Luxury Hotels in Guatemala City, Guatemala

Guatemala City, the capital city of Guatemala, is the largest urban area in all of Central America. It is home to more than four million people crammed across a flattened mountain range with four visible volcanoes on its horizon, two of which are active.  Since the city serves as the economic, governmental, and cultural capital, most of the major highways in the country originate or lead toward this sprawling city, led by its main port of entry: La Aurora International Airport.

The city itself is subdivided into 22 zones designed by urban engineering legend Raúl Aguilar Batres. The Zona 1, also known as the Plaza Mayor, includes the majority of the city’s important attractions. Each zone includes its own streets and avenues, and addresses are assigned by the street or avenue number followed by a dash and the number of meters it is away from the intersection. In theory, this makes it relatively easy to find an address but since there is no ordering of the zones, it can sometimes become virtually impossible to actually find a residence. But like other bustling Central American cities, people adapt and the address system becomes a way of life in this fascinating region.

Each of the following hotels in Guatemala City offer luxury accommodations, excellent dining and a wide variety of upscale amenities. With convenient locations that also offer its guests with high-quality personal service, it is easy to understand why these are considered by many as some of the best hotels in the country.

Real InterContinental Guatemala – Located in the heart of the Zona Viva (Zona 10), this award-winning, luxury hotel is within walking distance of upscale shopping malls, fine dining restaurants, and the financial district. The 14-story hotel provides 239 fully equipped guest rooms including a Presidential Suite, six Junior Suites, and 24 Business Suites. In-room amenities include soundproof windows, marble floors and baths, high-quality bedding with 300 thread-count Egyptian cotton sheets, and high-speed Internet connections. Other services include access to an outdoor swimming pool, Jacuzzi, a 24-hour front desk and concierge, and three on-site dining options: Café de la Paix (serving classic French specialties all day); Tanoshii (serving Japanese cuisine for lunch and dinner); and Saint Honoré (a casual boulangerie-patisserie). The friendly concierge can arrange everything from obtaining concert and sports tickets to airline reservations and car rentals. More information can be found at their website: InterContinental Guatemala City.

Westin Camino Real - This award-winning, four-star accommodation is known as one of the most luxurious in the city. It is conveniently located in the Zona Viva district (Zona 10) near attractions such as El Obelisco, La Aurora Zoo, and the Francisco Marroquin University. Known for its high-quality, personal service for both leisure and business travelers, it offers 271 luxury guestrooms and suites with amenities such as city views, soundproof windows, ergonomic chairs, goose-down pillows, feather mattresses with Egyptian-cotton sheets, and flat-screen televisions. The property also includes a casino, a state-of-the-art health club, an outdoor heated swimming pool, and spa services. The on-site dining options include a fine-dining restaurant (El Cafetal) that provides a variety of international cuisine as well as a café and a bar/lounge with live entertainment. For added convenience, there is an also a free airport shuttle to La Aurora International Airport. More information can be found at their website: Westin Camino Real.

Grand Tikal Futura Hotel – Located in Zona 11, just minutes away  from the airport in an industrial area on Calzada Roosevelt, this luxury hotel is part of the Tikal Futura Complex, which includes 193,000 square feet of office space, a 160-store shopping center, a convention center, and a fitness center with indoor heated swimming pool and sundeck. The hotel itself is a spectacle to see with its towering glass architecture. It offers 205 luxury guest rooms including one Presidential Suite, two Diplomatic Suites, 14 Executive Suites and 12 Master Suites. All guest rooms include excellent views of Guatemala City and the surrounding mountains, wireless Internet access, and marble baths. The upper three floors (Royale Floor) of the hotel provides additional benefits such as Continental breakfast, all-day tea/coffee service as well as cocktails and canapés every evening. On-site dining includes La Molienda (serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner) and the Asia Grill & Wok (serving lunch and dinner). The entertainment center provides a 10-screen cinema and a bowling alley.  More information can be found at: Grand Tikal Guatemala.

Radisson Hotel and Suites Guatemala City - This luxury hotel, tailored toward both business and leisure travelers, is also conveniently located within the Zona Viva (Zona 10). It offers 130 spacious suites designed with a blend of Guatemalan and contemporary styles divided into three categories: one-room suites (with standard amenities,  kitchenette and sofa bed); corner suites (with standard amenities and great city views and two separate living spaces); and the ladies floor (designed especially for business women with several additional amenities). Standard amenities include flat-screen televisions, DVD players, floor-to-ceiling windows, a full-service business and fitness center, and complimentary wireless Internet access. The on-site El Huerto restaurant features international and local cuisine for breakfast, lunch, and dinner with an a la carte or buffet menu.  More information can be found at their website: Radisson Hotel and Suites Guatemala City.

Barceló Guatemala City - This luxury hotel is located in the heart of the main business district (Zona 9). It provides 395 luxury guest rooms divided into six categories: Deluxe (standard amenities with one or two beds); Deluxe Executive (standard amenities and free access to the Club Premium Barceló with Continental breakfast, midday apertif, and afternoon tea); the spacious Presidential Suite (separate living room with master bedroom, and Club Premium Barceló amenities); Suite Duplex (two-level design with a living on the first level and a luxury bathroom on the second); Suite Duplex Family (similar to the Suite Duplex but with even more space); and Superior with Terrace (with terrace and views of either the volcanoes or the city in addition to the above amenities). Standard amenities include flat-screen televisions, courtesy bottled water, mini-refrigerators, wireless Internet access, a full-service business and fitness center as well as an outdoor swimming pool. The property also offers two on-site restaurants serving international cuisine, two racquet courts, a sauna, and three bars: a sports bar, a lobby bar, and an aqua bar located next to the swimming pool. More information can be found at their website: Barceló Guatemala City.

Hotel Vista Real, Guatemala – This luxury hotel is located in the heart of a quiet and exclusive residential area in Zona 15. It offers 123 suites (Master, Grand Class, Business Grand Class, and the Presidential and Governor Suite) complete with soundproof windows, large bathrooms, an entertainment center with television and mini-bar, and a full-service concierge who can arrange everything from car rentals and tours to airport transfers. Guests have access to the outdoor swimming pool with two Jacuzzis, walking paths through lush gardens, a fitness center, and a spa with massage and other treatments. The on-site Las Ventanas Restaurant provides fine dining in national and international cuisine with a Mediterranean influence. Best of all, most of the property provides excellent views of the nearby volcanoes. In addition, guests in the Business Class Floor receive luxury bedding with 480-thread-count Egyptian cotton sheets and personal butler service. The Presidential and Governor Suites include amenities such as a breakfast nook, separate rooms, and Jacuzzis. More information can be found at their website: Hotel Vista Real Guatemala.