Feb-2013
Guatemala City
The capital doesn’t seem attractive from what we can read on the net, and we can not tell you more about the city as we only stayed one night. We booked the hostel for one night for practical reasons (to take our flight the next morning). It was the most expensive of all hostels we have stayed in Guatemala, but it provided a good service for backpackers wishing to travel to the airport. The manager warned us about safety in the city and not to take handbag with us, or identity documents. According to his persistent remarks we did not take too much risk and we stayed in the area of the hostel to do some shopping before leaving the next day.
HOW TO GET to Guatemala City from Panajachel?
There are four shuttles per day from Panajachel to Guatemala City (6am, 9:30am, 12pm and 4pm). The fare is 175Q and there is no way to negotiate : all agencies apply the same rate.
AN ADDRESS TO SLEEP in Guatemala City BEFORE YOU GET TO THE AIRPORT
Quetzalroo Hostel
Its main advantage is its location not too far from the airport and especially the service that will take you there for free and at all hours. The hostel is run by a Guatemalan who has traveled a lot. The hostel is more like an apartment and is not particularly beautiful or comfortable, but there is a good atmosphere anyway. Backpackers get together in the common room and the hostel offers activities, like going out for eating or going out. Two team members from the hostel come with you for the dinner and trips outside for safety reasons. We were there on a Saturday evening, and the team brought us to a restaurant not far away to eat pancakes and later in the evening we went to two dance bars. That was really good fun 
This hostel is a great place where you will feel safe when inside and when going out with the team !
A question ? Other tips to add ?
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The city has a some museums, maybe Museo miraflores would be interesting to see.
And probably paseo cayala would worth a check. Paseo cayala is safe enough I would say but a bit far from the city.
But it is true, there is not much to do in the city and it is very dangerous if you compare it to the rest of the country. Nice to hear you had fun.