Sleeping : Antigua

Antigua’s nearly 200 hotels/hostels/guesthouses are proof that tourism is a competitive game in this colonially-reminiscent, UNESCO-approved, tourist-populated, still somehow quaint, Guatemalan town.

What that means, is that you have options. There are several spots here popular with the mochileros (backpackers) and many more that are off the map, so to speak. Most weeks (Christmas and Semana Santa excluded) you should be able to show up and find a bed without any trouble. It may not be exactly what you were looking for, that’s all part of the adventure.

And by the way, don’t be dissuaded by the word “Hotel” when bed hunting in Antigua. Many of the low-end hotels are comparable in price to “Hostals”, some even cheaper, and sometimes the rooms are nicer.

Also, if you are staying for a week or longer, there are lots of places that cater to Language School students, and offer rooms to rent by the week or month. If you are going to attend a language school, they can usually help you find housing. Once in Antigua, you are sure to come across flyers for rooms. And if you’re looking in advance, Villa Esthella, listed below, has a guest house that offers rooms for Q400/week (around $50 USD). There are three rooms total in the house, the kitchen and baths are shared. It’s a little further from town than Villa Esthella Hostel, but it’s affordable, quiet, and if you luck out with great housemates,  you won’t regret your stay at all.

If you don’t want to be as far from town, or miss out on all of the excitement of meeting fellow travelers and trampers, then check out the options below:

Yellow House Hostel

Click here for more pictures of Yellow House

As far as hostels go, this place is nearly impossible to beat. Sure, the price for a private double might be a little higher than most other places in Guatemala, but the dorm beds are a bargain and with the (included) breakfast these ladies serve up every morning you’ll easily save money on food the rest of the day.

From 7:30 to 9:30 each morning, the downstairs patio is adorned on one side with a veritable banquet of tropical fruits, eggs, beans, roasted vegetables, oatmeal, pancakes, handmade marmalade, granola, coffee and tea. Undoubtedly the best breakfast in town, and the local women serving it up are a treat to practice Spanish with as they work on their English. Seriously, people we’ve met from around the world talk about how good the breakfast is here.

In addition, the multiple common spaces here are filled with plants, flowers and comfortable chairs. The volcanic views from the second-story terrace were enough to keep me distracted from writing for hours and help with some inspiration, as well.

RATES:

All prices include breakfast, wi-fi and computer access, shared bathroom

Standard bed, co-ed dormitory – Q60 (about $7.5 USD)

Private double, one or two beds, television – Q190/1person or Q210/2 people (around $24 and $26.50 USD)

CONTACT:

1 Calle Poniente #24

Phone: (502) 7832 6646 or 7882 4699

Email: yellowhouseantigua@hotmail.com

And you can find them at : www.guatetravel.com

Villa Esthella

bordertramp, travel, central america

Click Image for more Photos

Located just slightly further away from the center of Antigua than other options, Villa Esthella is a great find. It’s quieter than some of the more centrally located hostels, and offers all the same amenities and comfort at a slightly lower cost. Plus, it might actually have the best terrace view in town. (You see this claim being made by every hostel/bar/restaurant that has a terrace, but our vote goes to Villa Esthella.) There is a rooftop bar as well.  Although not always open, the terrace is. And it’s a beautiful place to enjoy your morning coffee, afternoon cerveza, lunch, dinner, etc. Villa Esthella offers a nice sized kitchen for guest use, WIFI access, and drinking water.  They also have shuttle service to and from the airport, and can arrange shuttles to and from numerous destinations, if you would rather not bother with the travel agency.

Contact:

2 Avenida Sur, #48

Phone: 7832 5162 or 5330 0774

Email: info@hostelantigua.com

www.hostelantigua.com

Rates:

Dorm: Q50/person/night

Private Single/Double/Triple: all are Q80/person/night.

Banana Azul

Click for pictures of Hostel

Click for pictures of Hostel

If arriving by Chicken Bus, Banana Azul could be one of the first places you’ll pass, crossing Santa Lucia, it is conveniently located on the first block of Calle #3, closest to the Market and Buses. The dorm rooms are small, but for Q40 a night you can probably feel right at home, and spend your time hanging in the patio on the first floor, or in the outdoor (covered) kitchen on the second level. You don’t need a reservation, but like many hotels/hostels in Antigua, the number of dorm beds is limited, and prices for a private room are significantly higher. Call ahead if you want to check. Banana Azul has two kitchens for guest use, a computer, and WIFI. They also offer Laundry service at Q7/libra(pound).

