[arthymom]

I thought this might be helpful.
We stayed at the Tikkal, and we are wondering about switching for the pick up trip. Here is a little informal poll; would love to see if you would copy/paste my categories and just change the answers. Be sure to post the Hotel name. Feel free to add categories!

Tikkal
Room: Really nice and clean. 2 room suite didn't have another bed, however. (Would love to know if other hotels have 2 beds in their suites). They rolled in an uncomfortable bed.

Crib: No special baby sheets or bumper! Luckily dd is young, but an older baby???

Food: I liked it a lot. I wanted more "typical" guatemalan dishes, but good quality.

Pool: The best part!!!!!!!! Amazing, jacouzzis, sauna, etc....Loved it; heated, indoor, and option to go on upper deck for fresh air (though they were working on it last week).

Other families adopting? No other adopting families that I could tell while we were there.

Airport shuttle: Late and we had to call to remind the hotel even though it had been confirmed by the agency

Nearby fun: The attached mall was a nice change of pace and really accessible.

[mommywannabee]

Quinta Real
Room: Very nice room - carpets not clean though - they LOOK clean, but socks got dirty from them. 1 room suite with a king size bed and a love seat. Also had a desk and coffee table.

Crib: Baby sheets, pillow, blankets and changing pad, but no bumpers and little guy was extremely figity and hit his head a few times...

Strollers: Available but not sure if for rent...another couple gave us theirs to use the day they left.

Kitchen: None of the rooms had them, but they gave us a microwave to warm the bottles because we forgot our warmer...


Food: Excellent food, but only one restaraunt so limited menu! Mixture of Guatemalan and American and was very tasty. Breakfast buffet was good too...not too expensive. You can also order from fast food places and they bring it to your room...much cheaper to eat this way and nice that they bring it to your room and set up a table for you each time! Fast food included chicken (similar to KFC) and pizza...

Pool: Outside pool was nice, no one swimming though - I don't think it was heated at the time. It also had a jacuzzi but I didn't see steam.

Other families adopting? 6 other familes were there at our time of visit.

Safety: This hotel has grounds with BEAUTIFUL gardens which you can safely walk around in with the baby...excellent view of volcanoes. There was also an armed guard at the entrance...

Airport shuttle: Excellent service! Came to find us at the airport (had a sign) and was extremely friendly! Ran every hour from the hotel...

Nearby fun: This hotel is away from everything, but close to the airport too - about 10 - 15 minutes away. You have to take a shuttle to go anywhere, but they are always available on the hour and extremely nice and willing to take you wherever you want to go. Also will run out for you.

Computers/Laptops: You could rent a laptop for $10 for the day or $4 for an hour...hubby said there was a computer room too...I didn't see it.

[KJones5]

This is a great thread! I hope lots of people participate. We stayed at the Westin and there are always lots of reviews on it! I like seeing the information for other hotels besides the Westin & Marriot!

[Kyleen]

Bumping.....

[ej-momtobe]

Room: All rooms are suites with kitchenette.

Crib: Pack and play style cribs

Food: they have a sushi bar and a restaurant. On a scale of 1-5 I would rate the food a 3.

Pool: None
Other families adopting? There were about 5 or 6.

Airport shuttle: Need to arrange in advance, but is free of charge. For security reasons, the shuttle does not have the hotel name on the side.

Nearby fun: Lots of restaurants nearby in Zona 10. Zoo is about a 10 minute ride.

[saranbr]

Bumping this because I'm hoping to get the opportunity to respond tomorrow and review all the great reviews!!!

[dac_cincy]

Marriott
Room: Really nice and clean. The balcony might have been nicer, I got to look at air conditioning units on the roof

Crib: decorated in teddy bearr theme. Very nice, I am thinking that the bumper pad will have to be removed when I visit at Christmas sinc my guy is now 15 months old.

Food:Loved it, ate at La Vista everyday for every meal. The buffet was gret for trying typical Gautemalan food without being worried that I was wasting money.

Pool: Never saw it, too rainy.

Other families adopting? OH yes, Baby central. It was nice to sit and talk with folks from other agencies and from my agency.

Airport shuttle: Waiting at the airport, no problems at all.

Nearby fun: Little shops across the street- great bargins. Zoo, Museums, etc were a quick cab ride away (my agency lets families leave the hotel with their babies).

[stephjoel99]

Crowne Plaza

Room: Very nice room - 2 room suite with a kitchenette (so really 3 rooms). Kitchenette had stove, small fridge, microwave and fully stocked w/pots, utensils, glasses, etc. 2 televisions, high speed internet access in rooms. Beds are not Westin Heavenly bed though.

Crib: Had them - didn't ask for one b/c we co-slept.

Strollers: No.

