Customer Reviews

Guatemala guide

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I first bought a copy of "Guatemala Guide" preparing for a trip in 1987. Of all the (limited) sources available, Glassman's guide stood out as a true portrait of the people and cities, not the horrid tourist guides that point you to the popular hotels and towns and ignore the history and culture....which a traveler (not a tourist) wants to experience. I wrote Mr. Glassman after the trip to compliment him and pass along a few updates, and he wrote back a warm letter, explaining he has a home in Panajachel, and lives part of the year in Guatemala, which explains his in-depth knowledge of the country. He has produced updates to the book through the years, which I have purchased for arm chair readings, as well as return trips. The 97 update is the best ever. Also pick up his "Costa Rica Guide" which is an excellent book to a far-too touristy spot.

I just bought last week the newly revised Paul Glassman *Guatemala Guide* that is part of the "Open Road" series. I was very disappointed --particularly because I had been waiting for its release date since January. It has larger print which translates to less info per page than the "Rough Guide" or "Lonely Planet" series. It was more superficial in terms of presenting/explaining history, culture, traditions, sites, and in fact, omitted places discussed in the "Rough Guide" or "Lonely Planet" books. Glassman apparently lives in Antigua, but it didn't feel like an insiders guide to me. He does, however, list some hotels that were not mentioned in the other guides--nonetheless I don't think anyone goes to Guatemala for the hotels. My advice, invest in another guide book.

Glassman's guides to the hotels is crucial to some tourists and business people, especially if you're not planning to stay in a downscale establishment and might actually expect to find a working shower, private bathroom, and a restaurant.

Though many people coming to Guatemala aren't interested in upscale establishments, they do exist, and Glassman outlines them in a relatively no-nonsense fashion. For example, Pension Bonifaz in Quetzaltenango is the best hotel in town. It's is also where anyone flying in and out of Xela must go for pickup to the town airport.

There are other guides, but I wouldn't dismiss Glassman's guide out of hand. We live in Quetzaltenango, and run a Spanish language school there.

Glassman's book is packed with lots of useful and hard-to-get information on sites off the beaten track, as well as on more familiar tourist stops. It is quite comprehensive. This guide made our Guatemala trip more enjoyable and saved us lots of time we'd have spent in aimless wandering. Even my Guatemalan friends used the book's advice liberally, and they weren't disappointed.

Paul Glassman knows Guatemala. In his most recent edition (10th Edition) Glassman gives you a trustworthy, reliable guide. This guide is especially useful for those who are going to spend more that a few days in Guatemala, for his town to town coverage is the best in print today. His explanation of Guatemala's history, people though succinct, were enlightening. His review of accommodations, restaurants, transportations, tips and much more are both practical and accurate. I was especially impressed by his very readable "Short History" section, as well as his chapter "Defending the Forest". . This would be a "highly recommended" travel guide but Glassman and/or Off Road Publishing short-listed the maps (14 small maps). It is one thing to read about "Fiestas in Chichicastenago" and another to know where it is. The index, though better over the last edition, still needs improvement (I.E. the cover states "more beaches" and there is not one listing in the index, or in table of contents, under "beaches") - the guide is 432 pages. Recommend