Marketplace

[quietmn12]

Any information out there on open air type markets in Cozumel and Belize? My DW is interested this these.

[Lamar Cheeks]

... basically a long line of oceanfront shops, packed together in what we would call stripmall styles. there are some set back in courtyard areas, but not what i'd call open air. space seems to be at a premium.

 

at least, that's Cozumel, right off the docks.

 

don't know about Belize.

[checkard]

Belize is the same as Cozumel but with more shops. Get off the tender boat and there they are. There are benches in front of some of the shops if you need a rest. The folks in the Belize shops didn't seem near as pushy as those in Cozumel, they just stood back and let you look around until you were ready to buy or had a question.

 

In Cozumel we didn't even shop at the places right at the port because of being hassled everytime we stopped to look at something. One real estate couple approached us and wanted us to look at a time share and they would give us "fabulous" gifts and there was no obligation. They didn't want to take NO for an answer and followed us up the street for a ways. Some of our tablemates did it just to see what it was all about. After sitting through an hour lecture and then being taken on a tour, they said they weren't interested. Then the hard sell came on and the couple had to get nasty to finally get out of there. They did get their gifts, a hammock and a blanket.

[Driftwoodgal]

In Belize you can go outside to the street and find vendors that will bargain with their wares. We were amazed at the changes in one year to the Belize port. I got the impression that the vendors in Belize all work for RCI. The vendors out on the street were working for themselves.