A couple years ago, my parents started traveling to a warm foreign country to watch the Superbowl and hang out for a couple weeks. My wife and I (along with our soon to be 2 year old) had some extra mone and will be going along with them again, this time to Placencia Belize and then Tecal, Guatemala. Just wondering if anyone has ever been to either Belize or Guatemala? I speak extremely good half assed spanish (good with words not with accent or word placement) and my spanish has always been fine in Mexico so I am not worried about that. But I really have no idea what it will be like down there other than kind of like Mexico.
I've spent extended time in both. Belize is an English-speaking nation, so no worries. Placencia is super cool and LAID-BACK. Guate is also nice. Tikal is beautiful. Mayan archaeology is fascinating. Stay in Flores, if possible. Cool town on an island in the middle of a huge lake.
what futants said. Tikal is amazing. Language shouldn't be a problem. It's a major attraction -- so half assed spanish will get you by OK. Hard to tell what you're after. If you're going with your folks and 'have money' your trip will be quite different then mine! And if you're using local transport -- don't trust the bus drivers. They're cool. But they'll say anything to get you on *their* bus! We had a couple 'extended' tours thanks to taking them at their word. All an adventure. Sounds like a great trip. I watched the 94 NBA finals in a sleepy bar in Guatemala. Good memories. My intro to the Rockets.
I lived in Antigua, Guatemala for 6 months in 2002 and made a weekend trip to Tikal. Tikal is amazing - definitely worth the trip. And since it's a tourist attraction you'll get the same ol' overpriced, easy-to-get-by-with-English type of trip. You'll have a blast.
Belize is great. Much calmer than places in Mexico. Everyone speaks English and everything is pretty cheap. No cars there except for the taxis, at least on Ambergris Caye
Spent half my vacation in Belize and the other half in Guatemala. Stayed on Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker, Belize. Good fishing and snorkeling. Most people there were scuba tourists. Not much of a night life. Then stayed in Flores in Guat to see Tikal. Tikal is pretty mind blowing. I also recommend going cave tubing in the region close to their borders.
last june me and some friends went villahermosa-palenque-san cristobal into guatemala - went to lake atitlan, which is possibly the most amazing place ive ever been in my life. spent a couple days in antigua too before flying out from guat city. stayed at this really cool eco-hotel out in the jungle - this view was about 50 yards from our room. hotel -
