Hotel at Santiago airport

[Bob]

Hi, does anyone know if there is a hotel in the Santiago airport, or if not, any recommendation for one close by. I will be arriving at 11 PM and leaving early morning the next day.

Thanks

 

[cowombat]

Yes, I have stayed at the Diego de Almagro Aeropuerto (if booking make sure it is Aeropeurto, because there are others of the same name in this chain). It's an OK, typically bland airport hotel. Clean, quiet and comfortable. I booked it over the web with no problems. My last trip was just an overnight to change planes. Make sure you have your APEC card to ensure you don't get hit the $30 the Chileano customs would otherwise charge Aussies as a repricocity tax. They hit all Aussies (except those with APEC card) even for a transit stay.

 

[cabbage74]

<snip> Make sure you have your APEC card to ensure you don't get hit the $30 the Chileano customs would otherwise charge Aussies as a repricocity tax. They hit all Aussies (except those with APEC card) even for a transit stay.

If you don't have an APEC card just a couple of points... Its $US30, and valid for 90 days (re-entry). Try to get to the counter quickly (on the left ~30m before immigration desks) the line gets processed fairly slowly.

In the unlikely event that you are arriving at 11pm from a Land Border, you do not have to pay....However if then later re-entering Chile via an Airport you would then need to pay the $30.

Mal.

 

[dajop]

If you don't have an APEC card just a couple of points... Its $US30, and valid for 90 days (re-entry)

Unless it has dropped in the last 60 days, the fee is actually $US56. We were told on arrival (but I don't see it printed anywhere) that the fee is valid for the life of your current passport.

Airport hotel is definitely worthwhile if you have early morning flight. We stayed there initially as we arrived late and were taking a domestic flight the next morning, that was great.

But after returning to Santiago, where we had a couple of nights, we stayed downtown. On leaving we had a 6:45 am departure, and the latest transfer we could get from our hotel (without risking a taxi on the street) was 4 am in private transfer, or 3:30am for seat in van. Net result we got to the airport at 4:15am. Lights were out and checkin didn't open until about 5am (and lounge not until 5:30)! In retrospect we should have lied about our flight number & time.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Does anyone know the fee for NZ passport? If it is as high as US$56 and good for life of passport then it may be worth my while making sure my new passport arrives before I visit.

 

[dajop]

NZ passports ...... $0.00 USD, when I was there, it only applied to Australian (56USD), US (100USD), Canadian (132USD!!) and Mexican (15USD) passport holders.

 

[Bob]

When I arrived the other night, it was US$30 for Australians. I had an APEC card so didn`t have to pay.

Thanks for the info on the hotel.