Kitchen: See "room"


Food: Amazing - thought the buffet was better than the Westin. Breakfast buffet - the best in my life - included w/room charge. They only have 1 restaurant - there is also a sports bar w/sports-like food. And you can order food in like another poster mentioned. The evening buffet even has a grill set up so you can order grilled shish kebabs, chicken, steak. It's awesome.


Pool: Pool was nice - I"m pretty sure it was heated b/c lots of people were swimming.

Other families adopting? Not so much - less than 7 and some were through my agency.

Safety: Card required to go to your floor - safe.

Airport shuttle: Super nice guy running the shuttle - he lived in America for 20 years so his English is perfect. The shuttle is huge - you can't miss it - he also knew our names too and had come looking for us b/c the airline lost our luggage and we were delayed filing a claim.

Nearby fun: It's by the other big hotels - I never left so didn't experience "nearby fun". There is a casino in the hotel if you get a wild hair and a spa.

Computers/Laptops: There is high speed internet in the rooms available and a computer room that I also did not see.

Misc: When American lost our baggage, the front desk guy made it his mission in life to get it for us. He called and hounded the reps. at the GC airport and coordinated the shuttle to go to the airport and pick it up when it arrived.

[keithandkristy]

Room: Large, 2 room suites. In bedroom, you can have either 2 full beds or 1 king bed (& still room for crib), other room (den) has couch, chair, coffee table, tv, refrigerator, desk. Rooms pretty clean and the maid service will do whatever you need- very friendly!

Crib: Sheets, pillow, blanket, bumper - They also have a changing table/bath available (if you ask).

Strollers: Available for $5/day.

Kitchen: Most of the rooms did not have them, but microwaves were available. On the top floor, you could get a suite with a kitchenette.


Food: Excellent food, but only one restraunt so limited menu! The breakfast buffett is awesome with GREAT fresh fruit! And, it was included in the price of our room.

Pool: No pool.

Other families adopting? We've been 4 times and a couple of times we didn't see any other families adopting, one time we met a few, and this last time there were lots (about 15). There was a group from an agency.

Safety: We've always felt safe there. And, this last time we even ate out every night at the restaurants close by - awesome food!!!

Airport shuttle: Excellent service! Came to find us at the airport (had a sign with our names) and was extremely friendly! Ran every couple of hours to the hotel.

Nearby fun: The restaurants close by (very close, not even a block) are awesome. Some of the best food I've ever had!! We also walked to the mall which was only 2 blocks away. We walked to the shops that are across from the Marriott, so the markets aren't too far away either. There was a pharmacy directly across the street that had pretty much anything you needed. Also, the hotel had taxis available that we used a couple of times. Very nice!

Computers/Laptops: You could rent an Internet Connection for your laptop (in your room) for something like $5/day. Or, in the business center, you could use their computer/internet for $2/30 minutes. On one of our trips, we didn't take our laptop and we used the business center computer. Very friendly - we even hooked up our card reader to our camera. I do enjoy having the laptop in the room though!

Drive to the Embassy: The drive wasn't bad- about 5-10 minutes.

[Tammy2005]

Do these hotels have wireless internet? Tammy

[kare4you]

Marriot
airport shuttle: had to wait 10 minutes, but easy to find. Easy to get back to airport.
staff: extremely nice and speak english very well. They will also translate if your foster mom comes without a translator.
room: clean, large bathroom and baby tubs available. Internet access available in room at a cost and wifi free in the lobby. Deluxe a little more expensive, but room is larger without terrace. Table and chairs. Crib has bumpers, but our son screamed everytime we put him in it and there were people who could not get a crib in the hotel.
pool: closed when we visited
families: we met lots of people in the hotel. It was very nice to socialize and have dinner with other people. We at a lot at champions...bar style food. The buffet was good, but my husband got sick...probably the beef stir fry.
deals: special rate if you stay for 7 days or more and free breakfast buffet.
activities: lots of places to walk around...patio and large lobby. Gates and guards around the front of the hotel. Several shops in the hotel. Mcdonalds, american pharmacy, and small shopping area within walking distance.
emergencies: house doctor that will come to your room for $75. Arrived in less than 30 minutes with medicine.
I would stay there again. Hope this is helpful,
Karen

[flamingo1129]

Casa Grande
Room: Really nice and clean - both suites and regular rooms available. Some rooms have two beds. Suites have two rooms and a fridge. Request a room towards the back to avoid street noise. Recently renovated in Aug/Sept. 06.

Crib: usually like a pack n play

Food: The shrimp and chicken dinners off the menu are excellent. They will cook off menu items like tortillas and platanos fritos if requested. The front desk will help your order in (pizza for example).

Pool: none

Other families adopting? Yes, several.

Airport shuttle: The desk sends a taxi. The driver waits at the exit holding a sign with your name.

Nearby fun: The Embassy is two doors down and the Gemini Towers are a few blocks away - they have various stores including a good bookstore and a TGI Friday.

