Last year I had to go to Santiago several times, always staying at the San Cristobal Tower. It's an excellent hotel, one of the best in Latin America.
I must say that the atmosphere is very relaxing which is what one is expecting after a day at the office. It has several little details that make your stay better.
The rooms are quite big and nice with luxury furniture. The view of the city of the upper floors is beautiful.
The breakfast is served in the top floor with a very nice view of the city and mountains.
In addition the restaurant downstairs is very good, although a little expensive.

Just stayed here for 2 nites before leaving on a cruise and was very happy with this beautiful hotel. Staff was very accomodating, room was beautiful...a quiet respite in the heat of the season.
Only challenge was there wasn't a cool place to sit it in the afternoon and outside was hot and stifling.
Restaurant options were very limited. However a quick walk to wonderful dining right across the river made for a wonderful stay.

Finally I can actually say I have found the worst property in my life if travelling the globe. Alas having stayed at the property 4 months ago, there has been a dramatic, awful and dangerous fall in standards.

I will make it simple, please do NOT stay here. I will go into full rant shortly but for those looking for a summary please use alternative properties.

If you are coming to the are you may well have flown over-night and arrived early in the morning. Many hotels have people arrive and I feel people accept that a room may not be ready, however the opportunity to freshen up is always welcomed.

In checking in I was told the room was not ready which is fine, however I want then told that for a half day charge I could use a room? I declined as felt $150 USD for a shower was a little steep.

So yes I am actually paying over 300 US dollars per night so I rather expect something for it!

I was offered the fitness centre and went to get cleaned up, naturally there were no towels to be found, worrying as it was around 8:45 AM and only one person in the gym?

An attendant eventually took my proof that there were no showers to be found and went off to fine some.

I then had my shower in a rather unclean shower cubicle, with a very mouldy shower curtain.


I went off to work and arrived back around 4pm to hopefully get into my room, the check-in desk as just as incometent as it had been in the morning with slow, unresponsive actions.

He mumbled something about smoking and I questioned him, I was then told I had a smoking room? With an alergy to smoke, no desire to have my clothes smelling or to be burned alive do to some smoker falling asleep having a smoke before bed I requested a change of rooms.

At this point, and I have subsequently had it confirmed the hotel has a policy of NOT being able to guarantee a non smoking room?

For 2011 that is an incredible state of affair and anyone who is in the least bit concerned about smoking and the associated dangers MUST stay AWAY from this HOTEL.

Apart from telling me this , shrugging his shoulders and saying hotel it full, that was his level of helpfulness.

I noticed the name of the General Manager of the Hotel and asked to speak to him, apparently he is currently overseas. So I asked who is in charge of the hotel, the check-in did not know, but thought he might be able to find out.
For me people not knowing whos in charge in something like a hotel is a little worrying, what is theres an emergency?

I asked for the person in charge to contact me, they did not, I phoned from my room and was told that they would contact me, they did not.
Eventually I went back downstairs to the check-in and asked what was going on, still no sign of a manager at all.

In writing this some hours later there remains no management response.

To put things in context, on my last vist the bill was thousands of dollars, my Company has spent thousands of dollars at this property and my visit was due to be for three weeks, again at just over 300 US dollars per night.
So a significant amount of money has come their way yet the do not have any courtesy, professionalism or hospitality whatsoever.

Having a walk around to de stress I noticed the pool or lack thereof, as well as the outside bar etc. All of these are undergoing rennovation, I thought to take a few snaps for this review but was eventally stopped, with a slightly threatening manner from some individual who wanted to know what I was up to.

Getting back to the smoke stinking floor and room, I hoped for a coffee, there are no coffee making facilities in the property, naturally I can call down and have room service bring me cup of coffee?!

The hotel has told me that the hotel is full due to a conference, it is believed to end in two days. How stupid can an organisation be as to insult and put at risk future income for two days fo guaranteed revenue?

My travel assistance people were amazed by the absence of response, they had never heard of a hotel not being able to guarantee a non smoking room previously?
They are currently seeking alternative accomodation for me.

I believe this problems are totally down to the management and their inability to operate a property. As such I am very concerned when I hear there my be people in rooms in my floor smoking with the fire risks!

This place is not cheap, so please do NOT come here you may well be putting not only your vacation, abiitty to work at risk but also potentially your lives.

Yes that may sound dramatic but I have no cause to belive that this is not so. I will of course be having the proprty removed from the company's approved list.

And finally, as many of yo know, major hotel works can not be carried out without a load of noise, so thats something else you may need to contend with!

Enjoy the photos, I apparently too a few risks getting them.

Elegant, quiet, confortable. The ongoing renovation work did not cause me any trouble and, certainly, will make it better.