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Tags: Party Dispatch Report / W Hotels / Hotel Openings / Hotel Parties / Santiago Hotels / → All Tags

Inside The W Santiago's Grand Opening Party

Where: Santiago, Chile

For the opening of the W Santiago Chile we were fortunate to have Jonathan Franklin and photographer Morten Andersen, the guys behind Addict Village attend the party and report back to us on what they saw. We know, we know, what a tough assignment. Enjoy.

W chose Santiago as its first ever South American location roughly five years ago. Finally on Tuesday, The W Hotel Santiago held its official opening party, a trademark WOW experience that included a rooftop pool adorned with three female synchronized swimmers in body gripping silver suits, live bands on various stages and the constant buzz from the estimated 1,200 guests.

Beginning at 8pm, paparazzi stalked the entrance as a virtual "Who’s Who" of Southern Cone businessmen, artists, models (lots), and a few Trustafarians gathered for a summit of a globalized tribe, a roving band of creatives. It felt like an art festival as painters, jewelry designers and Google nerds mixed with surfers and journalists.

W Hotels often brag about their "cool" but we have to admit, even the public spaces off the parking garage where the hotel's opening party was held, are cool. Three floors underground in "Great Room 2", hundreds of hotel guests listened to a rocking Argentine band. As the guests wandered amidst candlelit tables, they were tempted by Roman Empire-sized offering of cheese and wine. The wheels of cheese were the size of basketballs.

Fountains of chocolates and trays of oysters competed for attention. A migrating flock of waiters and hostesses swooped in to remove empty glasses, fill empty plates as they deliver a W trademark: friendly, worldy staff.

Where else does the elevator guy answer the question ‘where you from?’ with, “Born in Chile, raised in Belgium but lived in Singapore for a long time.”

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Tags: HotelChatter Reviews / Holiday Inns / Airport Hotels / Santiago Hotels / South America Hotels / → All Tags

Holiday Inn Santiago Airport Makes You Wish You'd Missed Your Flight

Where: Armando Cortinez Norte 2150, Santiago, Chile

The Holiday Inn brand doesn't necessarily evoke a sense of hipness or luxury, but the Holiday Inn Santiago Airport just may change everything you think about this well-known chain.

Located literally less than 50 steps from the front entrance to Aeropuerto de Santiago, this property has every amenity the business or casual traveler needs for a long layover or comfortable overnight stay. If you miss your flight or get delayed, there may just be no better place to stay in Santiago.

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Tags: 33rd-Parallel-South-Hotels-Map / 33rd Parallel South Hotels / Santiago Hotels / → All Tags

Where to Stay in Santiago

Where: 61 Pio Nono, Santiago, Chile

All this week, Eric Rosen will be bringing us his hotel recommendations for an interesting trip down in South America. He explains it all in our latest hotel guide--Budget Boutique Hotels of the 33rd Parallel South.

Santiago is not one of the most tourist-friendly destinations in South America. Perhaps that’s the last remnant of a past strewn with the wreckage of successive dictatorial regimes. Or maybe it’s just because the city itself isn’t that pretty despite the beautiful snow-capped Andes that saturate every vista. Most people don’t even exit the airport, but simply use the city as a transfer hub to Chile’s other points of interest. This is a city of over 6 million people, though, so there is still a lot of fun to be had, good food to eat, fine wine to drink, and sights to see.

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Tags: Historic Spanish Hotels / Santiago Hotels / Monica Guy / → All Tags

Spanish Hotels with History :: The Casa Hotel As Artes

Where: Travesía de Dos Puertas 2, Santiago de Compostela, Spain, 15707

After spending two weeks recapping the Lisbon Hotel Scene for us, Monica Guy is back with some history lessons. She's chronicling some of Spain's historic hotels this week. Enjoy.

Here's where to stay if you can't afford the Hostal Dos Reyes Católicos in Santiago de Compostela's cathedral square: the Casa Hotel As Artes.

It's a tiny seven-room hotel, owned by two friendly locals who claim the baby-sized rooms are 'Parisian' rather than just small. The size of the rooms is the only bad thing, however, as nearly all else is fab.

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