I spent one night here. Although the building had a quaint charm, my room was oppressively dark and lacked hot water. The service seemed virtually nonexistent. It did include access to a single older computer with Internet.

I arrived on a Sunday and took the Trans-Metro to the older part of the city and from there, I went by foot until I stumbled across this place. I payed the cheapest price of about $18. So maybe the $25 rooms are fine. They did offer complementary coffee which wasn't very good.

My biggest complaint is with Guatemala City. A relatively ugly crime ridden metropolis teeming with desperately poor people trying to part you from your money. If you come to Guatemala, head straight for Antigua, unless you must conduct your business in Guatemala City.

Guatemala City downtown has many interesting places but if you read most travel guides you might become afraid and think there is nothing here. I am not discounting the crime problems and if you decide to stay here, I do suggest that you don't walk around after dark. The front desk will call a taxi driver they know. The hotel is secure and it is beautiful. The price is right. The staff is nice. I had a large, old fashioned room facing a quiet hallway. My only disappointment concerned the bathroom, which had a bug problem. Contrary to what you might have heard, the central zone of Guatemala has beautiful churches, a lovely arch over a street by the post office and interesting restaurants. I certainly prefer it to the Zona Viva, where I could be sitting in a shopping in Miami.

My father and I stayed at the Hotel Colonial for 5 nights back in July of 2006. The room was clean, the beds were comfortable, and the staff is friendly. The location is very central, right in the heart of Zona 1, close to restaurants and the Mercado Central. The hotel also has parking.
My only complaint would be that for breakfast, the kitchen would run out of fried plantains or cheese. The very nice lady that served breakfast explained that they only make a limited amount of food to prevent waste.
My father is in the process of moving to Guatemala. He's was in Guatemala in October 2006 and again last week. He has stayed at Hotel Colonial both times.
The hotel is housed in a very interesting building, very typical for 1930's Guatemala City style architecture with 2 stories and beautiful central courtyard/patio with seating. The front desk clerk told me that the building was originally an orphanage.
The shops shut down early (7PM), and there's hardly no one on the streets (7a Avenida) after 9PM in fear of the thieves in the area. Dominos Pizza and Pollo Campero does not deliver past 9PM. Take a taxi and go to Zona 4 to Cuatro Grados Norte for late night fun!