[sferrick]

Hello! So we are awaiting our BC (Mixco )....and we are just believing God that todays the day we get it! IN preparation for travel, we are looking at hotels. We stayed at the Marriott for our visit trip...and we have heard about the "Pent House", any one stay in the Pent House? What your opinion on where to stay and why? I am a little concerned about space with a baby and what to do when its time for DD to head to bed and were still up. Your opinions are greatly appreciated and I am sure this will be a thread that helps many others as well. Thank you and Blessings to you all.

[Quesita]

Congratulations!

I was very happy at the Marriott, and I had a really bad experience at the Westin. I know a lot of folks here were pleased with the Westin, but I was not.

You know, in terms of space and sleeping... I suspect you are just either going to have to go to sleep when the baby does, or sit quietly with a book. The first couple of nights might be rough. They might not. I was told my daughter slept in a crib. But the moment I put her in the crib it became clear she had NEVER slept in a crib, and that she would be sleeping with me. Before long we got into a comfortable rhythm together, even though we were sharing a single room initially.

Have a wonderful pick up trip.

[kzwief]

I don't really know, but we are staying at the Westin on an upcoming visit trip and I was very happy with what I saw on their website, and what people said about it. I think among those choices, you really can't go wrong though. Good luck and let us know what you decide!

[vjpgreene]

We stayed at the Vista Real and LOVED it. The rooms were bigger and REALLY nice, the service was great and the Vista Real offered an adoption package which included a crib, a stroller, and a microwave. Also, the grounds of the hotel are GORGEOUS. We took MANY walks just to take in the scenery.

The downside to the Vista Real (if this is important to you) is that there aren't a lot of adopting families there. It's certainly nothing like the Marriott where everywhere you look there is a couple/single woman with a baby. There is also NOTHING within walking distance but a bus to various places is offered for free (It goes to the artisians' market, the Marriott and the Mall, among other places).

It was a LITTLE bit more expensive than the Marriott, but we felt we definitely got our money's worth.

[carolynpep73]

We stayed at the Westin and we were very pleased. It's a beautiful, safe hotel. Nice restaurants and a great pool. Enjoy your trip!

[AnaM-H]

I have stayed at all three, plus the Grand Tikal and Radisson. Each hotel had pros and each had cons. Of the list, I won't pick the Radisson for a visit trip since the hotel lobby is smaller. For a PU, if you want to explore don't pick the Vista since it is located in a more residental area.
My review:
Food - Vista has the best food. The restaurant was excellent. The Grand Tikal was second.
Bed - Westin!! The Radisson was second. The worse, hands down, was the Marriott.
Service - Vista and Grand Tikal. The Westin was spotty and the Marriot I felt was very impersonal.
Room - The Grand Tikal Adoption room/suite was HUGE. Our room was right there as you got of the elevator. It had a king bed, a dining room table with four chairs, a couch and a chair. We had plenty of space for a play and pack on the pedestal where the bed is located. The floor was big so we laid two blankets down and let Almari play there. The room in the Radisson was also bigger. The Vista room was big but not as big as these.
A/C - Only the Marriott gets a 5 star here. In the Vista, we changed rooms three times due to "broken" A/C.
Things to do inside hotel - It is all about lobby space and gardens, so I give the nod to any except the Radisson. The good thing about the Grand Tikal is one parent can go to the enclosed mall very easily.

After all this my pick --- If the bed was better at the Grand Tikal that would be my hands down winner. I am still not sure where to stay for my two PU trips. I am leaning toward the one that I get the best rate at. Simply put no hotel in Guatemala has won me over. Trust me, I'm not picky.

[cjrogers]

I've only stayed at the Marriott and I can say that I had the best service ever. They let me borrow "gear" out of the baby room, their concierge ordered and picked up medicine from local pharmacies (they had to call 5 pharmacies to find it), they got me a doctor in the matter of 15 minutes and anything else that I needed, they got me, and fast.

They have a quiet 2nd floor lobby that we used for placement.

Yes, I stayed in a penthouse room with two levels - I think this is what you might be referring to.

Let me tell you - this was not made for a family... carrying a baby up and down very steep stairs was difficult and scary... other than having the bedroom upstiars, it was awful.

Half of Cole's stuff was up, the other half down... we could only exit from the bottom level easily, so we were constantly carrying him up and down those wretched stairs... My back is bad so I was too afriad to carry the baby on the stairs and I had awful visions of dropping him...

