Originally Posted by KMiami

I don't really know what the stars actually mean. As re the Pueblo, I would put it in a 4 star category - elegant rooms, beautiful grounds and full service restaurants and spa. I know it is expensive and I did pay the $400. The problem is that the other hotels in Aguas Calientes were more like hostals, for which I am too old and spoiled.

In Cuzco, there is more competition for hotels so the prices should be better although I didn't see any decent one under a $100. We wound up at the Monasterio, which was like $300 a night (see "old and spoiled" above) but the Libertador was quite nice and the Novotel looked good.

I still think two nights is better than one at MP - there's just a lot to absorb.

You can buy your train tickets the day before at the station. Most hotel concierge can do it for you as well. I like the Vista Dome for the views. I heard the Hiram Bingham is great but I couldn't see spending the $400. The backpacker train was good for views as well, I was informed by a group of youngsters who used it, and notably cheaper. It's a bring your own food and since the food on the Vistadome was just snacks, it is not a good motivation.

If you have a total of 8 nights, why not consider taking the train to PUNO and seeing Lake Titicaca? It is a long trip - about 8 hours on the train - the lake is incredible and there is an advantage that you could use that train trip as your rest day at high altitude since it pretty well stays at 12k feet.

You would need to organize two nights in Puno to look around the lake.