Thanks!

Punta Arenas - the Finis Terrae is a very decent place. You don't get luxury by any means in most of Chile outside of Santiago. Its clean and safe and modern.

Santiago - I have been there 4 times and have stayed in the Sheraton and/or San Cristobal Tower each time. Very very satisfied. Location is a B. ($2 to $3 cabride for most places you'd want to go, and reasonable walk to metro). I'd recommend NOT staying in Los Condes - which is the area with many of the nicest hotels. Its not that its "that far out", but really, are you going to Santiago to visit a mall nicer than what you have at home? Probably not. Accordingly, Providencia should be the general area where you look for lodging.

Thanks a lot for the quick reply - I am having second thoughts about Punta Arenas from Sep. 27 to Sep. 29...the main reason for me going there would be to visit a penguin colony...that's something I would find really fascinating - however, I don't even know if it's already possible to see penguins then, plus, it will still be freezing cold at the time...any advice?

Thanks!!

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by attorney28:
the main reason for me going there would be to visit a penguin colony...that's something I would find really fascinating - however, I don't even know if it's already possible to see penguins then, plus, it will still be freezing cold at the time...any advice?

Thanks!!</font>

I don't know when they come to make baby pinguinos - when I was there in late Dec, there were lots of adorable chicks - and thousands of pinquinos all over. It was cool, windy and clear (at summer solstice). The weather will rarely be "good", but September may be too early. The penguin colony is an easy drive (partly on a gravel road) - do not hesitate to rent a car/drive there. I'm sure a quick search will help you find out when the most of them are there. I've been all over Chile - perhaps you want to go NORTH in September. http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/smile.gif

Every time we travel to Santiago we stay at the Crowne Plaza.

The rooms are spacious and the room service is good. A nice stroll from the city centre.

Don't expect a great buffet breakfast, just the usual cereals, toast, pastries and "not real" scrambled eggs.

If you want to see penguins, the colony at Punto Tomba in Argentina (some 100 km on a dirt road south of Trelew) reputedly is the largest in the world hosting some 500,000 magellanic penguins. You can get very close (right up to them) though the area you can visit is restricted in size. Well worth the trip. Late in the day is the best as that's when the adults come ashore.

Early/mid March seems to be nearing the end of season as the youngest chicks are starting to moult and the colony will have migrated for cooler waters south. Not sure if September is too early.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Dani:
Every time we travel to Santiago we stay at the Crowne Plaza.

The rooms are spacious and the room service is good. A nice stroll from the city centre.

Don't expect a great buffet breakfast, just the usual cereals, toast, pastries and "not real" scrambled eggs. </font>

Crowne Plaza is also used by the airline crew http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/smile.gif Free internet access in the Business Center.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by attorney28:
Thanks!</font>

If you could give us your price range and some preferences it would help.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by akhullar:
If you could give us your price range and some preferences it would help.</font>

I agree... I always stay at the San Cristobal Tower in SCL (I'm there right now) and the Sheraton in MVD. In Bs. As. (where I am currently based) there are many options, from the high end (Alvear Palace hotel) to cheaper local hotels...

Santiago de Chile: per earlier postings, head for Providencia or Las Condes for somewhere to stay. Depending on your budget, the Hyatt and Intercontinental can be good bets [though the former has all the atmosphere of a high security air terminal]. Ritz Carlton are opening a new hotel in Las Condes sometime soon. Don't miss out on El Parron, a fantastic restaurant popular with politicians (some of whom doubtless boast a dubious past).

Punta Arenas: Not sure about the timing of penguin watching, my last visit there was in February and the colony was shut. If you're heading all the way down there and can manage a 6-hour drive you should head for the Torres del Paine - do a search on google and you'll see why!! The best place to stay there is the Cabanas del Lago.

I just left the San Cristobal Tower again and it is an absolute pleasure to stay there.

In Rio, stay away from Copa due to the crime. Ipanema is like Europe, and is much safer. It has restaurants all over. The Golden Tulip Ipanema Plaza is a fine place to stay, $132US including great breakfast and taxes.

If this is your first visit to Santiago, you might want to consider the Hotel Carrera. While it's looking a little tired, it is member of the Leading Hotels of the World. The location is great - right downtown - and the food in the restaurants was excellent. I booked a room overlooking the square (over the internet) for $129. Since foreigners don't pay the V.A.T., that was the total paid for the room.

Can't help you out with Punta Arenas as I only flew in and out of the small but very nice airport.

DKM

As for Santiago, past the Providencia area where it borders on exciting barrio Suecia, is the Park Place hotel on Avenida Richard Lyon. This is IMHO the best choice in town. Small, not too expensive, the best service and very fine rooms.