Costa del Sol Wyndham, Callao (Lima), Perú
See previous post about rates. I was quoted a full nightly rate of $240 for an additional day rate checking out 18:30, but was offered it for $160 contracted group rate by National Geographic-Lindblad.
"Any port in a storm" best describes this sole airport hotel (other available lodgings are ultra-cheap lodgings and hostels in the Callao area). High demand as the only halfway decent hotel within easy walking of LIM / Aeropuerto Internacional Jorge Chávez en la província constitucional de Callao means sky-high prices, a twenty four hour restaurant, basic amenities and spotty, uncaring service. We've stayed twice, book ending our trip to the Amazon with National Geographic-Lindblad.
The good: (uncovered) second level walkway to airport check-in areas (lift at hotel, lift or escalators at airport; breakfast normally included (but see note); functional showers, bathroom (Neutrogena amenities); 110 and 220 VAC Euro / US power; the free drink chit everyone seems to get on arrival. Free WiFi. Reliable hot water.
The so-so: small in-room safe, busy bar with extended hours, pricey 24-hour restaurant with trite menu; functional thermostat (Celsius markings) with central air.
The bad: the free WiFi is spotty with lots of dropouts at best; the toweling is raspy and rough; lighting is marginal; decor is stark, punctuated by one of the most ugly, artless and often garish paintings you could buy in the cheapest section of the local market; a blockhouse of a hotel with no views other than parking lots, garish billboards and the prison-inspired design of the airport terminals; service that is uncaring, unsupervised and uncoordinated. The /S 1.50 PEN (50 cents US) bottle of water in your bathroom they'll sell you for $3.50 US is just the tip of the iceberg of pricey chiseling here, including room prices, mini-bar, phone calls, etc.
WiFi: measured 118 ms ping, 1.33 mbps down, 0.29 mbps upload with OOkla. Variable signal, dropouts occasionally. No cost.
The
lobby can be intensively busy with endless tour groups cycling through here to and from the Andean highlands and the Amazon basin, punctuated by businesspeople attending meetings (the latter garner attention and better service because they'll likely be back, the former none because they cycle through like sheep being led to pasture and will never return on their own).
There is a perpetually scowling suited security guy watching it all from his statue-like pose, never enough people staffing the front desk (those who do take their time, and must make photocopies of your passport - retain Peruvian tourist permit receipts and other inserts, as these folks can lose them, requiring you to endure bureaucratic procedures at the airport upon departure.
The
lobby bar helpfully offers anything served in the restaurant, the Barman are fairly efficient, the two flat screen televisions are usually blaring local music videos on one, possibly a sports retrospective or endlessly talking heads on the other. The seating area is insufficient to serve the hordes claiming their free drink chit for a small Pisco sour (those purchased are larger), and has a variety of seating from carved out ball seats suitable for fourth graders to padded seats often appropriated by rude people - last night a woman used one for her stylishly clothed bum, another for her feet, whilst her daughter used one for herself and another for her precious backpack, regardless of the fact ten or more were consuming while standing - and it's often painfully noisy.
There is an
ATM / cash machine: 700 PEN daily limit, S/14.35 fee for use.
The
restaurant is adjacent, and open 24/7. The menu never changes, service ranges from mediocre to indolent. Some offerings are decent, particularly the cebiche de pescado, Peruvian fresh fish ceviche.
Breakfast is absolutely chaotic, served from 4 to 10 am. Tables can be fully occupied, and if staff busses, they usually fail to put down new cutlery and napkins. The breakfast is open buffet, and uncontrolled - if you look foreign you could undoubtedly walk in and eat a free breakfast, because nobody is there area, the sole area one may smoke here.
The "botones" (
bell man) is happy to schlep or store baggage, but can be as hard to find as a bargain at Sak's. Ask the front desk to call him, but be aware he may be hauling a group's luggage to their tour bus or a terminal.
The
room: all rooms are nonsmoking, distributed over seven floors. Your ability to get a 7th floor far-from-elevator room here is negligible if you're with a group; be prepared for floor 2-5 near to elevator. Airport noise is not high with their well-insulated windows (but Limeńos' perpetually sounding car alarms are inescapable) but all in all it's a noisy place with moderate sound proofing and excited groups laughing, shouting and tromping down the halls like Chingis Khan's hordes - many slamming doors as if they were fighting typhoon force gales, and housekeeping banging around at all hours and even ignoring your "Do not disturb" sign to inquire if you need water ($3.50 a bottle) or more towels.
The rooms are stark and basic, glaringly white walls to add to the basic lighting provided - the stuffy, moldy smell is free; turn on bathroom extractor fan and air con as soon as you take occupancy to dissipate some of the smell.
There are a couple of drawers and mini-bar, flatscreen TV and desk area on the long counter opposite the bed/s, provided with 110 and 220 VAC outlets with good markings but identical US / Euro multi plugs. The closet looks like a pantry area, with medium sized safe, hanger, some shelving. Beds are on platforms, with firm mattresses and plenty of pillows. The bedside table has an ancient multi line phone (the one I've in my room is devoid of labeling - it's fallen off), and a clone is in the bathroom. A single light protrudes from the wall, to add to the two ceiling cans.
The
bathroom is equally stark, with an extractor fan and single (inadequate) light. Neutrogena amenities are provided, along with a hair drier, 110/220 VAC, basic and fairly rough toweling, and a tub shower with an extremely slippery floor. It is moderately clean, but there are moldy spots, stains, etc. galore.
Check your bill at checkout; it's common for miscellaneous charges you didn't incur to show up on your final accounting.
Added after checkout: sure enough, at checkout they attempted to charge me in dollars the PEN / Nuevo Sol amount for our ceviches in the bar ($105 instead of ~$35)
.
These folks are like fast sheep shearers at work: very quick to fleece you, leaving you feeling soiled, nicked and cut for the high privilege of sleeping next to the airport and avoiding the absolutely horrible choked traffic that is an integral part of Callao and nearby Lima. It's not a dump; it's serviceable, pricey and genuinely uncaring. Because they can be.
Alternatives:
Manhattan Inn Airport Hotel
168 Jr. Luna Pizarro, Urb. Lá Colonial, Callao, Perú
Tel. +511.464.5811; toll free US: +1.877.854.5470; U.K. 0.808.234.1440
Web:
www.hmanhattan.com; e-mail: reservas <at> hmanhattan.com
Five minutes from LIM, budget hotel with WiFi, restaurant with room service and American breakfast, CTV, fee transportation by arrangement (minimum USD 15.00 for 1 or 2). Bookable online.
Pay Purix Hostel
Ave. Bertello Bolatti, Manzana F Lote 5, Urb. Los Jazmines 1era etapa, Callao, Perú
Tel. +511.484.9118
Web:
www.paypurix.com; e-mail: info <at> paypurix.com
Backpacker hostel, bar and kitchen facilities, breakfast included, can order meals or delivered meals; 4 or 12 person dorms with secure lockers and single, double or triple rooms, fee transfer by arrangement. Online map; walkable.