Belize vs. Mexico

Recently we spent two weeks in Belize, look forward to posts about tours, food, drinks and getting around. But first, why Belize? It's further and a bit more expensive than Mexico, especially from Oregon. Well, after our time there, I am honestly not sure we will be too excited to go back to Mexico. It was an easy first foray into Central American and beyond the standard resort. A bit of adventure, but in a relatively easy to navigate and safe country. 
What I liked about Belize
No bartering! I get very uncomfortable negotiating on pricing. It seems a bit morally wrong on both ends and is no longer truly bartering-more like a game. While there were a few stalls/vendors where you could negotiate a lower price or discounts the more you bought, it was not that pressure of Mexico that makes this introvert want to run in the other direction. I felt very comfortable and not pressured when shopping.
Golf Carts- In San Pedro, Caye Caulker and Palencia the main form of transportation is the golf cart. Transport is fun, easy, entertaining, easy to park in crowded areas and saves a lot on gas, which at $6US a gallon is helpful. How much trouble can you really get into with a golf cart?
Safety- You should always be aware when traveling (obviously) and especially in tourist areas. You are overwhelmed, unaware and probably have cash. While we heard of some theft from hotel rooms (even safes), we did not have any problems and always felt safe. This was especially true while traveling through the country. Often in Mexico resorts and in town are safe, but travel is a bit precarious. Not the case in Belize. With the exception of Belize City, I felt just as safe as anywhere in the US.
Recreation- Being from Oregon, I am used to endless recreation options, but Belize blew me away. I am still thinking back to all the other hikes, swimming holes, beaches and activities we could have done with more time.
Food- Belize's history has lead to the food scene being a bit of a melting pot. Especially with expats from around the world pouring in. Street food or high end restaurants from Italian to Salvadorian to Mayan-every meal can be different.
English- They speak english. I do like the challenge of navigating a foreign language, but it can be exhausting and frustrating in addition to making it easy to miss out on things. While there is plenty of Spanish, Mayan and Creole being spoken, english reigns.
​Currency- The Belizean dollar is linked at at 2:1 ratio to the US dollar, so it's a pretty easy one to figure out! Also, US currency was accepted everywhere.
Water - You can drink from the tap! No worrying ice cubes or accidently opening your mouth in the shower. We did stay at a resort that utilized rain water, but had plenty of drinking water available.
No Timeshares Sales - While I am sure there are plenty of opportunities for timeshares, due to the ease of foreigners buying property, there is not much emphasis. We were not harassed in the airport, hotels or commercial areas.
People are so nice - The nicest and happiest country I have ever been too. It felt they were truly happy to get to know you and have you in the country. They were also very helpful. Even turning down the wrong way on a one way street was greeted with a  smile and directions how to get where we needed to go.
​Local Businesses- Most the hotels, restaurants, stores and tour operators were local (or expats), so the money is actually staying in country and not going to a foreign corporation.
Accessibility - While Belize is not going to win any awards from the ADA, it is a pretty accessible country. Between golf carts and short walks, most people can get around without much effort.
Beach Bars: Cheap, fun and everywhere. Bars are located right on the beach and even in palapas on the ocean. Grab a chair, a float toy or hammock for the day and enjoy swimming with your drinks.
Crowds: We lucked out more than once, but never encountered cruise ship traffic. Our tours were small and the sites we visited (more on all soon!) were not crowded. 
What I like more about Mexico:
Beaches: I am good for about a hour a day on the beach, so not having great beaches isn't a deal breaker for me. But Mexico definitely has better beaches. Between the seagrass, sargassum, dense sand and narrow shoreline- the Caye beaches are not for everyone. Secret Beach (more coming soon) being the exception.
Cheaper: The Cayes are not inexpensive, most prices being on par with reasonable US cities for hotels, drinks, food, shopping and entertainment. There not alot of dollar beers and street tacos in Belize. Inland Belize is much cheaper.
Easier to Get To: With more flights and more options, it's pretty easy to get to your nearest Mexican vacation spot.
Resorts: There are not a lot of options for a traditional resort stay, especially for an all-inclusive. As I mentioned above, we prefer smaller and locally owned establishments, but that's not for everyone.
Coffee and Tea: The national coffee of Belize seems to be Maxwell House and tea is Red Rose. The best options we found were at expat establishments. For the most part though, expect to have to hunt down a good cup of coffee or tea.
Beer: We really only like lagers, so with only four brands available in Belize it was not a problem. If you are, however, looking for an IPA or american brands like Budweiser, Belize will disappoint.

Overall, we will probably go back to Mexico again, it's just convenient. We, however, found Belize to be the most easily navigated,  friendliest, adventure filled and fun countries we have been to.

Coming soon: tours, treks, transportation, restaurants/bars, drinks, places to stay and shopping.