Lost in Paradise!

Guest: G and G (windsor locks, ct)
Date of Stay: 07/18/11 Review Submitted: 01/22/12

This review is a bit late since we stayed with Lee and Elaine back in July, 2011 but it has taken us this long to get through our separation pangs. We are happily planning a return this summer so we are able to commit to electronic communication, our review with a less depressed outlook. In short, TERRIFIC does not begin to describe our experience at their property. These are two people who have their act together: VERY hospitable, friendly and accomodating.The location lends itself to an incredible relaxed atmosphere. You can be as active or not to your hearts content and Lee and Elaine are there to assist with local information, advice, guided tours and FUN cocktail hours. On a scale of 1 to 10 this an ELEVEN! G and G Windsor Locks, CT. (USA)

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, pet owners, tourists without a car, adventure seekers, age 55+, sightseeing.

Best Value on the Lake

Guest: Brian (Guatemala City)
Date of Stay: 12/24/11 Review Submitted: 12/30/11

I just spent a wonderful Christmas vacation with two friends and my dog at the house. Elaine and Lee are wonderful hosts, very laid back, and can assist you with anything needed around the lake. I traveled with two friends and my dog -- and the house is the perfect retreat for spending relaxing days at the lake. The house is cozy with many benefits: private garden with amazing views of the volcanoes, kitchen is outside on the covered terrace, and kayaks available for day trips. The house is a short walk to the main dock in town with several options for eating/drinking. Or, a short boat ride to other nearby towns. You can choose days for exploring or days to be lazy in your private area. I will definitely return to this house and Santa Cruz La Laguna on my next trip to the lake!

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, romantic getaway, pet owners, tourists without a car, adventure seekers, age 55+, girls getaway, sightseeing, families with young children.

A relaxing retreat

Guest: Manuka (Fernie, BC)
Date of Stay: 10/24/11 Review Submitted: 11/30/11

We thoroughly enjoyed our week long stay at Elaine & Lee's accommodation. Very helpful communication prior to our arrival; lovely outdoor kitchen and eating area (very novel if you come from Canada!); very accommodating of our 2 year old daughter. We loved the location - lots of safe hiking trails out the backyard with easy access to Mayan villages on either side of the property. Wonderful to be able to go for a paddle in the morning any time we wanted; swimming right off the dock. The list goes on. If you are looking to be right in the heart of a busy, tacky, touristy centre, then this is not your place. If you are looking for 5 star frills, look elsewhere. If you are looking to be in a tranquil setting with wonderful views of the lake and volcanoes, kayaking, hiking, and swimming at your disposal, and the opportunity to do your own thing, then this is an absolute must! And if you're wanting to explore other parts of the lake, this is very doable by boat. We recommend the village of San Juan La Laguna for a day's outing - check out the Women's Weaving Co-operative where they use natural dyes.

Recommended for:

Beautiful View but limited access to services

Guest: mjennings (wilmington nc)
Date of Stay: 06/23/11 Review Submitted: 06/30/11

This is a lovely little house but not appropriate for 3 persons. The kitchen sink is in the bedroom, the bathroom door does not shut so you do not have privacy if you have 3 persons in the home and the roof leaked in the second bedroom/shower room. Make sure you bring your own wine with you because the owner brought us to a place that only offered three choices of wine and they did not even have a cork just a piece of styrofoam. This place has great potential but a little more communication and a little less interest in trying to monopolize the food industry would go a long way. When the owner decided they wanted to charge you for an avocado off the tree the decision to leave this little piece of paradise was quickly made.

Owner response:We value feedback from each of our guests, and are glad to reply to the comments. We qualify each renter prior to booking to insure they are a good fit for our property. During the email exchange, we advise our renters that our casita is very small for 3 adults. We offered them an upgrade to a second bedroom and second bathroom at the time of their booking. Once they arrived, it was obvious that the second bedroom and bath would allow them more room, and they would enjoy more privacy. We offered them the upgrade again. They declined the offer. We met the renters in Panajachel personally, and made it clear that there are no stores and limited dining options in Santa Cruz. We personally took them shopping and recommended purchases based on their needs. We suggested wine and food needed to be purchased prior to departing for Santa Cruz. The village of Santa Cruz is rather remote and rustic. It is considered charming and tranquil by some, and remote and isolated by others. This is a matter of personal taste and style. The renters had reserved our casita for four nights, however after the first night we all agreed they would be happier somewhere else. They were only charged for the first night, and we assisted them in selecting another location for their remaining time. The avocado did not come from our tree, but was purchased at the market. We hope the balance of their time at Lake Atitlan and Guatemala was enjoyable.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, age 55+, sightseeing.

