THE PACIFIC COAST - Guatemala - page 324

Under $10
Monterrico's original backpacker spot, Hotel Baule Beach no longer holds much appeal
because of the availability of much better options. Beds in unattractive rooms consist of
a concrete slab with thin cushioning. Numerous thefts have also been reported. Stay here
only if in dire need. West from here, the next place over is El Kaiman (tel. [phone]),
where for $7 per person you get a bed, a cold-water shower, and not much else. The hotel
pool looked somewhat funky.
A good value in this price range can be found at Hotel Long Beach (tel. [phone]),
down the street from Taberna El Pelícano, with spotless rooms with firm beds built next to
a pool for $10 per person. There are hammocks for lounging outside your door.

$10-25
An old standby enjoying a new lease on life, thanks to savvy web marketing and new
management,is Johnny's Place (tel.[phone], www.johnnysplacehotel.com ,$6indorm,
$25-50 d) set right on the beach. The rooms are built so as to share a swimming pool with
the unit next door and have cold-water showers, foamy beds, and some spartan furnishings
under a thatched roof. Rooms with fan cost $25 d on weekends. Larger “deluxe suites”
with air-conditioning, kitchen, and cable TV go for $50 on weekends. Rates are slightly
less during the week. There's a restaurant/bar on the beach and a sand volleyball court. It's
popular with a hip younger crowd.
Headingfartherwestalongthebeach,andsetbackabittowardCallePrincipalonaquiet
side street, you'll find El Marlin (tel. [phone]), also seemingly popular with a young-
er crowd. There are a bar and a small pool with tables in the courtyard. The rooms have
ceiling fan, private cold-water shower, cable TV, and thin mattresses. There are hammocks
outsideeachdoor.Ratesare$12perpersonanditisopenonlyonweekendsoutsideofhol-
idays.

$25-50
West of Calle Principal along the beach you'll find pleasant Café del Sol (tel.
5810-0821, www.cafe-del-sol.com ) , where rooms in the original building with cold-water
showers in private bath, fan, and mosquito netting cost $27 d. There's a newer section be-
hind the hotel across the street where slightly nicer rooms painted in cheerful yellows fea-
turing some decor cost $33 d. The rooms also have a small patio fronting the street. The
restaurant here is quite good.
East again from Calle Principal, around the corner and down the street from Taberna
El Pelícano, is Hotel San Gregorio (tel. [phone] or 5204-2013,
www.hotelsangregorio.com ) , with somewhat generic new rooms centered around a swim-
ming pool for $40 d, all with air-conditioning, some with fan. Along the beach heading
east from Johnny's Place, you'll find Hotel Pez de Oro (tel. [phone] reservations or