[earthmama17]

Before I thought I'd rather not take my baby to Antigua, but now I think I'd like to. I was thinking post-embassy appt., we could go to Antigua and maybe up to Lake Atitlan Chichcastenango.

1. Any recommendations on hotels in town center of Antigua?
2. Tours around the Lake and to Chichicastenango?
3. Also, to drive from GC to Antigua, did anyone use a car seat and if so, did you bring it w/you? I'm worried about not using one.

I was looking at the Villa Antigua and the Casa Santo Domingo, but noticed both of these are 10 minute walk from town center and some streets dont' have sidewalks...any insight is appreciated

[brink]

I am certainly not an expert on traveling with an infant. Our two sons were 4yrs and our daughter 10yrs each at their pickup trips. I just know our agency told us there is often more acceptance of older children being adopted (since Guatemalans themselves seldom adopt within their own culture) than babies. It is understandable that some would be dismayed that their youngest citizens are being adopted by people outside their own culture. We never felt uncomfortable traveling with our older children, either to Antigua (short day trip) or Lake Amatitlan where our son was born. People were very friendly and helpful. I'm not suggesting they wouldn't be if you had an nfant along, but I would check your agency...and I will also let others with more experience traveling with infants give their input.

[earthmama17]

Thanks, Brink for the insight. I guess I'm still on the fence about travelling outside of GC w/her. I think perhaps going a couple days ahead and doing my travelling around before picking her up might be best.

[Mom2ddb]

I would not worry about being in Antigua. The people were very kind and friendly towards us and I was just visiting. The city is small and most all hotels that I am aware of are close. We stayed at the Mansion Del Pensativo and really liked it. It is about 2 blocks from the center and about 6 or so blocks from the market. I just carried Brielle in the sling and it was no problem walking around town.

[amie-b]

i lived there for 2.5 months and never had a problem having my infant daughter with me. no one ever said a rude thing to us and we were never questioned by any sort of authority. i passed police officers regularly and they just smiled and greeted me. antigua is a very safe and welcoming place. i miss being there. i seem to remember La Aroura hotel being quite near the center of town , as was hotel antigua. enjoy your trip!!! oh and as far as traveling...i didn't have a carseaat. it was strange, but we never had any trouble. have fun
amie

[lockharts]

Antigua is beautiful. The shopping there is awsome too. You will love it.
I have stayed at Casa Azul and will stay there again when and if we ever bring Memo home.
They are very clean, and they serve breakfast every morning too. I have pictures if you want to pm me your e-mail address. They are located 1/2 block off the plaza square. you can walk to the Artesian market too.
Across the street from the hotel is my friend Helmuths business. They can get you any tour you want. They took us to Chichicastenango and to Lake Atitlan. I also have his e-mail and phone numbers. let me know.
as for car seats, they don't use them. you can take taxi or took took. but no time to strap it in securely. It will really be a pain for you. I know I am a paramedic, so I totally understand the safety aspect, but it is a totally different culture and they you won't use it there. Sorry. If you have more questions you can pm me and we can exchange e-mail addresses... Good luck.

[Mamarama]

The sidewalks from Santo Domingo to the park are great. I'd say it's close in, but it's very hard to get into.

Villa Antigua is really more outside of Antigua.

Remember, the closer to the park you are the noisier it is.

Hotel Don Rodrigo and Mansion Pensativo are two good options, with the Don Rodrigo being closer and noisier.

A great, authentic, more budget option is Hotel Aurora -- great location.

[Anne22]

For what it's worth, I've heard that it is actually "safer" to toodle around in Antigua with your baby than to do so in GC in the zone where all the hotels are (Zona 10?).

[scgal]

Antigua is awesome. We stayed at Santo Domingo twice and loved walking all over town with the baby. Shopping is awesome and SantiD is along a great street with huge shopping areas. no one will look at you twice for carrying a baby and will just look at it as another oppty to sell you a baby carrier

[csw]

The tour operator we used had her own private car with a carseat..she picked us up at the Holiday Inn in GC and took us to Antigua for the day..you can PM me for her info..I have been to Antigua 4x, including when I fostered..

The center of Antigua is pretty noisy..we stayed at the Posada de Don Rodrigo one time we were there..its right on the main road and very close to the center of town

When I fostered in Antigua I went on a tour of Lake Atitlan and it left from Antigua..the van came right to my townhouse and picked me up..if you are prone to motion sickness..take something that day..very windy roads at times..in fact Ana threw up all over me and the lady next to me on that trip..

The Casa Santo Domingo is lovely..if you can get a room and afford it that would be great..

[WVUMom418]

I stayed in Antigua twice, Villa Antigua is not convient for walking. Hotel Antigua is great and is just a few streets from the square.

If you call Nancy Hoffman she will arrange a driver with a car seat. When we visited in Oct we took our 2 1/2 year old and the driver picked us up at the airport in a minivan w/ a car seat. On our pickup trip we had to go to Antigua to pick up our daughter, the driver had a carseat for us to use to go back to Guatemala City. It made me feel much safer than holding her on our lap.