Great hosts, Cozy open air home, Gorgeous views!!!

Guest: Dino (Orlando FL)
Date of Stay: 11/13/10 Review Submitted: 05/18/11

Lee & Elaine are soo knowledgeable, helpful, and fun to talk with. I am fortunate to have shared time with them. The scenery is amazing from any angle! The weather is the best I have experienced! The price is a real deal. Thank you for opening your home to my dad, sister and I

Recommended for:Pet owners, tourists without a car, adventure seekers, sightseeing.

Exceptional

Guest: Albert (Los Angeles, CA )
Date of Stay: 02/16/11 Review Submitted: 03/26/11

This was an exceptional experience in every way ... exceptional lake, exceptional view of volcanoes, exceptional views from the house, exceptional living quarters and exceptional hosts, as well as the unique and picturesque Mayan villages around the lake. Lee and Elaine provided a lot of information prior to our arrival and were very helpful in suggesting ways to enhance our visit at the lake. Without reservation, we highly recommend staying at their house while exploring the lake.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, pet owners, tourists without a car, adventure seekers, age 55+, sightseeing, families with young children.

A Beautiful Place

Guest: Tim and Kathy (Silverthorne, CO)
Date of Stay: 02/24/11 Review Submitted: 03/10/11

We had a great week at Lake Atitlan and staying at this beautiful property was the best decision that we made. Lee and Elaine were extremely helpful in providing a local's insight into the area and the trips that we took with Lee were perfect introductions to life in this part of Guatemala. Hiking, climbing, kayaking or just sitting on the patio watching the sun set over the volcanos and sipping a couple of Mozas with new friends. We hope to return soon- give Zip, Lacey and the Gato a scratch for us and hasta la vista!

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, romantic getaway, pet owners, tourists without a car, adventure seekers, age 55+, girls getaway, sightseeing, people with disabilities, families with young children.

Amazing, amazing experience.

Guest: nacawlf (Hendersonville, NC USA)
Date of Stay: 12/26/10 Review Submitted: 01/14/11

Amazing, amazing experience. Wonderful views, personalized attention, convenient to all the offerings in Santa Cruz as well as all that Lake Atitlan has to offer. Our group ranged in age from 2 to 65 and we all had an amazing time. If you are lucky enough to go and to get to stay here, be sure to pay for the all day tour of the lake with Lee, well worth every penny. The only negative thing about our whole experience was that we had to leave.

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, romantic getaway, pet owners, tourists without a car, adventure seekers, age 55+, girls getaway, sightseeing, people with disabilities, families with young children.

Great House, Great People, Great Views

Guest: Friends of Zip and Lacy (Philadelphia, PA)
Date of Stay: 12/30/10 Review Submitted: 01/11/11

The house has everything you would desire staying on Lake Atitlan, but the true gems are Lee and Elaine. They were very accommodating and huge resources about the area. We hiked to Solola with Lee which was amazing and they gave us several days worth of ideas for us to explore on our own. Thanks for the great stay!!!

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, tourists without a car, adventure seekers, sightseeing.

Honeymoon on Lake Atitlan

Guest: Kevin & Moe (Cleveland, OH)
Date of Stay: 08/09/10 Review Submitted: 09/14/10

My wife and I recently spent our honeymoon on Lake Atitlan and stayed at Lee and Elaine's place. We had a wonderful time getting away and we got to experienced a whole new culture in Guatemala. They are great hosts that are very well known and knowledgeable in the area and were always very helpful when needed. One night they even gave us some of their delicious homemade soup that Elaine made and also a jar of very fresh honey to use for the week. Overall we had a great time and wouldn't hesitate to recommend them to friends and family, and would certainly contact them again if we revisit the area. Even if you end up choosing another place or village to stay in.. Lee offers great tours of the lake that were by far the highlight of our trip and Elaine offers massages so be sure to get in contact with them! You won't be disappointed!

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, tourists without a car, adventure seekers, age 55+, sightseeing, families with young children.