Tag Pages For: when to come

Antigua - Street 8
JANUARY 2017: Why not read our Retirement Reviews. OVERVIEW: I made my way from Flores to Antigua by overnight Luxury Bus. In Flores, I stayed in a BELOW GRANDPAcking Standard hotel: the Hotel Posada Tayazal. I booked a Twin Room at the Tayazal at a discounted rate of GTQ80 / night (US$11). I booked with BOOKING.COM and the booking was confirmed by email. But, when I got there, they did not have a Twin Room available. It was 5:00pm at night, so I didn’t have much choice. I had to accept the only room that they had available: a Single Room. We agreed a discounted price of GTQ50 […]

Antigua – Guatemala – Information

JANUARY 2017: Why not read our Retirement Reviews. OVERVIEW: After spending Christmas with my family in Belize, I ended up in Belize City (again). I had, previously, stayed in Belize City for 2 nights at the Downtown Bella Sombre. I paid US$45 / night. This was the most expensive hotel that I have stayed in over the past 2 years of travelling. But, in Belize City it is hard to find anything cheaper. It was not worth that price. The Bella Sombre room, itself, was OK. The hotel is secure and situated in an average area of town. But you don’t feel safe […]

Flores – Guatemala – Information

DECEMBER 2016: Why not read our Retirement Reviews. OVERVIEW: We made our way from Punta Gorda (Belize) to Livingston (Guatemala) by Water Taxi. In Punta Gorda, we stayed in a GRANDPAcking Standard hotel: the St Charles Inn. We got the St Charles at a discounted rate of BZ$95 / night (US$48). We booked 2 nights because we were arriving on a Sunday and the internet says that boats to Livingston only leave on a Tuesday and Friday. We were targeting the Tuesday boat. Just as well really … as we didn’t have a Parrot Permit: PUNTA GORDA TO LIVINGSTON: The information on the internet is wrong. Boats leave from Punta Gorda […]

Livingston & El Estor – Guatemala – Information

DECEMBER 2016: Why not read our Retirement Reviews. OVERVIEW: I made my way from Caye Caulker to Hopkins by water taxi and public bus. In Caye Caulker, I stayed in a GRANDPAcking Standard hotel: the Axios Sun Apartments. I got the Axios at a discounted rate of US$32 / night but a 9% tax and fixed US$15 Cleaning Fee where added to the base price. The result was US$40 / night. I was thinking of staying on Caye Caulker for a couple of weeks. I took one look at it on my day of arrival and decided that 3 nights was going to be enough. […]

Hopkins & Punta Gorda – Belize – Information

NOVEMBER 2016: Why not read our Retirement Reviews. OVERVIEW: I made my way from San Pedro, Ambergris Caye to Caye Caulker by water taxi. In San Pedro, I stayed in a GRANDPAcking Standard hotel: the Hotel Ocean Paradise. I got the Ocean Paradise at a discounted rate of BZ$65 / night (US$32.50). It was time to move on to Caye Caulker to compare the two islands … SAN PEDRO TO CAYE CAULKER: Getting from San Pedro to Caye Caulker is easy: it’s a 30 minute water taxi ride away. You can catch a water taxi from the Ocean Ferry Terminal. The ticket is BZ$19 one […]

Caye Caulker – Belize – Information

NOVEMBER 2016: Why not read our Retirement Reviews. OVERVIEW: I made my way from Merida (Mexico) to San Pedro (Belize) by public transport. I stopped off to see some ruins on the way in both Uxmal and Calakmul (Xpujil). In Merida, I stayed in a GRANDPAcking Standard hotel: the Doralba Inn. I got the Doralba at a discounted rate of MXP469 / night (US$26) including Buffet Breakfast. It was time to leave Mexico behind and to head for Belize … the next country on my ‘around the world’ adventure. XPUJIL TO SAN PEDRO: I started the final part of my journey to Belize in Xpujil, Mexico (where […]

San Pedro – Ambergris Caye – Belize – Information

NOVEMBER 2016: Why not read our Mexico Retirement Reviews. OVERVIEW: I made my way from Progreso to Merida by public transport (Colectivo). Progreso is a small beach town 30 minutes north of Merida. In Progreso, I stayed in a GRANDPAcking Standard homestay: the Abrazarse Life B&B. I got the Abrazarse at a discounted rate of MXP533 / night (US$29). It was very homely and comfortable. It was time to head for Merida. I have heard so many nice things about it … I planned to stay in Merida over the end of October Festival of Souls and the Day of the Dead Festival on the 1st […]

Merida – Mexico – Information

SEPTEMBER 2016: Why not read our Mexico Retirement Reviews. OVERVIEW: I will not try and re-invent the plethora of information that is already on the internet. Playa Del Carmen (PDC) is well documented. I will try and focus on information that you might find useful in your decision-making process. PDC is located along the Caribbean Sea in the state of Quintana Roo, Mexico. It is a very popular tourist area in eastern Mexico. For GRANDPAckers, PDC is affordable … Read on … A BIT ABOUT PDC: In stark contrast to Isla Mujeres (Island of Women), PDC is more like Cancun: a touristic party town. PDC has recently undergone […]

Playa Del Carmen – Mexico – Information