Antigua, Guatemala

The city of Antigua, Guatemala is among Guatemala's most beautiful. It is a culturally rich city that combines old-world architecture with modern amenities. You can stay in a four star resort, an Air B&B, or a hostel. All budgets can be accommodated here, and you will still be in a 5-10 minute walking distance of everything. Even if you don't spend a fortune on your accommodation, you'll still be in the perfect location compared to some other popular cities. It was once the capital of Guatemala, so it has historical significance. Guatemala City was relocated 40km away from the capital due to frequent volcanic eruptions. Colorful houses line the cobblestone streets, and you can see the luscious mountains and volcanoes from most places.

Antigua is easily accessible by plane and Uber. Depending on traffic, it takes about 2-3 hours to drive from the airport. It's a combination of one and two laned roads, but ask your hotel about the commute because traffic in Guatemala is no joke. My plan one night was to go to a Michelin-starred restaurant in Guatemala City, but I decided against it because it would take 4-6 hours of car rides to get there and back.

It is a landlocked jewel that embodies paradise, not the Caribbean city of the same name. Known for good eats and warm hospitality, this walkable city is not to be missed. Even when the city is flooded with vacationing locals on weekends, it maintains its charm. It was not difficult to find restaurants that accommodated my vegan diet, and there are many options available. With the exception of a few local mom-and-pop shops, most places I visited took credit cards. To shop with the local street vendors, you may need some walking around money. It is important to keep in mind that only $100 USD per room can be exchanged daily at local hotels. The exchange rate at my hotel was good, but make sure you have perfect dollars that are unbent and unwritten. More than half of the $50 USD I got went home with me. While I bought a lot of street food, the USD exchange rate was so good that I never broke the bank.

There are several markets to choose from if you enjoy shopping. Using some very fine fabric, the skilled artisans create beautiful handmade pieces. The weaving is intricate and the designs are unique. There are a variety of vendors in the main square, but the artisan market at the edge of town offers the best prices. Similar to a farmers market, you can buy directly from the artist and avoid middlemen markups. It's always nice to buy directly from the artist, you can even bargain a little. I really enjoyed my time visiting this city and I felt completely safe the entire time I was there.