In a town of cobblestone streets and 17th century architecture, The Good Hotel Antigua is a modern-day anomaly. With a minimalist, chic style and a tropical-garden courtyard it’s an oasis amongst the UNESCO world heritage area.
But the most impressive thing about staying at the Good Hotel Antigua, is the direct contribution to a local community in need. Simply by booking a room in this eco hotel, you are doing good.
Find out the real benefits of staying in this community focused business.
Table of Contents
What is The Good Hotel Antigua?
The Good Hotel is a positive movement.
It’s a business model that’s changing the way tourism impacts local communities.
The Building
The building was formerly a private mansion at the northern end of the protected Antigua historical centre. It was purchased in 2014 and converted into a 20-room boutique hotel (opening in 2016).
It’s minimalistic design, open air courtyard, locally sourced materials and unique story make The Good Hotel Antigua a great choice when staying in the historic town.
The Mission
The Good Hotel Antigua’s story began with a simple human connection. Over the last 13 years it has developed into a community wide achievement.
In 2006, Marteen Dresen had a dream of providing financial help to just one family in Guatemala. But, through positive actions and international support that one family quickly turned into one school.
And that one school turned into three. All through the NGO Niños de Guatemala.
As the ideas and mission expanded so did the reach. The Good Hotel provided jobs for local residents & support was offered to local businesses.
How it Works
The Good Hotel Antigua is a profit for non profit organisation.
What does that mean?
It means that all profits made by the hotel (revenue made beyond operations cost) go towards the NGO (Niños de Guatemala).
Basically, the more people that stay at The Good Hotel Antigua, the more funding the NGO gets, the more support it can provide.
It is a brilliant business model, and one that should be adopted more often around the world.
The Good Hotel Antigua – Quick Facts
450 students from low income families receive quality education each year
80+ jobs are offered to local residents
Over 90% of Niños de Guatemala graduates move onto secondary school
Sourced from The Good Hotel lobby display board
What’s the Connection to The Good Hotel London/Amsterdam?
You might have seen something about The Good Hotel in London or Amsterdam over the years. But what does that have to do with Antigua and the children at Niños de Guatemala?
Beyond the School – A Hotel for Training
Determined to improve the ongoing conditions for the children and families in Guatemala, Marteen developed The Good Hotel concept.
The aim:
- Provide premium hospitality training and working opportunities for young adults in the tourism industry
- Run a profitable business to fund the NGOs future endeavours
Amsterdam
A floating “pop up” hotel was built using old platforms in Amsterdam.
- The hotel was to be a showcase for investors into the Good Hotel Antigua property
- Hospitality training was given unemployed locals
- The 12 month period as a success, with the restaurant receiving a 2 Star Michelin rating
- After the pop up period and successful accumulation of funds for the Guatemala location, part of the barge was shipped to London
London
The floating Good Hotel now resides at the Royal Victoria Dock in East London.
- It runs as an operational, hospitality training facility
- Provides work opportunities for unemployed locals
- Donates money from each room night purchase to the NGO Niños de Guatemala
- It is planned to be at the dock location until 2021
Where is The Good Hotel Antigua?
Situated at the northern end of Antigua Guatemala historical centre, The Good Hotel is within walking distance to all of the main city sites.
It can be reached with an airport shuttle from La Aurora International in approximately 1.5 hours.
Locality in Town
- Mercado de Artesanias El Carmen (Artesian Market) – 10 minute walk
- Parque Central (Central Park) – 7 minute walk
- Choco Museo (Chocolate Museum) – 10 minute walk
- Arco de Santa Catalina (Santa Catalina Arch) – 10 minute walk
About Your Stay at The Good Hotel Antigua
The Welcome
- Through the entrance opens into a display room with ethically made local products (clothing, jewellery and sustainable toiletries)
- A filtered drinking water tap and glasses are waiting for your arrival
- The Good Hotel’s history and photographs of the NGO’s children are displayed
- You might be looking for the check in counter, it’s through the tropical courtyard towards the dining area
- Welcoming staff are proficient in English and make the process easy
The Room
There are a few of different room types with varying room rates (approx. USD $100 to USD$ 200 per night).
- Patio Rooms
- Mezzanine Room
- Pila Room
- Unique Room
The Patio Rooms
- A bright room with minimalistic touches
- Desk and open cupboard
- White tiled bathroom and washing sinks
- Open air showers
- Views of the volcanoes
- Refillable eco friendly bathroom ammenities (soap, shampoo conditioner) made locally
- Portrait of one of the sponsored school children from the NGO
The Mezzanine Room
- 2 Story room with high ceiling
- Stylish fixtures and finishings
- Opens onto the courtyard
- Living room, bathroom and shower downstairs
- Bed in upstrairs loft
The other two room types are slightly more basic style. Note that there are no smoking rooms. The hotel is not adults only, so you can bring children.
There are some great reviews on Tripadvisor and Booking.com about these rooms.
The Staff
The staff at the Good Hotel Antigua play an important role in the positive community impact.
- Staff are friendly and welcoming
- The concierge staff speak English well
- Many of the housecleaning staff are mothers of the children sponsored through the NGO
Hotel Amenities
Amenities are limited mostly to the rooms and common area in the centre of the property.
- Free wifi
- Small shop/display of local, ethically made clothing, jewellery and clothing
- Filtered drinking water taps
- Open air garden courtyard
- Long seating table with charging points
- Room service
In summary, the Hotel is a series of rooms around a courtyard with seating areas.