CONTACT:

3 Calle Poniente #33

Phone: 7832 4822

RATES:

Dormitory: Q40/person/night (Right around $5 USD)

Private: Q150/person/night (around $20 USD), or Q200/night for 2 people ($25.50).

Privates offer Private Bathrooms as well.

Hotel Santiago

bordertramp

click image for more pictures of Hotel Santiago

In 2010 we stayed at Hotel Santiago, wanting something a little cheaper and less crowded than El Gato Negro, then located just down the street. Though prices here have gone up, it’s still a comfortable place to stay.  Hotel Santiago shares a building with the Ash Travel Agency, and you walk past their desk, through the kitchen hallway, and upstairs to the sleeping quarters. Surprisingly this never feels awkward. Though more expensive than other budget/travel agency dorm options, the beds are bigger, and the rooms a little more spacious. The common space can feel crowded, and the kitchen is really just a camping stove and microwave… but the staff here are so friendly and helpful that it completely made up for any of these apparent deficiencies during our stay. This time around (2013) we went back to Ash Travel to book our trip to Volcan Pacaya and paid only Q65 (some places have advertised Q75/Q80). Here also, tours, trips, and transfers can all be made possible simply by walking out your bedroom door and into Ash Travel.

CONTACT:

6 Avenida Norte, #7

Phone: 7832 6325 or 5487 2116

Email: ashtravelantigua@yahoo.com

RATES:

Dorm: Q65/person/night ($8USD)

Single Person Private: Q190/night ($24 USD)

Double Private: Q210/night ($27 USD)

Terrace Hostal

Click photo for more pictures of Terrace Hostel

Click photo for more pictures of Terrace Hostel

A popular hostel with the backpacking crowd, Terrace Hostal has it’s own (Antigua Renowned) Rooftop Bar. And a weekly Pub Crawl. The crowd is younger, prices are competitive, and the vibe is fun. As of January 2014, breakfast is not included in the stay, but affordable food is still available for purchase at the bar. (There is no kitchen for guest use.) Drinking water and WIFI are also available for guests, and the staff can help you arrange shuttles or tours.

Contact:

3 Calle Poniente, #24

Phone: (502) 7832 3463

Email: antiguaterrace@gmail.com

www.terracehostel.com

Rates:

Dorm: Q65 (around $8 USD)/person/night

Economy Private (1 or 2 people): Q155 ($20 USD)/night

Private w/ one bed (1 or 2 people): Q200 ($25 USD)/night

with private bathroom: Q270 ($34.50 USD)/night

Private w/ 2 Beds (1-4 people): Q200-Q285/night

El Hostal

The Entrance

 

Located on what happens to be our favorite Avenida in Antigua, El Hostal is another great find in the city. It offers really just about any service you could imagine, has a helpful staff, and is conveniently located next to Los Encuentros/Tretto Caffee, across the street from Cafe Sky and Cafe No Se, our favorite hidden treasures in Antigua. Being located a few blocks from the Center of town, not everyone who is passing through makes it to the bars/restaurants/cafes on 1 Avenida. But if you’re staying at El Hostal while in Antigua, you just might not need to venture beyond 1 Avenida. Oh yeah, and Breakfast is included in your stay. Lockers for dorms, a kitchen for guest use, WIFI, and drinking water are also included.

Contact:

1 Avenida Sur, #8

Phone: (502) 7832-0442

Email: elhostal.antigua@gmail.com

www.el-hostal-antigua.com

Rates:

Dorm: Q80 (around $10USD)/person/night

Single Private: Q160/night

Double Private: Q240/night

Extra Person: Q80/night

Hostal El Viajero

If you are planning on sleeping at Yellow House but the dorms are full, across the street you can check in at Hostal El Viajero. Run by the Los Arcos Travel Agency, dorm beds here are inexpensive, and even the privates are cheaper than many other options in town. Hostal El Viajero offers WIFI, a computer for guest use, and Drinking Water.

CONTACT:

1 Calle Poniente #27

Phone (Los Arcos Travel): 5226 7641 or 5717 5081

Email: losarcostravelagency@hotmail.com

RATES:

Dorm: Q40/person ($5 USD)

Private Single w/ Shared Bath: Q80/night ($10USD)

Private Double w/ Shared Bath: Q100/night ($12.75 USD)

 

 

GETTING // GOING          •          SLEEPING          •          EATING          •         DOING

Take me back to ANTIGUA // Take me back to GUATEMALA // Take me HOME

 

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