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XELA PAGES GUATEMALAN NEWSLETTER 
http://www.xelapages.com/ 
Issue  #4,  February 19, 1998 
Current Subscriber - 652 
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Copyright 1998 By Tom Lingenfelter -- Xela Pages 

NOTE: This Newsletter is sent to subscribers, friends,and business  associates. This is NOT UCE or SPAM everyone on this list has contacted me in the past or subscribed to this newsletter. 

Xela Pages will NEVER provide its subscriber list to ANYONE. We respect the privacy of our readers.  If you 
would like to be removed from this newsletter list, send an email to: 

mailto:remove@trafficman.com 
======================================== 
New Web Address!!! 
Xela Pages now has it's own domain: 
http://www.xelapages.com/ 

Please visit and bookmark the site! 
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CONTENTS OF THIS ISSUE 
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1.  "La Playa Montericco"  Judy Kerr - Canada 
2.   Recommended Travel Guides 
3.   Travel to Cuba - Nancy Hoffman 
4.   Guatemalan Discussion Board Launched 
5.   Sponsor Information 
6.   Share your experience. 
7.   Publishing  & Advertising Information 

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1.  "La Playa Montericco" Judy Kerr - Canada 
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Ah Montericco, esta buena! 

It is a clean, black sand beach. The surf is heavy, so you must be carful if you swim. The weather is very warm day & night along with the water. The beach is great to walk on. 

I Strongly recommend reservations. 

Baule Beach hotel costs Q57 single, Q98 double & up to Q210 for 6 persons. The food is good, they stop taking orders for dinner @ 6:30pm. Breakfast starts early 6:30am I think. 

Kaiman Inn was full and the restaurant was overflowing at 7:30 p.m. It serves Italian food. 

Because we were unable to get reservations, we were stuck for accommodations and had to pay Q360 a night for a double at Johnny's Place, which was way overpriced. This was for a bungalow that slept 4 persons, had 2 bedrooms, a kitchen, and a few dishes.  The beds & bathroom were clean the shower was hot and had good water pressure. Outside each 2 bungalows there is a small clean, warm, pool to bath and take small swim in. It is right on the beach, which is the "saving grace". 

Johnny's Place does not serve dinner, but has breakfast & lunch. 

Our nieghbors were from Seattle and said the fish was good. Johnnys charged Q5 for 1/2 ltr of agua pura, Baule Beach charges Q3! 

Getting there was another adventure!! It took us 7 hrs. each way. - 4 buses and 1 launch. From Xela to Mazatenago, Mazate to Escuintla to Taxisco, to La Avenella and then a boat to Montericco. Depending on 
whether it was "chicken" bus or other the price was diff. Buses were totally packed with muchas gentes. All in all it cost us about Q35.00 each way. (Editors note: This trip could be done in less time with a little planning.) 

However it was all worth it to get away to the Ocean and the Heat, Heat, Heat. 

We ate dinner at NEptune, a very clean, quiet restaurant right behind our hotel. They serve Italian, shrimp, beef, other seafood Q15 - Q70. We had Brucetta for Q15, Italian salad w/dressing for Q15, and 1/2 portion (large enough) spaghetti no meat for Q16. Everything was delicioso - aah....Garlic Toast! This place also serves wine, beer, etc. 

Buenas Dias. 

Judy 
mailto:judyincanada@hotmail.com 

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2.  Recommended Travel Guides 
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The following is a listing of  five Guatemalan  travel guides, that in my opinion are some of the best.  Included is a link where you can read about these guides and buy them directly from the web using  Amazon.com.   You really should not visit Guatemala without picking up at least one, if not two of these guides. 
(URL may be too long, make sure you copy entire URL to find guides) 

Lonely Planet Central America : On a Shoestring (3rd Ed) 
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0864424183/trafficman 

Lonely Planet Guatemala, Belize & Yucatan LA Ruta Maya (3rd Ed) 
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0864424248/trafficman 

Rough Guide to Guatemala by Rough Guides, Mark Whatmore 
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0312113951/trafficman 

The Rough Guide to Guatemala and Belize (3rd Ed) 
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/185828189X/trafficman 

Fodor's Belize & Guatemala : The Complete Guide With Beaches, Maya Ruins and Dive Sites (1st Ed) 
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0679033092/trafficman 

To see all my recommendations goto: http://www.xelapages.com/guides/ 

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3.  TRAVEL TO CUBA by Nancy Hoffman 
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If you are thinking of traveling to Cuba, let me offer you a few travel tips: 
 

1.  Make hotel reservations IN ADVANCE  for Cuba - at least for the first night .   When you go through immigration, they will look to see that you have a pre-paid reservation or they will make you purchase an 
expensive hotel room before you can leave the airport. 

2.  Do as much research as possible before you go.  Tourism in Cuba is still in the beginning stage and there is not much info available about transportation, tour and accommodation options. 

3. Try to stay with a family in a "casa particular".  The average price per room is $25. per night. Well below hotel rates and more comfortable.  Check the internet bulletin boards for information, or contact me for info (email, phone, fax). 

4.  Bring US Dollars, especially 1's, 5' and 10's. You can change a small amount into Pesos, but most places only accept US Dollars. Better to have small denominations, and coins, as folks will expect tips and your change may be given to you in Pesos.  For example, to use a bathroom (even in an expensive hotel) will cost you $0.25 for 
the toilet paper whether you need it or not. 

5.  Bring toilet paper or kleenex with you! 

6.  Cuba (like Guatemala) has an airport departure tax of  $20.  - payable in US Dollars only. 

For more info and travel tips, 
Contact Nancy at: VISION - Servicios Turisticos 
3a. Avenida Norte #3  (next to SUBWAY) 
Antigua, Guatemala Tel/Fax: + (502) 832-3293 
mailto:ecovision@inter.net.gt 
http://www.cyberwebsite.com/vision 

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4.   Guatemalan Discussion Board Opens 
     http://www.trafficman.com/wwwboard/ 
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Xela Pages is launching a discussion board that we hope will help anyone thinking of traveling to Guatemala or 
Central America with their travel questions. 

If you have been to Guatemala in the past please come and share your experiences with others. 

If you have travel questions come by and post them I will make sure you get your answers. 

Thank you in advance for your participation! 

http://www.trafficman.com/wwwboard/ 

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3.  Share your experiences! 
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I am looking for people who would like to share their travel knowledge with my subscribers.  You do not have 
to be a professional writer, just someone who has an experience to share. 

Submit your travel experiences to: mailto:articles@trafficman.com 

Thank you! 

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5.  Publishing & Advertising Information 

Xela Pages Guatemalan Newsletter is published online from Quetzaltenango, Guatemala. 

This newsletter will be published at least once a month or more often as the situation warrants. 

If you would like to advertise in this newsletter send request to mailto:xela@trafficman.com Cost will be 
$5.00/issue - until further notice 

Have a great trip!! 

Tom Lingenfelter - Editor 
4 Calle 19-48, Zona 1 
Quetzaltenango, Guatemala 
+(502) 765-2072 
http://www.xelapages.com/ 
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