• Belize's barrier reef is approximately 175 miles long.Jacqueline Veissid/Photodisc/Getty Images
  
  The country of Belize is one of the world's best kept secrets when it comes to vacation destinations. Only since the early 1990s have travelers learned about this exquisite paradise, which features a number of islands and the longest barrier reef in the northern hemisphere. Belize is one of the least expensive tropical destinations, so much in fact that retiree's are able to move here for a fraction of what it costs to live in similar locations like Florida or Mexico.
  
  

Best Western Belize Biltmore Plaza

• Centrally located in Belize City, the Belize Biltmore Plaza hotel is less than two miles from Belize City Municipal Airport and approximately seven miles from Goldson International Airport. This Best Western hotel provides the perfect accommodations for both vacationers and business travelers. If you're in Belize on business, make use of Best Western's business center featuring several meeting rooms, a large conference room and professional secretarial services. If you're vacationing in Belize, this 75-guestroom hotel is the ideal departure point for a variety of day trips to Mayan ruins, World Heritage Sites such as Belize's Barrier Reef and the infamous Blue Hole of Belize. There are also nearby wildlife sanctuaries where a number of native species roam free. The Belize Biltmore Plaza hotel also features an on-site restaurant, bar and lounge, gift shop and an outdoor swimming pool.
  
  

Princess Hotel and Casino Belize

• Less than a mile from Belize's two major airports, the Princess Hotel and Casino features 115 guestrooms and an on-site Las Vegas-style casino. Just outside of the hotel, you'll find an Olympic-size swimming pool with a Jacuzzi inside, along with a smaller, children's size pool for your little ones. Another on-site perk available to guests is the Princess Hotel's full-service marina, where you can dock or launch your boat, as well as dive with native sea turtles. If you're up some old-fashioned family fun, check out the hotel's eight-lane bowling alley, adjacent gaming arcade or two on-site movie theaters. Up to six people can bowl at any one time, while the arcade houses more than 100 electronic games plus pool tables. The hotel's movie theaters seat more than 300 people and showcase the latest popular box-office films.
  
  

Radisson Fort George Hotel and Marina

• This historic hotel is approximately one and a half miles from the local airport, featuring 102 guestrooms. Many rooms at the Radisson Fort George have exceptional views of the Caribbean Sea, as well as the property's landscaped tropical gardens. On site you'll find the hotel's main restaurant, St. George's Dining Room, where you can enjoy breakfast and lunch buffets, and then traditional dining in the evening. The Fort George Hotel also features a local marina where boat tours depart frequently to explore the off-shore islands of Belize. Nearby attractions you may want to explore include the Museum of Belize, historic Fort George and the area's expansive rain forest.