Three thumb hotels by region
The final category of hotels that we recommend taking a look at. While many of these properties are still five star, we tend to recommend an alternative in the region that has pipped it for one reason or another. Again, this is definitely not to say that these are great properties but we would argue there are better.
Ecuador
Hotel Patio Andaluz
An excellent option for anyone seeking a more affordable stay in a colonial property in the heart of the Old Town. The lavish, 5-star Plaza Grande Hotel, that sits on the main square, is only 100 metres down the road – so you can get the great location for significantly less....
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Mansion del Angel
This quaint, boutique property sits on the periphery of the Old Town, at the confluence with La Mariscal – the contemporary ‘New Town’ of Quito. This strategic location makes Mansion del Angel a great option for visitors torn between discovering the amenities and nightlife of...
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Casa Natura Galapagos Lodge
Hidden in the peaceful setting of Santa Cruz’s lower highlands, yet only 10 minutes from Puerto Ayora, Casa Natura is a great ‘middle ground’ between town and rural location. The property proudly seeks to offer a sanctuary where you can unwind with nature, rather than opulent...
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Galapagos Magic Camp
With countless, free-roaming Giant Tortoises and sweeping views across the south-west corner of Santa Cruz Island to the Pacific ocean,it is easy to look past the somewhat basic accommodation and facilities. The Galapagos Magic Camp is a very different entity compared to the...
More...Argentina
Estancia Dos Lunas
At around an hour and a half from the airport, Estancia Dos Lunas offers a welcome retreat from the stresses and strains of the world. Featuring exceptional food and comfortable, traditional accommodation, the rolling hills that surround the farm are superb for those looking to...
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Cilene del Faro
Located right at the end of the Avenida St Martin, the main street in the town, the Cilene del Faro could not be better placed for those looking to take in a bit of the local ambience. The rooms for the hotels are fairly simple inside, but on one side offer great views out to...
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Estancia La Elvira
Small and well-located, Estancia La Elvira is a really great example of a traditional, working farm and, located close to some of the best orca hunting areas, it offers a great opportunity to see plenty of good wildlife. The Estancia itself is fairly simple inside (as are most...
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Faro Punta Delgada
The largest of the three estancias based on the Peninsular Valdes, the Faro Punta Delgada, an ex lighthouse base and training ground for the army, still works, more or less as a sheep farm. The restaurant itself is fairly large and has good views out across the plains. Moreover...
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Hotel Albatros
The Hotel Albatros is the second of the 4 star hotels in the town and so would suit those who are looking to explore a little. The main areas of this reasonable sized hotel are to a good standard, as is the restaurant, café and wine cellar at the front. The rooms, however, are...
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Macondo House
A small guest house, located on the hill that overlooks the town, the Macondo House is, very much, a smaller and more intimate property than many of the others in town. Only featuring 7 rooms, some with view and some without, the guest house focuses on personal service. At a...
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Patagonia Rebelde
A small and charming hostería built in the style of an old Patagonian railway station; Patagonia Rebelde is one of the few properties in El Calafate with a real sense of character and history. Although it is a shame that you don’t get the lake views here, the attentive service...
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Hotel Posada Los Alamos
With the town being so new, it may not appear important that the Posada Los Alamos is the oldest 5 star in town, but it is worth noting….mainly as they, therefore, have much more room than anyone else. This hotel incorporates a golf course, 2 dining areas, a clubhouse, spa, pool...
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CasaSur Art Hotel
The CasaSur Art Hotel is a small hotel, located in the wealthy Recoleta district of Buenos Aires, and is the only hotel in the city to boast being a member of the Small Luxury Hotels affiliation. The hotel itself has a modern and designed feel to it. Along with good service and...
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Executive Hotel Park Suites
Located just around the corner from the Diplomatic, the Executive Hotel Park Suites is its 4 star sister and is very much in the same vein, offering really good value for money along with a good location from which to explore the city. Again, featuring all of the facilities you...
More...Hotel Alejandro 1
Undoubtedly the king of Salta, the Hotel Alejandro I is the largest and most imposing building on the Salta skyline and dominates those around it. Constructed recently, the Alejandro I is the first modern highrise hotel to be built in Salta and offers a high level of...
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Hotel Ayres de Salta
On the way into the city centre is the Hotel Ayres de Salta, one of a new breed of hotel opening up in Salta, featuring contemporary design and a more chic concept. On the whole the hotel works although, while modern and contemporary in the main areas, they have not really...
