opalmom

After being delightfully surprised by the wide variety of really nice-looking hotels and hostals in the $40 - $60 price range in Arequipa and Cusco, I have to confess I'm stumped by Aguas Calientes. I've seen a large number of negative comments regarding so many of the hotels and hostals -- even in the mid-range price range -- including complaints about mold, mildew, dirty sheets, bugs, disgusting bathrooms. And so, reluctantly, I'm considering going above our budgeted price range (but not by too much!), just for one night. Here are the hotels and hostals I'm currently considering:

1. La Cabana, which has a regular double room available for $110 and a superior double room for $120
2. El Santuario, which has a regular double room available for $99
3. the Presidente, which has a regular double room available for $99
4. the Rupa Wasi, which only has a suite available for $109
5. Gringo Bill's, which has a regular double room available for $75
6. the Wiracocha, which has a regular double room available for $60

So . . . which one should I choose? We don't need something fancy, but we do need something safe, clean, and comfortable, where we have at least a chance at getting a good night's sleep.

Thanks so much for any help!

Jeff_Costa_Rica

The Presidente management also operates three slightly smaller hotels, which are about $10-$15 less. Their names escape me at the moment, and I don't have my files in front of me. Two of them are on the same street and one is just around the corner. In any case, you make reservations for any of them through the Presidente.

It's a captive market at Machu Picchu and they charge what that market will bear. Prices are generally inflated there for lodgings of all levels over other places in Peru.

lcuy

I've heard very good things about Rupa wasi; both the rooms and the restaurant.
We walked by the location, it looked like you might have quite a bit of stairs, but the town is teeny, and you need to be in shape for mP anyhow!

One thing about Aguas Calientes, is that it attracts everyone from the cheapest backpackers to 5 star budgets. Any hotel is going to have mixed reviews if their marketing isn't pretty specific to one type of traveller.

qwovadis

Peru-explorer.com

Presidente my fav ricer balcony view rooms best

dcd

This past April, we stayed one night at El Santuario based on the generally favorable tripadvisor reviews and enjoyed it. Good location along the river, which means high humidity in the room. Apparently that's pretty much true everywhere in AC. Breakfast was good. Free wifi. No complaints. We'd stay there again.

opalmom

Thanks so much for everyone's help!

PDersch

I stayed at La Cabana last month and it was great. Presidente was my first choice but they didn't have room, and when I walked by the place it looks like much of it was being remodeled. La Cabana had great beds, nice bathroom, really lovely decor. Aquas Calientes is just much more expensive than any other place we stayed in Peru.