Bringing household items into Guatemala

For those of you who have a place to live in Guatemala, any tips for bringing in household goods? We purchased most of the big stuff (or are having it built) in Guatemala but decided to shop for some things here in the US and are planning to fly them south with us in the next few weeks: bedspread, towels, shower curtain, bathroom rug, clock radio, kitchen utensils, etc. It's actually a pretty big pile but within the scope of our carryons and no cost checked luggage. Advice on avoiding issues at the airport appreciated.

I mule stuff down for friends every year. I've had things disappear from my luggage. I use the TSA locks now. I take everything out of its original packaging box or wrap, mix it in with my cloths. I always bring down household stuff for myself for my rental. I have never been checked. The customs people seem to be more concerned with the returning Guatemalans and their booty. Your mileage my differ.

Goods for personal use have an upper $$ value that you can take in per 6 months- thats the official line but I've never heard of it being enforced. If customs pounce its more likely to be that they claim the items are for resale and therefore insist you pay import tax or take the items back out with you. As per #1 the best way to prevent this is to make the items look used, discarding boxes, packaging etc. Its normally only electrical items with a decent value that attract interest...

They sell stuff like that in Guatemala and it is usually cheaper. They weave lovely bedspreads right in Guatemala. Bring down your family photos and things you cannot buy in Guatemala.

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I think your "packing light" instincts are kicking in here... I've come in with duffel bags full of random stuff and they've never batted an eye. Very unlikely they'll say anything unless it looks like you're importing lots of electronics to sell. Shower curtains, towels, etc.? No chance they're going to say anything IMO.

Thanks, all. Yeah, enroute - strange to be planning to check bags. A small blender and a little, used clock radio are the only "electronics".

Patty - I already shopped extensively around the lake and in Xela. Some things are cheaper and/or just nicer in Guatemala but some stuff is really poor quality for many times what I'd pay for good quality stuff in the US - sheets and towels, for example. Since the place will be rented out when we're not living in it, we want bedding that can be washed between guests: lots of Guatemala textiles for curtains, cushions, and decorations but not for bedding. Since our bedspreads at home are all from Guatemala I am well aware of the laundry challenges.

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be advised, "creating thousands of fake accounts for God-in-heaven-only-knows what reason" is frowned upon by the community suggestions.

pro-tip: stick to one. it's not that hard. not seven. not fifty. just one account, it's not rocket science.

bringing bathroom rugs into Guatemala is not, never has been and never will be unlawful.

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Well the stuff I saw and purchased was with a hotel owner from Antigua and was in Guat City and except for the textiles was all from China just like in USA, We also got tons of stuff in a mall dollar store. except it cost less than a dollar. Guat bedspreads are wonderful and not a laundry problem you wash them like they do in Guat in a big tub of water , rinse and hang to dry. every woman in Guat knows how to wash woven spreads. Going to the Highlands gets you nice woven things like on way up to Todos Santos. Never saw much of woven materials around the lake just hupiles and the like. Also saw fancy kitchen stuff in Guat City too the junk from local mercardos. They have cheap junk for those who cannot afford better but if you look the good stuff is out there. Men wen weave a lot of stuff on foot looms and then it gets hand finished. That stuff is drop dead. . Woven stuff is now big deal once you are used to it.. Since l991 I have gotten together a huge collection of Guat woven things. the only problem is washing wool knit bags from say Solola.

Paty - You are just going to have to trust me about the things I chose to buy here in the US, that it was - in each case - the best decision for our use. We hired a local carpenter to make the majority of the furniture (plus windows and doors) and purchased the appliances, fixtures, bed and couch, and most of the larger kitchen and bath items on the lake or (mainly) in Xela.

Our house in the US has hundreds of Guatemala textile items, too, many dating back to our 1st visits in the 80s. Now that we're visiting 2-3 times/year and have a place of our own there, I'm striking the balance that is right for us between quality, cost, practicality, aesthetics, and honoring the local traditions and economy.

I looked in many stores in Guatemala for towels, for example, and did not see towels with even 50% cotton for less than $15-20 per towel. Sheets with any cotton content at all (and I really dislike the staticky, cheap sort with no cotton because they feel icky and pill quickly) were $50+/set. In the US I can get beautiful cotton sheets for $15-20/set at places like Ross and TJ Maxx and nice 100% cotton towels are easy to find for $5 or less. I am not very picky about most things but we are planning to live part time in Guatemala and don't want to spend hundreds of dollars on cheap stuff (no matter where it's made) when I can have items that will last for decades at a fraction of the cost.