OH, and not to mention that I banged my head on the stairs (under the stairs on the bottom floor, there is space and storage and the hard metal and wood stairs did a number on my head).

When we pick up, we'll be staying on the third floor of the other tower (the same floor as the baby lounge).

I loved it. Great food, great pool, great service, kid friendly, parent friendly, etc.

And I'm editing this to say: Having two bathrooms was very nice... one was kept clean for bottles and feeding and the other was for us to use for bathroom purposes... That was the best part... If you are healthier or more fit than me and steep stairs don't scare you, then the concierge level is for you.... If not, stay in a flat room!!!! If we didn't have a baby to take care of, we would have adored the fancy room...

Good luck!!!

[mayaprincess]

We wanted lots of privacy and we got it at Vista Real. It is a 5 star hotel and we were treated wonderfully!!! the scenery is beautiful and they have a shuttle bus that cane take you places. We had food delivered to the hotel when we did not watn to eat there. The morning buffet was sensational. I really like it and will be back!

[sferrick]

Thank Your everyone for your opinions and thoughts. Very helpful. Blessings to all of you, Susie

[cattlefarms]

We will be going in a couple of weeks, and would love to hear more about everyone's experience's with these hotels..

Kristi

[Lori Elena]

We stayed at the Marriott for both of our visit trips. For our visit with our son, we stayed in the Presidential Suite. I cannot express how wonderful that was. It was like having an apartment of our own there. 2 full baths, a kitchen, bedroom w/king bed, living room, dining room & 4 terraces. What a gorgeous suite!! On our recent visit with our daughter, we stayed in a regular suite (not bi-level). We had a bedroom w/king size bed & 2 cribs (1 for Brian & 1 for Gia), a living room and 2 bathrooms. It wasn't nearly as nice as the Presidential Suite, but, still very comfortable.

As for service.....I adore the staff at the Marriott. I think they are wonderful. In my experience, they have been more than ready & willing to help me with whatever I need. I have not met one staff member who wasn't pleasant & accomodating. The staff at the buffet restaurant is excellent!

The Marriott also has an awesome pool with many lounge chairs and cabanas. Also, there is a tiki bar and outdoor dining by the pool.

For PU of our son we stayed at the Westin for one night and checked out because I hated it! Horrible room, old furniture, broken crib, less than pleasant staff, etc. However, that was just my experience...while many others rave about the place.

After checking out of the Westin, we went to the Crowne Plaza. I call it the mini Marriott. It was very nice. The staff was lovely, too. The food was good. And the suite we had was comfortable.

HTH,
Lori

[chris.rosaleen]

We stayed at the Westin for a visit. We checked out after less than a week of our booked two week stay. Rooms are filthy and claustrophobic, especially if you have an active youngster. We had to keep our son off the floor. "Family Room" was just full of old broken toys other adoptors had left behind. They make money from you at every opportunity. We ordered formula from them and then found a supermarket two blocks away selling at less than a third of the price. Finally we were there as they were preparing for the IOC and the lobby was cleaned with noxious chemicals every day. They scarred our throats. God knows what they did to our son. No apology. No warning. No explanation. We left. Use this hotel at your peril. The only plus is that the pool staff are great.

[cattlefarms]

chris.rosaleen, Just wondering where you went after you left the Westin...??? Trying to avoid the Westin. We stayed there for a visit trip and it was nice but got deathly Ill and I know a lot of people who have as well.. Makes me a little paranoid...

Thanks
Kristi

[chris.rosaleen]

After the Westin we stayed at the Radisson. Because of the IOC meeting we had less choice. The room at the Radisson was great. Clean, large and with a kitchenette - very useful for mixing formula etc. It was also half the price of the Westin. Only downside was that there is no outside space at all so you need to wander the streets a lot. So on balance, with more time to book, I'd prefer somewhere else.

[karennj]

HI! I finally figured out my screen name to log in! I dont know if you remember but i left a message on your blog. My Carlos was living at HH for the past five years. It is so magical there. I am praying for all of you mixco waiters!
ANYWAY, we got a penthouse with our second visit...actually by accident for the same price! It was very roomy for a baby/toddler/child since the bottom floor is a big living room. The only thing I would be concerned about depending on the babys age is the stairs. We had plenty of room and Carlos was able to play with all of his toys !
I cant wait to see that you get your BC!!!!!!!!!!!!
blessings!
Karen