Frequently Asked Questions
What are the entry requirement for Belize?
Cash, Credit Cards & Currency Exchange?
Is there shopping on the island?
Is this a family-friendly place?
I want to book some tours or expeditions.
I’m looking for someplace really private, where I can just relax.
Other little items we think you should know………
What’s included in my villa rental?
What are the entry requirement for Belize?
All visitors to Belize must present a valid passport before entering the country. Please note that driver's licenses and birth certificates are not approved travel documents and cannot be used to enter the country. Passports must be valid up until time of departure. No Visas are required for U.S., Canadian or UK citizens. For other countries please view http://www.travelbelize.org/gethere.html.
Seascape is on a stretch of fabulous beach, just 3 1/2 miles North of San Pedro Town, Ambergris Caye. Ambergris Caye is the jewel of Belize’s offshore cayes. The pristine Belize Barrier Reef is less than ¼ mile offshore. At your doorstep are swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving and saltwater fly fishing adventures. You can easily explore Mainland Belize on fun-filled day trips, and be home at Seascape in time for dinner. There are jungle expeditions, Mayan ruins, cave-tubing, secret jungle spas, exotic animals, and plenty more to keep you busy.
For clothing pack shorts, t-shirts, sandals, bathing suits and sarongs. Ladies, bring something frilly and beachy for a night on the town (but forget the high-heels as they do not do well in sand!). Fancy dress for men means a shirt with buttons. Ambergris Caye is a very casual place – shoes are not required anywhere. Don’t forget your sunglasses, sunscreen, bug spray and hats! If you have snorkel equipment bring it along so you may explore the reef in your own villa kayak. Bring a couple of small flashlights for moonlight strolls along the beach. If you have craving for certain snacks or have special dietary needs please inquire about availability in San Pedro. If you forget something, chances are it can be purchased in San Pedro – from casual clothes to drugstore sundries, the town is well stocked with all the basics of daily life.
Cash, Credit Cards & Currency Exchange?
Bring a fair amount of US currency in small (20’s are fine) denominations. Traveler’s checks are also a good idea to have along. Seascape accepts all major cards including American Express. Larger shops, hotels, restaurants and tour companies take Master Card and Visa, and a few take American Express. There is an International Banking machine at Belize Bank should you need to access funds that way. While at Seascape you can charge almost everything to your villa and settle the bill at the end of your stay. The official exchange rate is $2 Belize to $1 US. Credit card companies and bank machines charge you a fee for conversion. Cash can be traded at a direct 2 to 1 rate in shops and at the occasional “casa de cambio”. Ask for assistance from the Jazz staff.
Is there shopping on the island?
Of course! If you are hoping for a generic air conditioned mall you’re in the wrong place, but that is what most folks love about San Pedro. Small shops carry a wide variety of jewelry, art, wood carvings and an almost infinite variety of really clever t-shirts. Gifts of Belizean hot sauces, jams and savories; or jungle herbs and spices are also available throughout San Pedro. Ladies – there are some pretty incredible hot-weather dresses and beach-wraps available as well.
There are fine dining and casual eateries within a 3 minute beach walk from Seascape, and many more within easy access by a bit longer walk, or by cart or water taxi. “In the neighborhood” – Rendezvous Restaurant and Winery, Caliente, Blue Moon, Capricorn and Rojo Lounge. In Town – Blue Water, Casa Picasso, Fido’s, and Elvi’s – the list is too long for this information package, but we will supply you with a complete directory when you arrive. San Pedro is a GREAT place to eat. From a little hole in the wall with home-cooked rice and beans to world class cuisine – it’s all here for you to explore.
Various bars and discos around the island provide an opportunity to enjoy local music and to mingle (and dance) with a wide variety of people. Several times each year there are town festivals that offer unique entertainment. Your Villa consultant will provide you with the latest information.
Is this a family-friendly place?
Seascape Villas is predominantly adult oriented but we can accommodate children and their needs.
Absolutely! Ambergris Caye is extremely safe. You will find the Belizean culture one of the friendliest in the Caribbean and Central America. People are always willing to lend a hand or engage in a conversation or story. Do bring a flashlight for your evenings outside the villa – without one there is the possibility of tripping over a coconut or a sleeping tourist.
I want to book some tours or expeditions.
