Customer Reviews

Moon Belize (Moon Handbooks)

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I have used Moon guides in the past and have found the editorial approach, quality of writing, and level of content to be excellent (the Cuba guide is a particular gem!) The Belize guide is sadly not in this category. It reads more in the tone of a Chamber of Commerce report- everything is great, fascinating, the best, delicious, and comfortable. Anyone who has travelled anywhere outside of a luxury resort knows that simply isn't true, and it isn't true for Belize either.

The Moon guide also does not appear to be geared toward budget travellers, leaving out important information like how to get to and from the airport while avoiding the $25 tourist charge. The shortchanging of budget information is a particular problem in a country that is substantially more expensive than its neighbor Guatemala.

The guide also leaves out the city of Flores, Guatemala, but includes Tikal. Getting to and from Tikal (except on an expensive guided tour) almost always involves travel through Flores, and competing guides (like Rough Guide) include it, making them more useful than this guide.

The guide has a lot of detail- but if you are a budget traveler, you won't be able to afford much of it. This guide is really geared more to the well-heeled tourist who is driving around Belize either in a rental car or on a guided tour. Moon could, and should, do much better.

Inspired travel-writer Joshua Berman lays Belize out like a fine banquet table in this indispensable guidebook. Contemplating Belize as your next port of call? Get this book. I liked it in my armchair, and loved it in the bush. Joshua's wonderful photos and exposition set the standard for Moon, a terrific publisher, but his practical advice is what really justifies the purchase. I'd wanted to stay on a budget, treating myself right on the occasional night, and I found Joshua's advice to be gold. I ended enjoying the trip so much I bought his Moon Handbooks Nicaragua (Moon Handbooks). Not sure if I'll two-peat to Central America for my next trip, but it's amazing how an unfamiliar place can feel like home with the right guide. Highly recommended.

I've lived and worked in Belize for approximately 6 months/year for the past 10 years. The Moon Handbooks Belize is the most accurate and up to date book on the market. Josh has spent months in Belize to insure it's accuracy...everything thing he writes is from first hand experience.

I've never written a review on any book I've purchased, but after returning from Belize using this book, I feel compelled to let others know about our experience. I choose this book due to being the most recent publishing date, even thought I am much more familiar with the other more widely known travel publishers. This book was fine for planning in advance, although I relied on tripadvisor for more reviews. Once we were in the country, we found how much of the info in the book was either totally wrong or entirely misleading. This book is better for folks that prefer to get tour guides or book planned excursions rather than to explore on your own. Had it not been for our great jungle resort hosts, we would have been in a world of trouble. Info about banks, restaurants, sights and sight prices were all big issues. In fact at some of the sights, if the locals saw this guide book they said harsh words about the authors and how the book was written since tourists (like us) show up expecting one price or experience and that isn't the case. This was especially true in the jungle (San Ignacio) and surrounding areas. The info about Ambergris Caye was still missing critical info, but it wasn't as much of an issue as in the jungle. Do your own homework before you leave home and take extra info about the things you want to see and do in Belize, rather than relying on this book.

Josh Berman, who calls himself a "Jewish Hillbilly," has delivered a truly useful travel guide in his MOON HANDBOOKS: BELIZE. His sense of humor is unobtrusively on display on nearly every page. (For laugh-out-loud funny, check his translations from Kriol. Yes, that's how it's spelled. Look in the index.) His relaxed style make this book a joy to read.

The book itself, as my title indicates, doesn't weigh much. You can fit it in your backpack or purse without dislocating your shoulder. Other guidebooks try to cover everything in depth and, as a result, gives the reader no clear idea of why he or she ought to visit the country in the first place.

Josh covers Belize district by district. In addition to providing general information about each district's major towns, he also includes sidebars that provide a reader with quick, accurate, and often very funny verbal snapshots. Under the heading Belize District, for example, he discusses the town of Crooked Tree, its wildlife sanctuary and nearby Maya ruins. He ends his account with info about how to get to Crooked Tree, and where to stay and eat once you've arrived. And on p. 62, there's a fascinating sidebar about Crooked Tree's annual Cashew Festival. Who knew!

As someone who once lived in Belize and has gone back several times to visit, I put Josh's book to good use on my last trip when I ventured inland to Belmopan and braved the expats on Ambergris Caye. I found it to be a helpful and funny travel companion. If you're Belize-bound, buy this book!

We have used Moon and Lonely Planet, but for Belize, Moon was definitely a better guide. The organization and style efficiently puts details where they're easy to find, while allowing for small bits of color to be added by the author highlighting the stuff that makes Belize special. Those little tidbits made the difference - allowing us to quickly decipher which activities, lodging, and food was really worth it and what was more typical touristy fare. It was refreshing to enjoy some of the slightly off-the-main-trail places that were highlighted in this book. Travel logistics details were as accurate as they could be given the transportation systems, and the author is clear in which cases schedules are reliable and where operations are less than regular. Every recommendation for food or lodging that we experienced was right on, from the Morningstar Guest House and the cake guy on Caye Caulker, to the perfectly relaxing atmosphere and serene setting at Cohone Palms near San Ignacio. On the days when you want to just cruise, this guide will let you treat it like a crutch. On the days when you're ready to find something really memorable and do whatever it is that makes you happy, this book will point you in a safe and rewarding direction. Best of all, it's high quality writing, so reading the book has been a pleasure before, during, and after the trip.

Any independent traveler seeking to custom plan a trip to Belize will find MOON BELIZE the perfect starting point. Packed with maps, tips, and the firsthand experience of author Joshua Berman, it provides an outstanding survey of activities, restaurants, accommodations and more and is a 'must' for any planning a trip to Belize sans tour group.

Without a doubt, the Cadillac of travel guides. While traveling in Belize it was like having Josh Berman on speed dial. When debating what to do for the day, we'd ask "what does Josh have to say?" and then do it. His recommendation of Chaa Creek was right on (stay in the tents - cheaper and more fun!).

A lot of the Belize guide books need serious fact checking. While I'm sure it's impossible to be 100% accurate since things change all the time, I have found the Moon book to be one of the better researched. It highlights budget accommodations, street eats, and moderate to high-end options as well. To list every possible option isn't the point; rather the author calls out his favorites. You can get a list of every establishment online, but I would trust the Moon book to narrow down the choices for me. The local maps are helpful, too, as are all the practical tips for what to do and how to get around. This writer obviously loves the country and wants to help you experience the best of the best.

We do a good bit of traveling, and I was excited to get the newest edition of the Moon Belize in the mailbox about a month before we left for both Belize and Guatemala. We used this and the Lonely Planet, and I was more impressed with the Lonely Planet Belize version.

This book was well-written but hard to follow at times and the prices were way off (this is also due to Belize inflation). We didn't find the places the author mentioned as wonderful as he did, but we did use it to compare with the Lonely Planet and see what matched up.

Overall, okay. Not the best Moon.