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Best Hotel Bets

by Frommers Travel Guides
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    The Best Splurge Hotels

  • Grand Hyatt Santiago (tel. 2/950-1234; www.hyatt.cl): Yes, the Ritz-Carlton opened recently, but the Grand Hyatt's $10-million renovation and sexy, glamorous new look puts the hotel in a league of its own. Service is impeccable, the spa to die for, and their trademark spacious rooms have dynamite views of the Andes. The downside? Only a mall is in walking distance, but then cab rides to El Bosque take less than 5 minutes.

  • Hotel del Mar, Vi?a del Mar (tel. 32/250-0800; www.hoteldelmar.cl.): Vi?a's new Sheraton pales next to the classic Hotel del Mar, with its central location, regal Greco-Roman decor, and Monte Carlo-style casino. Best of all, everything's within reach, including the beach, just a hop across the street. For families, there's a children's center, and proximity to kid-pleasing carriage rides and ice cream stands.

  • Casa Higueras, Valparaiso (tel. 2/657-3950; www.hotelcasahigueras.cl): Ahhhh, is there anything more beguiling than gazing out at Valparaiso from the Casa Higueras? Clinging to a hillside above the emblematic city, this brand-new boutique hotel has it all: gorgeous decor, luxurious bathrooms, views, service, gourmet cuisine, and the only hotel swimming pool in town.

  • Hacienda Los Lingues, near San Fernando (tel. 2/431-0510 in Santiago; www.loslingues.com): Step back in time to the 17th century with a visit to one of Chile's oldest hotels, located in the rural heartland of the Central Valley south of Santiago. Los Lingues has been in the same family's hands for more than 400 years, and each venerable room has been lovingly and individually decorated with personal touches such as family antiques, photos, and other collectibles. The hotel is old-fashioned luxury -- keep in mind that this is an antique property, not a high-end contemporary resort.

  • Clos Apalta Casitas, Santa Cruz (tel. 72/321803; www.closapalta.cl): Nestled on a gentle slope high above the expansive Apalta Valley, these four deluxe "casitas" at Clos Apalta's winery in the Colchagua Valley are some of the country's most exclusive. Each secluded, one-room cottage is pared-down yet sophisticated, and an adjoining deck provides what is certainly the best view from any lodging unit in Chile's wine country. You'll wince at the price, but horseback riding, gourmet meals, and a bottle of Chile's finest wine is included in the package.

  • Hotel Explora in San Pedro de Atacama and Hotel Explora Salto Chico in Torres del Paine (tel. 2/206-6060 in Santiago; www.explora.com): Few hotels have generated as much press in Latin America as the two all-inclusive Explora lodges in San Pedro de Atacama and Torres del Paine. One-of-a-kind locations have helped, of course, but great service, cozy rooms with out-of-this-world views, interiors that are equally elegant and comfortable, and guided outdoor trekking, horseback riding, and biking excursions are what really put these hotels above par. The lodges were designed by several of Chile's top architects, built of native materials, and decorated with local art.

  • Hotel Antumalal, Pucon (tel. 45/441011; www.antumalal.cl): This low-slung, Bauhaus-influenced country inn is one of the most special places to lodge in Chile. Located high above the shore of Lake Villarrica and a sloping, terraced garden, the hotel literally sinks into its surroundings, offering a cozy ambience and an excellent view of the evening sunset. A warm welcome and a room with no lock are all part of making you feel at home. The inn has outstanding cuisine, too.

  • Hacienda Tres Lagos (tel. 2/333-4122 in Santiago; www.haciendatreslagos.com): Nestled near the southwest corner of spectacular Lake General Carrera, this estancia-style resort has a lake -- and beach -- of its own. Accommodations vary from hotel suites in the main lodge to family-oriented, independent caba?as to romantic yet very modern luxury apartments, but all share the lakefront view of Lago Negro and the Patagonian Andes beyond, and all are finely decorated with great attention to detail. As befits its location, it offers plenty of outdoor activities on foot, horseback, boats, or further afield to the Tamango Nature Preserve to try to glimpse the endangered Huemul deer.

  • Hotel Jose Nogueira, Punta Arenas (tel. 61/248840; www.hotelnogueira.com): Originally the home of one of Punta Arenas's wealthiest families, the Nogueira offers the chance to spend the night in a historic landmark, the principal rooms of which have been preserved as a museum to give visitors a look at the outlandish luxury that must have seemed dramatically out of place in the Patagonia of the early 1900s. The upper floors have been converted into handsome, classically designed rooms that come with marvelously high ceilings. The mansion's glass-enclosed patio now houses the hotel's excellent restaurant, La Pergola, and the cellar is now an evening pub.

  • Concepto Indigo, Puerto Natales (tel. 61/413609): To say this former backpackers' hangout has been transformed is a major understatement. It's a little too big to call it a boutique hotel, yet it is a jewel indeed, from top-floor whirlpool and sauna to the clean-cut intimacy of the rooms, accessed through a spider's web of eucalyptus, black steel, and concrete walkways. While it also has the finest views of the Last Hope Sound and glaciers beyond, it's the most convenient place for a stroll into town. The previous, rickety backpackers' haunt -- still charmingly clad in weather-beaten shingles -- now boasts a very contemporary ground-floor restaurant and second story lounge in airy, pale woods.

    The Best Moderately Priced Hotels

  • Hotel Orly, Santiago (tel. 2/231-8947; www.hotelorly.cl): My all-around favorite for reasonable prices; an absolutely ideal location near the Metro, shops, and restaurants; cheerful service; and coziness. Like the Vilafranca (below), this former mansion has rooms of varying sizes, so book accordingly.

  • Vilafranca Petit Hotel, Santiago (tel. 2/232-1413; www.vilafranca.cl): Santiago's hectic pace slows down when you step into this delightful B&B. Steeped in French Proven*ccedil;al decor, this former home and the city's newest boutique hotel is economically priced and a cozy place to stay, but some doubles are tight.

  • Hotel Monterilla, Vi?a del Mar (tel. 32/297-6950; www.monterilla.cl): There are a plethora of mid-range lodging options in Vi?a, but only this hotel has fresh, contemporary decor. It's also family-run and personable, unlike most traveler-weary hotel owners in this resort town. The hotel is tucked away on a street just 2 blocks from the beach.

  • El Puesto, Puerto Rio Tranquilo (tel. 2/196-4555; www.elpuesto.cl): One of Patagonia's top places to stay is this three-room boutique hotel in tiny Puerto Rio Tranquilo, on Lake General Carrera. While not directly on the lakeshore, family-run El Puesto is the perfect place to relax after a day of wilderness activities, from hiking on glaciers, visits to the beautiful Marble Cathedral and Chapel in the lake, to soaring through forest canopies. The squarish, contemporary building itself is built in native woods, with furniture upholstered in white combining to create a cozy, light atmosphere.

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