Kay2

We visited Machu Picchu in May? 2015, so please ignore anything that conflicts with any ticketing or rule changes since our visit.

I wanted to stay in AC to take the first bus of the morning to get maximum time at MP, but my husband prefers to keep the same hotel for 2 night minimums so we spent 2 nights in Ollantaytambo and took the first train to AC (5:30am or so). There were already a good number of people at MP by the time we arrived around 8am. We booked a return train at dark. I don't think it matters much if it is the basic or executive or panorama.

AC isn't very scenic. Hotels by the train tracks are convenient, but would be noisy during the times the trains are running. Anything uphill feels really uphill at that elevation, but hotels will help with your luggage.

We were OK with the basic Wayras budget hostel near the train in Ollantaytambo and as people say, it is a real town with more character.

MP did get relatively crowded by late morning. One could still find open walks off the main route, but the focal points were never empty. Tour guides were bad about stopping at an intersection, door or other choke point to talk to their charges. There was a no food rule, so we got hungry by early afternoon and climbed down/out to take a break and eat, but it was a mob scene outside the gate around the hotel, restaurants, bag check, buses, etc. My husband was feeling the elevation and the crowd, so although I would have battled my way through and back up, he wasn't up to it, so we went to the train station, traded in our tickets for an earlier train, and went to a restaurant to relax.

It rained heavily the day before our visit and lightly on our day. The stones were very slippery. Walking sticks would be nice, but please be careful of the other people if you use them. If I had been there on a heavy rain day, I would have used my rain pants in addition to my rain coat and water resistant hiking boots. (and now I have hiking poles)

Kay2

We booked train tickets in advance. They seem to sell out, then may be more released when a tour operator turns them back in, but if you want an early train, I wouldn't wait until you arrive.

We were able to exchange for an earlier train. If still possible, you can book the latest you think you would want to return and if you finish early, check at station about returning early.

I studied in advance, took a guide book, and did not feel we needed a guide, but if you don't have time to read, then a guide would be helpful.

I found the salt pans extremely interesting.

mlgb

There are a lot of changes at MP now. January is rainy season. No telling if and when it will be like the January I went (rained hard starting at 1pm). The following year was the one the tracks washed away!

If you take a morning train I would go for the afternoon (if not raining) otherwise you can stay the night up there in AC and go first thing in the morning.

It looks like you are outside of the busy time, check the train schedules and tickets and perhaps you will not want to lock in a specific time and date, if you have several days from Ollantaytambo you can be flexible. (Remember you can use either Inca Rail or Peru Rail).

The entry tickets for next year don't seem to be loaded yet, anyways.