Hoteles Riviera - Mansión

The rooms were fine, with a comfortable bed, a good shower, and plenty of hot water. From the third floor, we could see the volcanoes, though the view was partly blocked. Breakfast was very basic and could use some improvement, especially the dry, hard bread. The hotel feels a little upscale and sits three blocks from the main plaza, near attractive buildings and restaurants, some with rooftop dining and drinks. For cheaper food, try downtown. There's also a pool and billiard hall.

Gabriela, I think that was her name, recognized the mould on our ceiling and found us another room quickly, with a refund. The front desk's first response was that it wouldn't come off and needed painting. Our shower cabin badly needed cleaning, and some towels were dirty or ragged. One of the small ones even had a hole. The staff were very friendly, and the hotel is charmingly set in one of Arequipa's lovely buildings. At first, it seemed like a solid place. The rooms looked nice too, until we noticed the mould. Breakfast was a real letdown: two dry rolls, a tiny serving of marmalade and one tea or coffee per person. They asked if we wanted scrambled eggs, but didn't come back to see if we needed anything else. It has potential, though it isn't being looked after well.

The room was clean, and I would stay again. It could be an amazing hotel, though, if the shower rail weren't held up with fishing wire and there were heaters for all 20 rooms instead of just five. Breakfast was Andean bread and a plate of scrambled eggs, with no other options.

The elegant building is centrally located, and the balcony has nice views. At night it's noisy, and the room never gets completely dark. It can also feel a bit cold, especially the floor.