Hilton Garden Inn Cusco {PER}

Has anyone stayed at this property? What do you think? If you had breakfast at the hotel, how does it compare to HGIs in the US?
I had breakfast here the last morning I stayed there. They had some things available via a buffet and alot of made to order items including omelets and waffles.
The one downside to the property is the location. Its located 5 blocks from the main square but 5 blocks uphill of the square. Getting to the square is not an issue but getting back to the hotel is hike.

Room booked: cheapo standard 2 double beds (~$90)
Room received: upgraded city view room 2 double beds
This is a nice new property with a fantastic breakfast buffet. Our room was on the main floor, rooms beginning with a 0. Floors 1 – 3 are actually lower than the main floor with 3 being the lowest, so the hotel floors essentially go backwards.
Made to order eggs, tamales on offer, tons of fresh bread and pastries, cold cuts/cheese/olives, fresh juices, and lots of staff milling around. Also, noticed in my Hilton account I got 1,000 bonus points for this stay for trying a new Latin American HGI.




Location
Around 20 minutes from the airport. Paid 30 Soles going there and fixed price from hotel of 17 soles going back.
Hotel is located above the main town and Square which in theory is nice as it affords good views but if you are in poor shape or not used to the altitude it could be a fairly strenuous walk. I refused to take a taxi back as the walk is up a nice street albeit steep. Plenty of laundry and restaurants on way down to town. It took me around 10 minutes going to get Main plaza but a few more minutes coming back!!
Hotel
Was very impressed for a Garden Inn. Always upgraded to Scenic view and was always addressed at front desk as "Mr ESFLYER95". Staff were the thing that impressed me most about hotel especially at breakfast. Room fairly typical HGI rooms.
The courtyard is area and was lovely to sit out after breakfast with coffee and never busy. Breakfast itself is a decent spread. Made to order eggs. The drip coffee it vile but if you ask they will make espresso but they don't offer it. Not sure if was free because of diamond or not.
Overall good stay and would recommend if you are hilton loyalist in Cusco if not, stay down in the town at JW or one Luxury Collection. I have photos but not much different from krazykanuck above.
I can only concur with all the positive comments on the premises regarding staff, breakfast (offered from 5am-10am!) and the courtyard.
Received a good upgrade to one of the big rooms on lobby level, wich paradoxically is the highest level and, therfore has the best city views.
Yes it is a bit of a hike up and back into town (especially for us as we both had knee surgery a few months ago!). However a taxi to/from Plaza de Amas can be had for 5 soles, so no big deal!
My only peeve would be that they did not replace/replenish the bottled water in the room during our stay. I enquired at reception whether this had been an oversight only to be told "water is only provided for the first night..."
A bit petty IMOH, and the first time this has happened us in Peru over the last twelve days, where we have stayed at three other places, each for more than two or three nights. Again no big deal, you can get bottled water at the supermarket on the way to/from town for 1,30 soles!
Hilton Garden Inn Cusco
Santa Ana Avenida Abancay 2017 Cusco, Peru PE 00000















Good hotel and Friendly staff (5 Photos)
Hilton Garden Inn Cusco
Location
The hotel is located above a hill about15-20 mins from the main square of the historical center. From the square it is a about 50% flat surface and 50% climb. The hotel is located in the Santa Ana quarters with a nice church nearly opposite the hotel and just behind the hotel, some local shops and lots of hostels and travel agencies and laundry shops.
Check In
Arrived just before midday and there was just only another person at the front desk. I was helped immediately by a very friendly associate. After going through the normal registration process (always a long one in Peru hotels), I was informed that I was upgraded to a city view room. After checking if the room was ready, I was lucky that the room was already ready. I was given a quick run down of my benefits as an elite member and than it was off to my room.
The lobby if very inviting and there is in the morning period a nice serving of coca tea.
Room
The room was located on the 3rd floor (down 2 floors from the hotel) and facing the courtyard of the hotel which is perfect place to enjoy after a busy day. The bar/lounge and hotel restaurant is located on the same floor. You have a great view of the city from this courtyard.
The windows of the room are actually quite small, so there is not really much 'view' even if you have a city view room. You have to be really at the windown to see down towards the historical center and depending on your location, you might be able to see the main square.
Room was spacious and clean. The room had tea/coffee making facilities and upon arrival 2 bottles of water (not replenished - normal policy of the hotel).
Bathroom was ok with a good walk in shower with good temperature and pressure.
Wifi reception and speed was OK. The only small improvement would be the temperature control unit, it seems to be both sensor movement sensitive (so it activates when you are in the room and moving about) and you can change the temperature. But other than that, according to the unit, the control is mainly directly based on the hotel. During my stay, since it was just turning from winter to spring, the it was initially set up quite warm, and strangely on the 1st night, despite setting it down to 12 deg C, it was just kept blowing out warm air. However on the following days, still keeping it at the lowest temperature, it did not activate (which was good since the blast noise was quite high) anymore and the room was nice and cool.
Service
All the associates that I encountered were all very friendly and helpful. They are always ready to help. The same for the breakfast and bar staff.
One of the outstanding staff were the housekeeping staff, they do help to keep the room tidy, for example, after the first night, after leaving cables and wire around the tables and some sweater on chairs, after coming back later that evening, the cables were all nicely wounded up and sweater hung nicely around the chair. I had only expected this especially in countries like Japan or Korea, so I was very impressed with such detailed to attention.
Dining
Breakfast at the hotel was served from 5am until 10am which is very impressive for a non-airport property. I guess this is to accommodate the number of guests that leaves most of the days early for their different activities around the area.
The breakfast staff are friendly and helpful. The variation of food is ok, with 4-5 different hot dishes. One good thing, which might not be a liking to all, is that they do serve local hot dishes. There is a good variaty of bread and pastries available. There is an egg station available. During my stay, I have never really seen the breakfast room to be crowded and if you are up later in the morning when the temperature rises, you can have your breakfast in the courtyard too.
Overall
In general a very solid good HGI property. Outside of the climb when coming back from town, the other aspects of the hotel is very good especially with the friendly staff. I would not hesitate to return to this property if I am in the area again.

If I fly in directly to Cuzco (from the USA via LIM) what is a good number of nights at this property?
Is it walk-able to the center of Cuzco town or too steep in 1 direction or the other?
Also, it is worth basing here to go to Machu Picchu or better to shift closer to the Marriott property, Tambo del Inka? I didn't see anything else in the Hilton family
If I fly in directly to Cuzco (from the USA via LIM) what is a good number of nights at this property?
Is it walk-able to the center of Cuzco town or too steep in 1 direction or the other?
Also, it is worth basing here to go to Machu Picchu or better to shift closer to the Marriott property, Tambo del Inka? I didn't see anything else in the Hilton family
Number of nights depends on what you plan to see while in Cusco. If you are visiting MP, Sacred Valley and other sites maybe 5 nights/4days minimum.
Can’t say about MP as I stayed in Ollantaytambo for 2 nights when I went to MP, staying at the hotel in the railway station, great food, no need to get up at 3 am in Cusco plus see local sites. But that was 10 years ago, I skipped MP this time. Just make sure you have your MP tickets and transport booked in advance, I met someone on my trip in Cusco who thought he could book on arrival in Cusco and could not get tickets.
Last edited by tobegold; Jun 18, 22 at 9:30 am