Hotel Sahara Inn

Our room on the second floor was spacious, though there was no lift. We walked to most places, with trips taking anywhere from 15 to 60 minutes depending on where we were going. The beds were a little soft for my taste, since I prefer a firm mattress, but they weren't uncomfortable. There was plenty of street noise, though the whole city was loud, so that's not something the hotel could really control. The building is a bit dated but has the amenities you need. People were friendly and very helpful, even while I patiently tried to use Google Translate because my Spanish isn't great. Breakfast was decent, with limited variety, but seemed pretty standard compared with other places I noticed in Chile. I'd definitely recommend it.

The place was pretty clean, but I still felt unsure about showering there or walking around without shoes or sandals. The rooms are so tiny there's no space for suitcases, and the bathroom only had two towels, with nothing for hands. Probably okay for a single night. Breakfast was toast, really just warm bread, with butter and jam, a tiny quarter-cup of orange juice, and eggs. The woman asked only my dad if he wanted eggs, then brought a portion for him that looked like one egg. When I asked for some too, she looked at me and walked away without bringing any. I took a bite of his, but the eggs were completely cold, even though only 30 seconds had passed since they were put on the table. My dad went to the kitchen to ask if they could microwave them or something, and they gave him a hard time.

I'm fine with the hostel-like setup, especially since the Wi-Fi is really good. It's my first time in South America, so I don't have much to compare it with, but the price is right and the internet is fast. I'm happy.

The reception staff were friendly and helpful, and the location is great. The building is old and could use some care, but it's clean and tidy. There's not much atmosphere, and it's probably best for a stay of three days or less. Breakfast is included, though it varies. There's tea or coffee, with Nescafe sachets, a tiny glass of juice, one egg, marmalade, butter, and three slices of bread. The bread is usually just warmed, and if you're lucky, one side of one slice might actually be toasted. Sometimes they serve the kind of egg you ordered the day before whether you still want it or not. The website says there's laundry service, but they don't offer it. Instead I got a flyer for a laundry place some distance away. There are phones in the rooms, which could be handy. The TVs have cable, but not many channels show programs in English, which seemed unusual compared with other South American countries I've visited.