PRICE:
Frommer's Very Highly Recommended

Just when it seemed that hoteliers had all but given up on the downtown area, up pops this gem. The hotel, like its sister hotel Plaza Santa Cruz in the Colchagua Valley, is known for its heavy dose of themed decor representing the various cultures and regions of Chile. Altogether it is a delightful oasis in bustling downtown, and its location provides visitors with more authentic Chilean urban surroundings and better access to historical attractions than Las Condes. The hotel was completely renovated in 2004, so everything is fresh and works properly. The guest rooms are very handsome, with a pared-down style colored in varying earth tones, and marshmallowy beds topped with crisp white duvets, soft lighting, and wide windows (that do not open). Because the hotel is located on a hectic street full of city buses lurching by, windows are double-paned and do the trick in keeping the noise out. Rooms are spacious enough for a couple of chairs and a small table, and suites are double the size, with a sofa bed for kids. The hotel has 12 floors and interior balconies that wrap around the main living area, atrium style. The name Hotel Galerias, or Gallery Hotel, comes from the hotel's local art shows in its lobby. A huge buffet breakfast is a hallmark of this hotel. Check their website for Internet deals that can drop the price of a double by $80 (£40).

Copyright: Excerpted from Frommer's Chile & Easter Island, 2nd Edition, (c) 2008, Wiley Publishing, Inc.

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