Amazing places for families to stay in Antigua, Guatemala
Antigua, Guatemala is a beautiful colonial city with a rich history and culture. It’s a popular tourist destination, and for good reason. There are plenty of things to see and do in Antigua, from exploring the city’s many ruins to hiking in the surrounding mountains. But to make the most of your visit, you’re going to need an amazing place to stay!
Antigua is a super popular destination for traveling families, so there are plenty of great places to stay. You can check out the map below to see everything available! But, if you’re planning a trip to Antigua with your family, you’ll want to find a place to stay that’s perfect for your exact needs. If you’re looking for that exact spot to stay that will absolutely make your trip, keep reading below the map for my hand-picked choices for the best places for families to stay in and around Antigua!
Hand-Picked Luxurious Antigua Stays for Families with Kids
Just because you’re traveling with kids doesn’t mean that you have to miss out on the little luxuries that make traveling the world enjoyable. Antigua is a city of history and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and these luxurious hotel accommodations reflect that fact, while making sure your family stays pampered from start to finish.
Hotel Casa Santo Domingo
This is quite possibly the most beautiful and luxurious hotel in Antigua, as well as being a piece of history in its own right!
Located in the heart of Antigua, there are no fewer than six separate museums on Santo Domingo’s grounds, as well as the ruins of the convent that gives it its name. And as if that weren’t enough, they also have spa facilities and a pool reserved for guests at the property.
Features:
- Luxurious and spacious rooms decorated with art from local artists
- Access to Spa and Sauna Services
- 6 Museums on-site
- One of Antigua’s top-rated restaurants
Porta Hotel Antigua
This family-friendly luxury hotel is located in a quiet neighborhood just a few blocks south of Antigua’s central park. Their grounds are gorgeous and filled with green spaces.
Apart from comfortable and clean rooms, Porta also features a heated outdoor swimming pool, access to on-site Spa facilities, and several choices for dining options.
Features:
- Luxurious and spacious rooms
- Heated Pool
- Spa Facilities
- Helpful and Courteous Staff
Budget-Friendly Hotel Options in Antigua for Families with Kids
While traveling in luxury has its perks, there’s something to be said for sticking to a budget as well. After all, you aren’t here to stay in your room! There’s a city to explore!
If you’d prefer to travel cheaply and well, check out some of these best options for budget-conscious families in Antigua.
Posada de San Carlos
This hotel was another of the locations featured in my Restaurants with a View article, and has a pretty decent view of Fuego Volcano from their terrace. However, for my kids, it was the play set in the courtyard that made this place a real winner.
Do note that this is a play set, not a true playground, so it is much better suited to younger kids, but if you’re looking for an affordable place with a laid back vibe and some built in fun for your kids, this one is a pretty solid choice.
Features:
- Restaurant with a terrace view
- Play set for kids
- Inexpensive rooms
- Located Close to the Central Plaza
Selina Antigua
Selina has much more of a hostel feel to it than the other options on this list, but don’t let that turn you off to it! According to Booking.com, Selina has an impressive 9.5 star rating from families traveling with kids.
Apart from just being a place to sleep, Selina also features free Wi-Fi, a game room with billiards and access to an outdoor pool, making it great for getting in some relaxation during your downtime.
Features:
- Swimming Pool
- Game Room
- Located Close to the Santa Catalina Arch
- Inexpensive lodgings
El Extranjero Hostal
El Extranjero Hostal is the least expensive stay on this list, but still manages to offer private rooms for families, free Wifi, and a really decent 8.1 rating on Booking.com with nearly 200 reviews.
While the rooms here are private, the terraces are shared with other guests and there are no “real” kitchen facilities, though there is a microwave and the hostal’s location puts several different eating options only minutes away.
If you are looking to save as much money as you can on sleeping accommodations in favor of getting out and exploring the city to its fullest, this is the place for you!
Features:
- Budget-Friendliest sleeping options
- Private rooms
- Public sitting areas
- Great location!
Apartment and Whole House Rentals For Families Spending a Longer Time in Antigua
When my family travels, we typically spend a minimum of a month in each location. And, in fact, that’s exactly what we did during our stay in Antigua. We lucked out on our stay, and ended up in a beautiful 3br apartment just a few blocks away from Antigua’s center, but unfortunately, I’ve been unable to find that same listing anywhere, recently.
However, Antigua is filled to the brim with amazing places to stay! Here are a few of the ones I would consider.
Beautiful, Small Apartment with Loft Bedroom
This is one of a series of apartments rented out by the same host. They don’t have as much of the colonial charm that Antigua is known for, but they look comfy and neat. Plus the kitchen area looks well-equipped!
This particular one is a bit small, with only a single bed and a sofa bed in the living area, but the trade-off is that it comes at a very reasonable price.
