suggestions of places to visit

I suggest you go to Yaxha as well as Tikal. Depending on how many nights you will be in Peten, you should stay at La Casona de la Isla and eat at Capitan Tortuga in Flores. I recommend you visit www.guatemalaenvivo.com

Our Belize and Tikal photos are linked below with travelogue. I recommend an overnighter to Tikal so you can take advantage of the cooler early morning hours when wildlife is abundant and there aren't many other visitors.

I agree with hopefulist. Spending the night there should be a splurge. You can dine poolside at one of the lodges there and perhaps have a troop of monkeys run by. Tikal is nice in the evening and early morning as well(especially for the critter siting possibilities) and for lots of people the trip there becomes their Guatemalan highlight. Having the option to go in and out at will gives you time to recharge your batteries and enjoy the breadth of the site at a leisurely pace instead of running through it on a package tour. You're also given the option of choosing a guide to take your around the first time for orientation and then you can return later with a bit of knowledge and see things again at you own pace. It's a real splendor and staying there is a tribute to the gods and former kings.

one, two, or three nights (more? depends how much time you have) but not 0 nights!

Thanks everyone for the great info! I really appreciate it and it makes the decision easier. I will definitely spend the night in tikal. Any places you would recommend? I think since this is a such an amazing opportunity I am definitely willing to splurge a little.

Any of the three hotels will do just fine. Two of them have a pool.

I found La Casona really surly. The Hotel Peten, basically next door, seem much friendlier (although owned by the same company) and have lake view rooms for the same price (about $45 per night).

I recommend the 5am shuttle from Flores to Tikal. You are at the ruins before 7am when the wildlife is abundant. Crowds aren't really an issue at Tikal since the park is enormous.

MM

You could stay a night or 2 in Flores which is cheaper and has more eating options and 1 in Tikal. In Flores we're planning to stay at

Establecimiento: HOTEL VILLA MARGARITA 
Dirección: AVENIDA REFORMA
Departamento: Petén
Municipio: FLORES
Teléfono: 7926-3240 7926-1091 7926-0735
Servicios: - Aire Acondicionado
Tarifas: 
- Tarifa Sencilla 'Q125 ($16)
- Tarifa Doble 'Q200 ($26)
- Tarifa Triple 'Q275

which received a great review on Trip Advisor. They were very friendly and helpful on the phone (Spanish only).

We're planning to stay at the Tikal Inn, also. It was our 1st choice 4 years ago but was closed at the time for fumingation (!) so we stayed at the Jaguar Inn and were pleased with it. We're opting for a pool this time, though, and something new. Jaguar Inn website says $33 single and $53 double, not sure if that includes taxes or meals. The Tikal Inn email I received recently quoted $100 double for bungalows and $75 double for rooms, including taxes, dinner, and breakfast.

It's almost time for me to start counting the days before I leave!

I join #1 on Yaxha. It's a stunning and very extensive site and very underrated. You'll mostly have it to yourself. I went there in high season 2 Christmas ago and I found only 2 tourists all day. You'll also have the chance to take a brief boat to an island in Yaxha Lake where you can visit a beautiful maya observatory, Topoxte.

You can also do a day-trip from Flores to Ceibal, through the Rio de la Passion. Incredible place. Small ruins, but beautiful jungle packed with howler monkeys.