hiring a cab for a few hours

[bluehawks47]

What would be a normal price for hiring a cab for four hours for two people. We are just looking to drive around and find some shopping and do some restaurant/bar hopping.

 

Thank you

[crewsweeper]

#1 for shopping and bar hopping, you can just about walk anywhere. See #3 and #4 below.

 

#2 Belize taxis aren't metered but fairly in expensive point to point. You might be able to negotiate with the driver for a set rate (but buy the driver lunch at least). Be sure you get a taxi with a green taxi license plate. Cinderella Taxi and Caribbean Taxi are the two predominate taxi services in Belize City.

 

#3. Belize City is a working city not a tourist city. Shopping is either the cruise port/tender pier or the flea market across the street from the tender pier, called Tourism Village. Shopping in down town Belize City is mostly limited to Brodie's on Albert Street, a general store type of place a short walk across the swing bridge.

 

#4. Bar hopping is best done at the Tourism Village or by hanging right out of the cruise port and walking to one of the hotels along the water front, like Smoky Mermaid, the Radisson Fort George, or the Ramada Princess Casino. If you turn right out of Tourism Village and walk across the swing bridge you can find Bird's Isle, a restaurant and bar along the opposite side of the harbor.

 

#5. An interesting taxi ride might be to head to the Travellers Rum Museum up the Northern Highway toward Ladyville. It's the home of One Barrel Rum, the local rum in Belize. You can taste there, and they have a bar. And then have a nice lunch at Admiral's Bay along the ocean nearby (look for the small sign before reaching . And stop at the Belize sign. Chukka Tours offers a rum tasting tour to Travellers. Not sure of the cost but worth googling if the link doesn't work. http://chukka.com/chukkatour/rum-tasting-belize-city-highlights/

Edited February 18, 2016 by crewsweeper

[bluehawks47]

Thank you Crewsweeper! I have always read that going past the "gates" was unsafe, but the more I read, I've found that we should be fine walking around there. I love all of your ideas...thank you!!

[crewsweeper]

Thank you Crewsweeper! I have always read that going past the "gates" was unsafe, but the more I read, I've found that we should be fine walking around there. I love all of your ideas...thank you!!

 

The cruise ship will tell you that and some passengers. There are independent vendors around the entrance trying to get you on one of their tours. But this is true in a lot of ports, with Jamaica and the Bahamas being amongst the worst IMO. In Belize, if you turn left, once you've gone past the cruise port compound, they'll leave you alone. Most take a simple "No Thanks" and move away. If you turn right out of the cruise port, you'll only encounter the independent drivers and ship excursion busses waiting for prebooked passengers. They all hold signs so you won't be bothered.

[bluehawks47]

Thanks again!! I think we are going to grab a cab and head to the Belize sign and have a drink at Admiral's Bay. I think we might take your suggestion and hit a hotel or two along the water and tourism village.

I assume a cab to the sign and admiral's bay for an hour or less shouldn't be too much, right? Would it be more than $25 total? There are two of us.

[crewsweeper]

Maybe less than that. $25 is to the airport though and that's close by. Just query the driver. Belize is English speaking. I suggest you Google Earth or TA a map of these places so you can show the driver. Most should know but just in case. And you'll be able to somewhat tell if the taxi is going in the right direction. I know the sign for Admiral Bay sneaks up on you and it's almost like a realtor sign or a garage sale sign in size. Have fun!!!:D

[Pssunshinegal]

The going rate for in-city taxis is 20 US$/hour (40 Bz). If they go on the highway, i.e. zoo or Old Belize then it is considerably more. And if you mix trips, downtown and zoo, then you need to ask for a price because it isn't consistent and even I after many years have been unhappy that I didn't ask the price for when we transitioned from being downtown to what is considered highway.

[bluehawks47]

Thank you! We will definitely ask for a price before getting in. I have looked at a map and Admiral's Bay and the Belize sign do seem pretty close. Close enough to walk, but I don't want to spend our whole time walking unless it is close to the port... with no worries of missing the ship.

 

Thank you both again.