Jim R. Says:
My wife and I are retired and looking at moving to Ambergris Caye, Belize next year. Do you have any advice on finding a beach rental?
IL Belize Correspondent Shane Kenny Says:
Hi Jim,
Thank you for sending in your question. Here are a few things to consider about renting in Ambergris Caye:
- Your preferences will drive rental costs. For instance, beach rentals will always be more expensive than “near the beach.” Many expats learn to settle within walking distance or a golf cart ride from a beach they like in order to save a bit on their rent budget.
- The Belize Tourism Board (BTB) states that anyone in Belize on a tourist visa is considered a tourist, regardless of how long they are staying. This means that if the rental you’re considering is following the rules, a 9% “hotel tax” will be added to your rent each month. That being said, enforcement of this is mostly non-existent, but I wanted to make you aware that some rentals you look at may tack this tax on. If the BTB does start to actively enforce this, you may have this added expense somewhere down the road.
- Ambergris Caye is the #1 tourist destination in Belize. This means during the high season (Thanksgiving through April), it will be very crowded. It also means that rent and other monthly expenses will be higher than other locations here. If you have not already, I would recommend taking a trip to scout around a bit and make sure you find the perfect place for you and your wife.
All that being considered, I believe you will be able to find something within your budgetnear a beach… but probably not on the beach. Your best bet would be to connect with a real estate agent that knows Ambergris Caye very well.
Getting International Living’s Escape to Belize guidebook would be a great step. It has tons of useful information, along with a rolodex of contact information for agents that will be able to help you with more localized knowledge of Ambergris Caye.