Some capital cities in Latin America have so many high-end hotels that we have trouble keeping up with them. In others your choice of where to stay is much simpler because there are only a few to choose from. With our latest addition to the reviews, we’ve gone from only having two in Guatemala’s capital to now giving you the three best Guatemala City luxury hotels to choose from.
Why so few? Well, when’s the last time you heard someone planning a big vacation to Guatemala City? If they’re coming to the country, they’re probably headed to Tikal, Antigua, or Lake Atitlan. Most of the people who stay more than a night in the capital are business travelers. The leisure travelers who spend a night are usually just doing it because of a late arrival or early departure on the flight times.
If you do stay in what is one of the biggest cities in Central America though, these three properties will ensconce you in a comfortable room and give you plenty of facilities to enjoy. All three of them are affiliated with international chains too, so you can choose according to your loyalty program with IHG, Marriott, or Hilton.
InterContinental Real Guatemala
This is the most contemporary of the three Guatemala luxury hotels that are up to our standards, though that’s a relative term with international chains that are playing it safe. Compared to the traditional formality of the Westin tk though, the dramatic lobby here is much more modern and fans of thoughtful aesthetics will be pleased with the giant sculpture in the middle and the hanging staircase leading up to the mezzanine. The bar is equally striking with its bold design and lighting.
The InterContinental Real Guatemala has a great outdoor swimming pool complex a few levels up, with a well-equipped gym nearby for workouts. There are also several dining spots in the building, plus dozens more within a few blocks of the front door. This is one of the prime spots in the city for entertainment and dining.
If you have high enough status with IHG, you might get onto the club floor, but if not it’s worth the minimal upgrade to move up to a higher floor with lounge access, giving you a view of the city or mountains. Rooms have all the expected amenities for a luxury chain hotel, with very comfortable beds and strong Wi-Fi.
You get a variety of pillows, high-thread-count sheets, soft carpeting, and soothing décor. A padded headboard and good blackout curtains join two nice reading lights on each side of the bed (one a gooseneck option) and bedside charging outlets.
See our full review of InterContinental Real Guatemala in our online magazine. Or go straight here to book a stay at the IHG site.
Westin Camino Real Guatemala City
If you want to be in Zone 10 of the capital city like the InterContinental is but you’re normally a Marriott customer, then pick this hotel a block away to be in the same neighborhood. In an attractive area filled with restaurants and nightlife options, but close to the airport, the Westin Camino Real is a reliable choice with a long history.
If you like traditional opulence and a sense of grandeur, this is the best hotel in Guatemala City for you. The entrance and lobby both are meant to wow and impress, to make you feel like you belong in a palace. It’s not unusual to see guests and visitors stopping to take photos of the murals, the chandeliers, and the inlaid marble floors.
The French-influenced, traditional style tapers back a bit when you get the rooms. They’re underwhelming in size and look a lot like other Westins the world over, so as with the IHG neighbor, it’s worth tacking on another 20 bucks to get the lounge access and nicer furnishings that club level guests enjoy. Or get a suite instead to have room to stretch out.
This property sometimes hosts conventions, so it is loaded with facilities. Multiple restaurants and bars join a swimming pool, gym, and spa with sauna, steam, and whirlpools. There are plenty of bilingual staffers working here if your Spanish isn’t good.
See our full review of Westin Camino Real Guatemala City. Or check rates online here.
Hilton Guatemala City
“The best” hotel in Guatemala City is a subjective choice, but if you don’t intend to walk around and go exploring on foot, the Hilton Guatemala City is the most luxurious option. Located in a quieter part of town on a hillside overlooking the city, it has the largest rooms and more of a resort feel than its two urban competitors.
This property was long known as the Vista Real and some older taxi drivers still know it as that, but it has been part of the Hilton family for more than a decade now and it combines Hilton-standard service with Spanish Colonial design elements. With extensive gardens and a forest beyond that, it’s a peaceful refuge that’s still just ten kilometers from the airport.
There’s only one restaurant here, Las Ventanas, but it’s an impressive one. With natural light streaming in during the day and a formal elegance at night, it feels like the kind of place where you’re liking to be sharing the room with heads of state and captains of industry. A small bar, an unheated outdoor pool, and gym are all here.
If you’ve ever stayed at a Quinta Real in Mexico, the spacious rooms here will feel familiar. Among the three best Guatemala City luxury hotels, this one has the largest sleeping quarters. Try to avoid the ones on the lower floors though as they can feel rather dark. The best options are the larger suites on higher floors or at least the club floor rooms with lounge access. The lounge provides a continental breakfast and an evening cocktail hour.
See our full review of Hilton Guatemala City or book a suite here.
Heading somewhere else after landing in the capital? See all our reviews of the best hotels in Guatemala.
All photos in this rundown of Guatemala City luxury hotels by editor Timothy Scott except the Hilton Guatemala City room shot, courtesy of the hotel.
Article by Timothy
Timothy Scott is the founder and editor of Luxury Latin America and has been covering the region as a travel journalist since the mid-2000s. He has visited each country we cover multiple times and is based in a UNESCO World Heritage city in central Mexico, where he owns a home. See contact information here.