More...Hotel Diplomatic
One of the less expensive 5 star hotels in the city, the Hotel Diplomatic is a good choice for those wanting a little less bustle during their stay in the city. The hotel is well located right in the heart of the city, and it offers all of the facilities that you would look for...
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The Design Suites
Situated just off the main road out of town to the Llao Llao peninsular, the Design Suites Bariloche are chic and an interesting alternative. The first thing that is apparent is that they have clearly considered the layout, with the views to the lake given centre stage from the...
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Bohemia Hotel Boutique
The Bohemia Hotel Boutique is a small town house, set a few blocks to the north of the main square and is perfect for those looking to have more of a B&B feel to their stay in the city. Still featuring a small swimming pool and great little garden, this is a much more...
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Buenos Aires Grand Hotel
The Grand is part of a hotel group with quite distinct brand properties in Iguazu and Punta del Este in Uruguay. The Grand Buenos Aires would suit someone who wants all modern commodities, the service standards of a boutique property but with a more affordable price tag. Well...
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El Puma Hosteria
The El Puma Hosteria is a great little find, set on one of the small roads that run off the main street. It offers an affordable and comfortable place to relax for a few days while exploring the environs. The main areas are well thought out and very cosy…the rooms likewise. With...
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Hosteria La Posada
The Hosteria La Posada is a simple affair, offering a good value option in and around La Angostura with superb views and service. While it may not have the full frills of places like Las Balsas or the Correntoso, the hotel has most of the bases covered with a good-sized pool,...
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Hotel Edelweiss
There is a certain feeling with many of the town hotels in Bariloche, that they cater more to the winter market rather than the summer market. This is evident in the Hotel Edelweiss. Arguably the best of the town hotels, the rooms are comfortable and well appointed on the whole...
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Hotel Peninsula Valdes
The Hotel Peninsula Valdes is a fairly simple but clean and tidy hotel located in the heart of down town Puerto Madryn and so, if you are after a bit of nightlife or just fancy getting to know the town a little, then it is a good choice. The rooms themselves are basic affairs,...
More...Patios de Lerma
Located right in the north of the city, next to the train to the clouds station, the Patios de Lerma provides simple accommodation with good facilities and service. While the rooms themselves face inwards and not out, thus not giving any views as such, there is a quiet and clean...
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Solar de la Plaza Hotel
Overlooking the Plaza Gral. Guemes, the Solar de la Plaza boutique hotel is right in the heart of the city and reeks of old world charm. Offering comfortable and quirky accommodation the hotel is ideally placed for seeing the main sites of the city and also allows you to take...
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The Emperador Hotel
The Emperador Hotel is an impressive 5 star hotel that has been around for a few years now, located in the Retiro area of the city. Maybe not up to the levels that can now be found in the city, it is, nonetheless a glamorous hotel that offers very good value for money and all...
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The Iguazu Grand Spa Resort and Casino
One of the elder statesmen of Puerto Iguazu, the Iguazu Grand Resort Spa and Casino has long held the mantle for being the place to stay while in the area (as the alternative to the Sheraton). Today, we would argue that the nearby Loi Suites is probably more deserving of the...
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The Park Tower Hotel
Part of the luxury Sheraton Hotel group, the Park Tower Hotel has fantastic views out across the city and across Englishman’s square, in the heart of the Retiro district. While the hotel shares facilities with the neighbouring Sheraton, the hotel has a calm and exclusive feel to...
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Dazzler Palermo Hotel
A very affordable hotel in the heart of the trendy Palermo Hollywood district, a safe option if you desire location over substance.
Hosteria Monteverde
A well-appointed alpine style hosteria in San Martin de Los Andes for clients who want the basics of a decent lodge with a polished look and a few facilities at a budget price. This is perhaps as far off as you’ll get from your typical boutique look property. For clients that...
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Hotel Killa
Rated by themselves as more of a B&B than a hotel, the Hotel Killa is both quirky and unique, located right in the heart of town, is a great choice. What we like most about the place is that each of the rooms has evolved into what it is today and through the use of local...
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Parador del Angel
The Parador del Angel is a small guesthouse, right in the heart of the Chacras de Coria region. It makes for a quirky and interesting place to spend a few nights while exploring the surrounding fields and vines. Owned by one of the top Argentinean artists and her husband artwork...
