Most popular places to stay when in Peru
In Peru, as everywhere else in the world, places to stay such as hotels, dormitories, youth hostels, and others are classified by stars up to a maximum up to five. They depend on the facilities available. Interestingly, in Peru in smaller towns, some of the best hotels offered are those that are run and managed by the government. They are called Hoteles Turistas. The price per night in such places is up to USD 100 and is relatively affordable. Expect the bill for hotel to include a 10% charge for the service in addition to the rate, and if you are staying less than sixty days, you may be exempted from the 19% sales tax imposed by the government if you present your travel documents. The majority of hotels offer an additional complimentary service of picking you up from and bringing you back to the airport, so make sure you present your travel details to the hotel reception before arrival.
From the large chain hotels, the main hotels in Peru are the Hilton Hotels Corporation that has two hotels in Lima and a resort located in the coastal are of Paracas. Marriott International also has one hotel in Lima and is currently building another one in Cusco and Trujillo. The price per night in such hotels ranges from USD 200 to USD 300 depending upon the type of the room. Needless to say, that you should expect an international standards for services and facilities offered here. Sheraton offers a less pricy option of roughly USD 150 per night and you can find good package deals if you are staying in the Sheraton in different cities during your travels. One-star hotels such as Hotel Jose Luis or Mont Blanc Grand Hotel would cost you not more than USD 30 per night; however, expect limited service and basic facilities.
When travelling to Cusco, you should expect to stay at least couple of days to be able to acclimate to the very high elevation. If you search online, Cusco offers a variety of budget accommodation in abundance. Prior bookings are strongly recommended. For instance, you can rent a double room for just USD 45 in Ninos Hotel. Another option is Libertador’s Valle Sagrado Lodge which is little more expensive, but offers quite unique accommodation (USD 140 per night).
Regardless which hotel you choose, the most important thing is that you enjoy your stay and the friendliness of people around you. Peru has amazing traditions to offer that are well reflected in the level of service in accommodation.