[itisagirl]

i heard that in guatemala you should dress up when going out but what about around the hotel is it ok to wear short at the pool or while walking around the gift shop or other areas of the hotel. pick up trip next week.

debbie M

[jpfister]

Check guatadopt.com for some great tips! Have fun!!

Julie

[hwj]

Hey...we are going to be at the Mariott next week too for our pickup trip! I have not packed yet. I need to get busy!

[2bASingleMom]

I wore capris and summer skirts. You do see folks around Guatemala in jeans - but you don't tend to see shorts outside of the Marriott.

[2nd time round]

My husband stayed at the Marriot in March, and he said you could be totally casual at the hotel restaurant, pool, markets etc. Dress up for the Embassy appointment. Have fun!!!!!!!

[jcelestino]

Definitely casual vacation attire @ the Marriott. I haven't travelled outside the hotel yet, so I can't comment on that.

Janet
Leaving Tuesday for pick-up!

[brink]

We have three Guatemalan children, so have been three times, the last trip in Feb. I would tend to disagree w/ going too "casual" at the Marriott or any hotel when you go for your child. I feel we are "ambassadors", if you will and should take that role very seriously. We're representing our country by the way we dress, act, respect the laws and customs of Guatemala, etc. It's important to remember, tho you will meet many other families at the hotels, there for the same reason of bringing home a Guatemalan child, not everyone in Guatemala agrees with international adoption.

Though we've always been treated very graciously on all three of our trips, there are some people who do not appreciate Americans "taking" their children, out of the country. I know this may not set well with some, but it is a fact that we may be resented by some who very much prefer their children remain in their culture.

Consider if the situation were reversed. What type of people would you like to see coming into the US to take American children home with them? How casual would you want them to appear? Though our trips were certainly a "vacation", they were also for very important "busniess". Not that we should judge people by what they wear, but I believe we should try to appear as respectful about the importance of our trip as possible. Though hotel staff, drivers, shopkeepers, and others have always has been encouraging to us, you never know how others you come in contact will view your "mission".

My personal feelings are that too casual of dress can appear disrespectful not only of the culture, but of the importance of our visit. Also to consider, if your child is even just a toddler, they've probably not seen women dressed in shorts with so much leg showing. Why not "break them in" to such casual dress gradually, give them one less change at this early juncture? It seems a way to respect your child's differences, also. My opinion, again...since I am a very casual blue jean person, this is a bit of a departure for me.

We've traveled in Oct, June, and Feb. We were comfortable each time in kakhis or dress pants and casual dress shirts. My husband did wear nice jeans, tho I did not. Also, so far, the Marriott has been the most "upscale" of the hotels we've stayed at. I would have felt underdressed in the lobby in shorts, amongst the businessmen and women.

[Devora]

Thanks, Brink! I really appreciate hearing this perspective. I especially like your point about how the way we dress reflects the important nature of what we are there to do.

My husband and I are going for a visit in a few weeks and will be at the Marriott for 7 nights. We, too, are not taking shorts or jeans. The way I look at it, it's just as easy to slip on a loose-fitting skirt as it is to slip on a pair of shorts.

Thanks for sharing an alternate view.
Devora

[bjmom]

Is it OK for our children to wear shorts? We plan to take our sons, ages 8 and 5, on a trip to visit our daughter. Can they wear shorts out and about, or should they wear long pants on the plane and if we go to Antigua or a marketplace in Guatemala City?

[girl#2]

We just returned from the Westin in Guat City. It was very interesting because to get to the fitness area and even to the pool which across from the lobby and buffet restaurent, you have to take the elevator down to the underground floor. There is big door from the hall just off the lobby to get to the beautiful pool are, but it has a sign on it that says "For staff use only".

My husband and I talked about it and decided it was becasue they didn't want people in shorts, bathing suits, or exercise clothes in the lobby and other such areas.

We traveled around GC and to Antigua on this trip (our 2nd) and saw no one outside the hotel in shorts and very few in jeans. IN GC. those w/ jeans were ofter American tourists. IN Antigua, more people were in jeans, but if they were Guats, they were usually laborers engaging in labor. Another interesting observation, most of the Guats wear leather shoes, not tennis shoes (unless they are really engaging in jogging, tennis etc.)

I agree w/ the person who talked about us representing America. I was a flight attendant and then supervisor for 17 years and we always were instructed to dress very conservativley when in another country (no shorts in public escept if at a pool or beach).

I wore cotton capri pants w/ nice t- shirts or simple cotton dresses w/ sandles. These worked for the embassey also. You don't have to get too dressed up for the embassey...no panty hose or heals are needed! (The embassey was not air conditioned last week and it was high 70s outside.)

Clean, conservative, and comfortable are my suggestions.

[itisagirl]

i asked about shorts because if i go to the pool area i thought i would be more comfortable in short then dress pants which is what i plan for the whole trip,i looking forward to a cool 70 degrees i live in the southern usa and with the heat index it reaches 100 plus temps.

debbie m