Hostal Villa Sillar

The rooms were as good as places I looked at that cost twice as much, and I’d stay here again. It’s also good value, with a nice street near the plaza, bars, restaurants, and corner stores. The central location is lively, though the music stopped around 10 pm. The staff are lovely. Breakfast was okay: I wasn’t keen on the microwaved egg, but liked the tea selection.

The staff were friendly and helpful, and the place felt safe and secure. It’s handy for the old town and Santa Catalina Monastery/Convent. The rooms are small but suit the price. Ours was stuffy and hot, with no fan or airflow, and four of us, including our two teenagers, found the low ceiling uncomfortable. Nearby bars and nightclubs could be heard late into the night, sometimes until about 3:30 am. Still, it could be a good place to stay in Arequipa.

We booked two rooms through Booking months ahead, then got a notice two days before arriving that the reservation had been cancelled. Our attempts to contact them through Booking went unanswered, so we called the hotel. They said our card hadn’t been accepted, which seemed hard to believe since Booking had confirmed the reservation and the card had worked at other hotels. They also said every room was booked. It felt as if they cancelled so they could rent the rooms for more during high season. I wouldn’t recommend it.

The beds were pretty good, and the staff were generally attentive, but cleanliness was mediocre at best. There was a soap wrapper in the shower when we arrived, the toilet seat wobbled, and the shower wasn’t very warm and flooded a little. The room lock also felt loose and insecure, like it could be broken into easily. The breakfast space looks lovely in photos, but there was rubbish scattered on the roof of the adjacent building. Breakfast runs from 7 to 8:30 am, an inconvenient time for tourists exploring the city.