After deciding between a few different Puno offerings, I was glad we ended up staying here. With no disrespect meant to the locals, Puno is an absolute dive. This hotel is a couple of kilometres out of the town, about 5-10 minutes or so by taxi - and I couldn't be more pleased.

Yes you're out of town and have to eat at the restaurant at the hotel but the food is fresh and tasty - if a little overpriced.

Rooms are clean and well serviced, although as per South American standards, the beds are ridiculously short - my feet always hanging over the end.

Staff were attentive and helpful - and even helped us with a tour agency to set up our day tour to the Uros islands and Taquile.

We stayed in one of the cheaper non lake-view rooms, and I'm glad we did. The so-called view is pretty underwhelming. The hotel is only 2 or 3 floors, so it's difficult to get an unobstructed view from anywhere. Besides, the view is basically a body of water with the lights of Puno in the distance. Nothing compared to the sheer natural beauty of the sea views we've seen in other places in South America - the Beagle channel in Ushuaia, Argentina, for example. My advice is to save the extra $50 or so and go for the standard side or back facing room.

It's a shame that what must be one of the major attractions in the Peru/Bolivia border area (Lake Titticaca itself) doesn't send more dollars to the township of Puno - it really needs a facelift.

I've stayed at a couple of Casa Andina brand hotels now, and it has the same solid quality as the others.