How to Find Cheap Hotels in Peru

The South American country of Peru has a notably diverse landscape, from the large city of Lima to the Amazonian basin towns reached only by plane. The affordability of its accommodations is just as diverse as the complex landscape of this fascinating country.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Computer with access to the Internet

Choose Your Accommodations

1. Call the PROMPERU, Commission for the Promotion of Peru for more information about cheap accommodations in Peru at 011 ([phone] or visit its Web site (see Resources below).

2. Find what you need at an economical inn. Inns usually offer all the amenities of hotels, including private bathrooms, hot water, continental breakfast and cable TV, but at a cheaper rate.

3. Stay outside of the big cities in Peru. The smaller towns have cheap, low-range hotels that can run under $30 a night.

4. Stay where you'll be comfortable. The big cities are home to the larger hotels, but also have a fine array of cheap hotels, hostels and backpacker inns.

Know Your Destination

5. Avoid tourist season in Peru. The season runs from June through September, and the off-season makes for cheap accommodations. The tourist season has less effect on outlying areas, and more on the big cities.

6. Learn your Peruvian history. Peru was once a part of the Inca Empire, and the Incan influence can still be seen in the architecture of Machu Picchu and Cuzco.

Visit Points of Interest in Peru

7. Experience the popular city life of Lima or Cuzco. These places buzz with energy and tourism. Traffic is horrendous, but the food is great.

8. Venture into off-the-beaten-path areas, such as the spectacular Northern Highlands, a mountainous region offering a variety of accommodations that are less frequented by tourists.

Tips & Warnings

• If you are staying in the city off a busy street, ask for a room at the end of the hotel opposite the traffic which can be be quite noisy.
• Carry your hotel contact information with you.
• Phone numbers include the United States international prefix "011." When calling internationally from outside the United States, check which international dialing prefix to use. All country codes are within parentheses and begin with a "+" sign.
• Be aware of the elevation of your destination. Altitude sickness is not unusual. Any serious symptoms of altitude illness warrant a doctor's consultation.
• Thieves prove to be the greatest threat of crime to tourists. Be especially cautious if taking night trains, notably the Arequipa-Puno service.