My fiance and I are considering Belize for a honeymoon in October; yet, we know little about it. If you've been there (especially for a romantic vacation) and have any recommendations on places to stay(near the beach ideally), things to do, or any special packages you know of, I'd really appreciate your advice! Thanks! marjorie

I am planning a ''camp it up'' trip to Belize next December (taking a group of families) and I am seeking advice and information. If anyone has been to Belize in the last few years and would be willing to tell me about it (and especially how it was for the kids and teens), I would appreciate it. thanks, ellie

We took our then-8-month-old daughter to Belize in January of 1992 and vastly enjoyed ourselves. Because we didn't speak a word of Spanish, and were travelling with a baby for the first time, we clung to the Cayes at first. They are very sheltered from urban crime and hassles compared with Belize City. We flew into Belize City on Continental, and I was frightened to be plucked out of the line of immigrants and arriving tourists and hustled to the head of the queue. The fear was misplaced - I was moved up in the line because I had a small baby and ''shouldn't have to wait.'' We were immediately offered a flight to the Cayes, and had another paranoid reaction. The flight turned out to be a good buy and great fun compared with a slog into Belize City and a 45-minute speedboat ride to the Cayes. It was odd, though, to be dropped off in a patch of sand the middle of nowhere with our suitcases heavy with pots and pans and diapers, and an umbrella stroller that was useless in the sand. We eventually found our way to the place where we had a reservation, ''Ignacio's cabins,'' a collection of rag-tag wooden shacks right on the beach, where we lived cheaply and happily for weeks. The baby loved the warm, shallow water. I loved it that, of an evening, the women of Caye Caulker would stand around in clusters in the middle of the street (on the Caye, there were no cars to speak of, so that was perfectly safe) talking, and nursing their babies as they stood.

We had one frightening night where our daughter ran a fever that spiked at 105 degrees. There was only a nurse on Caye Caulker, which meant we had to wait until morning, and take her by speed boat to a doctor in Belize City. It was a passing virus, and she quickly recovered. We were impressed by the medical care we got.

The facilities were no-frills, but our doctor, like many in Belize, was U.S.-trained, and seemed very knowledgeable.

Caye Caulker had two nuisances you should come equipped for. One is a few packs of fierce, unrestrained dogs. We had several frightening incidents (and another tourist was bitten), and learned to pick up a good-sized stick before crossing some beachfront properties. (There were piles of sticks at each end, assembled by other passersby.) The other nuisance is biting insects. The mosquitoes and ''no-see-ums'' can be a scourge. These are not a problem when the wind is up, and you can keep them at bay in your cabin by running the ever-present fans 24/7, but put Deet on your socks in the evening, or you are in for misery!

If you venture inland to visit the rainforests, and take the public buses, be ready for a charming custom that startled me at first. While you, the parent, aren't entitled to a seat, seated riders may reach up to you to unburden you of the baby by taking her into their laps. We soon learned to gracefully (and gratefully) assent. Restaurant staff, airport staff and others may also expect to relieve you (and even disappear from view with the baby). We soon discovered she was having the time of her life on these expeditions. An odd souvenir of our visit was that, from that trip onward, our daughter's intense stranger anxiety was confined to Caucasians.

We found Belize fascinating, and on net, a great place to go with a baby. Sign me: a nostalgic procrastinator

Hi, My extended family (8 of us altogether) are planning a trip to Belize in December. We'll be staying on Ambergris Caye and are looking for recommendations for things to do on the island, day trips inland (especially what not to miss and what's not worth the effort). We have two kids (ages 6 and 3) so any recommendations for the younger set would also be great. Thanks. Claudia