Home stays with Antigua families can be arranged through language schools or directly with the family in question. As the families are prepaid, you can switch your school at any time and try a different school. Your shuttle from the airport is also prepaid if arranged through a school, so if your driver ask for Q40 or Q80 in tips, just smile, and give him Q10 or Q15 at most (a 20% tip), more if he your luggage was ligged up a steep hill and dozens of steps.
The homes are often on hill tops, so be prepared to encounter large black scorpions on the lit walls at night, when you are walking home late. They are harmless unless you disturb them, but you might consider wearing shoes if they are too abundant. Choose a home in the town to avoid climbing hills, and you will also get less mosquito problems. Currently, families charge about Q580 USD for 7 days of bed, shared toilet, and 2 meals. Expect to pay about Q80 or Q160 more if you want to add lunch (the main meal), or if you expect a private bathroom (well worth it if you don't want to share with up to a dozen other boarders).
An advantage of a home stay for the Spanish language student is a chance for language immersion, as well as the cultural experience. The fewer students the family board, the better your experience. Too many students prefer to speak in English to each other and destroy your "immersive" experience Ask first how many people are in the home, and how many boarders there are You might find out, up to 14 people might share only one sink and 2 toilets. Water pressure is low at night, and you might not get a warm shower if the flow is too low to activate the heated shower head.
Ask the house mom to explain how to get the switch to activate on the shower, or you might have to deal with a cold shower. Buy your own soap and shampoo, as the home might use the same soap for washing dishes and clothing as for bathing. The housing may be more basic than in a hotel: simple concrete block or adobe construction, shared bathroom, and small rooms. Ask if there is a secure lock for your room, as the home is often shared with local boarders, and you do not always want to lug your camera and laptop everywhere you go.
It is important to realize that mosquitoes are common, and the owners often leave your door open while cleaning. A compact mosquito net or tent is necessary if you do not enjoy having mosquito buzzing around your face at night. Some areas of Antigua are mosquito free, but in other areas, they are found in abundance. It is important to verify the number of students and guests in the house, as one can encounter situations where up to 14 people are sharing two toilets and one sink! If you value cleanliness and convenience, book a room with private toilet and sink.
You must provide your own hand towels and bathing towels. If you leave them in a common bathroom, don't be surprise if everyone will use them. Eating hours are often different, with dinner often served at 7:30 or 8PM, so you might want to procure your own meals if you intend to go to bed early. Remember that dinner is simple: a few pieces of cold bread and perhaps very light soup. For American-style dinners, go out and buy your own food at the restaurants. Fresh fruits and vegetables are not often served so eat plenty of beans or bring along your own source of fiber.
Ana & Dany, (). Friendly, welcoming young couple who offer a home stay. They have four rooms (only two with private bath) in their small house on Calle De Los Pasos near San Francisco Church. Their two young children also live there and a mother and several siblings are in and out. Both speak some English, but are very clear and helpful to travellers trying out Spanish. They also teach Spanish privately and through schools. Rooms are small and basic, with concrete block construction, but clean and brightly painted. Food is Guatemalteca family cooking, with meat omitted for vegetarians. �
Susy´s House, (). A-family offering accommodation and food to share and friends who want to have a good experience in Guatemala and has 3 double rooms available ad the necessary facilities, hot water, friendly atmosphere in Jocotenango, located 2 km from Antigua: access is fast on the public buses every 5 minutes and the cost is $0.25US. The weekly cost is $70Us, includes 3 meals Monday through Saturday. You can contact [email protected]. Tel 502-78328005. �
La Casa De Antigua, (), . La Casa De Antigua offers a room only 5 blocks from the park and has wireless internet and breakfast from Monday to Saturday. It is located in a neighborhood with a beautiful architecture. The home environment is a very beautiful colonial style. The family is quite friendly and can speak English and practice Spanish. You can see the web site to obtain more information. �
The Most Frequently Asked Travel Questions about Antigua Guatemala
Where To Stay & Best Hotels in Antigua Guatemala - updated Apr 2024
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Antigua Guatemala Travel Guide from Wikitravel. Many thanks to all Wikitravel contributors. Text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0, images are available under various licenses, see each image for details.
