Many travelers and backpackers prefer to spend less for accommodations, needing really only a bed to rest their heads at night. Staying in a Guatemala hostel is a good way to save up your money for exciting Guatemala tours and other trips around the country. Guatemala hostels are good places to meet fellow travelers, and swapping travel stories is one of travel’s great pleasures. A hostel Guatemala experience can be an excellent way to not only meet other people, but to stay within most of the country’s best travel destinations without having to put a huge dent in your budget. Here are some suggestions for nice Guatemala hostels in Guatemala City, Quetzaltenango, and Antigua.
The Youth hostel Los Lagos in Guatemala City is just a few blocks from the city’s international airport, meaning you can be there quickly after arriving on flights to Guatemala. Near this charming Guatemala hostel, you will find a nice market selling handmade arts and crafts. Located in the Old City section of the capital, you are still just minutes away from the shopping, dining and nightlife options in the New City’s Zona Viva. Offering nice, clean rooms with balconies, you can choose a private room with a bathroom, or save even more money and stay in a shared room. New beds and nice linens and towels are part of the room amenities. The friendly staff aims to make your stay as nice as it can be, and each morning you can enjoy a nice complimentary breakfast. Parking is available if you are driving, and the hotel features internet access, laundry facilities, around the clock front desk service, a travel desk and an area to relax outside and barbecue. One of the best hotel features is that they have no curfew. They even offer shuttle service to and from the airport and have a comfortable living room area with a television, a book exchange library and board games. You can also get drinking water for free and a hair dryer and iron, if you need. Check for tour options offered at the front desk, with destinations such as Lake Atitlan, Tikal and Antigua. This is among the best Guatemala hostels in the big city capital.
Located in the heart of Quetzaltenango is the newly renovated The Black Cat hostel. Bathrooms are shared here, as are some of the rooms, but you can secure a private room as well if you so desire. Hot water in the bathrooms is offered 24-hours a day and you get a complimentary breakfast included in your rates. With its own restaurant and bar you can enjoy hanging out at the hostel, but if you feel like heading out for a bite or for a drink, the convenient location has you close to some great locations. Vegetarians will be happy to know that the hostel’s restaurant serves vegetarian selections on top of their non-vegetarian dishes. Among the property amenities are a laundry service, a safe deposit box, currency exchange and wireless internet. There is no curfew at this nice choice among Guatemala hostels, and there are backpacker facilities as well as personal lockers that you can take advantage of. The Black Cat does not accept credit cards and accepts payment in either the Guatemalan currency (Quetzal) or in U.S. dollars. Extremely affordable and comfortable, this Guatemala hostel is a nice place to call home in Quetzaltenango.
If you are looking for a good Antigua Guatemala hostel, you might consider the El Montañes. While not in the center of town, the hostel is within walking distance of all you could want to see and the city’s Central Park is just 5 blocks away. With clean and comfortable bedrooms and 24-hour hot water, you will find the accommodations to be comfortable enough. You can secure a private double or triple room with a private bathroom, or opt to use a shared bathroom to save extra money. One of the best things about this Antigua Guatemala hostel is that it offers an airport pickup service in Guatemala City. For a small fee, you can enjoy internet access and the hostel offers luggage storage and various drinks and snacks. A nice breakfast is included in your rates, as are linens and you can get travel information 24 hours a day at the front desk. Tours to the Chichicastenango market and nearby Lake Atitlan are among some of the popular regional tours. They also offer information on Spanish language schools, as Antigua offers the widest selection of them in the country. Enjoy relaxing in the garden at this charming Antigua Guatemala hostel where you are sure to meet some interesting fellow travelers.
