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The Super South Dakota Travel Guide
South Dakota is the perfect destination for an all American road trip. Learn about past US presidents, sacred spaces for indigenous peoples and the westward expansion of the Unites States as we know it. Almost a right of passage for every family, South Dakota is calling you!
Historical towns like Deadwood, natural areas like the Badlands and Custer State Park, monuments like Crazy Horse and Mount Rushmore, a trip to South Dakota is an educational experience for everyone. Continue reading for all of the South Dakota travel advice from our amazing trips to the State!
Our Top 5 Things to do in South Dakota
Cave Tour: Take an extreme cave tour at Wind Cave or Jewel Cave.
Badlands: Feel small as you explore the large Badlands.
Needles Highway: Explore Custer State Park on one of the most scenic roads in America.
Mount Rushmore: See Mount Rushmore at night!
Reptile Gardens: One of the best reptile shows we’ve ever seen!
The best time to visit is between November and April. This is the dry season so you’ll have the best chance of clear skies for your Belize itinerary. This is also the busiest tourist season. January through March is the busiest time of year.
The temperatures in Belize are pretty steady year round. However, outside of the dry season, you’ll get frequent rain storms that can put a damper on your day. Typically, you’ll get pop-up rainstorms throughout the day and then the storms clear off. While this can be frustrating, you’ll also get discounts on hotels during the off season that may make braving the weather worth it.
Getting Around:
There are two main Belize travel styles: the Belize road trip and the Belize resort vacation. If you choose to take a road trip, you can rent a car and drive most places in Belize so long as you have 4WD. If you stay in a resort, they will help you book paid tours throughout the country. Because Belize is small, it is still possible to see a majority of the country via tours if you stay in a centrally located resort.
Belize has one main airport just outside of Belize City. You’ll need to arrange transportation from the airport to other areas in the country. If you aren’t driving yourself, you can take a shuttle, a public bus or a private plane to areas throughout Belize.
Language:
English is an official language of the USA and is the primary language in South Dakota. You’ll be hard pressed to get around without basic English skills.
Know Before You Go
Currency and Budget:
The US dollar is accepted everywhere in Belize. However, they also trade in the Belizean dollar as well. So if you pay in USD, you may receive change in the Belizean dollars as well. $2 BD equates to $1USD. So calculating change can be fun 😉 Also, credit cards are not frequently accepted in Belize. You will need cash or you will want cash because people will give you cash discounts. Additionally, places that accept credit cards, frequently are unable to actually accept them due to broken credit card machines.
Belize is a cheap place to live. Food and lodging in Belize is cheap. Food costs about $25 USD for a full sit-down meal. Accommodations average around $150 USD/night. However, vacationing in Belize can get expensive. Lots of places are so out of the way or restricted that you have to hire a tour guide. Tours typically cost between $75-150 USD for a half day tour. When you pay for one of these each day, your Belize travel costs can skyrocket.
Safety:
Belize felt like a relatively safe place. Tourism is important to the Belizean economy so the popular tourist areas felt really safe. Even when we were offered drugs by an entrepreneurial sprit on the street, it was a very friendly interaction that wasn’t pushy.
The most common crimes are petty theft and pickpocketing so make sure to leave your valuables behind and be aware of your wallet/bags. Just be safe and make smart choices like everywhere else in the world.
However, Belize City does feel a little unsafe. Tourism isn’t popular here and wandering around the street doesn’t feel comfortable.
Tap water in some areas was fine to drink and in other areas it wasn’t. So ask someone if the water at your hotel is good enough to drink. Most places provide bottled water for you if the tap water isn’t drinkable.
Read More Before You Go
