Tips for the next trip to Guatemala - A few things I learned

Guatemala April 4-12, 2013

Tips for next trip:

Currency:

Guatemala recognizes the US Dollar and the Quetzal as its two national currencies.  Use the US Dollar in most places to get the most of your money.  The airport exchange rate is a rip off.  The national exchange rate is 7.8 Quetzals to the Dollar.  The Airport offers 6.4.  That’s a pretty great business.  The Barcelo Hotel had an ATM where you can get the full 7.8 rate on your dollar. 

To summarize:

1.     Don’t change your money at the airport.  Find an ATM or Bank, and remember that you can use your US Dollars as well.  (You will want Quetzals to buy stuff on the street, or at the markets.)

I    An exchange/conversion app on my phone also came in handy!

Spanish

I do not speak Spanish.  I checked out some Pinsleur Language CDs at the library however and learned a few key phrases.  This has proven very useful.  This morning I was proud to confidently ask “Where is the bathroom?”  in Spanish, and then to be able to understand some of the directions. 

Also, the Google Translate App is absolutely amazing.  Take a picture of some Spanish words and watch it go to work.  This came in super handy when ordering items off the menu at a restaurant.

Documenting your trip

I posted my first ever blog last night in the hotel.  I learned that blogspot.com is an easy way to document a vacation.  It was easy to upload photos and write a short note at the end of the day. 

International cellular service

Verizon charges about $50/month for unlimited data.  They will prorate and only charge for the time you are out of the country.  In other words, unlimited data on my phone for 8 days is only costing me about $15.  If I text or call it will be very expensive however, .50c/text, $2/minute.  (Skype is included in the data plan.) The data plan was a little hit and miss.  I was surprised to see however, that many of the restaurants and stores had free wifi that worked much better than my cell service.

Giving to kids

I read that tourists are discouraged from giving money and candy to kids.  It is teaching them that begging is more profitable than getting an education and working.  Brent decided to buy 30 CTR rings to give away instead.  Leila also brought some bubbles and matchbox cars.  They still gave money to some.  All of the above was very much appreciated.

Hotel Shuttle

The Barcelo Hotel cost under $100 (a lot for Guatemala standards),  It is very nice.  We planned to take a taxi to the hotel. On our way out of the airport, we saw a shuttle for the Barcelo Hotel.   It saved us money and was convenient.  (A small tip is greatly appreciated, for drivers and hotel staff.)

Power/Voltage

I learned that most laptops, cell phones, etc. are now compatible with 220v, so there is no need for a power converter.  Most outlets in Guatemala only have 2 prongs however, so if your powercord has 3 prongs, you will need a 2-prong adapter.

Low cost for everything

I love that you can do a lot for a little.  You can rent a horse to take you to the top of the Pacaya Volcano for about $10.  You can kayak on Lake Atitlan for $1.50 / hour.  It’s less expensive to make reservations than to just show up.  The guides will charge twice as much if you just show up, but it’s still inexpensive – We just showed up and rented a boat for a tour of all the little Mayan villages around Lake Atitlan.  It cost more than the commercial ferries, but our guide would do whatever we asked.  He was with us for about 5 hours and we paid him $125 – he was great to wait for us to explore a city and leave whenever we returned.  $125 was obviously a lot for him.

Weather

It is much warmer in the North (Tikal) than in the city, and it is even cooler in the high regions (Lake Atitlan).  Bring a Jacket if you plan to climb a volcano, and bring shorts if you plan to climb the pyramids of Tikal.

Negotiating

Be prepared to negotiate with the natives.  Everywhere we went in Antigua and around Lake Atitilan people followed us, pleading for us to buy something from them.  They wouldn’t take no for an answer, and they let you know how poor they are.  I felt guilty not giving them money.  Then I learned that this is a way of life.  You won’t offend them if you negotiate, in fact they expect it.  You can plan to spend between 50% and 75% of what they originally ask for.  A firm “no”, is also appropriate.