El Meson de Maria — Hotel in Sacatepéquez

Hotel Mesón de María presents itself as a charming colonial-style property, complete with rustic wooden beams, carved furniture, and quaint courtyards where breakfast is served. At first glance, it feels like a step back in time — intimate, historic, and evocative of Antigua’s architectural character. The early check-in at 2 p.m. was a thoughtful gesture, suggesting attentive hospitality.||Yet, beyond its nostalgic allure, the experience falls short in comfort and upkeep.||Rooms & Comfort||The guest rooms are undeniably small compared to other accommodations in the area. With only a single window opening into the courtyard, ventilation is poor, and without air conditioning, the space quickly becomes stuffy. While staff provided a fan upon request, the lack of climate control is a serious drawback, particularly in warmer months.||The decor leans heavily on dark wood and heavy furnishings, which, while consistent with the colonial aesthetic, contribute to a sense of heaviness and reduced airiness.||Bathroom Condition||The bathrooms, unfortunately, are in urgent need of repair and maintenance. Peeling paint, visible mold on the walls, mildew-stained grout, and crumbling plaster around the shower area not only detract from the atmosphere but raise concerns about hygiene and health. For guests with allergies or respiratory sensitivities, this environment is far from ideal. The wear and neglect here are impossible to overlook.||Value for Money||At just over $100 USD per night, the hotel positions itself in a mid-tier bracket. However, when compared to motels or boutique hotels in the United States at a similar price point, the disparity in upkeep and comfort is significant. What you’re paying for here is location and ambiance — not modern comfort or well-maintained facilities.||Atmosphere & Amenities||While the courtyards are undeniably charming and offer a serene spot to enjoy breakfast, the overall hotel feels under-occupied and eerily quiet, almost as though much of it has been forgotten by time. For some, this might enhance the sense of escape. For others, it underscores a lack of vibrancy and upkeep.||⸻||Verdict||Hotel Mesón de María has undeniable charm and a beautiful colonial framework, but its lack of maintenance, poor ventilation, and inadequate bathroom conditions overshadow the appeal. At this price point, one expects far better upkeep...

Spacious room with very little noise.

1. Shower and wash basin taps took an extortionately long running time to produce hot water.
2. Ladies hairdryer inoperative and not repaired or replaced.
3. Soap dispenser broken and not replaced
4. Door shut at nightfall and not being told of this security proceedure, it was difficult to establishing hotel exact position on returning in the dark from dining out.
5. Breakfast somewhat of a disaster namely:- no toaster, no egg waiter no cereals, extremely limited choice, no cold meat cheese etc. Had to plead to obtain fried egg and told that was a favour for that morning and similar service would not be available next morning. Coffee & fruit juice together with yoghurt passable but limited choice again. Net result, we decided against a second breakfast at this hotel and booked in at hotel La Posada don Rodrigo, where the choice was far superior, this despite the fact that we had to pay for this ourselves. Result was we could not face a second breakfast at this hotel, the worst on out two and half week holiday throughout Central America, we booked in for breakfast at hotel La Posada don Rodrigo where the choice was far superior and only less than 5 minute walk away, despite having to pay extra for...

The room I stayed in was located at the end of the property on the first floor. It smelled moldy, so I left the windows open while I went out for dinner and drinks. When I returned, the mold smell seemed worse. I woke up coughing and sick. I traveled back to the US that morning and by the time I arrived home, I had a rash and was vomiting. I went to the doctor and was told that I had mold poisoning. I immediately contacted Meson de Maria and provided documentation. They stated they would refund my stay. It's now two months later and both agents for Meson de Maria, Maya Beteta and Silvia Figueroa, who promised me the refund, still have not issued it. No one is responding to my emails. I reported this to Bookings.com who booked this hotel for me. They sent emails to Meson as well. Very disappointed. My friends typically stay at this hotel once a month when they visit from Lake Atitlan. Apparently other rooms do not have mold. My friends are now never going back to Meson de Maria, and neither are friends who visit Antigua often. Its sad that Meson de Maria would chose to loose so much business over $60, for a moldy room which they...