Belize has the second-largest barrier reef on the planet, Mayan caves you can swim inside, jaguars in protected jungle, and one of the most surprisingly multicultural societies on earth — and most travellers have never even considered it. This week, Simo D, a Canadian expat who moved his young family to the Placencia Peninsula in 2022, gives us his unfiltered insider guide to visiting Belize.

In This Episode

• Why Belize is still one of the most underrated travel destinations in the Western Hemisphere
• The best time to visit (and what to avoid)
• Must-do experiences: the Blue Hole, ATM Cave, island day trips & the stunning Hummingbird Highway
• A 3-day itinerary from someone who actually lives there
• The one Belizean dish you absolutely have to try (fry jack — trust us)
• Hidden gems: a secret sunset spot only accessible by boat & a Taiwanese dumpling restaurant in the capital
• Tipping, getting around, wildlife, and what nobody tells you about the climate

✈️ Before You Go...

- Need a SIM card for Belize? Skip the roaming charges — grab an eSIM before you fly and stay connected from the moment you land. We use and recommend Airalo.

- Looking for accommodation in Placencia? Find the best places to stay on the peninsula — from boutique guesthouses to beachfront resorts — right here.

Connect with Simo D

• 🌍 Expat life: Unfiltered Abroad
• 🗺️ AI-powered relocation tool: MoveSmart.World
• 🤖 AI news: Top AI News
• 🧠 AI tools: BottBott GenAI | Bot Bot Substack
• 💼 LinkedIn

🎧 Subscribe & listen: podcast.trulyexpattravel.com

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Running this podcast takes a lot of coffee (and countless hours exploring every destination!). If you found this helpful and want to support more honest, detailed travel guides and itineraries, you can buy me a coffee. No pressure though – I'm just happy you're here and hope you have an incredible adventure! 🙂

Slow travel or fast travel — which style actually fits your life right now? Paula sits down with returning guests Deborah De Reeper and Jo Hunter for an honest panel conversation about how travel changes as we get older, why the "travel while you can" message might be doing us a disservice, and where to actually go instead of the obvious hotspots.

In this episode

• Empty nesters on travel without the kids — and why it changes everything
• The guilt-free case for going less often but travelling better (yes, business class)
• Big cities vs countryside — why safety is reshaping where we go
• People-led travel: the expat superpower you didn't know you had
• Famous places to skip — and Vietnam, Morocco & rural France as the real heroes

Episodes & articles mentioned

Podcast episodes:

🎙 Christmas in Bruges with Deborah De Reeper — S1 Ep 24

🎙 Morocco with Jo Hunter — S1 Ep 9

🎙 Vietnam Uncovered with Stacy McCandless — S2 Ep 6

Read more on the blog:

📖 Things to Do in Marrakech: Your Essential Morocco Guide

📖 Arawan Luxury Desert Camp Morocco: An Honest Review

📖 A Weekend Away in Hyams Beach, Shoalhaven

Loved this episode? Leave a review on Apple Podcasts ❤️

If you would like to hear more panel episodes, let us know by messaging info@trulyexpat.com

Send us Fan Mail

Help Truly Expat Travel by leaving a review or making a donation

Here is the link - https://buymeacoffee.com/trulyexpat

Find me on:

Website: Truly Expat Travel

Facebook: Truly Expat

Instagram: Truly Expat Travel

TikTok: Truly Expat Travel

Running this podcast takes a lot of coffee (and countless hours exploring every destination!). If you found this helpful and want to support more honest, detailed travel guides and itineraries, you can buy me a coffee. No pressure though – I'm just happy you're here and hope you have an incredible adventure! 🙂

Think KL is just a stopover? Think again. Paula Barnes lived in Kuala Lumpur for three years and is here to tell you why it's one of the most underrated cities in Southeast Asia — great food, incredible shopping, rich multicultural culture, and easy day trips all within reach.

In This Episode

• Why the bus from Singapore beats flying
• Best areas to eat, shop and explore — Bukit Bintang, KLCC, Bangsar, Chinatown
• Batu Caves — and the monkey warning you need to hear
• Must-try foods: nasi lemak, char kway teow, banana leaf curry and satay
• A perfect 3-day KL itinerary
• Day trip to Malacca
• Solo travel tips, getting around, and how to avoid scams

Timestamps

00:21 Why KL is underrated and Paula's history living there 02:10 Singapore to KL by bus — why it beats flying 05:30 What KL is famous for: food, shopping and multicultural culture 10:15 Batu Caves — the temple, painted stairs and monkey warning 13:00 Best time to visit and what to pack 15:20 Getting around — Grab, trains and the free city bus 17:40 Souvenirs — batik and Royal Selangor pewter 19:50 Tipping culture and money tips 21:30 Must-try foods 24:00 Paula's perfect 3-day KL itinerary 33:00 Day trip to Malacca 36:20 Fireflies and elephant sanctuary day trips

Links

🔗 Where to stay in Cameron Highlands

🔗 My Favourite things to do in Kuala Lumpur

🔗 Kuala Lumpur in 1 day

If you’d like to hear more about Malaysia, check out the episode with Irene, where we explore Langkawi and why it’s such an incredible destination to visit.

Send us Fan Mail

Help Truly Expat Travel by leaving a review or making a donation

Here is the link - https://buymeacoffee.com/trulyexpat

Find me on:

Website: Truly Expat Travel

Facebook: Truly Expat

Instagram: Truly Expat Travel

TikTok: Truly Expat Travel

Running this podcast takes a lot of coffee (and countless hours exploring every destination!). If you found this helpful and want to support more honest, detailed travel guides and itineraries, you can buy me a coffee. No pressure though – I'm just happy you're here and hope you have an incredible adventure! 🙂