Marie Claire Magazine Names Belize As Top Choice in “How to Afford A Post-Pandemic Getaway”

by Carolee Chanona

After the year we’ve had, Marie Claire Magazine says it right: we all need a vacation. Pronto. With vaccines becoming more widely available in the U.S. and abroad, the global tourism industry (which lost an estimated $1.3 trillion in 2020, according to the World Tourism Organization) is finally on the mend. In this Marie Claire article, Victoria, a 26-year-old e-commerce manager and the founder of travel and lifestyle blog At Your Leisure NYC, is plotting her summer escape from concrete-covered Manhattan to somewhere a little lusher. As such, Mindy Yu, director of investments at personal-finance app Stash, and Patricia Johnson, trip designer at Reco, a travel concierge service by Tripadvisor, share tips for helping Victoria make her PTO pay off so she won’t have to pay up. And guess which destination comes up as the number one recommendation in Marie Claire’s ‘post-pandemic getaway’ list? You guessed it: Belize.

Picking the Right Spot: Belize

Strolling the cobblestone streets of San Pedro. Image courtesy Roeming Belize

Tulum, Mexico, might not be the best destination for Victoria; since it’s a trendy luxury location, hotels can cost more than $500 a night. Instead, she should try Belize, a country on the Caribbean coast of Central America that is generally more cost-friendly. Even better: With a population of just 390,000, the second-largest reef system in the world, and more than 200 islands to explore, Belize is the perfect place to relax (or snorkel) socially distanced. —P.J.

…And Right Time to Go

Caracol Belize Maya ancient city

Caracol, a large ancient Maya archaeological site Credit: Alamy

During shoulder season (the time between peak and off-season at any given destination), you’ll get a better deal—plus, it will feel less touristy. For Belize, that means late spring to early summer. You can have the Mayan ruins (like Caracol, one of the most famous ancient archaeological sites, hidden inside the Chiquibul Forest) all to yourself. —P.J.

Avoid Holiday Weekends

Maya-welcome-to-belize-domestic-flight

Holiday weekends are often the most expensive time to fly and book hotels. If you have unused vacation time at work, travel during the week, which can reduce costs. You’ll snag flight deals if you travel on a Tuesday or Wednesday, historically the cheapest days to fly, over Sunday, the most expensive. —M.Y.

Build a Vacation Fund

Image via Live Like Its The Weekend

Divide the expected cost of your trip by the number of months you have before leaving to figure out how much money you’ll need to save. This may mean dialing back on your discretionary spending leading up to your trip. The first posts I’d cut are unused subscriptions. —M.Y.

Or Get Your Trip for Free

Since Alaia Belize is a Marriott property, you can book a stay on points alone.

Well, kind of. Consider getting a credit card that earns you points that can go toward airline miles or your favorite hotel chain. By using it regularly, you may end up flying or lodging for free. —M.Y.

Enjoy Local Activities

belize food tours

Embark on a culinary adventure with Belize Food Tours (BFT). Photo courtesy BFT

Yes, sunning yourself on the beach is a bargain at $0, but a place like Belize offers low-cost, high-fun activities too. For example: In Ambergris Caye you can book a food tour for as low as $45. (The islands generally accept U.S. dollars.) For the same price, spend a half-day at Hol Chan Marine Reserve and Shark Ray Alley, a reef and local wildlife area, where you can kayak along the coast. Inexpensive yet memorable. —P.J.

This story appears in the Summer 2021 issue of Marie Claire and MarieClaire.com. Header image courtesy Roeming Belize. 

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