22 usd single room, 26 usd double at april 2010.micro rooms, not clean and everything "smells" old

My 1st day in Guatemala, - I misbooked a hostel stay in Guatemala City - clearly NOT where I wanted to be - traveling solo, after reading several reviews on crime there.
A peace corp friend had suggested this place in Antigua, Guatemala; 1 hr away from airport (in traffic) 25mins w/o.
Upon arrival, I felt at home, - the design was very native, simple, but not drab.... also I felt at with service. My room clean, quiet nice, private bathroom, nice HOT shower at night, in the mornings - a bit lukewarm to cool.
No breakfast was served, but the comfort and hospitality was tops, not a big social crowd there either, but that was OK for me, - if you want good night rest, some privacy, and quiet at night, this is the place to be. I slept like a baby, and that was my 1st time traveling by myself.
One bummer was no internet, but I got over that, as just 2-3 blocks away was a net cafe that I could use for $2 usd = 30-60mins... allowed me a chance to meet and see people.
Cost: $20 USD per night, included daily cleaning service, fresh towels....

While we stayed here we "tried out" 3 rooms and inspected others. Here is the deal:

Front room, a "suite" with a king bed and a twin sofa bed, along with a big bathroom, had lots of storage space and a 32" TV with LOTS of channels (Cinemax, HBO, etc) as well as international stations. This room cost us $20 a night. It was noisy as it is right on the street, but the windows are double paned, there are wood shutters, and insulating curtains. Wear earplugs. The room has a very musty smell (like old wooden furniture 400 years old!) and has stone walls, so it will remind you of your grandmother's basement and your clothes will come out with an odd odor, but when you are ill with stomach troubles and you need a comfy bed and some entertaining TV to get your mind off your bowels, this is the (cheap) place to be. I believe the name of the suite is Tikal.

We also had a back room (one night) on the, lower floor, 2 twin beds, hardly any space for suitcases, dark and musty, with tiny bath, but again, there was great cable TV and the price was $14 a night.

Upstairs our teen daughter had her own room, it was tiny and meant for 2! but it was a full size bed (here in the US 54" wide) perfect for one person, it had a window with lighting, tiny bath, not so much a musty odor, and the cost was $14 a night. She was happy there by herself and the cable TV was a big help.

There is a corner room upstairs called (I believe) Atitlan and it is a good buy! at $14 a night, has a window, cable TV, KING size bed! decent bath, fair amount of room--the best accomodation in the building.

This is a musty, dusty, dark little hotel (really a posada) but the service at the front desk is very sincere, helpful, and the prices are good. Free distilled water near lobby. The front desk personnel are efficient and keep the place secure; shutting and locking the front doors at 10 pm and re-opening at 8 am or as needed for the guests.

Every person I saw here was polite, quiet, and in the hotel early. No heavy duty partying types, and most guests could be seen (they kept their doors open to freshen the mustiness of their rooms), throughout the day while lounging on their beds reading or using their laptops.

Overall I am rating this lodging based upon value for dollar, and NOT luxury or amenities. Reemmber, if you are spending between $10 and $14 a night for a room, you shouldn't have great expectations. Location is 4 blocks from park center--take a left when exiting hotel, cross three streets (blocks) and turn left one block to reach the Square.

The staff was kind, but spoke ONLY Spanish. The single room downstairs are to the back of the building. There is only one small window over the shower. Mold is all over the walls, sheets, showers. If you have allergies, you cannot stay there. It is VERY dirty! The front rooms are larger, not as much mold but also dirty. We lost something and looked under the bed, unbelievable the dirt we found! They need a new housekeeper!