tour guides should be tipped a few extra dollars for their effort and taxi drivers should be tipped only if they help carry your bags or take you on a guided tour.

Safety: Although most visits to Belize are trouble-free, there have been incidents of tourists falling victim to violent crime. Mugging is frequent in Belize City. Visitors should take sensible precautions to minimize the risks. These would include not wearing expensive jewellery, keeping valuables out of sight, staying in groups, avoiding dark alleys and not walking alone on the beach at night. It is also advisable to use qualified guides for exploratory trips off the beaten track. The country is prone to hurricanes between June and November; on 21 August 2007 Hurricane Dean caused severe damage to the northern Belize coast, particularly the regions of Corozal and OrangeWalk.

Business: Belize has a fairly informal business style, although punctuality and politeness are appreciated. Handshaking, the exchanging of business cards and some small talk is expected before getting down to business. Dress is usually casual, but neat, with men in short-sleeved, collared shirts without a tie; however government-related business is more formal. Business hours are usually 8am to 5pm Monday to Friday.

Communications: The international dialing code for Belize is +501. The area code for Belize City is (0)2. International Direct Dialing is available. Mobile telephone coverage is available throughout most of the country with the Belize Telemedia Ltd GSM 1900 network, and cellphone rental is available. There are two Internet service providers in Belize, with Internet cafes in urban centres and tourist areas.

Travel guide content sourced from wordtravels.com

12/26/07 by visitEarth
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