Could it be that Antigua Guatemala, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was actually saved by the earthquakes that ravaged it during earlier centuries? If you consider that these natural disasters convinced politicians to move the capital and leave this charming city with its original colonial charm, then yes. Join me for a quick video tour…
Author: Mark Chesnut
New Travel Options for Cusco, Peru
As Peru works to recover from the mudslide and flooding that left thousands of visitors stranded around Machu Picchu last week, the tourism industry is struggling to get its bearings. Peru Rail, the company that provides the rail link to Machu Picchu, continues to work with the government on a restoration plan for the tracks.In the…
VIDEO: Posada del Angel, Luxury Boutique Hotel in Antigua Guatemala
BY MARK CHESNUT It was a cool Thursday evening in Antigua Guatemala, and I was lounging in a four-poster bed covered with 600-thread-count Egyptian cotton and hand-woven Guatemalan fabrics. Gentle flames crackled in the fireplace as I fell gently into a sound sleep, the silence so complete that the only artificial sound I could hear…
VIDEO: Posada del Angel, Luxury Boutique Hotel in Antigua Guatemala
BY MARK CHESNUT It was a cool Thursday evening in Antigua Guatemala, and I was lounging in a four-poster bed covered with 600-thread-count Egyptian cotton and hand-woven Guatemalan fabrics. Gentle flames crackled in the fireplace as I fell gently into a sound sleep, the silence so complete that the only artificial sound I could hear…
LF Hotel Review: Posada del Angel, Antigua Guatemala
Images of Antigua Guatemala
It’s my last day in this beautiful, historic small city. No more relaxing on the Parque Central, the peaceful town square where locals and foreigners alike sit for hours, people-watching and enjoying the springlike temperatures. No more negotiating the stone streets and lumpy sidewalks to discover tiny shops and cool restaurants. And no more searching…
The Insider’s Tour of Antigua Guatemala
The helpful folks at Posada del Angel (the amazing seven-room luxury hotel where I’m staying in Antigua Guatemala — more about that in a future post) yesterday made an excellent recommendation: They set me up for a city tour with Elizabeth Bell, a local woman who runs a company called Antigua Tours. I’ve been on countless…
Unique Gifts in Antigua Guatemala
I’m excited to be in Antigua Guatemala again; this city in the central highlands of Guatemala (about an hour from Guatemala City) is like a living piece of history, thanks to its well-preserved architecture, which have garnered it recognition as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Antigua Guatemala (often called simply “Antigua”) is also a great…
Rat Race: My Quest to Eat a Rodent in Guatemala
The first time I visited Guatemala City with my partner Angel, a taxi driver recommended that we try a local dish called tepesquintle at a restaurant just behind the governmental palace. He didn’t tell us exactly what kind of meat it was, but we tried it, and it was delicious. After two days of asking…
Rat Race: My Quest to Eat a Rodent in Guatemala
The first time I visited Guatemala City with my partner, a taxi driver recommended that we try a local dish called tepesquintle at a restaurant just behind the governmental palace. He didn’t tell us exactly what kind of meat it was, but we tried it, and it was delicious. After two days of asking every…
HOTEL REVIEW & VIDEO: Holiday Inn Santo Domingo
Searchlights scan the dark skies above as festively dressed men on stilts amble around the parking lot, greeting well-dressed guests who are exiting chauffeured cars. Inside, champagne bubbles and tables overflow with tasty cuisine. It’s all part of the grand opening of the Holiday Inn Santo Domingo, which debuted in late 2009 as the newest…
VIDEO: A Ride on the Santo Domingo Metro
During my most recent visit to the Dominican Republic’s capital city, I took a ride aboard the city’s Metro, a sleek and modern mass transit system that debuted in 2008. It doesn’t connect many locations important to vacationers and international business travelers (yet — more lines are underway), but it’s still an interesting new way…
Video tour of the Santo Domingo Metro
LF DEAL ALERT: Last-minute Mexico from Brendan
Brendan Vacations is offering Last Minute Deals for escorted tours to Mexico. Itineraries include “Treasures of the Yucatan,” with a price tag lowered from $1,825 to $1643 (promo code LMDUSA118). The nine-day trip includes visits to Chichen Itza, with accommodations on the Riviera Maya.The price on the “Mexico’s Copper Canyon” tour, meanwhile, has been lowered from…