Cilene del Faro Suites & Spa

The spa pool downstairs in the basement was nice. The suite was spacious, and breakfast was okay.

The reception team helped make our brief time in Ushuaia memorable. Right after we arrived, they suggested activities and restaurants, then checked availability and booked a boat trip for us that same afternoon. Check-in on Dec 21st was smooth, and the service made a huge difference to our stay. We had an outstanding experience, and really appreciated their hospitality.

We enjoyed having an apartment and the freedom to eat in. Restaurants in Ushuaia felt expensive, with European level prices and food that was average at best. Maybe the cruise ships in port explain the high prices. We saw 5-7 ships each day in February, with lots of American and Asian visitors. For a meal, U sushi is just around the corner. Patagonia Brewery on the seafront is about a five minute walk, and its KM3 beer was my favorite. In winter, there’s also a ski area 20kms away, with a few slopes, and you can rent gear in town. The apart hotel is at the far end of town, roughly a five minute walk from the harbour. Shops, bars, and restaurants are on the street behind it. There’s an Anonima supermarket at either end of the main street, and the one at the town entrance is bigger. The clothing shops selling brands like Quicksilver and North Face were massively overpriced. The hotel sits on a slope, with roads along the front and side, and cars revving uphill. The windows don’t block much sound. We were in a front room overlooking the road and sea, but being high up and set back kept the noise manageable. If you’re not used to city noise, ask for a quieter room away from the road. Our fourth floor, one bedroom apartment was bright and airy, with a side view of the bay. An extra bed for our daughter was set up in the lounge and dining area. The bedroom had a double bed and an ensuite bathroom with a bath and shower overhead. There was plenty of hot water, and towels, soap, shampoo, and conditioner were supplied. A door separated it from the lounge and dining space, which had a sofa, coffee table, dining table, and four chairs. The kitchenette included a full size fridge freezer, sink, two electric rings, microwave, dishes and cutlery, some pans and utensils, a coffee maker, toaster, and kettle. The decor was basic, about 3* by British standards, but everything was spotless and the bed linen smelled lovely. Lighting was bright, and we liked being able to adjust the wall radiators ourselves. They worked with a gas boiler and adjustable thermostat in the kitchen. There were useful coat hooks by the door for wet jackets, and plenty of plugs, including beside the beds. The bedroom blackout curtains worked well. The white lounge curtains let in all the light, though that didn’t bother our daughter. Breakfast was included and served in the basement. There were no windows, but it was brightly lit. It was self service: tea, pre brewed coffee, two kinds of juice, two cereals, two yoghurts, brown or white bread or baguettes, croissants, a small selection of cakes, one kind of ham and one kind of cheese. Scrambled eggs and frankfurter style sausages were the only hot food. The basement also has a very small pool, hot tub, and sauna. The staff were friendly and helpful, and the reception area had comfortable seats, a coffee machine that you pay to use, and a filtered water dispenser that’s free. We had a good stay and liked the flexibility the apartment offered.

The rooms are plain rather than fancy, but ours was clean and worked well as a base for a few days. The location is great, and the front desk staff were always terrific to deal with. Breakfast was simple, but fine for starting the day. The area was kept clean, and the person looking after it was really nice to us. I’d definitely stay here again.