Just returned from two weeks in Antigua. I stayed at The Cloister, a remarkable 16th century old colonial. It has been completely redone and has seven special rooms. My room was exceptionally large (considering I was staying alone) with a fireplace that was set every night. The room was attractively decorated and spotless. Most of the rooms are spaced around a beautiful garden with hanging ferns and flowers. There is a fountain and many birds. It was a wonderful place to sit and read or visit. Breakfast is included. One could have almost anything they wanted and it was delicious. The Cloister is perfectly situated; almost directly in the center of town, yet it is very quiet within the walls of the hotel. Around the corner are two great restaurants, up the street is the famous La Merced Church and shopping is everywhwere. The woman (American) who owns The Cloister is on the premises and is hands on the daily running of the hotel. Most of the staff have been there for years and they are extremely pleasant and helpful. I am already thinking of returning to Antigua and one of the biggest draws is to stay at The Cloister again.

My husband and I are very familar with Antigua and have stayed in many beautiful hotels within Antigua. The Cloister Bed and Breakfast is the most tranquil.

The Cloister is a well run home with a gracious hostess. The staff is exceptional with impeccable timing. We had a breakfast of our choice, in the place of our choice, every morning. Returning to our room after breakfast we would find it clean and in order. In the afternoons we would take a nap, go out and return to find our bed made and the room back in order. In the evening when we would return the bed would be turned down and a fire laid waiting in readiness. This all seemed to happen with the passing of a wand.

In the court yard honey suckle climbed upward while the ferns cascaded ten feet to the floor with their tips dancing on the tile. Just sitting in the corridor is a pleasure. If you look carefully you will see orchids and stone elephant bowing towards the fountain.

The rooms are all beautiful they all come with a fireplace, books an excellent bed, ironed cotton sheets and ceilings that are reaching for the sky. I took a peek at all the rooms, they are all beautiful and comfortable.

The living room has many interesting books on the Maya and the city of Antigua. It is the perfect room to meet others or curl up with a good book, which there are no shortages of at the Cloister.

The Cloister is a piece of artwork you can stay in.

This was my third trip to Antigua, but my first stay at The Cloister B&B. The B&B was recommended by our Spanish Language school, Proyecto Lingüístico Francisco Marroquín [PLFM, excellent school]. There was a student discounted rate of $500/wk at The Cloister.

The Cloister is a small B&B with ~6-7 rooms around one large, and one small courtyard. The staff is small and very attentive. The grounds are meticulously groomed, and beautiful with native flowers. I did not try the breakfast, given that our classes started at 8am sharp, and breakfast was at 7:30-7:45, and was made to order, so the choice was to wolf food down, or be late to classes.

Some of the rooms face the street, and I suspect are the discounted student rooms, as the street noise on a Friday night gets pretty loud. I would NOT want to have the room on the West side of the B&B, which fronts the main road that party-goers travel on. Our room was on the South side, and the noise was not bothersome, as the walls are probably two feet thick, and there are solid wooden shutters, and we faced a side street. If I return with my wife [came with my son], I would pay extra for the rooms buried in the inner courtyards. There is one large suite with a nice living room. All rooms have fireplaces, but the student rates don't include regular firewood, apparently. You get all the lemonade, hibiscus tea, and purified water you want.

If you are allergic to dogs, you might not want to go, as their two poorly groomed dogs roam the property, and I saw one leave a present on the carpet. They warn you that one is grouchy, and they aren't kidding, two of us were nipped.

They will do your wash for only 50 quetzales, so if I returned, I could probably get by with a carry-on piece of luggage for two weeks.

The location is PERFECT for exploring Antigua. It is directly under the arch, between La Merced, and the Central Plaza.

I would strongly recommend the B&B. It's minor glitches are outweighed by the beauty, service, and location. I will try to upload some pictures, if I can get the resolution down.

"The Cloisters" B&B in Antigua Guatemala is lovely. Large, airy and comfortable rooms, big tastey breakfast, nice bathrooms, and all housed in a traditional colonial. Most of the rooms are located around a tranquil courtyard where complete with beautiful gardens and overstuffed chairs to enjoy a good book or relaxing moment. I never met the owners, but the staff was very conceintious and took great care to make sure every detail of our stay was taken care of.