The Inns At Valparaiso

We stayed here for a week before leaving on our Panama cruise. Jorge, the owner, and his staff couldn't do enough for us from arranging for a tour guide to recommending places to go and places to eat. The inn was extremely clean, service was excellent, and the view from the top was magnificent. The home cooked breakfast was great and plentiful.

Would highly recommend

The place is simply fantastic ... inasmuch you manage to get the room you reserved. The day we arrived, they could not honour our reservation (though we had made redundant confirmations by mail), and they sent us to their Vina del Mar residence; this is more a kind of youth hostel, without any service available; it should be avoided.

We discovered the day after that the same adventure happened to another disappointed couple.

After a night at Vina del Mar and some phone calls, they repatriated us to the Robinson Crusoe Inn, where we enjoyed a superb breakfast.

My conclusion : stay at Robinson Crusoe Inn, but make sure (how ?) that your reservation has been properly registered.

What a fabulous getaway! The rooms were beautiful, the view breathtaking and the customer service was without compare. The luscious breakfast prepared each morning was fit for royalty. I highly recommend Robinson Crusoe Inn to anyone wishing for an escape from the rigors of daily living.

The Robinson Caruso Inn in Valparaiso is the best place in town. First, it is immaculate and the host, Jorge, is an exceptional and very honorable man. Also, he is friendly, helpful and gracious. Having lived in the USA and served in the military, his Engish is great. The two maids who cleaned our room and served us breakfast each morning were a delight. They did such a great job we left them a very large tip.

The Inn does not have an elevator, but can accommodate guests with mobility problems if they can manage one or two steps. In winter, and for guests with mobility problems, breakfast is served on the main floor. In summer breakfast is served upstairs, on the third floor, in the huge solarium. The view from the solarium is magnificent and shows off the wonderful coast and the port.

The Inn is located in a clean, safe, residential area. However, there are some things the traveler should be aware of. During the week it is quiet; but on Saturday, the kids and neighbors are up and noisy till 1am. I'm a light sleeper and had trouble sleeping that night; other guests seemed unaffected. Also, at the time we were there, several guests, us included, indicated there was a problem getting hot water to the showers. We alerted the host and the maids tampered with it until it came. Jorge indicated he was in the process of getting the matter resolved, and I believe him. Finally, the Robinson Caruso has no safes; however, we gave Jorge our valuables for safekeeping and had no trouble whatever. He scroupulously had us make a list of everything we gave him, verified it before he took it, and verified it again when he returned it to us.

Three things to mention: (!) You must pay your bill in cash, US currency or Euros. (2) Though the website indicates there is a king size bed available, in fact, there are only queens. If two people register on the web, as we did, you get 2 queen size beds. (3) Jorge only takes reservations on the web; he accepts no walk-ins. His web address is robinsoncarusoinn@hotmail.com.

All in all, I would not hesitate to return to the Robinson Caruso, or to recommend it highly.

An eclectic and stylish hotel that doesn't actually feel like a hotel. It is beautifully designed and has the most wonderful conservatory-style space covering the whole of the top floor, with the most incredible views over the city and harbour. Jorge the owner, is the friendliest and most hospitable host one could wish for, who cooks the most fantastic breakfasts! The location of the hotel is also superb - it is close to the action yet manages to be an oasis of calm away from the bustle of port life.

The Robinson Crusoe Inn was a wonderful find. It is beautifully decorated, clean, quiet and comfortable. The 360 view from the rooftop terrace is magnificent. The proprietor, Jorge Yavar, cooks a succulent breakfast each day--smoothie, omelette, cheesecake, fresh brewed coffee, homemade rolls, fruit cocktail is the normal fare--included in the price.

The Inn is only a short walk from the ascensor Espirito Santo--one of the 14 charming hillside elevators that take you to downtown Valparaiso.

I highly recommend this accommodation.

Upon arriving at the Robinson Crusoe I was amazed at the interior and its southwestern feeling. Jorge has really done a wonderful job giving it a personal feel and he recieved us very well. The most outstanding part of the stay was the handmade breakfast served on the terrace or in the dining room, it was delicious and enough to fill us up until dinner! We spent many an hour on that rooftop terrace taking in the breathtaking 360 degree view, (on a clear day we saw all the way to the Andes!). In Valparaiso there is no avoiding a walk, and being up on the hillsides one can really appreciate the coastline and the unique construction of the houses that is the city's signature. There was even an elevator called "Espitiru Santo" to help us up the hillside. Everything in the city was within a ten minute walk and there was plenty of public transportation in the city center to get to other cities, shopping, and tourist sites as well as restaurants and bars.

The Robinson Crusoe Inn is a pearl of Valparaiso. It has incredibly interesting interiors, custom architecture, and the decorations looking more like museum of South American anthropology than a hotel. Unbelievable! It is located high in the hills with fantastic views of the city and the ocean, stretching for many miles. It is also within the "outdoor gallery" of traditional homes painted by famous artists in spectacular colors. A walking distance from Pablo Neruda home. The breakfasts have to be eaten to be believed: a huge never-ending fiesta of extraordinary culinary dishes. The omelet alone would suit royalty in the best world restaurants. Huge portions of fresh fruits and hand made pastries. The coffee matched the best there is. This breakfast would cost $200 at Waldorf and here it was included in the price. Last but not least: the owner, Jorge Yavar, a charming native Chilean gentleman who lived and worked as a businessman for 20 years in the U.S., speaks English fluently, and serves as the most gracious host and guide to this most beautiful of South American cities and the environments. Do not waste your stay on the U.S. corporate hotels, go to the Robinson Crusoe Inn.

We visited in June and certainly by then we had no problems paying with a credit card. Out of season it was fairly quiet, indeed we were the only ones there one night.However Jorge and his staff were hospitable and friendly. The location is excellent at the top of ascensor Espiritu Santu but given Valparaiso's geography walking is inevitable. Jorge cooked for us one night and there were good restaurants nearby, we tried Cafe Turri and El Gatto Tuerto [3 mins walk]. We had the best room but some did seem smaller without bathrooms. All looked spotlessly clean. I would certainly stay again and given my experience of hotels in the area would recommend it above most. One downside, few taxi drivers knew where it was so expect some trips around the houses. Enjoy, safe travelling

Over rated. When we got there we learned they only took cash and travelers checks. Only two rooms the suites had bathrooms in the rooms. The location was okay if you like to walk which we do, but I was disappointed overall with the price and quality. I thought it was about $30 over priced.