Survive - Guatemala - page 599

Directory A-Z
BOOK YOUR STAY ONLINE
For more accommodation reviews by Lonely Planet authors, check out http://hotels.lonelyplanet.com . You'll find
independent reviews, as well as recommendations on the best places to stay. Best of all, you can book online.
Accommodations
Hotels, Hostels & Guesthouses
Guatemalan accommodations range from luxury hotels to budget hotels to ultrabudget guesthouses called hospedajes, ca-
sas de huéspedes or pensiones.
Accommodations options are listed in order of price range, and within that price range by author preference. Places at
the lower end of the budget range are generally small, dark and not particularly clean. Security may not be the best in
such places. At the upper end of the budget range you should expect a clean, sizable and airy room, with a bathroom, TV
and, in hot parts of the country, a fan (and possibly air-con).
Hostels are becoming more prevalent throughout the country, particularly in tourist hotspots like Antigua, Flores and
Lanquín. While sleeping arrangements in these places can be fairly bare-bones (a bunch of bunk beds crammed into a
room) facilities often include on-site bars and restaurants, tour services, swimming pools and other top-shelf amenities.
They're also a great place to meet other travelers.
Midrange rooms are almost always comfortable: private hot-water bathroom, TV, decent beds, fan and/or air-con are
standard. Good midrange hotels have attractive public areas such as dining rooms, bars and swimming pools.
Top-end accommodations in Guatemala mainly consists of Guatemala City's international-class business-oriented ho-
tels, Antigua's very finest hostelries, and a few resort hotels elsewhere. These places offer all the comforts (and many
more) that you would expect for the price.
Room rates often go up in places popular with tourists during Semana Santa (the week leading up to Easter Sunday),
Christmas-New Year and July and August. Semana Santa is the major Guatemalan holiday period, and prices can rise by
anything from 30% to 100% on the coast and in the countryside - anywhere Guatemalans go to relax. At this time ad-
vance reservations are a very good idea.
Regardless of your budget, if you're planning on staying for longer than a few days, it's worth asking for a discount.
Be aware that room rates are subject to two large taxes - 12% IVA (value-added tax) and 10% to pay for the activities
of the Guatemalan Tourism Institute (Inguat), although there is discussion about eliminating this second tax. All prices lis-
ted include both taxes. Some of the more expensive hotels forget to include them when they quote their prices.