Why is location so important to Hotels in Antigua Guatemala?

With the rise of the internet it’s well documented that the idea of location location location is losing its significance in everyday life. As you will quickly discover this is simply not true for hotels in Antigua Guatemala. There are many reasons for this. Within the last few years there have been a number of resort type places that are located out of town. Although these luxury hotels are worth a visit and are very beautiful, many visitors have been put off by their location.

There are a couple of reasons why being centrally located is important to making the most out of your visit in Antigua Guatemala. Travel in Guatemala can be a daunting prospect so it’s important to have a good orientation at all times. Antigua is a town that can be difficult to navigate at times.

Navigation can be tricky especially after you have been on a long walk. There are few big land marks and the grid system makes it easy to lose yourself. This is made doubly as hard in the dark as things have a tendency to look differently. Add on top of this that if you are wearing high heels you will most probably be stumbling over all over the place.
Our advice is stay in a centrally located hotel, carry the hotels details with you at all times and jump into a taxi at the first sign of getting lost!

Are there too many luxury hotels in Antigua Guatemala?

It is no secret that there has been a huge influx of luxury hotels in Antigua Guatemala over the past 10 years. Dating back from the colonial era when conquerors and Spanish noblemen populated the city, Antigua has had an air of elegance about it. Although there are many different places to stay to suit every budget, boutique hotels and resorts have increased in popularity in a big way.

There have been an increasing amount of luxury 5 star hotels and resorts such as Soleil located on the outskirts of Antigua. All these type are generally bigger, more spacious with parking and business facilities and meeting rooms. However, what they make up for in modern amenities they usually lack in colonial charm and uniqueness.

The best hotels in Antigua Guatemala are those that offer an experience that can’t be found anywhere else. Palacio de Dona Leonor is relatively new on the Hotel scene in Antigua but oozes charm and sophistication. It is the former mansion of Pedro de Alvarado, and each room is named after a famous Spanish nobleman. People say that this accommodation is like having a history lesson as it brings the colonial splendor to life.

One of the most famous is Santo Domingo, which is famous for its idyllic setting for weddings with a church on site and it even a helipad for helicopter tours. It is situated on the site of some ancient Spanish ruins and is renowned for being very romantic.

It’s true that there are many different luxury hotels in Antigua Guatemala and that to stand out from the crowd they are constantly innovating and coming up with new ideas. This can only benefit the consumer that comes to Antigua offering them more choice and selection.

Hotels in Antigua with a view

Nestled in the middle of three towering volcanoes, Antigua has some stunning views especially during sunset. If you are looking for a hotel room with a view then it is probably a good idea to stay away from cheap hotels and opt for a luxury hotel. There are many hotels in Antigua Guatemala as well as guest houses, bed and breakfasts and hostels with terraces where you can enjoy the view and relax with a nice glass of red wine enjoying the lovely scenery.

Being a colonial town full of rich houses that descended from the Spanish conquerors, most houses within the center of Antigua have extravagant terraces. This means that unless you are very unlucky you are likely to end up with a terrace of some description to watch the sun go down.

Although there are some 5 star resorts on the outskirts of town you will probably want to stay in a central place that offers both comfort and style.

Why are Antigua’s sunsets so glorious? Well, geographically Antigua is located in the middle of a kind of valley/bowl is surrounded by lush green countryside and dramatic 4000m meter high volcanoes. The sun always sets over Volcan Fuego and Acatenango coloring the sky with all sorts of crazy rainbow colors making for an amazing spectacle – almost like a laser show!

This laser show can be amplified by the weird patterns of cloud that congregated in the sky and the puffs of smoke that are periodically released by the affectionately known Fuego.

Choosing a Hotel in Antigua Guatemala

While Antigua certainly qualifies as a destination for the luxury traveller (with its colonial masterpieces built by Spanish Conquistadors) there is a wide variety of hotel properties to suit any budget and any mood from the lavish and rather expensive Santo Domingo to the simple and not so luxurious little Posadas on Santa Lucia.

Location. Although a key factor for any tourist, Antigua, which is only 8 by 8 blocks, is notoriously difficult to navigate. It is advisable to book a centrally located hotel and take note of any distinguishing landmarks, as Antigua’s colonial streets have a tendency to all look the same. Be aware at night as it becomes twice as tricky especially if you are wearing high heels and walking across the cobble stones in the dark.

Hotel Facilities. Be careful when looking at the travel brochure, that the hotel that you see in the glossy photo is one that you’re going to be staying in. It’s a good idea to check online reviews, ask friends who have already been and also check the hotel’s websites (although many Guatemalan websites never won any medals for design – don’t necessarily hold this against the quality of their hotel!)

Electric Showers. Generally not a problem for any one staying in any of the midrange to luxury hotels in Antigua, but beware of what is meant by "hot showers". Hot in Guatemala sometimes means luke warm and in other places an electric shower may have live wires hanging out the side! I don't know about you but I would prefer to pay a little extra

Terrace. If your hotel has a terrace – make full use of it! Sunsets in Antigua are spectacular with the sun usually going down at 6.30 behind the stunning volcanoes. If you’re staying at budget hotel and don’t have a terrace, never fear, the sunset doesn’t get much better than at Sky Cafe.