Our trip continued to Arequipa, Peru. We wanted to get away from the western hotel chains for a bit on this trip and since we’d already stayed at a couple of Starwood properties (Westin Lima Convention Center, Palacio del Inka, A Luxury Collection Hotel, Tambo del Inka, A Luxury Collection Hotel) we decided to stay in a local hotel. We found great reviews for the Casa Andina hotel on both Booking.com and TripAdvisor. The pictures and reviews coupled with the pricing and the location made this a no-brainer.
We arrived from Cuzco on the early flight and made it to the hotel before 09h30. Traffic in Arequipa was non-existent. We entered the hotel from the street and walked directly into the beautiful reception area which was bordered by the stunning courtyard. Check-in was very quick and the young woman at the desk was so welcoming – each time we came across her during our stay, she called us by our last names. While it isn’t that hard, recognition by staff while bumming around the property shows me that they care – they put in a little bit of effort to help their guests truly feel welcome.
The room was on the third floor – we took the elevator only twice, once at check-in and again when we were checking out. Carrying the luggage up the stairs wasn’t in our future. The elevators moved at a decent pace, but in general I prefer to take the stairs.
The room wasn’t anything fancy – a small, utilitarian room that fit our needs perfectly.
Small room, but a king sized bed with a small table.
Small seating area – or hat storage, in our case.
An armoire was the only closet in the room. It also housed a mini bar and the safe.
While not luxurious, a perfectly functional and clean bathroom.
Bathroom with ample counter space.
The complementary toiletries
We took our breakfast one day in the hotel and it was perfectly acceptable. I’m not a big breakfast guy, in general. I’m fine with a couple pieces of fruit and some juice. We did use the courtyard lounge area each night of our stay. We sampled the cocktails at the bar and sat in the open courtyard (covered by tenting) while writing post cards or reading up on our next destinations. It was such a quiet and relaxing way to close out the evening each day.
The courtyard lounge at the Casa Andina is a great place to relax and close out a day of vacation.
If our journey takes us back to Arequipa, I would definitely stay at this property again. The combination of the perfect location, wonderful staff and truly relaxing environment was perfect for our short time in the city.
Where do you prefer to stay in Arequipa? What about other cities? What are key points you look for in a hotel?