kodachrome

Hello,
I am off to a business trip to Bogota and Santiago in January.
As the guidebooks available here are not really good on these two areas, I wonder if someone could help me with these two things:
a) I am looking for good (pricey/luxury is fine) hotels in both cities. I want to stay close to the city, preferably where there is a lot of life, cafes, stores, etc. I am not really into malls and international glitz, but would appreciate staying in a more funky area with boutiques. I also like design-ish hotels, not the international hotel style where you wake up and don't really know where you are. I also like outdoor swimming pools :-)
Do you have any suggestions for the two cities?

b) Also, I am looking for nice/interesting things to do. I have about 4-5 hrs of spare time in each city every day, so I can't take huge side trips, but would like to know some really good things I can do during that time. I am somewhat interested in museums, also like shopping, special restaurants, etc. I love flea markets, and I am especially interested in antiques.
I don't really like doing the typically tourist stuff, buying trinkets, etc.
Do you have any special tips for these cities?

Thanks a lot!

Eastbay1K

For Santiago, I'd recommend that you stay in Providencica. Many of the "upscale" hotels are in Las Condes, where you find malls, Harbux, Ruby Tuesday's, Hooters, etc. I always stay at the San Cristobal Tower (the LC part of the Sheraton). It is a short walk to the heart of Providencia (a nice, but not flashy neighborhood) and right up the hill from Bellavista, a sort of bohemian neighborhood which has many cool restaurants, clubs, some shops, in a gentrified area. You are also close cab rides and/or Metro from the city center. (I'll be back there in a week )

gvandora

I'd recommend the hotel Torre Mayor on Av. Ricardo Lyon 322 - Providencia. It's located in the heart of Providencia with plenty to do all around you. There's a metro stop maybe 100m from the hotel door. It's on a beautiful tree lined street.

USAFAN

I second Providencia and Hotel San Cristobal Tower. We had a room with view to the Andes.
In walking distance is a very good (seafood) restaurant called "Aquie Esta Coco", http://www.aquiestacoco.cl/ - reservation requested!!
January is summer-vacation-month in Chile.
Santiago has a pretty "old town": Palacio de La Moneda (President Palace), Plaza de Armas, fish market ...
It's OK to take the Metro, but taxis are not expensive.

flyerLPA

As for Santiago Palacio de La Moneda (President Palace), Plaza de Armas, fish market ...
I did enjoy visiting Santiago

for Bogotá you must visit the Museo del Oro and the Barrio de la Candelaria, BUT go with a taxi known by the hotel. Do not go by yourself