Samuel's House

Bring earplugs if you're a light sleeper. The walls are thin, so street conversations came through clearly even from our third-floor room. Some people get up around 2am to catch the bus to Machu Picchu. The hotel is less than a five-minute walk from the train station. Our room had basic facilities and was very clean, with comfortable beds and down comforters. Free toiletries are provided, and you can ask the front desk for a hairdryer. It's better than other hostels in the same price range, though payment is cash only.

The front desk staff member was kind and professional. She gave us useful advice about Machiu Picchu and recommended some awesome nearby restaurants. The hot water was great, which is pretty rare in Peru, at least in our trip. Great hotel.

The good points were the location, friendly service, and new, clean rooms. But the windows face the hall, so there isn't fresh air, and the noise is awful. People get up at 4 or 5 a.m. to go to Machu Picchu, and you hear everything. I was really disappointed. The rest is broken, and after a hard day of hiking, I couldn't sleep.

The hosts were happy to help us practice our Spanish, and they speak English too. The place was quiet and clean, and the staff were really friendly. They even kept our bags while we went up to Machu Picchu, which was more help than we expected.