If you finished a cruise in Santiago….

[SophieM]

Did you stay over there, or possibly in Valparaiso? I’d love to hear your thoughts or recommendations for hotels or tours. Thanks!

[SophieM]

I guess I have also said or started there. 🙃

[makai 7]

After the end of a cruise from Rio, we spent two nights in Valparaiso and hired a private guide for 3 days ( this was probably 10 years ago).  Toured the coast and Valparaiso, went to several vineyards in different regions, ate in some wonderful restaurants.  It was a great way to finish the trip.

 

first time we started in Santiago and spent one night pre cruise there, and had a local tour prior to going to the port.  Also very nice.

 

i can share more info if you like.

[SophieM]

6 minutes ago, makai 7 said:

After the end of a cruise from Rio, we spent two nights in Valparaiso and hired a private guide for 3 days ( this was probably 10 years ago).  Toured the coast and Valparaiso, went to several vineyards in different regions, ate in some wonderful restaurants.  It was a great way to finish the trip.

 

first time we started in Santiago and spent one night pre cruise there, and had a local tour prior to going to the port.  Also very nice.

 

i can share more info if you like.

That would be great—thanks!

[PaulMCO]

Since flights leave in the evening you should arrange something.  Santiago is not the best of airports to spend the day.

 

We used a Tour By Local Guide -- did a wine tour with a nice lunch on the drive to Santiago.

Dropped off at a hotel (Marriott) and then next day did a tour of the city with a drop off around 7pm for our flight home.

Edited March 21, 2023 by PaulMCO

[SophieM]

1 minute ago, PaulMCO said:

Since flights leave in the evening you should arrange something.  Santiago is not the best of airports to spend the day.

 

We used a Tour By Local Guide -- did a wine tour with a nice lunch on the drive to Santiago.

Dropped of at a hotel (Marriott) and then next day did a tour of the city with a drop off around 7pm for our flight home.

Thank you!

[Hanoverian]

At the end of our around-South America cruise in 2019, and before beginning a three day land tour, we stayed at the Sheraton Miramar Hotel & Convention Center, Viña del Marr.  Very nice hotel with a fabulous outdoor patio and bar overlooking the sea shore.  The patio was a great place to sip a     Chilean Pisco Sour or three and watch the waves break on shore.  Good restaurant, as well. 

 

[koolforkatz]

We were in Valparaiso for 4 nights in January and stayed at the Winebox Hotel which is a hotel made of converted shipping containers. The staff were great. We had a fabulous breakfast that was included, a great rooftop bar and balconies that looked out onto the water. It is a very casual, funky place, though, so if you're looking for a North American type hotel, this wouldn't be it. We also had to uber too (very plentiful and cheap) to go out at night.

 

You might want to try looking for accommodation in the Cerro Alegre area. Lots of nice boutique type places to stay there, fabulous restaurants and colourful murals on just about every building you see. It's a beautiful area. I would recommend Casa Galos Hotel. We had a look around inside it on a previous trip to Valparaiso and a group of us made bookings to stay there pre-Covid but then, of course, that never happened. Fauna Restaurant is really good; we ate there twice this trip.

 

And if you need a great tour operator or transportation I would recommend Michael the German Pirate - we have used him on two trips now.

 

Edited March 21, 2023 by koolforkatz

[shepherd really]

8 minutes ago, koolforkatz said:

We were in Valparaiso for 4 nights in January and stayed at the Winebox Hotel which is a hotel made of converted shipping containers. The staff were great. We had a fabulous breakfast that was included, a great rooftop bar and balconies that looked out onto the water. It is a very casual, funky place, though, so if you're looking for a North American type hotel, this wouldn't be it. We also had to uber too (very plentiful and cheap) to go out at night.

 

You might want to try looking for accommodation in the Cerro Alegre area. Lots of nice boutique type places to stay there, fabulous restaurants and colourful murals on just about every building you see. It's a beautiful area. I would recommend Casa Galos Hotel. We had a look around inside it on a previous trip to Valparaiso and a group of us made bookings to stay there pre-Covid but then, of course, that never happened. Fauna Restaurant is really good; we ate there twice this trip.

 

And if you need a great tour operator or transportation I would recommend Michael the German Pirate - we have used him on two trips now.

 

A bunch of useful information, I'll be coming into Santiago next February.

 

But honestly I just wanted to tell you your doodle is beautiful and looks a lot like mine. ♥️

[koolforkatz]

2 minutes ago, shepherd really said:

But honestly I just wanted to tell you your doodle is beautiful and looks a lot like mine. ♥️

 

Awww, thanks. That's our Jack 🥰 The only not great thing about going on holidays. Doodles are the best, aren't they?

[shepherd really]

Just now, koolforkatz said:

 

Awww, thanks. That's our Jack 🥰 The only not great thing about going on holidays. Doodles are the best, aren't they?

Yup, they are pure concentrated sweetness with some silly thrown in.

[SophieM]

18 minutes ago, shepherd really said:

Yup, they are pure concentrated sweetness with some silly thrown in.

We have Elvis, the cockapoo, or is it the cockadoodle?? Jack could be a brother from another mother—or dad—to Mr. Elvis. 
 

Shep, are you on the Marina ending in Santiago Feb. 14?

[shepherd really]

42 minutes ago, SophieM said:

We have Elvis, the cockapoo, or is it the cockadoodle?? Jack could be a brother from another mother—or dad—to Mr. Elvis. 
 

Shep, are you on the Marina ending in Santiago Feb. 14?

I'll be embarking on the Marina on the 14th in Santiago.  

 

And since we are on the subject of doodle, Lucy is a mini labradoodle.  

[SophieM]

28 minutes ago, shepherd really said:

I'll be embarking on the Marina on the 14th in Santiago.  

 

And since we are on the subject of doodle, Lucy is a mini labradoodle.  

What a good girl! And since I know you were all about seeing a picture of Elvis…

[SophieM]

Just now, SophieM said:

What a good girl! And since I know you were all about seeing a picture of Elvis…

We’ll wave at you in Santiago. 

[koolforkatz]

2 hours ago, shepherd really said:

I'll be embarking on the Marina on the 14th in Santiago.  

 

And since we are on the subject of doodle, Lucy is a mini labradoodle.  

Lucy is just a little bigger than our Jack. What a pretty girl 🙂

[koolforkatz]

2 hours ago, SophieM said:

What a good girl! And since I know you were all about seeing a picture of Elvis…

 

Awww, what a cutie. He does look like Jack 🥰

[makai 7]

 March 2008…We stayed at the Viña hotel Del Mar casino hotel (Enjoy hotel chain).  It was many years ago, before it was so easy to do research on the internet, but we were extremely impressed with the quality of the hotel and restaurants.

we used Bestour Chile, our driver/guide was named Mauricio Molina.

 

the first day we toured Valparaiso, rode the ascensior, had a seaside lunch, and saw local sights.

 

we visited the Miapo valley one day, Concha y toro tour and then a small independent winery, and had lunch in a tiny restaurant in the region.

The next day we went to Casablanca valley and had  lunch at Indomita, and it was wonderful, memorable.  

 

 

Edited March 23, 2023 by makai 7

[SophieM]

Thanks to all who have posted so far. This is really helpful! I am currently thinking two days in Valpo, including the disembarkation day, and then getting to Santiago either the evening of the second day or the following morning and then flying home from Santiago on that third day, late in the evening. 
 

Jane