The purpose of this report is not to wow you with the beauty of Guatemala City or to show you how cultured I am. Rather, it is simply a reminder that international news can be deceiving and Guatemala felt very inviting and very safe to me. My 24 hours in Guatemala City was quite pedestrian, but quite satisfying.
24 Hours In Guatemala City
Anyone who knows Guatemala City well or has been there recently knows what a lovely and charming place it. Sure, it has its rough edges, but so does Los Angeles, New York, and Chicago. But when I told people I was going to Guatemala City or often when you read about it or hear about it in the news, a picture is drawn of a destitute place in which folks are fleeing as fast as their legs will carry them up toward Mexico and the USA.
There are indeed many who would love to come to the USA, but set aside your assumptions about Guatemala City (and frankly every major city in Central America).
I already reviewed a couple of great coffee shops in Guatemala City but now I’ll tell you about my day.
Before the sun rose, I was up working…churning out blog posts and dealing with Award Expert issues. Then I hit the gym and followed that with an early 10:00am breakfast (I do intermittent fasting at home, but forget it on the road…I love breakfast too much).
After breakfast I did a bit more work…the bills must be paid.
Finally around midday I was finished and headed out to find coffee. You can read about that here.
Sometimes when we travel we forget the most inconvenient things. This time, I forgot my belt and my pants were literally falling down. I need a whole new wardrobe, but despite all the airline food I’ve managed to lose weight this year and my pants don’t fit me…
So my afternoon goal was looking for a belt. My search took me, by foot, to the Oakland Mall, which was a fairly fancy mall in the heart of the city.
I went into a couple of department stores, but ended up buying the belt at Zara. One thing I noticed is that prices were high…not sure if there is higher taxes or import duties or prices are simply higher due to less competition, but it was a 25EUR belt in Europe and nearly double the price here.
Confession: when I saw the Taco Bell in the mall food court, I stopped for a snack…just a cheese quesadilla (regular readers know I avoid fast food unless it is Taco Bell or In-N-Out, my two weaknesses). It actually tasted different than in the USA–a different type of cheese and jalapeño sauce.
Anyway…
I tried to catch an Uber to the hotel but while waiting it dropped my iPhone battery from 70% to 19% in five minutes…scary. Then the driver canceled, so I walked back (I replaced the phone by the way, there was indeed a battery issue).
After working a bit more, I went out for dinner to a nice place called Polanco. The filet, served sizzling, was so, so good along with grilled onions and peppers plus guacamole. Truly, a perfect dinner. Sad that I didn’t try something more local? Sure. But where can you get a $13 steak of this quality in the United States? Not even in the grocery store…
And then churros…
And that was my day. Boring, wasn’t it? But I bet it paints a different picture of Guatemala City, doesn’t it? Granted, I was in one of the wealthiest zones of town…the Beverly Hills of Guatemala City. But you see the pictures. There was no poverty I saw (I would see that on the way to Antigua the following day). No one was begging. No gangs roaming the streets. It was just a nice city with reasonable pricing and great food and drink.
CONCLUSION
Coffee, shopping mall, Taco Bell, and steak? What a missed opportunity, you might say. Indeed, there was a lot I missed. But considering it was a business trip, I had work to do, and only had limited time, I’m happy for what I saw. I admire the people who can visit all the museums and monuments and still get their work done and not feel so stressed or rushed, but that’s not me. But that’s okay: now I have something to return for.
This is part of my Guatemala trip report.
Culturally speaking, I think steak is an acceptable meal anywhere in Latin America. Not a missed opportunity at all.
Nah, sounds like fun travel. Anyway, I found when I began traveling a bit earlier this year after almost no travel for a year that I was making all kinds of idiot mistakes, forgetting things like my laptop charging cord, and what I didn’t need to take out in PreCheck. WSJ had an article on that phenomenon as FFs started flying again.
