Lima Centro has its share of hotels and budget inns, but most people head out to the residential neighborhoods of Miraflores, San Isidro, and, to a lesser extent, Barranco. These barrios have little in the way of sights, but they are more convenient for nightlife and shopping, and probably safer, if not necessarily much quieter.
Hotel rates in Lima are the highest in the country, especially at the top end. There are plenty of midrange and budget choices, although few have the charm of affordable hostales in other cities. Particularly at the top echelon, hotels tack on taxes and service charges to quoted rates, whereas most moderate and less-expensive inns quote rates that already include all taxes and service charges. Be on the lookout for any hotel that tries to charge you the 18% IGV (sales tax) on the basic room rate in addition to a 10% service charge. Foreigners and nonresidents with the passport to prove it should be exempt from the IGV (but not the service charge). Unless otherwise noted, prices do not include taxes, service charges, or breakfast. Most hostales in Lima -- unlike in Cusco, Arequipa, and a few other highland towns -- do feature 24-hour hot water.
