On my way to a week on Easter Island, I have 3 unplanned days coming up in Santiago due to flight scheduling problems. I see some concensus about several excellent hotels in the over-$100 range. Any recommendations for great hotels for less? I will not be renting a car, and hope to be within walking distance of markets and whatever else might be recommended in the city. Look forward to all your ideas!

If you want to walk to museums etc. then downtown is best, although the metro will take you from Providencia quickly. So here are some downtown ones:
Hotel Foresta (no website, great value, reservation by email)
Hotel Vegas, old but nice, pleasant staff
Ciudad de Vitoria, a few floors in a high rise, simple rooms, pleasant people
Diego de Almagro, part of a chain, decent rooms
There are other alternatives in Providencia if you want to consider it. Isn't the Orly about on the $100 dollar mark? The Atton El Bosque (not to confuse with their other hotel further out) is very good value. Good corporate rates if you book with a company name. The Vilafranca petit hotel is very nice too.
Check out reviews online.

Thanks so much for the very clear and helpful list of suggestions! Do you have a way for me to check out Hotel Foresta? And I'd be equally happy to be in Providencia, so if you have suggestions there, would you mind noting them as well? I couldn't find any availability online for the Orly, but I found that they were priced over $100 on the site I used. Just beginning my search, really. And yes, I am interested in much more than just crafts.

Hotel Foresta, right by Santa Lucia hill, quirky decoraion (all sorts of items collected by the owner) and a top floor restaurant, with simple food, looking into the trees. E-mail, fax or phone. Once they say you have a room you have it. They don't usually ask for cc number to confirm.
[email protected]
telephone is 562/639-6261, 562/639-4862
fax is 562/632-2996
In Providencia, aside from those mentioned, check the price of the Bonaparte or Rugendas (corporate rate).

Thanks again for taking the time to reply, Huentetu. Have you stayed at any of the other places you refer to? Are there any other nice places in Providencia with moderate rates? Is it preferable to stay in that area and take the metro, or to stay in the downtown area and walk?

We like Lafayette Suites in Providencia - great location and good accommodation (a little old but very clean - be sure to ask for a room not facing the street as the buses can be noisy.)

A quick check on rates via Trip Advisor shows rates under US $100 - here's a link to the TA page

http://tinyurl.com/324kdn

Also - here's a link to our Easter Island blog - I highly recommend the private guide we hired (Josie) - you can see our itinerary with her and if you would like I can post her contact information - Easter Island is great!

http://lizandrichardsa.typepad.com/l...and/index.html

plr, I know these hotels because I book small groups of people in for conferences I am involved in and have used them all. So I know the rooms, the service etc. I've not named the ones which I felt were no good or cost more than US$100.
Elizabeth's recommendation for an aparthotel is also good if you want cooking facilities and a bit more space. I don't know any to recommend personally.
In Chile foreign tourists are exempt from IVA (sales tax) on hotel bills so you should be quoted prices without IVA when you book. A nice 19% saving!

Elizabeth, thank you for your suggestions. I am now considering Lafayette Suites among several others mentioned here. You and Huentetu have helped to relieve my anxiety by giving me such great suggestions. I gather that it doesn't make much difference whether I stay in Providencia or downtown due to access to the metro? Elizabeth, I briefly went to your blog, and decided in a second that it looks so incredibly great, I'd rather save all those photos till I get back and can say, yeah I saw that too! I don't want to spoil the fun of surprise. Looks like you've done an incredible job on the blog.

Such great suggestions here, that I really had a tough time narrowing it down. Thanks again to both of you. I finally decided on the Foresta, which seems to be in a perfect location to be able to walk to everything--and I do plan to walk the heck out of my 3 days there!