A couple of years ago, my wife and I took a Peruvian vacation which included visits to four hotels. The nicest hotel we visited during our stay in Peru was the JW Marriott in Lima (Miraflores). The hotel is located overlooking the bluffs, with ocean views from every room. It is conveniently located across from a shopping mecca built into the bluffs known as Larcomar. It is also just a few blocks walk to Kennedy Park and the Inca Market as well as numerous restaurants.
The JW Marriott in Lima is located at Malecon De La Reserva 615, Miraflores · Lima, Lima 18 Peru. The hotel can be booked online through the Marriott website. Because Peru is South of the Equator, we visited during our winter or Peruvian summer. That would seem like an incre//:# (!steemitworldmap -12.131678 lat -77.029379 long JW Marriott Hotel, Lima, Peru d3scr)dible draw for those of us stuck in the winter doldrums, but it was actually considered off-season during our January visit. Because many visitors to Peru like to visit Machu Picchu, the peak season follows the rainy season in January and February. That makes the JW Marriott in Lima a summer vacation bargain at $175 per night. For twenty dollars more, you can get a package that includes breakfast. If you are a Gold or Platinum member, you can stay at the cheaper rate and eat in the concierge lounge, which has an exceptional breakfast spread.
My arrival at the JW Marriott in Lima was the first sign that this hotel is special. The lobby is located on the second floor, but a crew of staff were at the ready near the main entrance. We were given assistance with our baggage and directed to the front desk, which is up a set of elevators located just inside the main entrance. The main entrance also joins the hotel to a casino, Scotiabank and a high end gift shop.
Check in was quick and painless. The reception desk made copies of our passports and issued room keys without delay. Five minutes after arrival, we were relaxing in our luxurious ocean-view accommodation. The Marriott is my favorite hotel chain for many reasons, but chief among them is the bed. The only other foreign Marriott I have visited was in Canada, so I had no idea if the standards were compromised at all in Peru. They are not. The bed was incredibly comfortable and a welcome respite after a full day of travel.
The JW Marriott in Lima has attractively decorated rooms with rich colors and modern decorations. The flat screen televisions and ample workstation were both put to use. The desk had plenty of outlets for our laptop and phone chargers (although I was traveling lighter than usual...only bringing one cell phone and no mifi). If you are not an elite member, the wi-fi is a bit steep at $17.00 per day. This is generally contracted out to other companies. The speed of the wi-fi connection was adequate for my light use during my stay.
An unusual heavy fog came in during the first night of my stay, obscuring the view from my room. Visibility could not have been more than ten feet. I was delighted when the fog finally lifted. The ocean view from my room was spectacular. I could clearly see the Larcomar shopping center and the ocean front. I could also see Rosa Nautica, which is one of the nicer nearby restaurants located on a pier not far from the hotel. If you are in the mood for Peruvian fusion, Astrid y Gaston is located less than a mile from the hotel. The restaurant is ranked as the 42nd best restaurant in the world and possibly the best restaurant in Peru.
The cable television had plenty of English speaking channels to choose from, although I did not spend much time in my room. I did surf the channels to see what was available. The bathrooms were impeccable, which mirrored my experience with my entire room. The room looked and felt incredibly clean and well maintained.
If you happen to rent a car, parking at the JW Marriott in Lima is free. If you opt for valet parking, you will find the cheapest (potentially) valet parking you have ever used. Valet parking will set you back a mere $3 per night. The hotel is not pet friendly, but I would not bring my pets on this type of vacation anyway. I guess that might be more of an issue for someone relocating to the Lima area.
If you are looking for restaurants, there are two dining options without leaving the hotel or utilizing room service. The onsite restaurants are La Vista, where the breakfast buffet is served, and JW Sushi Ceviche Lounge, which is more of a bar atmosphere. Rosa Nautica and Astrid y Gaston are both about a mile away. They are high-end dining experiences with a reasonable price tag. Expect to pay between twenty and thirty dollars per entree at those locations. Larcomar is directly across the street from the Marriott and has many American restaurants (Chili's, Tony Roma's) as well as plenty of fast food. From Pardo's Chicken (an excellent Peruvian style chicken restaurant) to a variety of choices from the food court. You can also cleanse your palate with a delightful gelato from outside the Havana Restaurant.
Hotels like Marriott have come a long way in terms of fitness equipment. There was a time when fitness facilities included a broken down treadmill, possibly an elliptical and a few weights. The JW Marriott Lima has an exceptional fitness room that includes a row of treadmills, a row of ellipticals and other cardio machines. You can also find towels and fresh cold water to help you cool down. The machines are all equipped with individual televisions or ports for MP3 players if you prefer to listen to your own music mix. The hotel also has a tennis court and a pool. If you need a good massage, they can be found very cheap around Peru. A full hour massage can be had for around twenty dollars. You will pay slightly more than that at the Marriott.
Miraflores is approximately twenty to thirty minutes from the Jorge Chavez International airport. It is recommended that you use a car service or the official taxi of the airport "Green Taxi." If you use Green Taxi, they should charge you around 50 soles for the trip. At the current exchange rate, that would be around twenty dollars. You can also arrange a car service through the Marriott. A car from the airport will most likely be a Mercedes with an experienced driver who is probably semi fluent in English. With Green Taxi you are not likely to get an English speaking driver (or at least I did not). The car service will run you a little bit more money...about fifty dollars...but may be money well spent. Theft is common in Peru. Keep your valuables hidden during the drive and keep your doors locked and windows rolled up.
The JW Marriott in Lima does not scrimp on service. They are eager to accommodate their guests and always seem willing to go the extra mile. The staff is friendly and outgoing, expressing their desire to make your stay comfortable. I appreciate the incredible service and comfort of the JW Marriott. It is a hotel that will not disappoint you. Reasonable rates and exceptional location have earned this hotel the distinction as one of the best places to stay in the world according to Conde Nast.
Other than the banner shot, photos were taken from the hotel website. Some of my photos from my Peru trip were accidentally deleted. These were among them.