[Mandy4President]

Westin

Room: (reg room) The Heavenly Bed. Need I say more? There is a beautiful bathroom with big fluffy towels. I had two queen beds. It had the normal armoire with tv and desk. Small refridgerator but was stocked with stuff and really wasn't useable. No microwave.

Family room: Yes. It had a couch, tv, microwave, fridge, rocker, baby toys, and extra formula and stuff if you ran into a pinch. It was nice and you could often find adoptive families in there. Also, if you didn't want to stay on the baby floor (it is a little noisy) you can ask for a card that gets you into the baby room floor.

Crib: Had them - didn't ask for one b/c we co-slept.

Strollers: Yes, but only in limited supply. Probably should have a back up plan, I had a carrier.

Kitchen: None


Food: Three restraunts. One was very fancy. The other two were good, but truthfully I didn't eat too much because I was so sick.

Pool: Pool was nice. I think it was heated. Hot tub and kiddie pool also.

Other families adopting? Yes, lots.

Safety: Card required to go to your floor - safe.

Airport shuttle: Runs every half an hour 10 and 40 after. Very nice guy that drove it, told me about Guatemala City and that it was great that we were adopting (nice to hear!). English was great.

Nearby fun: It's by the other big hotels - I never left so didn't experience "nearby fun". There is a casino in the hotel if you get a wild hair and a spa.

Computers/Laptops: Hi speed internet access available in the rooms for a fee and available in the lobby for I think $5 a day? Maybe 10, can't remember. But you have to pay for it. In the room is more. You can also rent a cell phone. For 60 minutes with the phone it cost me about $30.

Staff: Wow. They are great. Ran out for us when we were sick. Spent time with us trying to figure out what the restraunts had that we wanted (when we ordered out). Translated for us and when I went to tip the one lady she didn't want to take it, said it was part of her job. They love the babies and were just great.

Misc: I LOVE LOVE LOVE the Westin. One thing that I have to note is that I did not feel comfortable in sandals there. I even overheard a German couple talking about my shoes (needless to say they probably didn't know I took 7 years of German) and I often saw people looking at my feet. On pu I am bringing nicer shoes. There were a few shops on the bottom floor to visit, and the gift shop wasn't totally outrageous if you needed something.

[Reminator]

The Marriot
Room: Very nice room - Loved the Heavenly Bed and heavenly shower (2 shower heads). TV, mini-bar.

Crib: Baby sheets, blankets, bumpers and baby tub

Strollers: I heard they are available, but I brought my own.

Kitchen: If you stay in the Baby area, there is a kitchen with microwave, bottle sterilizer, sink, and refrigerator in the baby play room.

Food: Excellent food, one restaraunt and 2 bars. We ate in the Resturant. Free breakfast, with american and Guatemalan dishes. They also had room service which we didn't use. McDonalds, and many resturants are within walking distance.

Pool: Outside pool was nice. Lots of other families there with their babies/kids using the pool and sauna. They have an outdoor bar where you can order drinks and food.

Other families adopting? There were about 20 other familes were there at our time of visit. It was a very friendly atmosphere.

Safety: I always felt safe at the hotel and the surrounding area.

Airport shuttle: Excellent service! We found a porter that took us straight to the shuttle and loaded our bags. Shuttle was ontime leaving the hotel for the return trip home.

Nearby fun: About 10 - 15 minutes away. Walking distance to resturants, a shopping mall, and nice shops.
Computers/Laptops: $4 for connection in room, also had computers available for about $6 an hour. We used them, but I don't remember the exact rate.

[carrie2adopt]

Marriott

Room: Really nice and clean. The beds were incredible...wished I had that kind at home! We were in the room directly next to the baby lounge on the third floor. It was so convenient to pop over there and sterilize/warm a bottle. Average hotel room size (not a suite). Incredible view...looked out right over the three flags in front of the hotel on a balcony. Nice bathroom.

Crib: Brought my own pack n play.

Food: Great. Ate at both the buffet and the sports bar...best quesadillas I've ever had in the sports bar. Free breakfast was great with eggs to order, Guatemalan style dishes and tamales on Saturday (yum).

Pool: There is one, it was closed for renovation while we were there.

Other families adopting? Yes, several. I enjoyed sitting in the baby lounge chatting with other families (two hotel rooms with the wall knocked out for one large room with lots of chairs, toys, free internet access, changing room, bottle sterilizing/heating room...wonderful).

Airport shuttle: There and waiting for us at the airport.

Nearby fun: No idea, never left the hotel.

Internet: Available for minimal charge in room and lobby with your own laptop, or available in business lounge.

Strollers: We rented one for $10 while we were there, so glad we did. Will bring our own next time.

Shopping: Three fun shops with fairly decent shopping/prices. I'm sure it's less outside of the hotel but we didn't leave the hotel (had baby with us the whole time).

I plan to stay there again for pick up unless it's booked or something.