I have a flight back to the US leaving GUA at 7:30 on a weekday morning. Any opinions as to where I should stay the night before? I'll be en route from either Semuc Champay or Antigua the previous day.

Gracias, Ginger

What's your budget? Are you wanting to spend time in the city or just sleep there? Here are 2 options to consider:
www.hostalvillatoscana.com
www.hoteldoslunas.com

Hey it is my first trip to Gua and would appreciate any suggestions on how to split the time between destinations, as well as best way to get around.

Hey, Jack - Why don't you start a separate thread for your question and provide us with a bit more information: amount of time, time of year, interests, general budget? We could help you more then. Just click on the yellow "Start a new thread" button above the list of active topics. Happy trails!

Thanks Stacey, I'll check these out. I Extended my trip for a few more weeks! This is a hard place to leave. The sun just rose over Pana.

Jack, you must be so excited about your trip. Take the advise and start your thread. You will get very, vey sound advise.

You lucky duck - can't wait to hear all about it!

My fav from $50 avoid the airport hotels dumpy

At the Howard Johnson Guatemala City, we offer a Free Airport Shuttle (please contact hotel by email or phone with flight details), Free Wireless Internet Access ...

www.hojo.com/HowardJohnson/PropertyMapper/14667

Intercontinental or Camino Real for upscale

great values even free with www.spg.com points for me.

I am planning on staying in Antigua the night before my early flight. I would rather have my last night be in Antiuga then GC even if it means getting up very early. Enjoy

I agree with ttraveler. Have a nice evening in Antigua, early pick up is not fun anywhere.Elizabeth Bell's Antigua Tours is 100% dependable for an early pick up.

Sounds good. How early to leave for a 730 flight? Is 5 okay?

I've always advised staying in Antigua, too, but we're staying near the airport in Guatemala City twice this summer, before a 7:05 flight to Roatán and then when we return from Roatán in the evening and fly out the next morning. We figured we'd need to leave from Antigua at least 3 hours before the flight and decided we'd rather sleep later and worry less (about shuttle or traffic delays) this time around.

Sorry to put a damper on your plans, but if you really want to be sure you make an early morning flight, stay at one of the places near the airport. I live here and I cannot tell you how many times the highway from Antigua to the city is so jammed with traffic that we turn around when/if we can and go back home. Then there are the "manifestaciones" (demonstrations) which can close all major highways in the country. Granted, these are not every day occurrences, but to catch a flight....don't take the chance!

That's what we decided - thanks for the validation.

Judy, do you think this could be the case with a 4 am departure?

We are leaving at 4:00 am for a 7:30 am flight. I use a small travel agency for transfers and that is what they suggest. Hopefully we will make it too the airport without any issues.

Ttraveler, I am doing the very same thing. Should be no problem.

Just be sure you pick a very reliable agency - I'm sure I've read 30 or 40 posts on the Thorntree forum over the last few years about early morning rides not showing up or showing up an hour or more late.

So Lynne - you decided to finally go home? ;-)

Leaving Antigua at 4 am is probably okay. I used to leave my house at 4:30 am every morning and make it to Zone 1 in 20-25 minutes (32 km). At 4 am there is NO traffic.

Ha. Yes, I finally decided to go home, but only because I need to be in Bhutan on April 30, or I would stay even longer.

I just wanted to let everyone know that leaving from Antigua at 4am for a 7:30 flight gives you plenty of time. We used Rhet from Mexcal Travel and everything went smoothly.