Any information for Santiago, Chili
 

We will be going to Santiago the end of March 2005. Need information regarding if the dollar is strong,is it good place to take children age 11 and 13. Average price of a 4 star hotel. Things to do and places to see. Any other helpful information!

Thanks

With all due respect, I suspect that you haven't gotten any response because your request is too broad and vague, and indicates that you haven't done any research on your own.

Since you are new to Fodors, may I say that the people who visit here are very generous with their time and advice when they feel it is appropriate. ((F))

I have stayed at the Hyatt Regency in Santiago several times. Very nice, rather large, huge swimming pool that your kids should enjoy & prices pretty good for a higher level hotel. Check some of the discount internet sites for some good deals. Re exchange rate, I think the USD is very strong there right now. Hope this helps.
David

There is only one other city in South America we disliked more than Santiago and that city is Lima. Chile is very expensive compared to Argentina and we saw no reason to spend more time than was necessary in Santiago. We stayed at the Hotel Montecarlo in a very safe good area. The hotel is a hoot-lost in the 70's with brown shag pile carpet! for US38. Buenos Aires is a superb city and hotels and food, wine, leather goods etc. are a bargain. imho I would give Santiago a miss other than as a transit stop!

Would like to ask Lyndie to please elaborate on why she didn't like Santiago.

My husband and I were in Santiago for 4 days last week. We stayed at the Hyatt which is a good hotel in a great neighborhood. It is walking distance to a large shopping mall. We rented a car and drove everywhere without any problems. Be sure to go to the central market for a nice seafood lunch. Other than that, there really was not much to do in Santiago. We drove to Vina del Mar one day and thought it was just okay. On the way there, you can stop by some wineries. We would recommend that you join the wine train if you want to visit more wineries because alot of them are not open to the public. All in all, Santiago was a good place to buy wine with nothing else more to see nor do. I also agree with the above post that Buenos Aires was much better in respect to shopping, dining, and sightseeing. We were there for five days and loved the food. Service was impeccable at the higher end restaurants. Prices are better too.

Hi Rosie61-just my personal opinion, but here goes, you asked for it! Santiago's air was very polluted. It is a dirty unkempt city. The Central market was disappointing compared to Recoleta & San Telmo in BA. It was expensive to get around. i.e taxis. The food we sampled was just OK but not as good as BA. All in all I'm sorry we visited the place. However, I am extremely glad we flew to Puerto Montt and climbed aboard the Magellanes for our 3 day ferry trip to P. Natales & Torres del Paine. Others may like Santiago-we did not!

Having been to Santiago and Buenos Aires, they are both quite different. We will be back in Santiago in January. Santiago isn't dirty, it is the air quality that is such a problem. The government is going to be replacing all of the busses over the next few years, as they have no polution control, and that is supposed to help. Also, air quality there is because it is surrounded by mountains and the air gets trapped. Again, Santiago is nice, the people are friendly, and I do recommend the area where they Hyatt and Ritz Carlton are. It is new, very lovely, and great shops.

Have been to Santiago twice. Once in the 1980's. Air pollution was terrible, other than that enjoyed the city. Returned last July. No pollution! Stayed at the Ritz Carlton in Los Condes. Very nice hotel near excellent restaurants. Not much to do in Santiago except shop and eat seafood, but we enjoyed our time there. We then went to the Atacama which we loved.

Lyndia I think you description of Santiago is false!!! Santiago is a beutiful city I have been to buenos aires and santiago and I would take santiago any day over BA.

I am not quite sure why people can't answer your qyestions rather than arguing about the compaision of Santiago and BA. No, the dollar is not strong in Chile. The Chilean peso is one of the currencies in the world which has most strengenthened against the US dollar over the last year.

There is lots to do and see in Santiago. The issue seems to be rather that it is not a city which has thought of itself as a centre for tourism. Air quality has improved tremendously and in March it will be clear. The Andes will not be at their most spectacular much of the snow will be gone. The kids should have a good time. Try the MIM a science museum with kids in mind, go up San Cristobal a large hill which is a park with cable cars and a funicular and an excellent restaurant, Camino Real. Getting around is easy. The subway is very efficient and taxis are not expensive. As to the price of hotels well usual prices in the US or Europe for 4 star accomodation.

hi everyone! since most of you are so well familiar with buenos aires, can someone please recomend me what is the best area to stay? i heard a lot about recoleta. would you recomend any other areas, like Palermo, San Telmo or La Boca? thanks!

For central location, you can't beat the Sheraton - right in the center of downtown BA. Another great hotel is the Hilton - very modern, on the river, you can walk to hip area with great restaurants. BA is great walking city, and cabs are cheap. Palermo and Recoleta are fun to visit, but I wouldn't stay there unless you speak good Spanish.

My husband and I spent a few days in Santiago last February and found the city to be very inviting. We stayed at the Ritz Carlton which was fine and typically an RC property - nothing more and nothing less - except for their rooftop enclosed pool and outdoor deck. Since it was their summer, we loved having this area available to us late in the day. Beware of the strength of the sun even at 6:00pm at that time of the year. The view from the rooftop was great and we found the air pollution to be negligible. The city has cleaned up and there is a lot of work going on. The fine arts museum was in the process of renovation while we were there but, fortunately, part of it was open. The architecture is exquisite and I took some of my favorite "architectural" photos inside. No, it isn't BA but it's not Lima either. There is a definite Latin flavor to Santiago and it has charming neighborhoods to explore. It's well worth spending a couple of days there if possible.