LOFT Hotel by Sommelier Hoteles

I loved staying here. They can arrange early check-in and late checkout for a small fee. It’s very close to Cerro St.Lucia, the subway, and shopping centers. I’d definitely stay again when I come back to Chile :)

My partner and I booked this hotel for our last stay in Chile after traveling around South America. We thought it would be a nice treat before our long flight home, but check-in was difficult. There was a language barrier, though Google Translate could have helped with anything hard to communicate. We were told we needed to pay a deposit on top of the room charge, which we understood. Neither of our cards went through, even though we had money on them. They said there was an internet problem affecting the card reader, but it was made to seem like our fault. The receptionist asked us to get cash from an ATM, but only told us the deposit amount, not the full amount we needed to withdraw. As foreigners, the withdrawal fee was expensive, exactly $16 AUD. We came back expecting to get our room, but then she still wanted us to pay the room charge by card. Since the server was clearly down, we asked if we could pay later. She refused and told us to withdraw more cash, which would mean another fee. By then we were frustrated and left to find somewhere else to stay. It made no sense to withdraw more money and pay another fee. I’d advise the hotel to tell guests the full amount they’ll need at check-in, so this doesn’t happen. We know these issues can come up, but if you want guests to have a pleasant stay, please be more considerate and flexible. Most of us just want to rest after long days of travel, and we’re honest and willing to pay. P.S. Our cards worked at the next place we went.

For the money, this was the best value of the places we tried. The rooms and bathroom were super clean and nice, and we didn’t have any noise problems despite reading about noise beforehand. The entrance and checkout process felt safe and well managed. It’s near some cool spots, with a good brunch place downstairs.

The service was practically nonexistent, and I found the area very dangerous. I’ve lived in Brazil, so I’m not easily scared, but at night you’re stuck in the room. At check-in, they charged us more because we wanted to pay in local currency instead of dollars. At checkout, they tried to charge us extra because a towel had a stain they said couldn’t be cleaned. I went to the room and got the stain out with water. I asked for soap, but they wouldn’t give me any and brought window cleaner instead, saying that’s all they use to clean rooms, which is worrying. I finished cleaning the towel with water alone. They tried everything to find a stain, even holding the towel up to the light, but couldn’t see one. Eventually they agreed to return the deposit. The people handling this didn’t seem willing to work and also came across as scammers.