Money Tips For Travel In Belize

Oct. 6, 2011

"Kathleen, I'll be attending your Belize conference in November, and I'm wondering if you have any suggestions about carrying cash and credit cards/ATM cards?

"I believe the U.S. dollar is widely accepted?"

--Lauren W., United States

Yes, most everywhere in Belize will take U.S. dollars (and generally give you change in Belize, adjusting for the 2-to-1 fixed exchange rate).

ATMs are readily available in Belize City (where the conference is taking place) and throughout the country in every town of any size. Unless you intend to travel before or after the conference to remote regions in the rain forest, for example, there isn't any need to bring large amounts of cash.

That said, note that you'll be charged both ATM and currency exchange fees every time you withdraw money. Even though the Belize dollar is pegged 2 to 1 to the U.S. dollar, there is still a slight difference in values when the currencies are exchanged. You get 1.99 Belize dollars for a U.S. dollar when using an ATM...or something like that.

Also, if you do bring cash with you, make it small bills--no US$100s or US$50s, as getting change for them isn't easy.

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