I will check this hotel also.
My main reason for picking Tambo Del Inka is that it I can use Starwood points to book it. It is well reviewed and seems well located for a base. That said, the train schedule posted by Sometimes flyer (thank you!) gives me pause. That's a lot of train travel for 5 hours at machu picchu...which is our primary reason for visiting Peru in the first place.
I need to look at staying a night in Agua Calientes (sp?) so we can get a nice full day at MP without the long train ride on both ends...
Anita
Hmm, here's another angle. I think the train ride in itself may be quite an experience for your kids. If you get the vistadome train, the views are pretty cool. Along the way, it travels along a river valley and you get great views. It can also get a little touristy and on a trip last year, there was a little "fashion show" put on by the crew as part of a merchandising exercise. On top of that, its a pretty comfortable ride. I miss the old days of train travel ...
In the sacred valley, I think the salt ponds and the Inca amphitheater will rank #1 and #2 for your kids in terms of educational and getting their interest. Both of them can be part of a day trip you do out of Tambo del Inka.
The Tambo del Inka is one of my all time favorite hotel so I'm a little biased. I would still recommend staying there as a base, and just doing the day trip to MP and back. Long day, but doable. I think you will find that even if you stay in AC, given the need to go back/forth to Cusco/Sacred valley, your net "exploring" time in MP and sacred valley will be the same.
Have a good trip.