TravelingGnome

I had a TERRIBLE experience at the Sheraton Libertador. I brought a group of my friends (7 rooms between us - three of us Platinums) there and I heartily regret it. Rooms are sub-par, if not terrible. The customer service is downright embarrassing. The neighborhood, as another poster commented, is unsafe and inconvenient. If you've got the funds, stay at the JW Marriott. As far as Cuzco goes, I stayed at the Libertador and loved it! Can't say enought positive things. Got a great rate off the internet.

If you're physically active, I recommend doing the entire Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. I used guides and porters through www.andeanlife.com. I set up a Private Trek for my group. You can also join one of their regularly scheduled tours. It was cheap, everything was first rate, and everything is taken care of. All you need to do is walk (which is a difficult hike at high altitude - so if you're not physically active, don't do it). One of the more beautiful hikes I've ever done.

RTWSTARALLIANCE

My stay will definitely not be at the Sheraton. Thanks.

TK-421

IMHO, Lima is one of the most unimpressive South American cities I've visited. Just keep going on your way to Cuzco, which is a lovely little town. I also highly recommend hiking the Inca Trail rather than taking the bus. You arrive at Machu Picchu hours before the throngs of tourists inundate the site. Watching the sun rise in the Andes and shine first light on Machu Picchu is an image that will stick with me forever.

Here are full trip reports and photo albums from hiking the Inca Trail and arriving at Machu Picchu.

wannagotoo

Bus up the hill to MP-15 min, hiking the Inka trail-3 days. As other posters suggested, there is a possibility of altitude sickness. My most recent trip was with a friend who got dreadfully ill. Oxygen every 15 minutes, coca tea, nothing helped. Finally a doctor came, administered a few injections, and by the morning all was well. Noone knows how they are going to react to the altitude. Cusco is higher than MP so if altitude is a problem it would be better to stay in Aguas Calientes (at the base of MP), and spend less time in Cusco. There are many little hostels very reasonably priced in Aguas Calientes. You can get the first bus up the hill to watch the sun rise over MP.

Schutzee

I spent two nights at the Monestario on my Latin Pass run. I paid something like $200. a night. Very nice hotel, I thought the food was OK. They offfer in room oxygen. This should have been fair warning. I have been at similar altitudes, but never flew in to 10,000 ft. The altitude kicked my butt. I was sick for a full 24 hours. The oxygen really helped. I should have used it sooner. As a result of my altitude sickness, I was unable to take the the chopper to MP (and could't get a refund either). I learned to never under estimate altitude's effect on the human body.

Lima didn't impress me at all.

Swanhunter

Lima is worth a day - good museum and some interesting S American flavours. The Sheraton is very mediocre - think 3rd rate N American property. The Marriott in Miraflores is the nicest option.

ozzie

[QUOTE=cruising]
The Monastery in Cuzco is a stunning hotel, as the name suggests in a former monastery (Orient Express Hotels). If you have time it's as well worth staying one night at the Sanctuary, the only hotel right in Machu Picchu. True, it's expensive, but it allows you to go and see the ruins in the morning before the hordes of tourists arrive.
[QUOTE]

Or you could do the right thing and walk for three days along the Inca Trail.... it's a far far more rewarding experience than catching the train.

hauteboy

[QUOTE=ozzie][QUOTE=cruising]
The Monastery in Cuzco is a stunning hotel, as the name suggests in a former monastery (Orient Express Hotels). If you have time it's as well worth staying one night at the Sanctuary, the only hotel right in Machu Picchu. True, it's expensive, but it allows you to go and see the ruins in the morning before the hordes of tourists arrive.
I wouldn't recommend doing the trek in January though (rainy season); I did this several years ago and we were hiking through clouds/mist the whole time and couldn't see anything. Even MP was cloud covered when we arrived (though luckily it did burn off later that morning). When my roommate went a few years later in July, my jaw dropped when I saw his pictures.. just amazing views on the trail that I didn't know were there.

sonofapilotman

Hey folks - just made plat for SPG need to be in Lima in March - the Sheraton looks iffy but the JW Marriott looks really hot. No status with Marriot however. Any advice on what to book is appreciated! If anyone else knows of a better property please weigh in!

M

hedoman

Unless you need/want to be in the area of the Sheraton, Marriott has the advantage in all departments. Plenty of other nice properties near Marriott.

Pedro M

The Sheraton is in downtown Lima, very close to many of the old churches and buildings (1500's ), the main square, government palace, etc. It is a good place to stay if you are interested in sightseing the "old" Lima as it is within walking distance. The Marriott is much newer and is in Miraflores - not as crowded as downtown, closer to the beaches, nice view of the Pacific Ocean, good restaurants nearby.

TravelingGnome

The Sheraton is absolutely awful and the location is almost as bad as the rooms. I took a group (a bunch of us Platinums) and we were treated like criminals at check out b/c we all had different check out dates. They acutally turned our shuttle around on the way to the airport to dispute the bill and we almost missed our flight.

ajnaro

I agree about the Sheraton, on all counts! The Marriott in Mirafores is the most prestigious foreign hotel in Lima. On a slightly longer stay, I once stayed at an apartment hotel called Suites Antique in a residential neighborhood and enjoyed it very much. It's very easy to get around by 'taxi' (really just private cars that roam the streets) if you can speak Spanish.

billydelp

I'm going to Peru in June any reviews?

platbrownguy

Edit: I saw the link to this on the main page and assumed it was in TravelBuzz! or somewhere, without realizing it's in SPG. I did make some comments about the Lima Sheraton but what does the OP's question have to with SPG? This should probably be moved.

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If you're going on business and restricted to Lima, it highly depends on the weather - I was in Lima in July and while it was sunny and 75 for the most part, the smog did get a bit thick at times. Not too terribly much to do within the confines of the city, though the Stellaris Casino at the JW Marriott does have a comps program, and in addition to a great $2K run at the blackjack table and unlimited Pisco sours (the amazing Peruvian drink), I got a free 4-course meal at the restaurant .


If you're going for pleasure or have some free time, hop a flight to Cuzco and if you have enough time to spend two nights in Cuzco, use your full day to go to Machu Picchu - you won't regret it .

If you're stuck in the Lima area, go to the chapel of San Francisco and take the tour in the underground catacombs (it's like 50 cents). Also make sure to go to some local cevicherias for the awesome fresh ceviche, and check out the cigar shop in the oceanfront mall directly across from the Marriott for good-priced Cubans.

If it's just a short day trip from Lima you're looking for, take a taxi into the hills about 40 minutes out of town for good photo ops.

As far as hotels go, the Sheraton is considerably cheaper than the JW Marriott but when I went they were full, so they accommodated me at the Marriott, and even called me a week in advance to let me know this. I called the Marriott to confirm my booking, who in turn had a limo waiting at the airport for only US$23. I think the Marriott usually runs >$150 a night, but I had paid $45 a night for the Sheraton and paid no extra for the Marriott.

The currency is the nuevo sol and I think it's about US$3 = Sol10... pretty much, everything is dirt cheap. Like, the most-expensive-thing-on-the-menu-is-five-bucks kind of cheap. US dollars are accepted in many places, and are the only currency accepted in the casinos. Many ATMs dispense both USD and Soles.

Anyways, have a great trip!