Don't let the outside deceive you. Surprisingly, we found our rooms clean and the staff friendly. Only partially through our trip, we were in dire need of getting some laundry done. Though we didn't expect it, a staff member showed up at our door and took our dirty clothes and promised to have it to us the following morning. The dining area is good, too.

The only con to the trip was a bit of a language barrier, but we were able to communicate our needs. In the end, it worked out well.

We stayed two nights. The room was comfortable and clean, lots of hot water. We had a great view of the lake.

The staff were friendly and attentive. The hotel is located out of town and very quiet. Internet access was 1.5 soles for half an hour. Our clothes were washed for a very reasonable price.

The breakfast and dinner were good. Highly recommended.

We found ourselves at the Eco Inn for two nights after what seems to have been a mix-up by our tour company. It's well out of the centre of town and -- at 9:30pm, following the late arrival of our train from Cuzco -- we weren't minded to try our luck with taxis and the local restaurant "scene". In retrospect, given the overpriced, stodgy, lifeless food (eventually) served up to us in the soulless dining area (think 1970s Wimpy Bar), this was a mistake. Breakfast was like a rugby scrum combined with musical chairs (always make sure one family member stays put, or you'll return from the buffet to find your table occupied by the next jovial tour group from Rotterdam...). To be fair, our room was clean, functional and had a working electric heater in it, and the front-desk staff handled our early wake-up calls effectively, but the hotel had no discernible character or charm and was clearly living off its ability to provide a back-up for fully-booked better-class hotels in Puno proper.

I had no unrealistic expectations here, I was expecting a travelodge as a jumping off point for a trip on Lake Titicaca and that's what I got. The food and restaurant/bar service were borderline acceptable. The room was comfy enough, though I'd've liked a more effective room heater and I was a little put off when I touched a wall light and it fell off the wall. It's a bit of a schlep into town, though taxis were cheap: the restaurant's food is acceptable (try the lamb) and the wine (when it finally came) quite gluggable. The work underway on the drains while we were there did little to improve the ambience. Expect a comfy bed for a night or two - just don't expect too much.