I remember reading about someone who had purchased a similar package on LL and had no end of problems booking the package. Can't remember if it was on this forum or Trip Advisor, do a search and you should be able to find more info.

Is $500 a night really that much of a bargain?

Suggest you price it directly with Inkaterra they have a lot of specials.

christabir, I have taken several trips through Luxury Link auctions and never had a problem. I always contact their concierge service to find out reservations availability before I place my final bid. So there you are. Also, I think you will appreciate the luxury level of service and accommodations. If you have the budget and want to splurge -- do some direct research with with Luxury Link.

This is first hand information not hearsay.

Thanks for the input. I looked at past fodors threads and the few were quite positive. I did check a similar package direct with Inkaterra, not mentioning the LL price. It came in a few hundred dollars more but I had to give them dates (I used Oct) and they had a 2 for one deal only available Oct/Nov. I don't know when the best time to go is. I'm thinking our summer/early fall as I'd rather be cold than hot. I have to do a bit more research.

I guess I'm a little jaded these days - $250pp/pn with so many meals included looks pretty good to me. We just did a 10 day domestic trip and after all was said and done it was over $5000 - and we stayed in a few Best Westerns (nothing against Best Western, but it's not the Amazon or MP). If I could do about 8 days in Peru for under $6000, I'd be pretty happy.

christabir, we're LuxuryLink.com travelers and have previously taken their Orient-Express trip to Cusco, Machu Picchu and Colca Canyon...great fun!

We're headed back to Peru in late August and early September and incorporating their Aranwa Sacred VAlley and their Hotel Titilaka packages.

Never had a problem making reservations directly with the travel concierge service at LuxuryLink.com

Peru is very inexpensive; even nice lodgings like the Casa Andina chain have rates for their Suites well under $300 per night (not per person, and regular rooms under $200, including breakfast.

If you are traveling off season you should expect some good discounts.

That is extraordinarily expensive for Peru.

christabir
Sounds like you are on the right track to enjoy some real luxury during your trip to Peru. Let us know what you decide. As for me, I prefer to fly at the front of the place and stay in top hotels. No Best Westerns, Holiday Inns or hostel. No sleeping in airports and eating dumpster cuisine for me.

Christabir
btw....where are you staying in LIM?

I usually stay at the Orient-Express Miraflores Park Hotel http://www.orient-express.com/collection/hotels/miraflores_park_hotel.jsp

I loved eating breakfast at the Observatory Restaurant on the top floor overlooking the Pacific while I plan my day.

I just got back from leading a small group for two weeks in Peru and am going again in September. Happy to help with any questions - I know the country very well - the LL deal is good, but to get a real idea of the price of your trip, you need to take transfers, internal air, train, sightseeing, etc into account (some of which you've already considered). You might be able to stay at the same hotels and add all these "extras" in for far less than you think...let me know if I can help with ideas or best time of year to go. BTW - Delta has a BIG sale to Peru right now - from St. Louis it's only $431 round trip in September. Happy Travels, Anne

I travelled to Peru in April this year and my son in September. The contrast in scenery was quite dramatic as I went end of rainy season - thus everything was green and lush (in the Andes) and son was there end of dry season - grey and burnt off. Either time were not too hot or too cold. I took a GAP "comfort" trip. All accomodation (except in Machu Picchu town - due to landslides this winter) were comfortable and unique - one an old 18 Century convent. Determine if you want american luxury or a introduction to the heritage and real Peru. You can do a 2 week trip of southern Peru for less than the cost of this trip. They also have more luxury level tours if you prefer. Enjoy your trip, but do consider travelling Spring rather than Autumn.

We were in Peru just one year ago this week. We stayed at the Machu Pichu Inkaterra for 2 nights and the Amazonica for 3 nights, they were both incredible and I highly recommend both hotels. I much preferred the Inkaterra Machu Picchu to the more expensive (although better located) Sanctuary Lodge as the grounds were beautiful and the rooms were much more special with Fireplaces and nice patios. Yes the Sanctuary is close to the site, but it was swarming with tourist and didn't have the extensive grounds of the Inkaterra MP and the Sanctuary's guest rooms aren't very impressive. The manager at Inkaterra Machu Picchu set me up with a tour of the La Casona (we were staying across the courtyard at the Monasterio) and the rooms were beautiful they didn't miss anything when designing this fairly new converted hotel. It is beautiful and extremely private and only about 10 or 12 guest rooms. In fact it doesn't even have a sign outside so I had to ask my doorman where it was located and you then ring the bell, just like your visiting someone's home. I enjoyed the Monasterio as I thought the courtyard were more beautiful and they had oxygen pumped into the room which helps to acclimate to the high elevation, but the rooms were much nicer at the La Casona. The Rservera Amazonica is great, our naturalist guide Wilson was the best and we spotted quite a bit of wild life. The price for two people for these were $662 per night for MP, $475 per night for Amazonica (as we booked far ahead but it went up to about $560) and we enjoyed a 50% discount at Monasterio at $342 per night. The La Casona usually is about $700 and up.

Considering each of these properties is well over %500 per night the $3100 with taxes for two is a great deal. Whatever you decide, I'm certain you'll enjoy Peru.

Wow! I am surprised at how expensive some of these rates are and people say they are good rates! I had traveled to many countries paying $80-$90 per night - including Colombia, Costa Rica, Mexico and Panama.
We are planning a trip to Peru mainly for the Machu Pichu and Nazca lines - I found a website that seems more reasonable for a complete package - anyone used them before? http://www.peruforless.com/index.php
Is it easier to do this on our own - arrange hotels and air tickets and then locally book tours etc. or is that too big a hassle? My wife (Colombian) speaks Spanish - I don't.
Also, which months are good to visit (We don't like too hot or too cold)? Any comments or help? Someone wrote that March was a better time than September - is that what we should try - March-April instead of August-September? Thanks:

It is absolutely not necessary to spend $500 per night. Some people just do this because they can. You will find lovely places for $100 per night or less...eg Second Home Peru in Barranco (Lima), El Albergue in Ollantaytambo, Rumi Punki, El Balcon or Second Home Cusco in Cusco. The only place where you have no choice is if you want to stay at the Sanctuary Lodge up at the top at Machu Picchu, which isn't even that great a hotel (as you can see by the above comments). You can splurge and spend a few nights where the alternatives are less good, eg in Aguas Calientes ( Inkaterra MP also).

It is easy to book your trip independently especially with a Spanish speaker. Peruforless has some problem reviews on TripAdvisor.

Very little variation in temperature except along the coast, where the fog in our summer means cooler temps. I would not pick March, it is rainy in the highlands and too hot on the coast. Actually I might suggest May, it is low season and not really bad weather (except for the Lima fog, but that will help with temperatures around Nazca).

I agree with mlgb, you can definitely find nice accommodations in Cusco for much less (as well as Lima), Machu Picchu was another story as you were either in a 1 or 2 star hotel without any ambiance and basic room or paid $500+ for the Sumaq (which is too close to the road although new and no grounds) $600+ for the Inkaterra or $900+ for the Sanctuary. To me Inkaterra was perfect and Machu Picchu is a very special place and worth the splurge. For the Rain Forest, I selected Reserva Amazonica as I read the reviews which were very favorable and most importantly I didn't want to travel 2 to 4 hours to reach the lodge, or share walls with other guests and of course I wanted a hot shower (very few lodges have hot water) which came in handy after hiking 3.6 miles thru mud while visiting Lake Sandoval! There are less expensive alternatives, it just depends on your budget, but no matter where you stay I'm certain you'll enjoy all of the areas as they are all very intersting, beautiful and the Peruvians are extremely friendly and hospitable