Customer Reviews

Living Abroad in Belize

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

After checking this book out of our local library several times, I decided to purchase it. It's a great reference tool, something you want to keep close by. This edition is about three years old but contains info and practical tips valuable today. Lots of E-mail/phone numbers. Going to Belize...take it with you.

Mr Sluder seems very knowledgeable about every aspect of moving, living and getting along with the people of Belize. I found his book left nothing out about making a decision to move there. All that remains is taking a trip to the country and making up your own mind. I have been to Belize on vacation and found the country and people very pleasant. However, after reading the book I have decided to stay in the USA.

I picked up Adapter Guide Belize probably 8 years ago. It has been a reference book ever since on travelling, finding property, and building a home in Belize. I laugh often at how the unvarnished truths in the book are proven true time and again. In my some 10 years of coming and travelling in Belize, this book now makes every trip and is referenced to this day for insight. The book was not only helpful in my travels, but in adapting to the culture and everyday life in Belize.

I've loaned "Adapter Kit Belize" on several occasions to those who inquire about life in this small Central American country. "Read this, and you'll get a better idea", I tell them.

You will too.

I have to agree with the other reviewer's statement that these 1 star reviews seem to be bogus. I found this book to be very informative and interesting, replete with useful information. The author obviously did his homework, and I find this book to be better than many others I have read. If you are looking for a bunch of comical anecdotes about the country, this book may not be for you. If you want the facts, and the ins and outs, this is a must read.

I've always been intrigued by people who move to other countries. They usually have a great story to tell. I'm looking to make the same move and one country being considered is Belize.

I made my first exploratory trip there last month and thought "Living Abroad In Belize" would be perfect to bring along. I was wrong. There are many problems with this book, not the least one being credibility.

The first thing I noticed was how "dry" a read it was. While most stories of moving to a new country have a certain excitement, this was like reading an encyclopedia. I soon found out why. One evening I ran into a group of expats at a local pub. They were quite happy to give me their advise on life in Belize, however when I mentioned this book as part of my research, they broke out in laughter. They explained that the writer is a well known "wannabe expat", who portrays himself as living in Belize, but is just a annual tourist. That explained a lot of what I found stale about this book.

The advise I did receive was my focus was on the wrong things. Instead of trying to learn the nuts and bolts of Belize in a two week trip staying in nice hotels, I should stay for at least a month in an apartment or Bed and Breakfast, so I could start to experience the reality of life in a new country, the positive and negative. I was to hear that same refrain throughout my visit. I'm following their advise and returning to Belize next month for 6 weeks.

As for "Living Abroad In Belize", don't waste your time or money. Its a flight of fantasy.

Note: one book that was recommended is "Don't Stop The Carnival" by Herman Wouk. At first I thought they were joking (the book was written in 1965), but after reading it, I think I'm starting to understand why.

After reading some of the following reviews, let me first state the following. I am not a part of any coordinated conspiracy against the author, nor do I know the author. I do not live in Belize, have no business interests there, and have only visited once. (in 2003 for a training seminar.)

With that being said, this book does not get a good rating. There is no ulterior motive against the author, but this book is not worth the money paid. I was at first disappointed when it became evident that "Living Abroad in Belize" had nothing to do with the title or even description. However as I read on, my opinion changed to this is one of the truly strange books I've ever encountered.

When I began reading, it was "Deja Vu all over again" The introduction was too familiar as were many of the articles. When I got to the story about a couple building a luxury resort in the jungle and all the problems they faced, I finally remembered where. They were from a book I read several years ago called "Belize Adapter Kit" by the same author, Lan Sluder. (I had purchased it in preparation for my 2003 visit.)

Basically "Living Abroad in Belize" is "Belize Adapter Kit" with a new title. The question is why? "Living Abroad" is advertised as "Author Lan Sluder left his life as a newspaper editor to make a home there". Clearly he did not. There is no story about a move, only many of the same listing of facts about Belize and people he says he met as in the previous "Adaptor Kit". So why have a new book saying you did "make a home there"? The original "Belize Adapter Kit" had useful information for someone thinking of moving to the country or living there for a short while. "Living Abroad" has nothing about what's its like to actually move, it's a simple guide book.

I'm left with several questions:

a]Why publish this under such a grossly misleading title? Is this a vanity book? Is the author actually trying to convince other people or himself that he is a Belize resident?
b] Can I get my money back?
c] What has Mr Sluder done to anger so many people? As one can ascertain from other reviews, there does seem to be a lot of "animosity" toward him. Thats quite an accomplishment by itself.

I got this book as a Christmas gift from a friend since she knew I was going to Belize for a holiday. I am ready to retire so I am looking for a nice location and from what I had read on the Internet Belize looked like a nice choice. Once I started reading 'Living Abroad In Belize' I started checking out the author on the Internet. As others have written in their reviews, this Mr. Sluder has never relocated to Belize. He does not own property in Belize, he only visits the country on vacations. Then he returns and writes countless responses in forums about everything under the sun. If you are planning to move to Belize, I would not suggest buying this book. I would suggest visiting the country and meeting people that actually live there instead of taking the word of some guy that is actually nothing more than a perpetual tourist.