Features:
- Beautiful, modern interior
- Communal pool area
- Proximity to Casa Santo Domingo
Spacious 2 Bed / 2 Bath Apartment that Feels Like Home
If you’re looking for something a bit roomier, it’s worth looking for properties a bit farther away from Antigua’s center. After all, it gives you an excuse to make use of the city’s moto-taxis! (as if you needed an excuse!)
This particular house looks like a place that I would fall in love with, perfect for families spending a longer stretch in the area.
Features:
- Plenty of space to spread out
- Cozy, homey vibes
- Fully-equipped kitchen for making family meals
Larger Family? Rent a Whole Villa
One of the unfortunate truths of travel is that an increase in the number of travelers means an increase in the total cost of everything. Hotel rooms, in particular, can be a real pain point for larger families, especially if they want space to hang out together. Luckily, there are places like this.
This particular villa can host up to 8 guests in its 3 bedrooms, and features both indoor and outdoor gathering places for your family. It is a bit far from Antigua’s center, but as it offers a great amount of space at a good price, I think it’s definitely worth it!
Features:
- Room for larger families to stay
- Beautiful indoor communal spaces
- Large, open, green spaces outdoors
Other Unique Places to Stay in and around Antigua for Families with Kids
While it is definitely true that travelers don’t visit a new place to sit in their hotel, it definitely doesn’t hurt to find places to stay that are an experience in and of themselves. In places like Antigua, where there is something amazing in every corner of the city, there are some places to stay that decided to take things to the next level! Here are a few.
Posada de Don Rodrigo
For fans of Colonial-era architecture, staying at the Posada de Don Rodrigo is an incredible experience. The hotel is composed of parts of 3 separate colonial-era houses, and is decorated with authentic letters, paintings, and furniture from that period.
La Posada is also another of the terraces listed on my Restaurants with a View article, thanks to its excellent on-site restaurant with a terrace overlooking an absolutely stunning courtyard. Be sure to time your meals to coincide with the daily live marimba music and dancing for an extra treat!
Features:
- Luxurious and spacious rooms decorated with art from local artists
- Access to Spa and Sauna Services
- 6 Museums on-site
- One of Antigua’s top-rated restaurants
Finca Filadelfia Coffee Resort
I’ve actually covered Finca Filadelfia in an article of its own already, but if you haven’t had a chance to read it, let me mention it here.
Guatemala grows some of the best coffee in the world, and Finca Filadelfia is the farm where Antigua discovered its love for the magical brew. While the farm has been growing coffee for over 150 years, they’ve only been accepting guests at their resort for a fraction of that time. Even so, they have mastered the art of hospitality.
They only have a small number of rooms, but each of them are neat, comfortable, and come with access to Finca Filadelfia’s tours of the coffee-growing process! My entire family loved the coffee tour, from start to finish!
Features:
- Great Coffee! (and tours of the farm)
- Excellent on-site restaurants
- Concierge services to get you on some of the best tours in Antigua
Hobbitenango
In the hills outside Antigua, an unexpected journey to Middle Earth awaits. Complete with Hobbit-holes where the whole family can stay, Hobbitenango is an eco-park with a Lord of the Rings flair!
There are only a few hobbit-holes to rent, but even if you only visit for the day, there are still plenty of things to check out. From fairground games like mini-golf and archery, to daily feasts fit for a hungry hobbit, this is the perfect place for families who love Tolkien’s work.
Make sure you visit on the weekend to get access to their All-you-can-eat buffets!
My family, unfortunately, did not get the chance to visit during our stay in Antigua, but this is definitely on my list of places to see.
Next time, though. For sure.
Features:
- Hobbit Holes!
- Lord of the Rings inspired cuisine!
- Mini-golf tournaments, archery, ax-throwing and more!
- Gorgeous views of Mt. Doom…er… Volcan de Agua (and Fuego and Pacaya!)
Santo Cielo by Casa Santo Domingo
In my family, we really love getting into nature and camping, but we also like to get in a little luxury when we can. That’s why glamping locations like Santo Cielo are right up our alley!
Glamping combines the luxuries that are normally associated with 5-star hotels with the wonders of nature to create an experience unlike any other.
This particular glamping site was created by Casa Santo Domingo, so you know that they’ve nailed the luxury portion of the equation. And since Antigua is the “Land of Eternal Spring,” you can be pretty sure that Mother Nature is going to do her part, too.
Features:
- Luxurious glamping sites featuring Airstream campers, Shipping container small homes, or camping cabin sites
- Absolutely gorgeous surroundings in the hills outside Antigua
- Wifi, restaurants, and all the other perks not normally associated with camping
Antigua, Guatemala remains one of my favorite destinations among all the different places we’ve visited across the globe. With stunning vistas of volcanoes, lush green hills, and awesome colonial architecture and ruins, there’s something there for everyone.
No matter what your budget or needs, you’re sure to find an awesome place to stay in Antigua that’s a perfect fit for your family.
