Hotels

There are tons of good hotel options in Guatemala City, with something to fit any budget. Most visitors choose to stay in the ritzier and safer side-by-side neighborhoods of zonas 9 and 10, which I highly recommend. Budget travelers and those seeking a heavy dose of the city's colonial center gravitate to Zona 1, but keep in mind that you need to be very careful about walking around this neighborhood at night.

Zonas 9 & 10

These side-by-side zones contain the greatest concentration of hotels, restaurants, bars, and shops in the city, and heavy police presence makes them relatively safe for strolling and exploring on foot. Most of the hotels here are high-end business-class affairs, but there are actually options to fit most budgets. This area, particularly Zona 10, is often referred to as Zona Viva, or the "Alive Zone," because of all the dining and nightlife options.

Very Expensive -- In addition to the places listed here, the Guatemala City Marriott, 7a Av. 15-45, Zona 9 (tel. 800/228-9290 in the U.S. and Canada, or 502/2410-1777; www.marriott.com), is another excellent high-end hotel, though I think the similar-class hotels listed here are better located.

Expensive -- In addition to the hotels listed here, the Holiday Inn, 1a Av. 13-22, Zona 10 (tel. 502/2421-0000; www.holidayinn.com), is a good option. This hotel was previously run by the Sol Meliá chain, but has been under the management of Holiday Inn for the past couple of years.

Zona 1

This is the heart of the downtown colonial core of Guatemala City, and is often referred to as the "Old Town," or "Old City." The area is convenient for visiting many of the city's colonial-era attractions, and is full of hotels. You'll definitely get more bang for your buck down here as well. However, this is a busy part of town, and tourists are often targeted for pickpocketing and petty crime. Tourists need to be particularly careful after dark, when I recommend you take a taxi, even for short trips.

Inexpensive -- In addition to the places listed here, Hotel Spring, 8a Av. 12-65, Zona 1 (tel. 502/2230-2858); and Hotel Ajau (tel. 502/2232-0488; hotelajau@hotmail.com), 8a Av. 15-62, Zona 1, are two other good budget options.

Zona 11

While not generally mentioned in the typical list of tourist-recommended neighborhoods, Zona 11 is home to the Tikal Futura, a major, modern high-rise hotel. This hotel is located right at the point where the highway to and from Antigua and the Western Highlands enters the downtown area. If you're planning on renting a car, it's convenient to stay here and have it delivered to the hotel. When you head out, simply turn right as you exit the hotel, and you'll be on Calzada Roosevelt, which soon turns into CA-1.

Zona 13 (Near the Airport)

There are a couple of hotel choices right near the airport. However, given the fact that hotels in zonas 9 and 10 are less than 10 minutes away from the airport by taxi, this is a very limited advantage and minor consideration. You'll enjoy much better access to restaurants, bars, and shopping if you stay at any of the hotels listed above. However, these are two good options if you really want to be close to the airport.