Cusco: Novotel Cusco (August 2005)

This hotel provides a great value. We stayed here for several nights after staying at the Monasterio on our first night (and the Sanctuary Lodge in between). While the Monasterio was superb, the Novotel was quite nice and an excellent value for the money ($225 less per night). We stayed in the colonial section (as opposed to the modern section, so we had an up-charge of about $20 per night), which I would highly recommend. We had a room with a sitting area, king-size bed, table and chairs, desk, large bath, cathedral beamed ceiling, hardwood floors, and a balcony (one of only two in the whole hotel, I think). Rooms have a mini-bar, TV (tons of channels), individual climate control. Breakfast is included, and is more extensive than the typical continental breakfast (several hot foods available). The glass-enclosed lobby area is really pretty, with sofas and chairs for relaxing and small tables for dining (I didn't see any photos of this courtyard online or on the hotel website, which is so surprising because it is the hotel's best feature). Live entertainment is provided each evening, and there is a bar and two shops (one alpaca, one jewelry). There is an outdoor garden area, which is pretty, but didn't have any tables or chair to sit and enjoy the weather. There is also a bar with two computers for internet access. The location was good, only about 2.5 blocks from the Plaza de Armes (a very quick walk), and it felt safe. The only potential pitfall is that the street that the hotel is on is very narrow and also one-way, so there wasn't anywhere for our driver/tour guide to wait for us directly in front of the hotel. They had to park about 1/2 block away (not a problem), and each day when we met them, they had received a parking ticket (which cost them about $50 per time). But don't let that one negative item sway you--this hotel was very nice for the price and I would definitely stay there again.