Hotel Santa Maria

The rooms were nice and the staff were friendly. Best of all, the hotel is just around the corner from Plaza de Armas and close to everything. After a full day visiting sites, it was great not to have to hike uphill to get back to the hotel. I've had to do that before, and this was much better.

The location was amazing for the price, and the staff were lovely and helpful. They arranged for a taxi to meet me at the airport, and the driver was there with a sign bearing my name. During my three nights at Hotel Santa Maria before the Inca Trail Trek, staff made the bed and left a fresh towel each day. My room was simple but clean. Breakfast was very basic, though pretty standard for Cusco. Hot water was unreliable, but at least the water always came on, which hadn't been the case at pricier hotels I stayed in. It got loud, especially on weekends, with a nightclub only a few hundred feet away, so bring earplugs.

Our flights were delayed, so we needed a room quickly, and the service here was incredible. They let us leave our bags for eight hours, printed the documents we needed, and gave us a place to sit in the lobby. The hotel is close to the plaza too. I'd highly recommend it.

I paid 300 soles, or 80 US dollars, a night for two nights through Airbnb. The way Santa Maria presents itself there makes it look like a little jewel, and I was prepared to pay that much because I know we're in Cusco. A short drive outside the city, that amount could get you a mansion. I made a booking mistake and requested one night instead of two. They changed it, but only after I complained to Airbnb several times because the hotel wasn't getting back to me. I should have trusted my instincts and cancelled. When I arrived, an employee showed me a ridiculously tiny room with a little window facing the hallway. I'm rarely one to complain, but I was traveling, sick, and exhausted, and didn't want to drag my luggage around town. I told her I needed another room or I'd cancel. She understood my disappointment and agreed the room didn't match the price, but blamed Airbnb. I think the hotel owner is responsible for how the place is advertised there. She showed me another room, a little better but still not great, and I gave in. I just spent my first night there and didn't sleep a wink. Guests can come in at any hour, but there's no key to get in or out, so they have to ring for the guardian all night. It was Saturday, and music from a nearby nightclub was audible all night too. This morning I saw a much nicer room across from mine that I'm sure I could have afforded. I'm too tired of complaining to move again, but I feel the employee was told to give me one of their worst rooms because I'm single. My impression is the owner would rather reserve the bigger, more comfortable rooms for couples. The room is clean, but that's about it. The towels feel like cardboard, the bathroom is depressing with ugly neon lights, and of course the safe doesn't work.