Hotel El Gran Chortí

This was my go-to place for the 13 years I’ve been coming, so I’m really disappointed. We stayed one night with family and paid 1,150Q, which is a lot for a 3-star hotel, even if it’s supposed to be the best in town. When we arrived at night, we found what looked like a cockroach leg by the sink. Around 10pm, we called to ask about mass times, but nobody answered, so I had to look them up online. The next morning the water stopped while I was showering. We called again and got no answer. When it came back, it was muddy. The place also badly needs an update. We bought bags of ground coffee after being quoted one price, then were charged more. When my husband asked why, they said the price had recently gone up and the waiter didn’t know. Like another reviewer said, check your receipts. There are so many options now, I’d look somewhere else.

The food is fabulous, and the pool is a lovely way to get out of the heat. The people here are amazing, so friendly, and the service is hard to beat. I highly recommend staying here, or even just stopping in for a meal.

The workers were at least nice, but I only gave two stars. I could hear people going up and down the stairs, and the beds squeaked. The headboard kept hitting the wall whenever I moved, even a little, and it kept waking me up. The bathroom was so tiny I had to turn sideways to get out. There was a paper sign in my room listing how many towels I had, and I had to wear a paper bracelet for two days so they’d know I’d rented a room. It was expensive and not clean. There was mold on the bathroom walls and ceiling, and nowhere to put soap or shampoo in the shower, so I left them on the floor. The pool had what looked like mold or millions of little particles in it. I asked about it, and they agreed it looked like mold, but didn’t do anything. I think they may not run the pool or use chlorine. There was no room service menu. When I asked, they just looked at me and said nothing, so how was I supposed to know what to order? They charge for everything. Ice to take to the room costs extra, and coffee to go costs much more than coffee in a cup. They asked if I wanted cream or milk, then charged extra for the milk. The towels were another hassle: I had to bring them down after every pool visit to get a dry one for my shower, since they only give you one per person. The workers asked for tips for everything in a way that made me feel obligated. The shuttle driver had a flyer behind his seat saying “tips are optional.” That doesn’t feel fair when the rooms are extremely expensive. The food and everything else is overpriced too.

The rooms are clean, cozy, and nice, and there’s a big pool for the region’s relentless heat. On Sundays the breakfast buffet is great and fairly priced. The waiters are kind and attentive, though the reception staff aren’t as much. This is the best hotel in Esquipulas. Lunch and dinner aren’t great, but they aren’t bad either.