One of the things we regular readers of your blog like is that you fly the same a TATL in deep economy than you do in first, so you eating Taco Bell fits perfectly here, nothing that needs a confession. In fact is closer to the experience most of us have because let’s face it, it’s not always possible to fly in the front or eat at life changing places.
Just the fact that it is possible to be in other places is something to be thankful for and if sometimes you can do it in style and luxury is a plus. At least for me.
Did you bring back a housekeeper for UA-NYC? His wife seems to be busy with her “personal training” lately and the brownstone is going to hell.
Then again he seems like a cuck so all is good.
Come on Dave, let’s stick to the topic and leave the personal sniping out.
Matthew – seriously, F this tiny prick double-digit IQ troll
Sorry, I will tone it down some. As you clearly know UA was here long before me and has engaged in bullying and hatred toward other Americans. When someone calls him out on it he reacts with personal attacks on them regarding their intelligence and where they leave. And someone like me will naturally react and steps it up a notch. I appreciate your free speech mentality toward moderation here however it allows posters such as UA and myself to degrade others. As I have stated I believe I have flown many more miles than UA in 2020 & 2021 I have much more to offer this site than him and will do so. Unlike UA, I don’t consider everyone who doesn’t think like myself a “troll”. But he knows labeling others negative terms who disagree with the lefts point of view has been very successful in recent history and he is only following along. Attack the person, not the issue has worked for him and it will be hard for him to change.
I have been a 1K for 14 years in a row and hit MM in my mid 30s. So I doubt the flying part.
Besides that you’re just another Covid denying mouth breathing racist who has found their way to this site somehow. You’re just another number.
Who uses that term “mouth breather”? How about we get Matt involved and both put $5K up to a charity of his choice on who has flown more miles in 2021? Just a fun bet for a good cause and he can keep both of our names private from the other of you want. Win/ win for everyone involved.
And there you go again using the term racist. No wonder it means nothing anymore.
But we do know you are a bully towards others you disagree with.
One question – when your 300lb wife gets out of her motorized cart in The Villages to give free blowies to the neighbors – dentures in or out?
Matt now you see what’ happens when you try to do something good with this troll. I say you call us both out on the 5K donation to charity and ban the IP of whomever doesn’t pay up.
Good publicity for the site and a charity of your choosing.
When does he ever stick to the topic?
So, you were there on Aug, 10th and you’re only blogging about it now? Surely missed a whole bunch of time and opportunity there!
Sorry, but I had to seriously LOL at your visit to The Bell. I’ll confess we hit it up probably more than we should while road tripping. My weak justification is that it’s one of the few places my mother can eat on the road, but I admit, a couple of burritos really hits the spot.
I’m with Jerry, I wouldn’t regard bistek as a missed opportunity anywhere in Latin America. Nothing wrong with going to a high-end local joint in any case.
So whoever has not had a Quickburger in Paris, let him cast the first stone.
This sounds like a trip I would have taken. There’s no real agenda other than a fun flight and a hotel in a city I haven’t been to before. I work in the hotel room and venture out for a few minutes when I have free time. There’s no checklist of places to see. No grand plans to photograph historic sights. I might research enough to find a place that sells pastries and coffee with a cool vibe. I get energy and motivation from being someplace that isn’t home.
OMG, a $50 belt? I don’t blame Guatemalans from coming to the US seeking refugee status. I try to pay $10-12.
Zarah isn’t exactly Kohl’s. But, yes, probably more expensive than in Madrid.
Having kids, I’m surprised your wife lets you travel abroad solo so much lately. She could “force” you to bring a kid or two. It’s a hassle and as a father some immigration officials may question why you’re traveling alone with kids ( bring signed permission slip + Copy of her ID).
There is no doubt, it is a beautiful country with a lot trees and a nice culture
I would like to know about it and going to see my girl friend over there in jalapa
Good work and thanks for sharing this Matthew Klint
By your own account, you went to the wealthiest part of Guatemala City and you are commenting on the lack of crime/begging/poverty? Well, of course.
If you wanted a more balanced view, you could have stayed closer to the center.
