Gift for traveling to Belize

November 28, 2008 12:51 PM

Friends are going to Belize in December. I want to give them $30-40 Christmas gift that they might use/need while there. Any suggestions?
posted by dublin to shopping (6 comments total)

Moon Guides are really good in Latin America: here's their Belize page.
posted by mdonley at 1:19 PM on November 28, 2008

If they are going to the coast or the Cayes, they will likely do some snorkeling. Rental gear is generally fine, but having your own diving mask and snorkel is a nice luxury.
posted by googly at 2:55 PM on November 28, 2008

A memory card.

The wife and I did that a few years ago.

Snorkeling from shore on the Cayes isn't really a big thing, it's much too shallow. You need a boat, and then they provide everything. We filled out our memory cards in a few days. We had to shoot some great last few day sunsets in jpg instead of RAW.

Or arrange a guided trip for them, they are cheap too. Try for the Laminai ruins, the wife and I loved that one. Spectacular sights. I thought it was too cheap. Some 19 year old kid picked us up from the boat drop in a stereotypical cheap ricer ride about 10 minutes late. I saw a setup and I smelled scam, but he was very proper and apologetic and had the best info and intel on all the great places and things to do. He even gave us his cell so we could call him on what we should do. He never let us down, everything was perfect. He gave us names to mention to local businesses on the Caye which basically got us free drinks and half priced meals.
posted by sanka at 4:06 PM on November 28, 2008

Welcome to Metafilter :-)

Seconding snorkel & mask. You want your own and you want one that fits really well so it might have to be a voucher so they can go and try out first.

There is nothing more frustrating than swimming around beautiful scenery with a mask that lets in water, is too tight, fogs up etc.

Best to try and find a good dive shop (or a store with a dive section) with people who know what they're talking about rather that an all round sports store.

I used the Moon Belize guide when I was there earlier this year and it was very good. And I usually hate guide books.

If they are going to Caye Caulker Raggamuffin Tours do a 3 day sail to Placencia stopping off at various islands on the way but it only runs once or twice a week. I missed it as we were on a schedule but it was highly recommended.

The only problem with Belize is that for such a small place there is so much to do and so many places not to do anything at all.
posted by i_cola at 5:51 AM on November 29, 2008

You could give them some Belize dollars before they leave for their trip. I'm not sure where exactly to do this but your bank would probably be able to help. From what I've heard, it is easy and a great gift to anyone travelling abroad because they don't need to worry about exchanging cash as soon as they land.
posted by belau at 4:51 AM on December 1, 2008

Most places in Belize take USD. The BZD is pegged at 2:1.
posted by i_cola at 5:04 AM on December 5, 2008