Peru - Lonely Planet Publications [438]
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These types of hotels are often equipped with a small lounge or an on-site café that serves breakfast and snacks. Many midrange hotels include a continental breakfast in the rate; in some cases, an American-style breakfast with eggs is offered as well.
As is the case with budget offerings, ask to see a room before committing. Styles and quality can vary widely from one room to the next and from one hotel to the next.
TOP END
Hotels in this category cost upwards of S240. Like high-end hotels everywhere, these run the gamut from design-conscious boutique spaces to international chains to atmospheric spots bearing all manner of baroque detailing.
Top-end hotel rates frequently include a 19% tax in the room rate (a fee which can be refunded to non-Peruvian travelers if the hotel can retain a photocopy of your passport). When booking, ask whether these taxes are included in the rate and whether the hotel refunds them. Many high-end places also tack on a nonrefundable ‘service charge’ of 10%.
Peru’s top hotels are generally equipped with en suite bathrooms with bathtubs, international direct dial phones, handy dual-voltage outlets, central heating or air-conditioning, hairdryers, in-room safes, cable TV and internet access (either through high-speed cable or wi-fi); some may come with minifridges, microwaves or coffee makers. A large high-end spot may also feature a bar, café or restaurant (or several), as well as room service, concierge services and an obliging, multilingual staff. Expect the biggest places (particularly in Lima) to come with business centers, spas and beauty salons.
Reservations
In the principal tourist destinations, most hotels at all levels accept reservations. If you are flying into Lima, a reservation for your first night is a good idea since a lot of places can arrange airport pickup, and because many flights arrive late at night, this is an inadvisable time to begin searching for a place to sleep. Around the country, reservations are absolutely a necessity if you are going to be in a town during a major festival day (such as Inti Raymi in Cuzco) or a holiday such as Semana Santa (Easter Week), when all of Peru is on vacation. In the Amazon, reservations are needed at remote lodges, which aren’t always equipped to handle walk-in clients. In smaller villages and areas off the beaten path, service tends to be on a first-come, first-served basis.
Cheap, budget places may not honor a reservation if you arrive late. Even if you’ve made a reservation in advance, it is best to confirm things a day or two before your arrival, as wires can get crossed and reservations lost. Late check-in is not a problem at many midrange and top-end hotels, in which case a deposit may be required. Some lodges, especially in the Amazon, may also require all or part of the payment up front. Make sure your travel plans are firm if you are paying in advance, as securing refunds from some Peruvian hotels can be a challenge.
Making reservations online is convenient, but if you are traveling in the off-season, walk-in rates off the street may be lower. At top-end hotels, however, last-minute online deals are the norm, so always check a hotel’s website for discounts and special promotional packages.
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ACTIVITIES
From scaling icy peaks to paddling remote patches of lush Amazon rainforest, Peru offers a plethora of adrenaline-pumping activities. You’ll find a broad overview of these in the Peru Outdoors chapter, which covers all the basics on hiking, trekking, mountain and rock climbing, river running, surfing, sandboarding, mountain biking, swimming, scuba diving, horseback riding and even paragliding.
Wildlife-watching is another top activity in this neck of the Andes. The Environment chapter (Click here) details the