Porta Hotel del Lago

The hotel felt like a peaceful little retreat after we’d been out exploring. We had lovely views and could easily get to both the lake and town, so the location worked perfectly. Our time in Panajachel was incredible, and we’d happily return and recommend it to anyone visiting Lake Atitlán.

The pool was cold because its “solar” heating just meant relying on the sun, with no other heat source, and the hot tub jets weren’t working either. We’d paid extra for a roomy garden suite, but couldn’t get the lake photos we expected from the grounds. You need a view room for those. The attached photo shows about the best angle we got, obstructions included. On top of that, the suite rug was stained, and workers in the shop below made quite a bit of noise. At over $200 a night, I was disappointed.

The suite was wonderful, and the rest of the staff were friendly. Fredy, who helped with our luggage, was especially kind and stayed with us until the room issue was finally sorted out. That issue made for a rough start. I’d booked deluxe rooms, then asked if I could pay an extra $35 a night to move to a suite with a double balcony and more space, which I’d highly recommend. Ernesto said there weren’t any available, though the website showed otherwise. When I pointed that out, he still refused. I asked to speak with someone else, and suddenly three suites were available, with a choice of which side of the building. I don’t understand why Ernesto didn’t want me to book one, and it was upsetting to see him give me a mean look when we crossed paths afterward. Hotels should let clients choose where they stay if they can pay for the room. Being lied to felt like discrimination. I was born in Guatemala and love coming back to visit, but I wonder if this hotel is reluctant to give good rooms to other Guatemalans. Maybe if I’d looked different, I wouldn’t have had to prove they were lying before I could get the room I wanted.

The property was clean and in a great spot for walking to activities and the ferry. English communication was limited. They charged for everything, though: even checking in 30 minutes or an hour early cost extra, with the amount seeming to depend on the front desk’s mood. Even an extra tea bag came with a charge.