I imagine everyone here is too sophisticated to fall for bait-and-switch tactics, non-secure reservation websites, demands for a credit card number on those non-secure sites, etc. But just to save you all a lot of time on what initially appears to be a good resource for researching hotels in Chile: don't bother. This Miami tour company posts one rate on its site, comes up with something different when you call to book, and refuses to provide you with the phone number of your hotel. Unfortunately, this outfit apparently has paid a lot of money to dominate Google searches for Chilean hotels--look elsewhere! There are terraced one-bedroom suites with full kitchens, room safes, pool/gym, etc to be had in Santiago's better neighborhoods for as little as $65/night, breakfast included, but don't look for them at this awful site!

Good Report. Have you come across any websites that offer The Hotels you mentioned in your report?

Here are the home pages of the aparthotels themselves, at least the two I found most appealing and reasonably priced. And before anyone asks, no, I'm not a travel agent or affiliate of either establishment--just a writer.<BR><BR>http://www.santamagdalena.cl/<BR><BR>http://www.vecinal.corp.cl/<BR><BR>Chilean friends have advised me that the best neighborhoods to search in Santiago are Providencia, Las Condes and Vitacura. Downtown hotels can be cheaper, but I was advised that a solo woman would be safer at night in the other areas. Providencia and Las Condes both have a lot of local shopping and dining, and the three hotels listed here (the first has two locations) are adjacent to the metro.

There is a fairly new site that is based in Chile that has both English and Spanish content. I happen to know the owner, Pedro Chanceaulme, and he is a woderful, honest businessman.<BR><BR>You can book reservatons and get a lot of good information on the tourist attractions that the country offers. You can find the site at www.htreservations.com, and contact them via email at [email protected].<BR><BR>Thank you,<BR>Christian

I lived for 2 1/2 yrs. in Santiago and worked for the Chile Information Project, www.chip.cl<BR><BR>Their hotel site is updated, reliable, and Victor, if he's still there, is GREAT.

Thanks Marc for the info re: www.chip.cl<BR>I am working with them at this moment for a 4star plus hotel in Vina Del Mar. He suggested Hotel Oceanic. Do you agree? Need info for what to do for one day in Vian Del Mar? Thanks Joanne

The Oceanic is lovely. It is built on a cliff just above the water and sometimes the waves from the sea splash into the pool. Most rooms have spectacular views of Valpara&iacute;so on the other side of the Bay. The restaurant is so so but adequate for a quick bite if you are tired. Otherwise go to Vi&ntilde;a to eat. The staff is helpful. On a map, it LOOKS far out of town, but the city bus stops right there so you can get into either Vi&ntilde;a or Re&ntilde;aca or "al puerto" (to Valpara&iacute;so) with ease.