Living Abroad in Belize [Paperback]

Lan Sluder (Author)

Book Description

Series: Living Abroad | Publication Date: September 21, 2005

Imagine living in Belize. Author Lan Sluder left his life as a newspaper editor to make a home there, and shows readers how to make their own dreams take shape. With Lan's expertise, future expats will get the information they need on visas, money, jobs, housing, health, language, culture, and history. Whether it's a thatched cabaña in Placencia, a jungle hideaway in the Cayo District, or a retreat in lively Ambergris Caye, there's a place that matches their budget, needs, and dreams. With Living Abroad in Belize, it's easy to make the dream become a reality.

Product Details

• Paperback: 367 pages
• Publisher: Avalon Travel Publishing; 1 edition (September 21, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1566919193
• ISBN-13: 978-1566919197
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 7.6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #427,750 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Lan Sluder is a writer who specializes in books on travel and retirement, especially in Belize and the Southeastern United States. He is the author of more than a dozen books and eBooks on Belize. Among his Belize books are Fodor's Belize, Living Abroad in Belize, Adapter Kit: Belize, Belize Island Guide, Easy Belize, San Pedro Cool and Belize First Guide to Mainland. Sluder is also founder, editor and publisher of Belize First Magazine -- Web edition at www.belizefirst.com.

A former business newspaper editor in New Orleans, Sluder has contributed articles on travel, retirement and business subjects to publications around the world, including The New York Times, Chicago Tribune, Miami Herald, Where to Retire, Globe and Mail, St. Petersburg Times, Bangkok Post, The Tico Times, Newsday and Caribbean Travel & Life. In addition, he also authored the travel guides InFocus Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Frommer's Best Beach Vacations: Carolinas and Georgia and co-authored several editions of Fodors's The Carolinas & Georgia. When not in Belize or traveling elsewhere in the world, he lives on a mountain farm near Asheville, North Carolina.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

53 of 58 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The One Star Reviews Are Utterly Bogus, February 21, 2006

By 

C. Trew "chekist" (Arlington, VA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Living Abroad in Belize (Paperback)

I own land and a house in Belize and have been involved in Belize related business for many, many years. I also have many friends all over the country, including a close friend and business partner.
I am totally disappointed in the unfounded attacks I am reading here. It is no surprise several just offer a sentence or two and are not even "reviews" by any sense of the imagination. I have no doubt it is some sort of (co-ordinated?) personal animosity towards the author. I am not going to waste time reviewing the "reviews," I think most astute readers can see them for what they are - hateful trash.
This work is absolutely useful in relating information to anyone interested in moving to Belize or even doing business there on a regular basis. I can say this from many years of personal experience in Belize.
Lan covers large and small issues and provides very keen insight in business, cultural, and sociological areas. For instance, individuals meeting business partners or friends may be confused as to the relatively weak handshake compared to what most North Americans are used to. But that is just the Belize way. The book is filled with this kind of very helpful information that foreigners would never know.
Anyone that has used one of Lan's books or website knows that he is a serious student and friend of Belize. This book is another reflection of that.

28 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars useful to me, January 15, 2006

By 

Bill R "Bill R" (LAX) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Living Abroad in Belize (Paperback)

I visited Belize on a scouting trip to see if it was a place I'd want to live, either full time or just part of the year. I used Living Abroad in Belize as my guide and found it very helpful. It has a lot of maps, info on the best hotels in all prices, government offices, detailed facts on what things cost, contacts for real estate agents, all kinds of stuff. It tells the straight facts not sugar coated. Guess teh writer Mr Sluter has made some enemies for telling it like it is, but I think that's the kind of book you want if you are making a life changing decision. I found it very useful and helpful.

25 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Curiosity won out!, August 13, 2008

By 

Kathy Forred "solo voyager" (land of ahhhhs) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Living Abroad in Belize (Paperback)

I bought a couple books on Belize since I'm planning my first trip there in March of 09. Amazon notices these things, and I found Sluder's book in my personal gold box deals one day. I recognized his name, so clicked on the book for a closer look. Let me say my review is totally unsolicited, and I don't have any relationship whatsoever, personal or professional, with Lan Sluder. I did get a good vibe when I saw his name, and recalled his participation in the old Compuserve Travel Forum. For some reason, I associate him with Dallas, American Airlines, mileage running/FF miles, and Belize. Could be poor memory, but there you go. I always liked seeing he'd posted, because he was so generous with his expertise, an articulate writer, and just generally helpful. Since I have no intention of moving to Belize, I had no intention of buying the book. But when I read the reviews, I must admit I was intrigued. Either 5 star or 1 star. Amazing! So, I bought it. And, wonder or wonders, it's turned out to be extremely helpful in my trip-planning. It is totally pertinent to moving to Belize, and anyone who says otherwise hasn't read it. I can't think of any aspect not covered, from deciding to go (or not) to what area to choose, and on from there through house-building, types of residency visas, how to make money, etc, etc. It really gives a lot of insight on what life is like in Belize. For a great sample of content and style, check out Sluder's website, belizefirst.com.
I have to agree with the conspiracy theory. And, go ahead, conspirators, rate this review as not helpful, as all the other positive reviews have been; I can take it, lol.