Hotel Golden Inca

The staff were friendly and greeted us politely, but that didn't make up for how neglected the hotel felt. We stayed three nights, and on the way out the manager asked about our stay. I briefly mentioned the mold on the comforter, the dirty floor, and the toilet paper problem. He said we could have called reception for replacements, but basic standards shouldn't require guests to ask. He also showed me awards from Viator and other travel sites. After this stay, I'd take those with a grain of salt. I'd suggest reading the negative reviews, especially from people who've traveled before and know what a decent hotel should be like. The room wasn't clean: the comforter had black mold, and the floor left black marks on our socks. There's no elevator, so carrying luggage upstairs was a hassle. They ration toilet paper to one small roll per room. You can ask for more, but we brought our own and later bought more at a nearby shop. That shouldn't be necessary. The breakfast was extremely limited, even though it was advertised as included. You could pick one egg, one pancake, or a tiny one-egg omelet with a slice of ham. Anything else cost extra. I ordered six additional items to get a normal meal, and they charged for every one. It felt like they were cutting every corner. The location also caused trouble. The hotel describes itself as a short walk from Plaza de Armas, but it took us 25 to 30 minutes on foot at a decent pace. We had to use Uber or taxis for everything, which made exploring central Cusco frustrating. We booked on our travel agent's recommendation as an affordable, reasonably comfortable choice for our group of six. It was a major disappointment. On an earlier Cusco trip, my wife and I stayed at San Agustín El Dorado Hotel on Avenida El Sol, a couple of blocks from the Plaza. It was clean, comfortable, and professionally run, with a full breakfast buffet, and wasn't much more expensive. The difference was huge. We walked over to see it again this time, but it was fully booked or we would have switched right away. This place may look like a deal, but it wasn't worth the money. I usually don't post reviews, but this stay disappointed me enough to do so.

For the price, it's a decent hotel. The bed is comfortable, the room gets cleaned daily, and there are free coca leaves and tea on every floor. Breakfast is varied and good, with something different each day. My one complaint is the packed breakfast: it only has juice, an apple, and crackers. A sandwich would be better for guests heading out early on all-day tours.

We ended up staying four nights. The beds were comfortable, the shower stayed hot, and breakfast was decent, with five catered choices as well as the usual bread, jam, fruit, tea, and coffee. You can have the rooms cleaned daily, and the walk into town isn't too long. The staff were kind, and for the value I'd recommend it in Cusco, as long as you aren't expecting frills. I was a little disappointed when we first arrived. The street isn't very nice, and our basement room felt dark and depressing.

The hotel's historic center is an easy 10-minute walk away. Our room was spacious and very clean, and breakfast had plenty of high-quality choices that changed each day. The staff were remarkably attentive and kind. I especially want to mention Richard Cruz Castro. I arrived much earlier than planned after a long journey, and he helped get a room ready so I could rest without charging extra. He also arranged takeaway breakfasts for my early excursions. His dedication really stood out.