Piedraluna

Rooms

There are 6 rooms in total, stacked apartment-style on the second and third floors. There are 2 rooms in each in category - small (Standard), medium (Junior Suite) and large (Loft Suite) and each category has a 1-bed (kingsize) or 2-bed (queensize) option.

Décor is clean and cosmopolitan - whites, metallic greys, earth browns - and a wee bit Ikea. Intended to be practical for longer stays, each room has complimentary WiFi, a well-stocked kitchenette and a video door buzzer so guests can receive visitors without involving reception. There's plenty of natural light and the 2 larger room categories have a small balcony.

When travelling with a sibling it's great to have enough space to keep familial relations harmonious, which is just what we found in our 2-bed Loft Suite. A lounge, a kitchen and a dining table flowed into a bedroom with a queensize bed dressed in organic cotton sheets, non-allergenic pillows and a luxurious feather duvet.

The loft-style second bedroom was reached by a steel wall-mounted staircase. My brother was all praise for the comfyness of his bed - just the right amount of firm - and reluctant to leave it in the morning, although his lack of bedside light was frustrating (all other beds seemed to have one). A small bathroom has a cool stone and glass sink unit contained eco-friendly toiletries, with a shower over a bath.

The rooms were quiet, given the hotel’s central location, but the thin blinds might annoy light sleepers and the shower was a little puny on hot water.

Features include:

• Fan
• Minibar
• Safe box
• WiFi

Eating

Piedraluna’s balcony restaurant is on the third floor and, while the view over residential buildings won’t have you reaching for your camera, it gives a welcome sense of peace and space. Furnished with wicker style chairs, large pot plants and patio heaters, it's a nice place to dine or have a pre-dinner drink.

The service was good - attentive and discreet - and very accommodating, with offers to keep the kitchen open to accommodate a late plane arrival. I had a tomato soup starter (tasty with a good tangy bite), followed by tenderloin medallions with caramelised onions - the meat was tender, if a little cold, and the fries crisp and delicious. Other dinner dishes included Thai curry prawns, Pollo Parmesano and Mediterranean-style fish dishes. Lighter options included salads and sandwiches. Though the menu was rather expensive, the atmosphere and home-grown organic vegetables made it worth the price.

Breakfast (not included) is classic Guatemalan in style: scrambled eggs, refritos beans with cheese and salsa, and bacon and ham if you want it. A basket of bread rolls and orange juice and coffee are also included.

You can request a packed lunch to take out and about with you: choose from a variety of sandwiches, a snack such as Pringles, fruit, and a Granola bar or a cookie. You get a drink too.

Your room has a well-equipped kitchenette - a fridge, a microwave, a 2-burner electric range, a coffee machine, a kettle, cutlery and crockery - where you can rustle up meals and snacks. Local markets offer an excellent selection of fruit and veg and there's a large grocery store 2 blocks away.

Features include:

• Bar
• Kitchenette
• Restaurant
• Restaurants nearby
• Room service
• Vegetarian options

Activities

• Visit the elegant building of the Museo Nacional de Arqueologia y Etnologia (National Archaeological Museum), displaying many of Guatemala’s Mayan treasures under one roof
  
  
• The Modern Art Museum, Natural History Museum and Children’s Museum are all on the same street (take a taxi from the hotel)
  
  
• Find international fashion brands and electronic goods at the Oakland Mall, 5 minutes' walk away, which also houses a luxury cinema, cafés and restaurants
  
  
• The exotic Botanical Gardens are further on towards Zona 4
  
  
• Explore the heart of the old city in Zona 1, where new bars and cafés are opening in once-rundown historic buildings
  
  
• The 1868 cathedral, a classic example of squat Baroque architecture designed to withstand earthquakes, dominates the Parque Central (the political and religious centre of Guatemala). Poignantly, it has the names of the "disappeared" from the Civil War carved on its pillars. On another side you'll find the Palacio Nacional, the former seat of government
  
  
• Behind the square is the Mercado Central which, though ugly, houses a surprisingly good and reasonably priced array of textiles, leatherware, jewellery and handicrafts, along with fruit and vegetables. Or take a taxi to the Mercado de Artesanias in Zona 13, which has a wonderful selection of Guatemalan products
  
  
• Upmarket Zona Viva (a few blocks away) is aptly named - check out the nightclubs playing everything from salsa to house, via merengue and reggae

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Historical sites
• Museums / galleries
• Nightlife
• Plantlife / flora
• Shopping / markets
• Traditional cultures

Kids

Cots and extra beds can be provided for children on request. Parents of smaller children are dissuaded from choosing Loft Suites 5 and 6, which both have stairs.

Family friendly accommodation:

Cots Available, Extra Beds Available

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

Piedraluna is situated near the Zona Viva in Zona 10 of Guatemala City.

By Air
Guatemala City La Aurora (4km) is the closest. Click on the links below for a list of airlines serving it.

From the Airport
The hotel can arrange a transfer from the airport, a 10-minute drive away - see Rates.

By Car
Driving around Guatemala is certainly possible, with relatively empty roads and friendly locals, but bear in mind it's expensive, and parking and security will be your biggest concerns (a good knowledge of Spanish will help your cause). See our car rental recommendations.

Onward Travel
Private taxi hire and bus are the most common methods of transport internally. Antigua, likely to be your next port of call, is about 40 minutes from Guatemala City by private transfer or 1 hour by bus. Ask Piedraluna to arrange private transfers for you, or book shuttle services through a travel agent in town.

Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.com.

More on getting to Guatemala and getting around