I came to Arequipa for some Spanish classes and sightseeing for 4 weeks. I could not have asked for anything more.

As the other reviews say, this is an old mansion that has been in the family for years. My room on the second floor has a little balcony looking over the garden where I can see Mt. Misti in the distance. The front of the hotel is surrounded by large gardens on all sides, with tall, solid wall-fence to keep out city noise. Once you are buzzed in through the locked gate (monitored via video by the most outstanding staff ever), you enter a secret garden of lovely flowers everywhere.

Some hotels have forced friendly staff, and that just makes me feel uncomfortable most of the time. But, somehow... ALL of the staff here have a genuine niceness and helpfulness to their demeanor. For 4 weeks everyone was kinda and willing to nicely put up with my stuttering attempts at speaking Spanish after my classes. Some of the guys here were more patient than my Spanish teachers! You know the type of place where people seem to feel happy at their jobs and have a good relationship with their boss ? Well, that is this place. The good feelings of all the people here made this seem like a home away from home.

When I needed to go see a doctor, Ursula called her doctor and her friends' doctors until she was able to find someone who could see me immediately. As this unfortunately coincided with a trekking trip I was to take, she also called the agency and made sure to postpone my trip until the next weekend as well. Certainly outstanding assistance and kindness!

Regarding the building specifics: antique mansion, beautiful antiques all around. Quaint breakfast room where a small breakfast with REAL coffee is given each morning. I have food allergies, so asked Ursula if there was access to the kitchen for me to cook some of my own meals and she happily agreed. The kitchen is rustic (as are many in Peru ), but the staff keeps everything clean and tidy all the time.

The same goes for the rooms: cleaned daily just like a 5 star hotel but not a the 5 star prices. Balcony, desk, bed, private bathroom and shower, full closet. Barbeque out back, tables in the garden. Large lounge room downstairs with plenty of sofas for reading. The wifi is superb and worked automatically.

All of this, literally, 10 minutes walk to the city center. I be back through Arequipa in a few weeks and will stay here again!