By Mike Parker
Antigua & Western Highlands Hotels
One of the first things Westerners may notice about hotels in Antigua and the Western Highlands is the absence of air conditioning. There is actually not much need for cooling in this region of the world, although at some of the higher elevations in the west the lack of heating can be an issue. The area is a popular weekend getaway so vacationers looking to save a few buck should consider visiting in the middle of the week to take advantage of the lower weekday rates. Like a good book, it is hard to judge the hotels of this region by their covers. Sometimes you just have to find out what's inside.
Hotel Atitlan
Hotel Atitlan began life as a coffee plantation in the early part of the 20th century. The hotel opened for business with a bar, restaurant and 14 rooms in 1971. Accommodations have since expanded to more than 60 rooms, each individually decorated by members of the Rivera family with tile floors, hand woven bed covers and handcrafted wooden furniture. Each room offers a private balcony with a stunning view of the surrounding countryside and Lake Atitlan. Modern conveniences include cable television, Internet access and in-room telephones. Accommodations at Hotel Atitlan begin at $120 per night.
HOTEL ATITLAN Lake Atitlan
Finca San Buenaventura
Panajachel, Sololá 07010
Guatemala
Central America
Tel: (502) 7762-1441
Fax: (502) 7762-0048
Website: www.hotelatitlan.com
Email: info@hotelatitlan.com
Meson Panza Verde
Located a leisurely five-minute stroll from Antigua's main plaza, Meson Panza Verde offers guests nine suites and three double rooms in a European style bed and breakfast setting. The inn features a pleasant fountain, central garden and veranda just inside the entrance where guests can relax and unwind. The restaurant features international cuisine with a Guatemalan twist and includes everything from traditional pork lomito to escargot. Rustic stone corridors lead to rooms with 12-foot ceilings and unique chandeliers, richly appointed furnishing, Moroccan-style fireplaces and exquisite bathrooms. Accommodations at Meson Panza Verde start at $100 per night. Children 15 and up are permitted. There is no smoking allowed in the rooms.
Mesón Panza Verde Hotel and Restaurant
5a Ave Sur # 19 Antigua Guatemala
Guatemala, C.A. 03001
Tel: (502) 7832 1745
Tel/Fax: (502) 7832 2925
Email: info@panzaverde.com
Hotel Jinava Bay
With no phone, television, air conditioning, or Internet, the Hotel Jinava Bay may be the perfect location to escape. Located five minutes from the center of San Marcos La Laguna, Hotel Jinava Bay is famous for the personal attention its owners pay to their guests. The hotel's restaurant features a wide variety of international cuisine including Thai, Indian, Mexican and Italian. Asian and shrimp dishes are their specialty while traditional Guatemalan fare graces the menu on the weekend. Small and secluded with only five rooms, the hotel has its own private, white sand beach with a canoe available to guests. The hotel's Mayan Sauna (Temaxcal) is also free to guests. Accommodations run from $20 to $38 based on double occupancy.
Hotel Jinava Bay
San Marcos La Laguna
Sololá, Guatemala
Reservations by telephone only: +502 5299-3311 or +502 5406-5986
Resources
About the Author:
Mike Parker is a full-time writer, publisher and independent businessman. His background includes a career as an investments broker with such NYSE member firms as Edward Jones & Company, AG Edwards & Sons and Dean Witter. He helped launch DiscoverCard as one of the company's first merchant sales reps.
Photo Credits:
http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1058842
