I am currently in Santiago-anything to check out???

[greatam]

Anybody need anything checked out???? I am currently in Santiago and will leave for Peru tomorrow evening. Have some business to take care of this evening (late), but am bored out of my gourd, so if you need something checked out, let me know.

[jrkfrk]

Hotel or restaurant suggestions would be great. . . .any special places to shop?

Thanks!

Fran

[RASHOPPER2]

If You Could Check Out The Hotel Orly - Specifically The Location -i Would Really Apprecite It. Thanks.

[Mapu]

Anybody need anything checked out???? I am currently in Santiago and will leave for Peru tomorrow evening. Have some business to take care of this evening (late), but am bored out of my gourd, so if you need something checked out, let me know.

Where are you staying?

[greatam]

Where are you staying?

 

I am at the Sheraton, where I stay about 70% of my trips to Santiago. They have the business services I need-translation, fax, high speed internet. And I am Starwood elite, so I get the executive rooms (and breakfast and drinks) for my discounted corporate price.

 

Hotel Orly-I have never stayed there but have been there a couple of times. Once to meet a business associate. The service at the front desk finding my associate was VERY good. They checked and rechecked before they would allow me any place close to her room. And they escorted me to the room. (I am very conscious of things like this, being a woman who travels all over the world solo).

 

But her room-VERY small in comparison to the rooms at the Sheraton (and I think those are small compared to quite a few Sheratons I stay in). Of course, she only paid about 1/2 of what I pay at the Sheraton, even with my contracted corporate rate. So all in all, I think it was a bargain. Nice area, in Providencia, which is an upscale business/residential neighborhood. I can't stay there, as they don't have to business services I need. But for a cruise tourist, this is a very nice hotel in a very nice area, close to a lot of the better restaurants in Santiago.

 

Now to the restaurants-I am probably not the best one to ask. I am no foodie, preferring steak, potatoes, veggies and fruit. I also generally don't eat "local food" most anyplace in the world. And I don't hardly ever drink wine (maybe a white on occasion), but I love Pisco Sour, which is pretty good even in Chile. I don't like spicy, so that eliminates a lot of local food.

 

I eat a lot at the Bavaria Grill (steak house). I also absolutely love (and could live on) Japanese food. There are three that I go to-Kintaro, Izakaya Yoko, and Mikado for a fancy (read expensive) teppan yaki dinner. Kintaro has great sushi and IY has great noodle soup.

 

Last night, I was taken to a place-Bar de la Unión. It seemed like it was a quite a ways from the hotel, but we had to go to Valparaiso at midnight, so can't tell you really how far it was from the Sheraton (it may have been relatively close, but we drove around a lot).

 

Good food (I had Chilean sea bass-how cliche) but the atmosphere made the place. Old wooden floor, dusty booze bottles. Reminded me of the Hof Brau in downtown Los Angeles, which is one of my favorite restaurants in LA. NOT fancy at all-certainly wouldn't put it in "upscale" or "special night out" category. But it was a fun place and I certainly felt comfortable there. A place I would go back to again and again (if I can find it again).

 

Another place I have been taken to dinner 3/4 times-Aquí Está Coco. Upscale, great food and service, but make sure you have a reservation. And the Pisco sours are THE BEST in Santiago (although the bartender at the Ritz makes a pretty darn decent one).

 

Guess that about answers the questions posted. I will fly to Lima tonight, Cusco tomorrow morning and return to the USA Wednesday night. If you have further questions, I will be happy to answer if I can.

[barante]

Greatam -- What a great report! We will be taking a cruise from Fort Lauderdale to Buenos Aires in January 2009 and may get to Chile eventually.

But your tips on these few places alone made us jealous. Congrats.

[cruisenfever]

Hello there, hope you are enjoying your trip.

 

We are doing Splendour of the Seas next March starting out from Valparaiso but we are flying into Santiago. I'm sure they are still collecting that nice crisp $100 per person at the airport! Any details on where that is collected at? We are staying at the Crowne Plaza........would you have an info on that hotel? Also, any great attractions not to miss.

 

Also, what electrical conversion thingamabob do we need for the hotel? Sorry, I know that there is a term for them, and I know we have a whole set.........just checking to see which one to bring.

 

Thanks so much for providing us with some great information.

[RASHOPPER2]

Thanks So Much For The Wonderful Information. Have A Great Trip Back.

[greatam]

Hello there, hope you are enjoying your trip.

 

We are doing Splendour of the Seas next March starting out from Valparaiso but we are flying into Santiago. I'm sure they are still collecting that nice crisp $100 per person at the airport! Any details on where that is collected at? We are staying at the Crowne Plaza........would you have an info on that hotel? Also, any great attractions not to miss.

 

Also, what electrical conversion thingamabob do we need for the hotel? Sorry, I know that there is a term for them, and I know we have a whole set.........just checking to see which one to bring.

 

Thanks so much for providing us with some great information.

 

Yes, still collecting the fee. But it is good for the life of your passport. MAKE SURE they staple the paper FIRMLY to your passport. After you go through immigration and customs, there will be another line. You can't get out of the airport without paying. And they are now frowning on $100.00 US bills. Just too many counterfeit. Take 20's.

 

The Crowne Plaza is another hotel I stay at. It is fine, although their business center and high speed internet fees are higher than the Sheraton. Another Crowne Plaza (aren't they all the same almost everyplace except Asia). If you can get a high floor room facing the mountains, the views are great. If you have any kind of hotel status with ICH (they also own Holiday Inns and Intercontinental, among others), try for the executive floor. Quieter, the lounge is good (pool table inside) and free breakfast for status/business travelers. There is a spa on site, but spas are not my thing. The executive rooms have US plug adapters built in. I don't know about the other rooms. But take them all-you never know. And MAKE SURE you have a step down transformer (from 220 to 110) or that your electronics are labeled for dual voltage. Have fried stuff before-just like the Travelocity Gnome!!!!

[cruisenfever]

Yes, still collecting the fee. But it is good for the life of your passport. MAKE SURE they staple the paper FIRMLY to your passport. After you go through immigration and customs, there will be another line. You can't get out of the airport without paying. And they are now frowning on $100.00 US bills. Just too many counterfeit. Take 20's.

 

The Crowne Plaza is another hotel I stay at. It is fine, although their business center and high speed internet fees are higher than the Sheraton. Another Crowne Plaza (aren't they all the same almost everyplace except Asia). If you can get a high floor room facing the mountains, the views are great. If you have any kind of hotel status with ICH (they also own Holiday Inns and Intercontinental, among others), try for the executive floor. Quieter, the lounge is good (pool table inside) and free breakfast for status/business travelers. There is a spa on site, but spas are not my thing. The executive rooms have US plug adapters built in. I don't know about the other rooms. But take them all-you never know. And MAKE SURE you have a step down transformer (from 220 to 110) or that your electronics are labeled for dual voltage. Have fried stuff before-just like the Travelocity Gnome!!!!

Thank you so much for all the information. Have a safe trip home.

[Geckospot]

I liked visiting Bellavista for food and restaurants and hiking to the top of San Cristobal - a good way to see the entire city.