Motto by Hilton Cusco

If you're coming to Cusco, Peru, seriously, avoid this Hilton-affiliated hotel! I arrived at the hotel yesterday around 11 AM, only to be woken up at 5 AM by the cold. My child and I were both sneezing and had runny noses; we’d caught a cold from the freezing temperatures. Luckily, we left Cusco that afternoon, otherwise, being sick at this altitude would have been a real problem. I’ve heard other guests had equally bizarre experiences here. Some arrived at 9:30 AM, and even with available rooms, the front desk demanded an extra 90 soles for early check-in. Otherwise, they'd have to wait until noon. They explained to the front desk that they'd be checking out at 6 AM the next day, so there was no point in waiting or paying extra, but Hilton refused. Many seasoned travelers say they've never encountered such ridiculous policies anywhere else in the world. Some might argue that this isn't a true Hilton but rather a Hilton-affiliated guesthouse, implying one shouldn't expect much. But let me tell you, there's also a Hilton Garden Inn in Cusco, and the prices aren't that different. The only advantage of this hotel is its proximity to Plaza de Armas, while the Hilton Garden Inn is 1.1 kilometers up a steep hill. At an altitude of 3400 meters, that climb is too much for many people. Cusco's old town is over 3400 meters above sea level. Daytime temperatures reach 20°C, but at night, they plummet to just 2°C. Yet, the heating at this Hilton hotel isn't available all day. It only turns on at 9 PM and shuts off at 5 AM. At 5 AM, temperatures are between 2-5°C, and many guests, myself included, were woken up by the cold. What's worse, each room's heating is individually controlled by the front desk. After a while, they'd turn it off, and often the staff would forget to turn it back on or intentionally leave it off to save electricity. On top of that, the hotel is incredibly noisy. It's located right at the bottom of a 35-degree steep hill, so vehicles constantly rev their engines to get up the incline, creating a deafening roar all night long. The rooms are also tiny, and even after taking the elevator, you still have to walk up stairs and across several landings to reach your room, which feels very cramped. The hotel also doesn't provide disposable toothbrushes, slippers, or bottled drinking water. I sincerely advise anyone planning a trip to Cusco, Peru, to steer clear of this Hilton-affiliated hotel.

The front desk staff were very friendly and responsible. The hygiene was excellent, and while the room was small, it had everything we needed.

The hotel is located in downtown Cusco, a 10-minute walk from Plaza de Armas, with many restaurants and currency exchange offices nearby. The rooms are clean and tidy, but you can hear some traffic noise from the street-facing rooms.