That’s a great idea, take a look at our Things to Do! We have selected partners that we highly recommend. Do you want to take a sail? Learn to scuba dive? Get an exclusive spa treatment? Go cave-tubing? Snorkeling, fishing, and Mayan ruin trips are available every day. Just let us know and we’ll arrange everything for you. For your convenience we will charge your activities to your Villa account which will be settled before departure.
I’m looking for someplace really private, where I can just relax.
When you found Belize you were already 80% there – add Seascape Villas as your home away from home and you have arrived. Seascape is far enough from town to avoid the bustle and noise of daily commerce, yet close enough to put it’s amenities within easy reach.
Other little items we think you should know …………
Money - The Belize Dollar is a fixed currency at $2 BZE to $1 US. We have a GST tax on all goods and services of 10%. All businesses take US dollars and will probably give Belize change. We accept American Express, Discover, MasterCard and Visa on property for incidentals.
Tipping - Gratuities are not usually included in prices. Average of 15% is considered appropriate.
Telephones - International cell phones do not usually work in Belize so check with your provider. For emergencies leave Seascape contact information with your friends and family at home. Office 501-226-2119 - Remember you must dial 011 from the US. Cell phones are available for rental at the kiosk just outside the International Airport doors (refundable deposit required).
Languages - The 2 main languages in Belize are English and Spanish. You will also hear Belizean Creole, “Spanglish”, Garifuna and Mayan.
Power - Electrical supply is compatible with US appliances. No need for a plug adapter. Public power supply can sometimes go out, but Seascape has a back-up generator for a continued and consistent power supply.
Transportation - The main form of transportation on (or around) the island is by boat. There is a local service provided by the island ferry which travels up and down the island stopping where needed every 2 hours during the day and every hour in the evening until 10 PM at a cost of $8 US per person each way. Private water taxis are also available for charter between Seascape and Town for $27.50 US each way. The second most popular form of transportation on the island is by golf cart. A rental cart can be provided to you for one day or the duration of your stay. Please reserve your golf cart in advance to ensure availability.
Check In - Check Out - Check In time is 1:00 pm and Check Out time is 11:00 am.
What’s included in my villa rental?
- Nightly rate and tax
- A warm greeting at San Pedro Airport
- Round Trip Transportation to Seascape upon arrival and departure
for San Pedro
- Welcome tour and orientation
- Complimentary Bottle of Red and White Wine
- Your villa comes stocked with a starter kit of coffee, tea,
cream, sugar and a case of bottled water
- Maid Service Daily
- Fresh Fruit Basket
- Sea kayaks and bicycles at your disposal
- Tennis court and equipment
- Personal staff
- Concierge Services
Planning Tips
Welcome to Ambergris Caye
Villa life is flexible and custom-designed for you. With advance notice we can arrange grocery stocking service, your own chef, golf cart, and even spa services at your villa. You may opt for total privacy, enjoying quality time with your lover, family or friends, sequestering yourselves away for peace and quiet. A family getaway can take on new intimacy with quality time spent together at a villa. Your villa could also be your headquarters for an action and adventure vacation, diving, snorkeling, fishing, parasailing, sailing, or windsurfing. Or it can be the place you spend your entire vacation, basking in the sunshine on the pool deck or swaying in the soft tropical breezes in a hammock under a palm tree.
Advance planning on some things is advised ……...
We can help you plan and reserve any activities for your island vacation – we’ll help you customize the perfect vacation with fun activities and island sights and charge your activities to your Villa account. If you are arriving late in the day, or especially if you’re traveling with children, please ask to have your villa pre-stocked with groceries of your choice…this service is well worth the nominal fee so you can settle right into your villa and relax. Special villa services such as chefs, massage and spa treatments, nannies, day sails and so on are often sold out weeks in advance; please book well in advance to avoid disappointment.
Go with the island flow.
Once you've arrived at your villa, take your shoes off, sip a cool drink, savor the ocean views, and take a dip in the pool. Move slowly - it's the Caribbean way. Above all, open your eyes to new experiences and your heart to another culture. Let the rhythm of the tropics take over. Don’t plan too much; be open to exploration and spontaneity.
Seascape Villas
Reservation Office
Toll Free: 1.888.753.5164
Local: 011 501 226-2119
Email
