PRICE:
Frommer's Very Highly Recommended

The Hotel Plaza is the only world-class hotel in the downtown area, and at press time the Plaza was undergoing an exhaustive $5-million renovation. The Plaza sorely needed a renovation if it was to continue promoting itself as a luxury hotel, but given the timing, I was unable to personally view anything other than a pilot room that, while attractive, does not meet the same level of luxury as the Ritz. Nevertheless, the price is far easier on the wallet, and the hotel's proximity to downtown attractions and the shops and cafes of the Lastarría Street area is a definite perk. During renovations, the Plaza will revamp its traditional, clubby decor with a cheerier, contemporary look (neutral tones and Pottery Barn-esque furnishings) that is clearly the decor of choice in the Santiago hotel industry today. The Hotel Plaza is located on bustling Avenue Alameda, with its frenzied pace of traffic, but behind the hotel lie the tranquil pedestrian streets of the Barrio París-Londres micro-neighborhood, and guest rooms have double-paned windows to muffle noise. The hotel has a long list of amenities, but note that their "spa" is really a fitness center with a sauna and massage services. The hotel's Bristol Restaurant has been lavished with national gastronomic awards. Check their website for updates, price fluctuations, and special deals.

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

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