Stay Report: Crowne Plaza Santiago (Chile, January 2010)

Stay Report: Crowne Plaza Santiago
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photo courtesy of IHG

I was visiting Santiago de Chile for a couple of days, so when looking for a hotel I was interested in one that was central to key areas with easy access to interest points.  I picked the Crowne Plaza because it was a nice hotel that was convenient to various access points.  First impressions of the hotel are not that great, as from the outside the hotel does not look updated.  The hotel is very tall but not very wide and the entrance to the hotel is not grand.  The main entrance to the hotel is located up on a small hill, and once inside the hotel looks very nice and well decorated.  I made my way to the check-in desks, received my key, and went to my room. 

photo courtesy of IHG

I had booked a room with two double beds, and first impressions were that the room was spacious and had a nice, relaxed atmosphere.  As you enter, on the right-hand side was the bathroom while on the left was a closet that contained shelves for storage, an iron, and an ironing board.  The bathroom looked updated, was a decent size, and contained a sink, a bathtub, and toilet.  As you progressed further into the room, against the right-side wall were the beds.  The beds were very large and comfortable, and they provided a really good night’s sleep.  In between the beds was a nightstand.  Across from the beds, against the left-side wall, was a bench to sit/store your luggage, a chest with drawers on the bottom and the TV on top, as well as a desk.  The desk faced the wall but was also next to the window which went across the wall and provided really nice views and also let natural light in the room.  Overall, it was a nice and comfortable room.

photo courtesy of IHG

The hotel is a full-service hotel so there are many facilities available including a rooftop pool, the fitness center, a spa, a restaurant, and complimentary wifi.  I was able to try a couple of facilities including the pool – there was both an indoor and outdoor pool – and they were a decent size, not large but not too small either; the fitness center which provided a good workout; and I also tried the massage at the spa, which was good but the massage room was a bit small and oddly located.  In addition to the amount of facilities available at the hotel, another reason I selected the hotel was the location.  Walking distance from the hotel was a nice area of restaurants and bars, as well as some of the main attractions.  Also nearby to the hotel were shops and an ATM machine. 

Overall, the hotel provided a nice and convenient place to rest, with comfortable beds and easy access to points of interest.  While outside the hotel did not look like much, the updated inside as well as convenient walking access to many amenities made it a nice stay in Santiago.