How to Find Cheap Hotels in Bolivia

Bolivia is a country in the middle of South America, bordered by Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay and Peru. Formerly an exporter of tin, zinc, gold and silver, Bolivia now relies primarily on farming to keep its economy alive.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Computer with Internet access

Book Accommodations in Bolivia

1. Book your lodgings through the Vice-Ministry of Tourism in Bolivia by calling 011 ([phone]/64 or visiting its Web site (see Resources below).
2. Treat yourself to 4-star accommodations without the 4-star price. Pay only around $50 per night for these accommodations in Santa Cruz's downtown district.
3. Find a luxury hotel with amenities like airport shuttle service at a reasonable $80 per night. La Paz has an excellent business and financial area with 4-star accommodations at these cheap rates.
4. Shake it at the famous Hotel Playa Blanca, a hotel constructed primarily out of salt! These fun accommodations are near the tourist attraction Salar de Uyuni, one of the biggest salt lakes in the world.
5. Seek out cheap accommodations near the airport in La Paz. You can find inexpensive motels starting at $30 a night.

Get Around in Bolivia

6. Pick your arrival destination. You can fly internationally into Bolivia at La Paz, Santa Cruz or Cochabamba.
7. Hang on tight if you take the decidedly cheap method of bus transit to get around. Not all of the roads are paved, making for a some bumpy rides.

Know Your Destination

8. Bring your phrasebook. Aymara, Quechua and Spanish are the three languages typically spoken by the locals.
9. The temperatures tend to vary so pack a variety of clothing. During the dry season (from May through November), the weather is chilly. Temperatures can range from 43 to 70 degrees F during the summer and from 32 to 62 degrees F during the winter.
10. Carry only small quantities of cash and only make your exchanges for bolivianos at banks or hotels. This is the safest way to handle your money.

See the Sights of Bolivia

11. Boat Lake Titicaca to the Isla del Sol. Here you can take pictures of the famous area where Manco Capac and Mama Ocllo, founders of the Incan dynasty, supposedly rose out of the waters at the request of a god.
12. Plan your trip in the spring. The famous Carnival of Oruro takes place right before Lent and is always a spectacular time.

Tips & Warnings

• All phone numbers given here include the United States international prefix "011." When calling internationally outside the United States, check the international prefix before dialing.
• All country codes in phone numbers given here are within parentheses and begin with a "+" sign.
• Only use the train system if you are not in a rush, as it has a reputation for being slow.
• Try to avoid making your trip during Bolivia's wet summer (November to April), when pests and flooding can cause problems.