![]() They do not allow alcohol or meat (posted on their website, fair enough), and they don't have a coffeepot in their communal kitchen. So the clues were there, and I should have trusted my gut. I ended up making a reservation anyway not because I wanted a cheap room or some ethereal experience but because I wanted to stay with my friends who had already booked there, and I thought for sure I'd at least get a good night's sleep. I was wrong about the sleep - it was very noisy and I didn't sleep well at all. I also expected the ability to maintain good hygiene, but without soap at all of the sinks I had to carry my own around, which was a real hassle and could be a big problem if other guests are not doing it. Bathrooms are bad enough in this part of the world not having soap is my opinion is just not acceptable. The other thing to mention is that the owners seem to request all of their guests to shop for them before coming to Kaivalya, and they will reimburse you. I have no problem with this as long as the items truly are not readily available for them to get on their own since shopping and packing for others before an international trip is not convenient. We were asked to bring gf foods (flour, etc), which of course we did. But when we got to Guatemala we quickly found two places where they could have bought the exact same items - same brand even. One of these stores was a 15 minute boat ride across the lake, very convenient to Kaivalya in my opinion, especially since the shop owner said she does special orders for locals. When we mentioned this to Kaivalya they indicated they were aware of it. ![]() ![]() Apparently it is more convenient to have a guest pack 10 lbs of flour around the world than it is for them to travel across the lake. I have stayed in many remote places with very simple accommodations and lack of access to basic goods, so don't misinterpret that as the source of my displeasure. I have traveled enough to know what I can expect and to adjust my choices accordingly. I stayed one night at Kaivalya then moved to a blissfully quiet, clean and beautiful place just down the street, right on the lake (Jinava). ![]() The good night's sleep and wine on the patio more than made up for my forfeited deposit! I don't mean to blast Kaivalya or its owners, and I'm sure it is great for some people (who carry their own soap). ![]()
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