Hotel Spring takes the prize for having among the tallest doors and windows of any hotel in the world—a hint of its faded elegance. I paid 104 quetzales ($13) for a single with shared bath. That bathroom was far down the hall, but had real hot water showers (not the lukewarm “suicide” type). The maid staff was willing to change sheets and towel every day if I wished. My room faced the street, which was noisy all night long and rose to cacophony about 6:00 a.m.
Hotel Spring is in zone 1, the faded and decrepit original center of the city. Residents with means have moved south, so the more interesting restaurants, bars, and shops are some distance away. You can walk about six blocks to catch the TransMetro, a superb bus system with two routes that cover the newer parts of town. Also, Sixth Avenue in zone 1 is being renovated as a pedestrian-only area, and shows promise of being the nucleus of a Zone 1 revival. It’s 5-6 blocks from the Spring.
- Spring Hotel Guatemala City
