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Scotch was also reasonable. I bought a bottle for the local woodcarvers from Marinas market south of town. Great little grocery store. Seems like it was about $15 BZ. The brand was one I didn't recognize though.

I'm easy, just give me some One Barrel over a couple cubes. Then give me another one :-)

We never had a bar bill. Never made it up past 11pm either. After waking with daylight about 0430, spending all day swimming and boat riding, then eating lobster like a pig and drinking plenty of Belikins and rum, bedtime came early for us.

So there......

Try one of those compression bags from someplace like REI. You pack in your clothes, squeeze out the air, and you have a lot more room in your bag.
For smaller stuff (like underwear) you can get the same effect from one of those large resealable food storage bags.
And don't forget the flashlights...

Try one of those compression bags from someplace like REI. You pack in your clothes, squeeze out the air, and you have a lot more room in your bag.
For smaller stuff (like underwear) you can get the same effect from one of those large resealable food storage bags.
And don't forget the flashlights...

Don't bother bringing a hair dryer or any makeup, it will just be dead weight.....

Save some empty space for bringing stuff home. Rum, Belikins, woodcarvings, hot sauce, paintings, jewelry, whatever. We brought back a lot more stuff than we took with us. We left a few donations in the Xanadu room, gave our extra bug spay and sunscreen and leftover food supplies to our new friends the woodcarvers, and abandoned some funky tennis shoes and a broken mask. Should have brought one empty suitcase. I underestimated my wifes' shopping abilities.

Pack light & casual. After going for over 5 yrs. now you learn that dragging all those clothes that you never end up wearing just isn't necessary. Do bring several zip-lok bags & I'm all for the compression bags too, then I have room for another wonderful hand-made bowl from the guys in Esmeralda Park.

Believe it when they say pack light. We are in AC, leaving tomorow. Didn't wear a pair of long pants (me or hubby) the entire time we were here. Shorts, light weight tops and flip flops are the standard. Zip lock bags came in handy. Some cord for a make shift clothesline might be nice. Have a great time, we sure have!

I totally agree with the above recommendations, but, a couple of things....

1) You're going on vacation - to Belize! Does it really matter it you pay twice as much for some grocery items during that week in paradise? Think of it as helping the local economy. US items are more expensive than local, Mexican or even Danish or New Zealand imports; try something new.

Sure, you think you're going to save some money by eating at your villa, but frankly, you're talking about what - a couple of meals? You'll be missing out on some great experiences if you don't go out for dinner. And those meals out will likely cost less than if you were buying them in the US.

2) There is thankfully no Krogers or Winn-Dixie on Ambergris Caye. If the reduced selection found in San Pedro grocery stores is going to ruin your vacation, Belize may not be your ideal get-away destination. Puerto Vallarta already has a Super Walmart and Sam's Club....

Forget the agenda of preparing that perfect stateside type meal and go with the flow. Make grocery shopping part of the cultural immersion of being in Belize - if the store doesn't have what you want, improvise! You'll love it. Sure the stores are funky, but that's part of the charm of San Pedro. Where else are you going to find all the major grocery stores owned and operated by Lebanese merchants?

3) Belize is a wonderful place, just don't let unrealistic expectations or constantly comparing it to other locations ruin the experience. On our first trip to Belize, we met a travel agent from Southern California that didn't enjoy the trip because all she could do was compare it negatively to other places. She complained about mosquitoes, the beach wasn't as nice as those in Hawaii, the restaurants weren't as good as those on St. Maarten - blah, blah, blah. She totally missed the beauties - the people, the marine life, the water, the birds, the casual lifestyle.

Enjoy your vacation - you're headed to a unique and wonderful island.

Well said Skyliner!!!!

I loved the grocery stores & purposely bought local items. Much more fun. Loved every minute of looking for the "new" stuff and running from one to the other. Don't miss the bakery for some yummies. Clothes = a pair of shorts, 2 sundresses, 2 swimsuits, 5 t-thirts, 2 pair capris and 1 pair of flip-flops. That's all I wore in 7 days. Don't need much more...so get on island time & have fun. Meet the people...they like to talk with ya and are a lot of fun.

You are going to fall in love!