HotelChatter

Location
Let's start from the top: location. It's right near the cathedral on a quietish back street, but just yards from restaurants, shops and bars. Closing time is an obligatory 10pm near the cathedral, so you're unlikely to be kept up late.

Owners
Vying for first place on the 'Why Stay Here?' list are the owners Carlos and Esther - a super-friendly couple who are more than happy to give you first-hand advice on the best local restaurants to try. One of them sleeps there every night and if you turn up a second time they'll remember your name.

Arty Decor
The décor's also quite sweet, with themed rooms around 'Charlie Chapman' or 'Mozart' or other arty subjects. In some rooms there are euro cent coins jammed between the stones in the walls: a Galician superstition as it supposedly brings you good luck. Guests add a coin or two when they stay and you're be pretty miserable not to join in. Four rooms have views of the famous cathedral.

Breakfast
You can have breakfast either downstairs in the miniature bar/breakfast area or up in your miniature room. If you want a drink, call down and the receptionist will bring it up. It's a small hotel, like we said....

Some Downsides
Okay, the bad points all in one: it's tiny (see above), unattractive on the outside (a narrow dirty white building off a small alley) and not so cheap - €88 ($130) a night for a single room, plus €9 ($13.50) for breakfast, which is more than most small hotels in Santiago.

Bottom Line Still, we think that the minute you meet Carlos and Esther, you'll forgive the bad points above - they're a fantastically friendly couple and great hotel owners. Stay here for a day or two but - unless you're very small - any longer and you'll get cabin fever.