Heritage

Most of the region in which we specialise has a deep-rooted Spanish colonial history and this is particularly noticeable in its architecture. Today, many of these fine colonial era buildings have been converted into charming hotels which can be found right across Cuba, Guatemala and the Yucatan.

Some are simple and inexpensive, others superbly luxurious and very expensive; what all they share is a sense of place and history.

Haciendas

The Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico in particular is home to a selection of atmospheric hacienda hotels. Once at the heart of grand, old farming estates, for many years these haciendas lay abandoned and in a terrible state of disrepair before eventually being lovingly restored as beautiful, very individual and often incredibly luxurious hotels.

Tourist

Many hotels simply defy any specialist description as they are, well, just hotels. There is nothing wrong with that and, in many instances, they are the best option available or even, sometimes, the only option. These hotels can vary in size, style and standards but every hotel that we feature has been included for a good reason.

Rustic Hideaway

Away from the towns and cities, and usually located in remote countryside, rustic hideaways are largely self-explanatory and often the only available accommodation in the area. Where there is a choice, we try and feature accommodation that stands out from the alternatives, be it for any number of reasons such as great service, a sense of place or its awareness of the environment.

Small Beach

Many clients wish to end their holiday with time at the beach but prefer their accommodation to be small and unobtrusive. The Yucatan Peninsula has some great options at the likes of Tulum, Holbox and Isla Mujeres. For those travelling to Guatemala the recommended option is to cross over the border into neighbouring Belize. Cuba is the most problematic destination as the vast majority of hotels are All Inclusive. Even so, if you know where to look, there are a handful of suitable options.

Beach

For those who prefer their beach hotels with a wider range of facilities than most small properties can offer, or where there simply aren’t any small hotels, we feature a selection of mid-sized beach hotels in the Yucatan Peninsula that range from simple to deluxe but which are all blessed with beautiful, beachfront locations.

All Inclusive

Perhaps nothing divides holiday opinion more than All Inclusive hotels; some people love them, others loathe them. If you’re visiting Cuba, there are just a handful of beach hotels that are not All Inclusive while Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula offers just about every type of each hotel imaginable, including some world-class All Inclusive hotels. Where possible and practical, we try and stick to small and medium-sized properties rather than vast, impersonal resorts.

Lakefront

Although we most often associate rest and relaxation with the beach, there are opportunities in both Guatemala (Lake Atitlan & Lake Peten) & the Yucatan Peninsula (Laguna Bacalar) for visitors to either break or end their holiday with time swimming and relaxing at lakefront hotels.

Homestay

While this isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, staying in a private home can be a wonderfully rewarding experience, offering an insight into a country and a culture that you simply won’t find at a hotel. In Cuba, casa particulares are a cross between a B&B and a homestay and are a mainstay of the local tourism industry, in part as a result of the continuing shortage of hotel accommodation but also because of the warmth of the owners.

Under Canvas

For those clients looking for something a bit different, but without foregoing on comfort, there are options to sleep under canvas in Guatemala, be it as an overnight stay overlooking a volcano or as part of an organised hike through beautiful countryside from Antigua to Lake Atitlan.