The Ritz Carlton, Santiago

There are many reasons why Santiago has recently been listed as a top travel destination, but for me, one of the main highlights of this city is staying at Santiago’s most luxurious hotel, The Ritz-Carlton Santiago. Perfectly located in El Golf, the city’s most admired neighborhood, at the hub of the city’s incredibly impressive and easy to use Metro transit station, the Ritz Carlton Santiago is ideally situated for travelers who love to be on the on go and see all that this exciting city has to offer, but want to end their day enveloped in pure luxury.

All of the 205 rooms are spacious and luxurious, with indulgent amenities, and the staff goes above and beyond to make sure that each guest feels at home from the moment one checks in. In fact, I had mentioned in passing that it was my husband’s birthday, and within a few hours a custom chocolate cake and a bottle of Chilean wine was sent up to the room. Like many Ritz Carlton’s, it’s the service here that really sets this hotel apart. Each member of the hotel staff prides himself in making sure that every guest fully enjoys their beautiful city. Every day, the concierge is waiting to talk to you to help ensure that you are experiencing the city to its fullest and is at the ready to provide you with customized “inside tips” on navigating the manageable urban center. While it is great to ride in one of the hotel’s chauffeured fleet of Mercedes Benz sedans, the Ritz Carlton Santiago is perfectly located within walking distance of the Metro station, and even if one does not speak Spanish, by the end of the stay, the concierge will have made even the weariest traveler feel like an expert navigating Santiago’s brilliantly engineered, easy to use Metro system.

For those that have been worn out by sightseeing, the Ritz Carlton offers a posh spa with a variety of traditional treatments.  Just outside the spa is a heated, indoor, rooftop swimming pool with a spacious sun deck, which is perfect for lounging in the famous Ritz Carlton terry cloth robe, plush slippers, and enjoying a pisco sour. If sightseeing hasn’t worn the active traveler out, a state of the art 7,500 foot rooftop health center is perfectly situated under an enclosed glass dome and offers a variety of cardiovascular and free weights.  Each cardiovascular machine offers a built-in personal electronic system, but with the views of the bustling city below and the dramatic Andes skyline, the time will pass very quickly without even needing to turn on the personal television built into the treadmill.

While Chile may not be famous for memorable cuisine, the hotel offers many of the city’s top dining options. Among them is Adra, a delicious Mediterranean costal cuisine created by Chef Thomas Olivera that is served nightly atop a candlelit table covered in rose petals.

Chileans enjoy their libations, and a great place to introduce yourself to the indigenous pisco sour is at The Ritz Carlton Bar where a full menu of them is offered in addition to over 100 varieties of martinis as well as the largest cigar selection in the city. One of the many highlights of visiting Chile is being introduced to Chilean wine which can easily hold its own when compared to European and American wines, and Wine 365 is the Ritz Carlton Santiago’s own wine bar that provides the perfect atmosphere to become familiar with one or more. As the name suggests, Wine 365 features no less than 365 wines. If choosing one seems daunting, the incredibly knowledgeable sommelier will join you in selecting what is sure to become your new favorite. The only drawback is that many can only be found in South America, so my recommendation is to enjoy each sip while reminiscing about the great day exploring bustling Santiago and soaking up the pure luxury that the Ritz Carlton Santiago has to offer.