There are beautiful bedspreads and textiles for tablecloths, curtains, etc., around the lake and except for the bedding, that's what we prefer. You can ask any woman who uses a lavadero or the lake for her laundry, though, and you'll find that it's just not that easy to wash huge things out by hand and dry them on a regular basis.

You've probably already tried this, but I just washed 2 wool bags a few weeks ago - soaked in cold water with Woolite, swished and swished and rinsed well in cold water, and blocked on towels. They look new!

It's a wonderful position to be in - lovely homes full of Guatemalan textiles and folk art in 2 countries. Feeling blessed. :-)

agreed - it's very unlikely you'll get stung for any of that stuff, but as a precaution I'd remove the packaging anyway, as suggested. customs are only really interested in commercial quantities of repeat items. if you were packing 50 clock radios it might be a different story but one? nah.

I feel your pain on the cheap n nasty vs. quality for four times the price question. sounds like you know what you're doing, though. good luck with the move.

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Megapaca by Minerva Terminal in Xela is great, as is the Walmart nearby.
Who knows maybe what the OP is looking for can be found in Guatemala. I have found, though, that if you are very picky about a certain thing, sometimes it may be better to bring it with you...especially if you can fit it within your baggage limits. That might save the OP from travelling all over the country to track down a couple bed sheets. In my experience, even if people tell you something is not available in Guatemala, it is available...however it may not always be worth the effort required to track it down. In some cases, it may even be more expensive, like the OP mentioned.

I stayed at a hotel where the staff washed everything in their private pila. I wondered how they got hot water for washing sheets. It was pretty simple. They just built a fire (outside the hotel) and put a large pot of water on top of the fire.

You bought a place at the lake?

Of course, there's always the option of heading to the upscale malls like Oakland and MIraflores for certain items... though yeah, the price is sometimes double what you'd pay in a US store. Still could be worth it for one or two forgotten essentials...

Double the department store prices in some cases which are double or more the outlet costs.

Greg - Yes! We have had a nice apartment with a large rooftop terrace built for us on top of the home of dear friends in San Pedro La Laguna; when we're not there they'll rent it out. I was in San Pedro most of the summer and enjoyed picking out the tiles and paint, shopping for appliances and other household goods, ordering furniture, and watching the progress; the doors and windows are being installed this week - almost finished! :-) Looking forward to settling in and especially to having a base for Beca Project workshops, parent meetings, tutoring sessions, guest speakers, and social gatherings.

That sounds nice and someone will be there to watch it. One of these days I will get to San Pedro La Laguna and finally get it off my bucket list. I am sure it is very beautiful. I am sure that you know how to be safe as it seems Guatemala has not much of a security infrastructure to speak of.
My friend Marc built a place for his in laws in Kathmandu and I remember one time he brought a pretty heavy duffle bag filled with door knobs for the house!

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That is very nice. Thank you! Not this year but soon I hope.

Such a cool idea, Steve. I loved seeing that guest suite of yours, really well done.

okay I trust you. No heavy woven lovely Guat bedspreads. I don't find them a problem but then have spent most of my life lugging heavy dive equipment around by myself. So dealing with laundry issues of bedspreads is nothing for me. My favorite is the blue green ones. I also have them in red and orange. They are one of my favorite woven articles to purchase in Guat. Well next to hupiles. Good luck with your new place.

Thanks, Paty. I have never found them to be a problem, either - we have a lovely teal one on our own bed, a brilliant blue one in the bedroom down the hall, bright red and orange downstairs - sounds like we have similar taste! I don't have a problem washing our own (farm girl - hauling bales and feedbags, dive equipment, cutting and splitting firewood, no problem) but, frankly, I rarely feel the need to do so. If we were going to live there full time it wouldn't be an issue. The laundry becomes an issue because a close friend (very strong but ~90 pounds) will be doing it every weekend between renters when we're not living there. And if I get tired of the solid blue bedspread I'm packing down, it won't be hard to find a more aesthetic replacement, at least for when we're there. :-)

Now picturing you splitting firewood on the slopes of San Pedro and hauling it down... possibly balanced on your head :D

I bet your 90 lb person can do this laundry. The bed spreads are so lovely and warm and as a spread it won't need to be washed like sheets. I have the blue/teal one on my bed now. Heavy yes but wonderful. Sounds also like similar childhood too. My father split the wood but my job to take it and stack it. We only had a wood stove in kitchen to heat the house. No running water but pump in kitchen sink.

Quite an upbringing! I lived in town as a kid but my husband and I raised our family on a small acreage, lots of animals. Kids are grown and we're down to house pets and a flock of hens, now.