GATEWAY TO BELIZE, PHILLIP SW GOLDSON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
Written: Jan 14 '02 (Updated May 09 '05)
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Pros: Entering Belize through here.
Cons: Having to leave Belize through here.
The Bottom Line: Remember, smokers may have a long wait, and stay away from the hotdogs at the bar.
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| JAMES23's Full Review: Belize |
Belize City has two airports. That may not seem like an important fact in and of itself. Many cities have more than one airport. Belize City however, while being the largest city in the country, only has a population of 80,000.
More importantly, one of those two airports is a tiny municipal airport capable of handling only light puddle jumper prop driven air planes. It is located in the city itself at the north end on the coast. It should not be confused with Phillip SW Goldson International Airport which is the major entry point for Belize.
As is the case with most large international airports, Phillip SW Goldson International Airport is not located within the city limits of Belize City. It is 16 kilometres (9 miles) to the west of the city just off the Western Highway. It's about a twenty to thirty minute drive into the centre of Belize City from here. Taxis are fixed rate and cost $35.00 Belize ($17.50 US) each way. Taxis form the centre of the city to the smaller municipal airport usually cost about $5.00- $6.00 Belize each way. The drive is considerably shorter too.
Phillip SW Goldson International Airport is not a large airport. There is one terminal building and the usual collection of hangers and other assorted buildings. Like many other airports in the so called "developing countries" amenities are minimal. There are no enclosed gangways from planes to terminal here. The old fashioned stair trucks and a short walk across the tarmac are one's first, or last, experience in Belize for those arriving buy air.
The terminal is rather small and simply laid out. Entering through the main door one finds themselves in a rather small rectangular main room. On the street side form which you entered are a small money exchange booth and several small souvenir and other duty free shops. Here the normal last minute over priced items can be picked up. On the opposite wall are the airline counters.
The airport is serviced by both Continental Airlines and American Airlines on a regular basis running flights between Belize City and their respective hubs in Houston and/or Miami. Grupo Taco also has regular service to the US and several Central American countries.
The only other two airlines that regularly use this airport are Belize's two charter outfits, Tropic Air and Maya Island Air. Each offers service to the other towns in Belize, Punta Gorda, Dangria etc. They also fly out to the Cayes, and to Tikal in neighbouring Guatemala. Incidentally they both also fly to, or at least stop at the municipal airport in the city as well. However a taxi is probably a faster and cheaper way to get downtown from the airport.
To the left of the airline desks is the exit from the arrivals lounge and customs. Those entering Belize have to pass through the normal customs and immigration barriers. There is a single baggage carousal between the three immigration desks and the customs station.
Customs uses the normal green (nothing to declare) and red (articles to declare) system. Just before the customs barrier the Belize Tourism Board has set up and information desk. This is an excellent source of free maps, pamphlets, hotel and tour information.
Back in the main hall of the terminal, to the right of the airline counters are the security and immigration barriers. Security as in all airports after September 11, 2001 has been tightened. Be prepared for a possible physical search of your checked luggage at the counter in addition to the normal metal detectors.
There is an airport departure tax of $40.00 Belize ($20.00 US) for all persons departing Belize by air. However please note if you have during your visit left by a land or sea border and returned you will have paid a $7.50 Belize ( $3.75 US) departure tax. This can be deducted from the airport tax, so hang on to your receipts.
There are two important things to know about the departure lounge past the security barrier. First there is no restaurant here. There may be one in the first class passengers lounge, but the size of it suggests otherwise.
There is a tiny bar that serves the standard overpriced drinks, about twice the cost of a beer as in the city. This has a few snacks available however it may be best to eat before going out to the airport. The hot dogs for sale there looked as if they had been there since the country gained independence in 1981.
The only other food available is some chips, chocolate bars, pop, bottled water etc. in a couple of small souvenir shops. The quality and price again are not the best.
The second point is that the entire departure lounge is non smoking. There is no where in the terminal at all where smoking is permitted, not even a terrace overlooking the runway. This is an important consideration for those who smoke and arrive the standard two to three hours before a flight. Especially if as most are these days it's a non smoking flight.
The only other attractions in the departure lounge are a couple of duty free shops. Souvenirs of Belize, T-shirts, handicrafts and coffee are the main attractions here. Once again the quality, selection and prices are not good when compared to elsewhere in the country.
Alcohol and tobacco products are also available, and I found the prices about the same as those I noted in the duty free shops in Houston on the way down. Cuban, Dominican, Honduran and Costa Rican cigars were also available, although again the selection was limited and the prices outrageous.
www.travelbelize.org
www.belizeit.com
www.mayaairways.com
www.tropicair.com
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Recommended:
Yes
Best Suited For: Friends
Best Time to Travel Here: Anytime
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JAMES23
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Member: James Smith
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