Mind you, I’m not criticizing your choice of a place to stay, but most cities, no matter how safe/unsafe do have upscale, affluent areas.
very lame, yep sounds like some privileged white boy, scared of itz shadow , lame post… taco smell!!! LMAO , {I actually ate at the first one IN Guatemala City, 80’s} been surfing doing biz there since the 80’s worked with the indigenous peoples driven there a few times took Mom to Guat city 1990, even to Zone 1 and the central market and you have pix of a Mexican restaurant in Guatemala, how insulting to chapines and I am fair trade fisher working with small scale artisanal fishermen/women
It would be great if readers can have an article about the trip to Antigua with insights and advice.
That will come on Monday.
Thank you for writing such an authentic piece! I’ve never known of anyone who has come to Guatemala and didn’t like it, seriously! Next time, try to explore zone 14, that’s the nicest part of the city, and where the new restaurants and plazas are located, very happening!
Will do. Thanks!
A white privileged pathetic boy goes to Guatemala City… highlights? An overpriced belt, a Taco Bell meal, a Polanco-inspired churrasqueria. How myopic do you need to be?
In the future all restaurants will be Taco Bell
Thank you for the great article. Would I be correct in assuming you stayed at the Barcelo? If so, nice hotel, and convenient to the airport. It’s one of my two favorites in the capital. The other I would also suggest is the Gran Tikal Futura Hotel. It’s next door to the Mira Flores Mall. There I would recommend Los Ranchos for dinner. Also, take any opportunity you have to visit Haciendo Real in the city for a fine steak and first-class service.
Taco Bell
Hi Matthew, Does the cheese quesadilla you bought at Guatemala City taste better?
No, it was worse but I found out the lady left out the jalapeño sauce because she thought it was too spicy for me.
I don’t know where you bought your quetzales, but the usual exchange rate is 7.7GTQ for 1USD. That makes the steak closer to $20 than $13. You can surely find a steak dinner for that in most cities in the world.
I currently live in Guatemala city, moved here from San Francisco, CA, and find that going out to eat at good places here is almost as expensive. Hard to understand given the poverty wages (~$400/mo) most waiters make here.
You’re right on the exchange rate! Still a wonderful steak.
So the challenge is UA-NYC both put up $5k for a charity of Matt’s choosing for a fun bet of who has flown more miles in 2021. No winner other than the charity.
But I’m also willing to put $5k up on more money to charity on UA’s claims, all on loser pays to the charity of Matt’s choice based on his claims.
$5,000 that my wife doesn’t weight 300 pounds
$5,000 that I don’t live in the Villages of Florida
$5,000 that I can prove I have a net worth of more than the IP address we can agree on is UA-NYC
$5,000 that I can prove I own homes in Florida and Lake Tahoe Nevada
So an easy $10k for charity with an opportunity to $20k more if UA is willing to back the claims he makes with his trolling here.
The ball is in UA’s court, Matt knows who I am. Is UA willing to prove who he is?
Nice article Matthew. I expected Guatemala City to basically be uninhabitable based on news reports for years. I like your fresh perspective.
@Tony: Actually worse. Both the cheese and jalapeño sauce.
Thank you so much for this article about my beautiful country. You stayed in a very nice area, although, there are more nice places in the city too.
You will enjoy your stay in Antigua, besides the beautiful hotels and bed and breakfast, you will find good coffee shops and restaurants too, Enjoy !!!!!
As other mentioned, going to the richest parts of a city don’t always offer the most balanced view of the city or represent it well, but at least you gave a good description of the part you did visit.
As for the food, it is a bit sad that you went to Guatemala and only had Mexican food and didn’t try the local options.
GUATEMALA IS BEAUTIFUL PLACE AND AM SERIOUSLY CONSIDERING RETIRING THERE. THE ZONA VIVA IS GREAT. BTW, WHAT’S UP WITH ALL THE NEGATIVE JARHEADS? I WOULD HAVE STAYED AT THE CAMINO REAL OR FONTABELLA.