Two Words, One Answer.
Map Of Guatemala
 El Son Folklore De Guatemala Vol.10 $19.99 1 COFRADIA DE SAN CRISTOBAL VERAPAZ 2 A TI JESUS NAZARENO DEL HOSPITAL DE SAN JUAN DE DIOS 3 HERMANO GERARDO BOCEL 4 BEATRIZ ANTONIA 5 JOSEFINA Y MANUEL LAINEZ 6 JUAN LEON 7 BALTAZAR CANO 8 LAGRIMAS Y TRISTEZAS DEL DIVINO MAESTRO JUSTO JUEZ 9 REYNA DE SAN ANDRES XECUL 10 BODAS DE DIAMENTE DE LA SOCIACION SENOR SEPULTADO 75 ANOS,CATEDRAL 11 CARMEN HAYDE VICENTE GONZALEZ EXCANDIDATA 2001 12 LEONA SILVA TUMIN 13 SUSPIROS DE MELANY ANDREA 14 HEYDY JOHANA ORDONEZ  Map of Central America, Mexico & Guatemala, 1854 $160.00 Map-Maker: MITCHELL, S.A. (ATLAS MAPS 1859 & EARLIER) [Original AMPR listing: MITCHELL] Title: Mexico & Guatemala Date: 1848 Size: 12 x 15 in. (30 x 38 cm.) [HxW] Region: North America: Mexico & Guatemala  Frommer's Guatemala (Frommer's Complete) $19.99 The [...] message boards can be very helpful in planning a trip so I hate to nix this travel guide but travelers with Lonely Planet consistently had better information than I had. For example, after arriving by bus in Flores/Santa Elena they knew to walk behind the other side of the bus station to get a bus or van to Tikal. I was fending off an aggressive man who was trying to bargain me into paying a lot more money (consistent with the suggestion in the Frommers Guide) for a taxi. Not pleasant. Rescued by info from a Lonely Planet tourist. In the same section the guide briefly mentions Remate as a place to stay but it's not on their map so I wasn't sure whether to get on the collectivo that was leaving right away or not. Remate was along the way to Tikal but, as happened way too often, the Frommers guide didn't have ready access to the needed info. The guide did get me to a Q70 a night "hammock" at the Jaguar Inn in Tikal. The hammock was a tent adjacent (as in sides touching) to three other tents meaning I could not only hear every snore, I could hear anyone roll over, and that was with earplugs. The guide was just published but how long ago did they gather the info? No fact checking? There was consistently incorrect bus info as to which company would go where and when the bus would leave. The guide got me to a nice (expensive, $[...] for the room and ride from the airport, but they considered it inexpensive) hotel by the bus stations so I could run from station to station rolling suitcase on cobblestones, finding out for myself. The listed Languin hotel phone number was incorrect or maybe the pay phone did it wrong. Sounds like a delightful location but no one wants to go that far from Coban to find out if a room is available. I have a bone to pick about La Panza Verde restaurant description in the Antiqua section. Izqierdo from Buena Vista Social Club is a part owner and plays there multiple times a week. Knowing that would have determined the splurge meal. A guide isn't going to have everything, but come on. Other tourists knew... Hacienda Tijax in Frontera/Rio Dulce was a terrific recommendation but the guide doesn't tell you that the mob at the bus station is lying when they say it is closed and suggest other jungle lodges. You can call for the boat shuttle at Bruno's restaurant. It took me a hot, dusty hour to find the correct information. The last night at Hotel Dos Lunas by the airport was really unfair advice. At the end of a trip most of us are trying to be almost out of Quetzales. Twenty left in pocket for departure tax. La Senora wants to be paid in cash, either Quetzales or dollars. To pay by credit card she demands a $[...] surcharge on a $[...] room, claiming taxes of 22% and high Visa charges. Wait. The tax is already in the $[...] and Visa charges 5%. Needed to know that since, like most tourists, I have a silly little aversion to lies and being ripped off. That's why we buy guides. |
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