- A restaurant attaches to the hotel via an open seating area. It however, is not part of the hotel and is a local restaurant chain
- Breakfast is an additional cost & needs to be ordered the night before
Saúl L’Osteria Restaurant
The restaurant is not actually part of the hotel (although it is physically connected). It is therefore not a ‘profit for non-profit’ organisation.
Saúl L’Osteria is actually a local restaurant chain. They are very modern and funky inside with a great breakfast and lunch menu (it is more boutique than a big cafe chain like Starbucks or similar found in the United States/globally). The one next to The Good Hotel has a beautiful water feature, bookshelf and a photographic portrait-display of significant local artists and musicians.
While it’s not the cheapest place to eat in Antigua, it is convenient from the hotel. However, with so many amazing food options around the town, it is also worthwhile exploring.
Sustainable Practices
The Good Hotel Antigua is an amazing stop for any eco travel enthusiast wanting to visit Guatemala. Their focus is really on their community aspect, however they do have some noteworthy sustainable practices.
In every “eco” accomodation there are three main forms of interaction:
- You (the guests)
- Community
- Environment
Here’s how The Good Hotel Antigua is making an impact.
The Hotel & You
- Signage in the hotel entrance and in your rooms remind you of the hotel’s contribution to their cause
- Friendly & knowledgeable staff the welcoming staff are very helpful and can answer any questions you have related to the Good Hotel’s mission
- Clean and comfortable, the rooms are clean and the ammenities are modern
The Hotel & The Community
This is where the Good Hotel Antigua really shines. It is their main focus and drive.
- Through the NGO Niños de Guatemala, the Good Hotel is supporting over 400 local students both academically and emotionally
- Training unemployed locals in the hospitality industry
- Providing long term jobs for locals (there is a specific program for single mothers of children supported by Niños de Guatemala, teaching literacy and occupational skills)
- Supporting local businesses by using locally made products, labor & materials for the hotel’s construction and ongoing maintenance
- Provides volunteer opportunities through the NGO to help out for as little as one day (depending on your level of the Spanish language).
The Hotel & The Environment
- Using refillable, locally made bathroom products
- All the taps in the hotel run filtered drinking water & there are reusable cups in multiple locations for refiling bottles or drinking as you go
- The use of locally made products (tiles, iron work, woodwork) means lowered transportation effects during construction
- There are plans to add solar panels in the near future
The Good Hotel Antigua Pros & Cons
Pros
- It’s nice to have direct, positive impact on a local community when you travel. The Good Hotel has made that very easy.
- Stylish & minimalistic rooms are clutter free
- Good wifi throughout the hotel
- Friendly staff (many of which speak English)
- Iconic volcano views (from the patio rooms)
- Easy to walk to points of interest around town
Cons
- Not a lot of ammenities like a more traditional hotel (pool, spa, gym, etc.)
- Restaurant is not part of hotel
What to Pack for Antigua
- Reusable bag for grocery shopping – if you shop at the stores in Antigua, they will give you plastic bags so it’s always a good idea to have your own alternative option!
- Reusable water bottle – The Good Hotel Antigua has filtered tap water which is perfect for a refillable bottle. A water bottle with a built in filter is always a good idea if you’re unsure.
- Eco Friendly Toiletries – The Good Hotel provides the basics (soap, shampoo & conditioner) but it’s always good to travel with eco friendly toiletries! Better for you and the environment!
- Versatile Clothing. It is warm through the day yet cold at night.
Things to Do in Antigua
Antigua Guatemala is truly a beautiful town. The cobblestone streets and preserved architecture surrounded by active volcanoes makes it a very unique destination.
- Take a Stroll Around the Historical Center. One of the best things to do in Antigua is to simply walk around. The streets are on a grid which makes it very easy to navigate.
- Check out the local markets. There are a few local markets around the town specialising in handcrafted goods (fabrics, jewellery, hand carved wooden artefacts).
- Make your own Jade Jewellery. Xibalba Joyas, is a collection of local artists making ethically sourced jewellery and clothing. They also run a “make your own jade jewellery” lesson.
- Get a photo under the Santa Catalina Arch. It’s best to get down to the arch street before 8am if you don’t want other people in your shot.
- The Church of San Francisco has a small museum for Hermano Pedro (Guatemala’s first saint)
- Eat vegetarian in town. Samsara is a great veg restaurant with a bit of a kooky feel (15 minute walk from The Good Hotel). Otherwise, Toko Baru does a great falafel pocket (enough for two to share for only for a good cheap meal) and is only a 5 minute walk from the hotel.
- Check out ethical Guatemalan brands like Hiptipico
What is the best time to visit Antigua Guatemala?
There’s a dry season and a wet season.
- The dry season is November to April
- West season is April to November
Even in the wet season, it only seems to rain for a few hours a day. Therefore, you could visit comfortably all year round.
Why the Good Hotel is a great choice when staying in Antigua Guatemala
If you’re like us and feel that travel & tourism can benefit both the tourist and the local community to which you are visiting, The Good Hotel is somewhere you need to keep in mind.
Apart from its stylish interior and modern look, seeing the smiles of the local women who work there makes the trip worthwhile.
Staying at a place like the Good Hotel is encouraging the best side of tourism, and these kinds of movements should be supported.
>> Click here to book your stay with The Good Hotel Antigua (direct from their site)
Alternatively, you can choose one of these other great sustainable hotels for your Guatemala vacation:
- Hobbitenango near Antigua
- La Fortuna Hotel, Lake Atitlan
- Laguna Lodge, Lake Atitlan
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