The Novotel in Cusco has it all! It's in a good location near the Plaza de Armas (city center), but not so close as to be noisy. Great view of the hillside from our room. Spotlessly clean room. All of the staff were great and most spoke passable English. Wonderful buffet breakfast. Rather limited, but VERY good dinner and lunch menus, with nice unobtrusive Peruvian music at dinner time. Fair prices all through. Free internet access for guests. In 18 days, we stayed at maybe 7 or 8 hotels including the (higher rated - 5 star) Cusco Libertador, and the Novotel was by far the best we saw. We really cannot think of a single criticism. Highly, highly recommended!!
The first impression of "Novotel Cusco" is that your staying in a historic house. Indeed the building is from the 16th century and the central courtyard is filled with heavy stone arches, inviting furniture and daylight streaming in from the glass roof.
I'm embarrassed to admit my Spanish is limited to "No Habla Espanol." This was not an issue in this fine hotel since the staff compensated for my inadequacy with good English.
Apparently, there is the "new section" and the "old section" and savvy travellers are told to ask for the old section. Not being that clever, we ended in the new wing. But our room was clean and well presented. We had no complaints and our window opened on pleasant small garden.
We only had one dinner there in the three days we stayed, but the food was as very good. The only complaint about the service was that it was almost too attentive. I swear if I dropped a fork, a new one would be the table before the old one hit the ground.
Indeed if I had any complaint about the service overall is that everyone was too eager to help.
The breakfast buffet was good but unexceptional.
As for the location, it is nearly perfect. Not close to anything noisy, but just a few minutes walk to the Plaza de Armas.
We chose to stay at this very highend hotel because we knew we would be camping for more than half of the time we were in Peru. Although it is very expensive for Peru standards, it was great for us because after two nights of camping on the river and three nights on the Inca Trail, we were able to relax in a very comfortable hotel with modern facilities and most importantly, a very hot shower. This hotel is located right off the main square and has free internet access as well as American style breakfast.
The Novotel Cusco was an amazing place to stay. The rooms were more than comfortable, the staff pleasant and capable and the atmosphere relaxing. Cable TV with heaps of channels is available in every room.
Breakfast was included in the price of our room and comprised of a huge American buffet with a South American twist.
Like most hotels in Cusco you are welcome to help yourself to the coca tea in the foyer in order to help yourself adjust to the altitude.