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Sala de Payogasta Hotel
Sitting around 10 minutes drive from the small village of Cachi, the Sala de Payogasta is a simple farmhouse that has been lovingly restored back to its original glory and is a great example of how generations have been living in this inhospitable environment. Based around a...
More...Chile
EcoCamp Patagonia
Located on the ridge that overlooks the Hotel las Torres, the ecocamp is a quirky and interesting property to stay in while visiting this stunning park. Each of the domed rooms offers a warm and intimate place to escape from the ravages of the Patagonian weather and the perfect...
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Hotel Las Torres
As with the handful of hotels that have the privilege of being inside the National Park, Hotel las Torres has a superb location, right at the foot of the Torres themselves. On top of being inside of the park the Hotel las Torres benefits from being the only hotel to own land...
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Hotel Cabo de Hornos
Arguably knocked off the top spot of the hotels in town by Dreams, the Cabo de Hornos is still worthy of consideration. Located right on the main square of the town, it harks back to the time when Punta Arenas was the capital of the "white gold" rush. A converted, Parisian-...
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Remota
One of the largest and arguably most “designed’ of the hotels in and around Puerto Natales, many would say that, on paper, the Remota is number one. There is no doubt that the entrance hall, facilities and rooms are to the very highest of standards but, for us, it has been...
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Hotel Altiplanico
Hotel Altiplanico, San Pedro is designed for your stay to be an immersive experience of the Atacama region. With the adobe buildings, grass & bamboo fields, local cuisine and quiet location, it succeeds. However, some might find the limited facilities and basic rooms a...
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Hotel Atton el Bosque
The Atton el Bosque, built in 2007, is a good example of the newer wave of hotels being introduced by developers rather than hoteliers. Not that this is a criticism as this is a great hotel, at a very good price, in one of the best areas of the city for dining in one of the many...
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Hotel Lago Grey
Sitting on the southern end of the Lago Grey and looking out to the Grey Glacier, the Hotel Grey is, arguably, the second/third best property in the Park and is great for those that would like to do a glacier trip as well as seeing the Cuernos del Paine. The rooms and the lay...
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Hotel Puelche
Puelche is not bad at all but we feel slightly neutral towards it. It is a good hotel for what it offers but feels like something is missing compared to the nearby Cumbres Patagonicas. There is little to fault this property so no doubt anyone staying here will be perfectly...
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Casa Kalfu
Featured in The Lonely planet and one of a favourites in a certain accommodation review websites, Kalfu is certainly a decent choice for those with a limited budget in mind who don’t want to compromise on character or hospitality. These points make this property stand out in...
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Hotel Cabana del Lago
Hotel Cabana del Lago has plenty of appeal and will please all types of travellers. It is a good choice for anyone wanting facilities, a relaxed environment, a good location, sweeping lake views and not much else. Compared to its competitors along the shore of Lake Llanquihue...
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Meridiano Sur Petit Hotel
One of the quieter and more intimate properties in Santiago, the Meridiano Sur is a great option for those that prefer the feel of a guesthouse to the relative anonymity of staying in a hotel. Featuring small but comfortable rooms, in one of the quieter, suburbs of the city, the...
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Su Merced
An affordable, well-located boutique hotel in the Lastarria district of the city, Su Merced is a fantastic option for those wanting a comfortable base from which to explore Santiago. Compact and independently owned this small hotel stands out for its light and modern rooms and...
More...Peru
Hotel José António
A large and modern hotel just outside of Puno, the Hotel José António is a great choice for those spending a night or two at Lake Titicaca and not wanting to break the bank. Popular with groups, the hotel offers simple accommodation and a good range of facilities. While it won’t...
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Sonesta Posadas del Inca: Lake Titicaca
Located just outside of town on the banks of Lake Titicaca, the Sonesta is another good-quality option for those spending one or two nights in Puno to visit the Lake and surrounding islands. The hotel’s glass-fronted restaurant is its most impressive feature and offers sweeping...
More...Brazil
Uakari Floating Lodge
Located in one of the largest protected areas of the Brazilian Amazon and part of the world’s largest protected tropical rainforest corridor, Uakari Floating Lodge is an award-winning community-based tourism initiative offering guests an immersive Amazon experience and...
More...Colombia
Allure Chocolat Hotel by Karisma
Located at the south end of the walled Old Town, The Allure Chocolat Hotel has great views across the harbour to Bocagrande. This contemporary property is certainly our pick of Allure’s gastronomic trilogy - they also have the ‘BonBon’ and ‘Cinela’ (cinnamon) hotels – within...
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