Are prices expressed in U.S. Dollars?
Yes, all prices are expressed in U.S. dollars although you can pay with Quetzales at the current exchange rate. Use the currency calculator on our main page for exchange rates. [Top]
What term is the price expressed in?
Our short term rentals (less than I month) are expressed on a per night basis. Price per weeks are also available on the property description.
For longer rentals (mote than 1 month), the price is expressed on a monthly basis. [Top]
Are utilities included or extra?
In 99.9% of the cases utilities will be includes in a short term rental. A description of the included utilities is on the property description
For longer rentals (more than 1 month) the utilities are extra. The average cost for a family of 3 or 4 should be around $125.00 a month, more or less. This cost is for water, cable T.V. Internet garage removal & electricity. [Top]
How Can I reserve a property?
For short term rentals (less than 1 month) a deposit equal to total rent is required to reserve a property. Upon arrival you are required to pay the total amount of your stay. The deposit is refund is refundable within 2 days after your departure unless there is damage to the furniture or equipment.
For longer rentals (more than 1 month) a deposit equal to the first month’s rent is required to reserve a property. The deposit or balance or is reimbursed within 4 weeks after your departure when all utility bills are paid. A copy of the bills and accounting will be sent to you by e-mail. [Top]
What happens if I cancel my reservation?
If you cancel your reservation 60 days prior to the occupancy date, the deposit will be refunded in full.
If you cancel your reservation 30 days prior to the occupancy date, 50% of the deposit will be refunded.
If you cancel your reservation within 30 days of the occupancy date 25% of the deposit ill be refunded.
All refunds will include the return fee at your cost. [Top]
What payment forms do you accept?
For reserve deposit you can pay by credit card, pay pal or wire transfer. An extra 5% will be added if you pay by credit card or pay pal. If you pay by wire transfer you must pay $25.00 for receiving bank’s fees.
For rents, you can pay the following ways: cash, traveller cheques, cheques from a U.S. bank, credit card, or pay pal. If you pay through a cheque from a U.S. bank you would be required to pay 10 days in advance as local banks take time to clear them. Credit cards and payments through pay pal will have the extra charge show above [Top]
Can I withdraw money from my credit/ debit card?
There are several ATMs in town. As a rule, you can get $250.00 a day from the machines or banks. [Top]
Can I cash a personal cheque from my U.S. bank account?
No. Cashing cheques through a Guatemalan bank is not possible. [Top]
How do I get my deposit or balance reimbursed or refunded?
Reimbursments or refunds will be made through wire transfers. Pay pal or U.S. cheque by regular mail.
Any returning fees will be at your expense. [Top]
How do I get access/key to my rental property?
We understand that a lot of flights arrive late in the evening, and our office is generally closed around 6:00 pm Monday to Friday, and 4:00 pm on weekends. If you choose to use our shuttle service, the driver will have the house keys, and the exact location of the home, and he will deliver you directly to the home. You can pass by the office the following day to make payments and other arrangements as required. [Top]
What is the cost for your shuttle service?
The fee depends on your arrival time. If you arrive between 5 am and 9 pm, the cost is $32.00 for up to 6 people. If you arrive on a different time, the cost is $45.00 for up to 6 people. If you party has more people you will need an extra shuttle. To reserve a shuttle, you must provide your flight number and expected arrival time. No shows will be charged in full. The shuttle fee must be paid at the time of pick up. [Top]
Do I need to sign a lease / contract in order to rent a property?
A private rental contract must be signed for short term rentals (les than 1 month). For longer periods, a rental contract drawn by a lawyer must be signed. Legal fees are pad by the tenant and varies depending on the term and rental price. A contract for a $500.00 home for 6 months is approximately $75.00 [Top]
Where do I pay my rent?
All rental payments will be made at our office by the renter. A receipt will be issued by our office for your records. We don’t make house calls to collect rents. [Top]
Where do I pay my utility bills?
An information sheet & map will be provided upon entering your rental property with the information on where to make your payments and how to get around. [Top]
Do I need to connect the services or transfer them into my name?
No. Water, electricity, telephone & cable T.V. are connected and working and they remain in the name of the homeowner. All bills except for water service will arrive at your home. [Top]
Is Internet available in Antigua Guatemala?
Yes in the Central Antigua area. Some areas will not support the service. Generally you can hire an immediate connecting for $45.oo a month. Several dozen Internet cafes are also available in almost every street of Antigua if you decide not to bring your PC. [Top]
Do all homes have telephone service?
Most homes have telephones, but the LD charges may be quite high to call outside of the country. We highly recommend that you purchase a cell phone when you arrive, as they are very inexpensive. Your LD calls are remarkably cheap due to the competition from local providers. Your current cell phone can’t be set up to interact with the local providers system. If you set you current cell phone to roaming, be prepared for a shocking bill, so buy one here. Generally, you can resell the phone when you leave, or leave it with our office, and we can resell if you and send you the moiety with your deposit refund. If you have a vonage system, you can bring that with you as well. Just be sure you bring a router. We have a vonage phone line at our office that you can use during working hours at no cost. [Top]
How do I get around Antigua?
Antigua is a small town and you can walk anywhere is no more than 20 minutes. Tuk tuk (3wheel moto taxis) will take you around for a couple of dollars. Taxis or horse carts are also available. As a rule renting a car is a waste of money. If you need to go to Guatemala City, it’s cheaper to hire a shuttle (or if you are really adventurous, you can take a bus). If you want to make a side trip to the lake or some other area that can easily be done with a shuttle service. [Top]
If we have missed something, please let us know, and we will get you the answer
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