• Hotel Orly, Santiago (tel. 2/231-8947; www.hotelorly.cl): This is my all-around favorite for reasonable prices; an absolutely ideal location near the Metro, shops, and restaurants; cheerful service; and coziness. Like the Vilafranca, this former mansion has rooms of varying sizes, so book accordingly.
  • Vilafranca Petit Hotel, Santiago (tel. 2/232-1413; www.vilafranca.cl): Santiago's hectic pace slows down when you step into this delightful B&B. Steeped in French Provençal decor, this former home has been converted into a boutique hotel that is economically priced and a cozy place to stay; note that some doubles are tight.
  • Hotel Agora, Viña del Mar (tel. 32/269-4669; www.hotelagora.cl): There is a plethora of midrange lodging options in Viña, but this Miami-style, art-deco confection has fresh, contemporary decor, a great location, and gracious hosts. The hotel is tucked away on a street just 3 blocks from the beach.
  • El Puesto, Puerto Río Tranquilo (tel. 2/196-4555; www.elpuesto.cl): One of Patagonia's top places to stay is this three-room boutique hotel in tiny Puerto Río Tranquilo, on Lake General Carrera. While not directly on the lakeshore, family-run El Puesto is the perfect place to relax after a day of wilderness activities, from hiking on glaciers, visits to the beautiful Marble Cathedral and Chapel in the lake, to soaring through forest canopies. The whole place exudes a cozy, light atmosphere.
  • Indigo, Puerto Natales (tel. 61/413609): To say this former backpackers' hangout has been transformed is a major understatement. It's a little too big to call it a boutique hotel, yet it is a jewel indeed, from top-floor whirlpool and sauna to the clean-cut intimacy of the rooms, accessed through a spider's web of eucalyptus, black steel, and concrete walkways. While it also has the finest views of the Last Hope Sound and glaciers beyond, it's the most convenient place for a stroll into town. The previous, rickety backpackers' haunt -- still charmingly clad in weather-beaten shingles -- now boasts a very contemporary ground-floor restaurant and second-story lounge in airy, pale woods.
  • Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.