 | Antigua Guatemala Tourist Traps | Tips 1 - 10 of 14 |  |
When I was in Antigua you could always find me here at the Sky Cafe enjoying drinks and talk amongst friends.
This place snared me real well but atleast I would enjoy the sunsetting over the valley.
You can try a movie instead but the views are not as fascinating. Leave a Comment
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Tourist trap is probably too severe, but this was annoying. The Santo Domingo is an old church with a convent, transformed into a very fancy historical hotel. The ruins are not uninteresting, but the entrance fee is very high. You feel like you have to pay because you're not a guest of the hotel (they get in free). Unless you are very interested in crypts, it can be skipped. The hotel itself seems right for people who may want a rarefied sweatless experience. http://www.casasantodomingo.com.gt Leave a Comment
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I read much about the tours of Antigua by Elizabeth Bell, so when I arrived one of the first things we did was book a tour with her group. However, the tour fell far short of expectations. Elizabeth spoke only briefly about the history of the city and region, pointing out such obvious locales as the grand plaza (where we met the tour) and the mayor's residence. What she seemed most to do is talk about her personal work with the schools of the region, yet it came across as self-appraisal and grandstanding.
In general, we did not get much interesting information out of this tour. It was a waste of money, in my opinion, and I do not hesitate to recommend to others that they find another tour, or walk the city yourself.
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Antigua's full of tourists..... Europeans, French, etc.... people that perhaps went to Antigua just to visit but then either they stayed or went back to stay.... this place will suck you in man, I'm telling ya! Look! they even have Internet Cafes!!!!! so.... beware!!!!! It's like a tiny Bermuda's Triangle :o) Leave a Comment
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Everyone in Antigua carries an official looking permit from the Ministry of Tourism.
Don't believe them, most of them are frauds.
Ask for a reliable guide in your hotel Leave a Comment
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Avoid the several Ruta Maya tour operators (they've got several agencies in Antigua and elsewhere in Guatemala). They promise the cheapest prices - but you get what you pay for. They might seem nice at the beginning, but they can be really vile and left several people I met in dangerous situations. Spend the extra few dollars and go somewhere else.
Avoid the trap of being told that it's not possible to book a return bus ticket from a destination before you get there; that's rubbish. You'll end up with a very cheap ticket out there and a very expensive ticket on the way back - not to mention wasting your time away trying to find a travel agency that's open and can sell you the ticket you need.
There are LOADS of tour operators in Antigua, take your pick. Don Quijote and Travel+ were very good, but go with whichever one doesn't try and rip you off and remember that paying a couple of extra dollars, doesn't make you a mug, as long as you believe you're getting a good deal and good service.
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I fell into a trap, but was actually HAPPY about it in the end. when you get off the bus, you'll be scooped up immediately by "tour information officers" who are willing to give you info on places to stay and schools to study at. well, they usually work for ONE school and are paid by them. they will tell you schools in xela don't know how to teach, or it's dangerous.. i fell for the dangerous thing as the election protests were gearing up. i was also dead tired from not sleeping for two days. he offered to have me in the home of a family and asleep in an hour, and he did just that. the school was no big deal.. it's the teacher that matters.
if you know you don't want to study here, just say no. have your hotel/hostel picked out ahead of time. these 'fishermen' are hard to resist! Leave a Comment
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If you buy something from a vendor... use caution. They peg tourists, and will greatly raise the price when you ask how much something costs. (They do not post prices) A good friend of mine was Guatemalan, and I would go in and pick out a couple of things that I liked and I would have her go in and purchase them for me so that I wouldn't get ripped off. Most of the vendors speak English very well, although they will not act like they do, so be careful what you say. If you criticize something in their store, they will not negotiate their prices with you, and don't say that anything is a good price, even if it is because they will not come down in that case either. Leave a Comment
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Pls kindly compare with more vendors.
Don't buy anything so easily even they gave you the better price after they told you a discount.
Just tell them the price after 50% discount.
Then, see whether they still want to sell you.
Tell them that you've bought a lot of similar textiles. Leave a Comment
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Ruta Maya have signs on their wall that state ¨Be nice to us and we will be nice to you¨. This is rubbish! If only I had read the other complaints I would never have booked with them. They are rude and un helpful as soon as you need some help from them. They are only interested in your money, over book tours and buses and have crazy dangerous drivers.
THERE ARE LOADS OF AGENCIES IN ANTIGUA USE ANOTHER ONE WHO IS GENUINE!!!
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More Antigua Guatemala Tips |
- Hotel Casa Mia
Yeni Mahalle Jan Zakari Caddesi No:1 Avanos, Antigua Guatemala, Guatemala - Posada El Antano
6a Avenida Norte No 36, Antigua Guatemala, Guatemala
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