We overpaid for this hotel given it was off peak season (Dec - Feb). On arriving at the airport this hotel was being advertised for 35% off and only 50 bucks a night - this would be more in line with what should be paid for this hotel. It is a few blocks from all the action in the mainsquare and not a very nice walk late at night. The staff are friendly but pretty useless. The standard roome are comfortable but overlook the courtyard where breckfast is served from 5am. The surperior rooms are nice however the hotel is reluctant to provide any upgrades even if it is half empty!
If you dont ask for toast with your eggs in the morn you wont get it and dont request reception to make any calls for you (including to confirm your flights) as they will charge far to much for doing so (like 5 dollars a call).
Hotel was fine - I just paid too much for it. If going to Cuzco at this time again I would just play it by ear and not book ahead.
Owner's Reponse
Dear notlongawife, Ireland
I am the owner of the Terra Andina Hotel and I am sincerely sorry that your stay at the Hotel did not meet your satisfaction.
Please allow me to reply to your comments:
1. The off peak season in Cusco does not longer exist. The hotels have the same rate from Jan to Dec. We are fully booked for the next 10 days and with a high occupancy rate till the end of February. You are wrongly advising Trip Advisor's readers by suggestion they could arrive in Cusco with out reservations and play it by ear. Many of them may end up staying in a $25 youth hostel with shared bathroom down the hallway.
2. Our airport add for 35% OFF is only available for same day reservations. We have received many calls from travelers from the airport to request this rate for same day bookings and they have been rejected due to lack of availability. Some of them even showed up at the hotel and we had to look for other means of accommodation for them, some place else.
3. You think that our room is worth $50, our hotel is a Colonial Mansion right in Cusco Historic District, four blocks from the Main Square or Plaza de Armas, half block from San Pedro Square or Plaza San Pedro and we include American buffet breakfast. I have traveled all over the world, visited the five continents and I have never seen a hotel with these characteristics that was worth $50. None of them were under $140
4. I have also read your review of the Ayres de Recoleta Hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina and you say: "We think we paid too much for these apartments given it is Buenos Aires (80 dollar a night)". I have visited this hotel, it is in the fashionable area of La Recoleta and $80 is more than a fair price
5. You say "The staff are friendly but pretty useless". But you do not explain why you qualify them as useless. My wife and I read every single "Hotel Evaluation Form" that guests leave us at check out, and our conclusion is that the most important asset that we have is how accommodating our staff is.
6. You say "The hotel is reluctant to provide any upgrades even if it is half empty!" Do you want the hotel to give you a free room upgrade? Is this what hotels should do? Provide guests with free room upgrades, just for the asking......
7. You say: "If you don't ask for toast with your eggs in the morn you wont get it" Is this your complaint? What if the guest does not want a toast with their eggs? The staff serves the eggs and sausages or pancakes, the other 22 items are self served.
8. like three types of sliced fresh fruit, three types of fresh juice fruit, three types of bread, three types of cereal, three types of yogurt, cheese, jam, butter, tea, coffee, herbal tea and milk are self served.
9. The phone calls do not cost $5 per call. It is clearly stated at the front desk that the local phone calls cost 25 cents per minute.
Tuly your
Jesus Lopez
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