Need advice...small hotel or lodge suggestions

In Antigua I really enjoyed Posada San Sebastian. It has great ambiance, is only a couple minutes walk from the Plaza, and is features antique furniture, hot water, and cable TV. I remember it costing around $30 USD or so.

Posada San Sebastian
Antigua
3a. Avenida Norte No. 4
Tel/Fax: 832-2621

Here is a video of the hotel:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=501171438014949306<BR>

We just stayed at Posada La Merced two weeks ago. Nice place, great staff, beatutiful views from the roof. It's $35 for a double. Website is www.merced-landivar.com, and they check their email often. We arranged shuttle pickup & dropoff through them as well.

Around Lake Atitlan (not in Pana, but nearby) - I recommend Casa Del Mundo or Isla Verde.

Casa Del Mundo has AMAZING views of the lake - built into the cliffside. Beautiful hand-carved Guatemalan furniture and decor. Very classy for the price ($25-$50 per night).

Isla Verde is more of an eco-lodge. Private cabanas set along the hillside gives it a very garden-y feel. Same price range as above.

Google for their websites.

Well....as I understand Spirit Airlines flies out of Fort Lauderdale. So, you don't want show up at the wrong airport right. I strongly recommend checking out the mercado central in guatemala city. I've always found prices there to be cheaper than at touristy places. The market is located in a safe area behind the cathedral and the national palace, with lots of police around, clean and hundres of stalls carrying a good variety of souvernirs specially silver and gold jewely. And of course you can always bargain. That's where locals do their shopping for relatives living in the US. Good luck.

I like Posada La merced in Antigua. In your price range and you can book on line and also look at the rooms on the website. Run by English speaking Kiwi. I stayed many places in Antigua till I hit this place as it is clean and secure and quiet and has a friendly staff. For Pana on the lake I like Dos Mundos as has lovely clean pool and nice rooms. Going back to both this hotels on my next trip which starts December 21. For photos of Guatemala see my website wolfcalls.com

We were in Guatemala and Honduras in March of this year. Casa Del Mundo is an amazing, beautiful place, but I was never able to find rooms for $25-$50 USD per night. Casa Del Mundo is also not in town. You have to take a boat, (or hike) to get there. It is also a steep climb from the boat dock to the hotel.

In Panajachel there are several hotel choices. In my opinion, the best choice is Mario’s Rooms, ($175 quetzales, double room with private bath, in room security box and TV) has clean rooms with a nice garden and a restaurant.

Hotel Regis, was pricey but nice ($375 quetzales, very nice double room, private bath, TV, air conditioning in a beautiful setting) next door to the school.

Hotel Kakchiquel, ($250 quetzales, private bath, TV, wireless Internet) we ended up staying at this hotel for a few days. We liked the location, security and the room.

In Panajachel, there are plenty of good dining choices. Each morning we had the Desayuno Tipico,(eggs, black beans, plaintains, tortillas, coffee and sometimes rice) for about $10. quetzales. Many of the restaurants were good, but two really stood out for their quality and prices.

Guajimbos Restaurant, (same side of the street as the school on Calle Santander just a little further up the hill). Outstanding Uruguayan food barbequed on a giant parrilla. The portions were ample enough that my wife and I would share a plate!!

I don’t remember the name of the other restaurant that really stood out, but it was farther up the hill on Santander right where the road splits and directly across the street from Dina’s Chocolates. It is a great parrilla with a bar on the street and tables in the back. You can watch them cook the food….the place is very clean, ample portions and great

Antigua has plenty of housing choices. Casa Christina, Hotel Cristal looked good but were full so we stayed twice at Casa Rustica (6a Ave Norte #8, Antigua) only a couple of blocks from the Parque Central. This hotel was $265 quetzales on the weekend and went down to $250 quetzales on the weekday. We had a double room with private bath/shower, cable television and a security box. The rooms were spacious and clean, the hotel provides free purified water, a stocked common kitchen for travelers use, wireless internet in the common area and a small bar. The English speaking management was friendly and very helpful. The hotel also offers a travel service with shuttles to several destinations.

Enjoy your trip...............

Firefly

Firefly -- Casa Del Mundo's rack rates are between $27 to $60. That's the rack rate. Off-season and walk-up may be lower as well.

http://www.lacasadelmundo.com/reservations.php#price

Also, the public launcha will drop you off on Casa Del Mundo's dock right at the hotel ---- there is no need to walk from the village (unless you feel like some exercise!_

Thanks for all of the info..I am reading conflicting reports regarding money .We always travel with at least 50-100 single US dollars as we have found that it is great for tips and cabs..Reading about security and ATM problems i am not sure what to do about cash since we plan on doing a lot of buying from street artisans and do not want to be short of cash...What is best...and are the ATMs working ???

In my original questions,I asked about 2 hotels ...Casa Florencia and Los Ecuentos..they both get excellent reviews on Trip Advisor web site..and both have replied to my emails re rates and availability of rooms....It would help if the hotels had an english speaking staff that could guide us in are search for "stuff"