Can i bring my laptop when i travel to guatemala?

Question

Im about to travel to travel to guatemala and i need to know if its okay to take my laptop to guatemala, has anybody gone to guatemala and took their laptop?

Answer 1

ya bring it if you wanna get it stolen!  3rd world countries aren't the places to flash expensive things!!

Answer 2

i think its OK to bring your laptop, but since its a pretty poor country only use it in your hotel, don't show it to many people.

Guatemala is not unsafe, but if you show how rich you are, you could get mugged!

Answer 3

Yes, bring your laptop. If it is wireless-capable, you will find free internet access in many places in Guatemala. I've used mine to connect at the airport in Guatemala City, and all over Panajachel, near Lake Atitlan, for example. Also, NASA's Blue Marble project and Google Earth both have decent map and aerial photograph coverage of Guatemala. If you have a GPS unit attached, you will have the best mapping solution in the country, since printed maps are very hard to find in Guatemala.

Answer 4

I pulled this quote off the British Embassy's website:

"Visiting businessmen are at less risk if they stay in international class hotels in the capital, in Zone 9, 10 or 13.  However, tourists are targeted by criminals, especially those arriving at the airport and traveling towards hotels in the business areas of Guatemala City.  The business areas are seeing an increase in crime, with those carrying laptops and mobile phones especially liable to robbery.  You are strongly advised to use only metered taxis, preferably those recommended by hotels."

That being said, you can bring your laptop, as long as you don't plan on carrying it over your shoulder as you exit the airplane/airport.  If you are keeping your laptop hidden/out of sight you should be fine.  I wouldn't recommend taking it, but if you must,  keep it out of sight.  When you arrive at the airport there will be hoards of people, and I mean hoards, standing on an upper level balcony looking down on the arriving passengers.  Most are family members of the arriving passengers, but be aware that some are lookouts for theifs/bandits.  

I've spent a few months in Guatemala and never had a problem.  From what I can tell, most of the petty crime occurs in the tourist areas Antigua, Panajachel, and Tikal area and on the public transportation aka "Chicken Buses."  (Personally, I would recommend staying off these buses at all costs.  While these buses can be cheap and a great cultural experience, it can also be very dangerous.)  The more serious crimes against tourists, which aren't too common, occur on the roads to these locations or while leaving the airport.

Answer 5

UMMMMMM.............I THINK YOU SHOULDN'T BRING YOUR LAPTOP FOR SAFETY BECAUSE YOU'LL NEVER KNOW WHAT I'LL HAPPEN TO IT!! GOOD LUCK ANY WAYS!!!

Answer 6

By all means, BRING YOUR LAP TOP!!!  Guatemala may not be the safest place on Earth, but if you take your precautions and common sense, stay away from dangerous area and take care of yourself, you´ll have NO problem whatsoever.  You´ll be amazed when you get here, the city is quite developend and big, and if you take your precautions, you´ll have no safety problems and you´ll feel pretty safe.

Answer 7

You can, but as a guatemalan person i only recomend you to bring here if you are going to work. And please, don´t exhibit the laptop in the airport or in public areas, because it can be stolen.

No matter what other people said, there is a gang that operate in the airport and they check for tourists with "value objects" (a lap top is included) that can be stolen.

If you take a taxi, you will be assault almost for sure. Maybe if you take the transportation for a hotel you can feel somehow safe, but don´t use it on the streets please!