I travel a ton but I never tire of the hunt for a terrific hotel, the sort of place that makes you…read morefeel like you're temporarily local even though you're many thousands of miles away from home.
For months I had my eye on the Aubrey in Santiago, Chile. From the pictures it seemed to be an unpretentious rustic retreat with plenty of good design sense in a prime location. I loved the look of the pool (though I knew I was unlikely to make use of it since I was visiting in winter) and the piano lounge where they enticed me with the promise of complimentary Chilean pisco sours for hotel guests (I love little extras).
When I arrived last month for a one night stay the Aubrey showed itself to be just exactly what I was after. The entire staff is super nice, yet also relaxed. The folks at breakfast are some seriously cheerful people (especially at such early hours) and will whip you up toast and eggs with all manner of accoutrements: avocado, tomato, mushroom, bacon. There's also tea, coffee, cake, fruit, meats, cheeses and cereals. And best of all, this breakfast of champions is included in the room rate (love that)!
The Aubrey is well located in the culturally dense neighborhood that is Bellavista. Here you'll find no shortage of restaurants and when you're not eating, you can visit La Chascona, Pablo Neruda's famous home, or climb up to the top of San Cristóbal Hill to take in the view.
I came back again this month for a longer stay and got severely delayed on my way. The kind folks at the Aubrey rescheduled my transfer from the airport and welcomed me warmly when I finally arrived. We hired the piano lounge for two days of a media tour and were accommodated handsomely. When I showed up sick on the second day and said I was cold they brought it a fire (I kid you not) to warm me up. They also made me a teapot full of hot toddy which helped me power through.
In sum, if you're coming to Santiago and want to stay in an intimate boutique hotel in a bohemian neighborhood the Aubrey is it.
NOTES FOR BUSINESS TRAVELERS
- The wifi works well (and there's just one password for all of your devices).
- Power outlets are not conveniently placed in rooms (mildly annoying).
- Cabs are fairly easy to get nearby; airport transfer to the hotel is reliable (this is a good option if you've never been to Santiago).
- It can be loud, if you're a really light sleeper the ambient neighborhood noise may be problematic.