Tierra del Fuego, Cape Horn, the Straight of Magellan, the Beagle Channel - these are names and places of legends and history, of wilderness, ice, forests, and wildlife, like nowhere else on Earth. Trying to think and write about Cruceros Australis, images arise almost unbidden from memory, forming a cascade of fantastic recollections. Truly it is a life experience not to be missed!

After an easy flight from Santiago to Punta Arenas, there are a few hours for a pleasant meal and a stroll, waiting for our late afternoon departure on Australis. Punta Arenas vies with Ushuaia for the title of the world’s most southerly city. Elegant and well cared for buildings abound in the city center, reminders of a far different time.

Stately buildings flank the main square in Punta Arenas, among them the Cabo de Hornos Hotel, a tradition for visitors. It is newly refurbished inside but keeps its façade intact. Close by are the Comapa offices where we leave our bags and check in for the cruise. The staff is helpful and kind, and our bags are left to their care; passengers of Australis are welcomed and cared for from the start.

A few hours later, on the boarding ramp for Australis, you may feel butterflies in your stomach. There is a mixture of anticipation for the trip, and wondering who among the many new faces you will meet or become friends with over the next days. The famously unpredictable weather is another factor – will the voyage to Cape Horn and points along the route be successful, and what will we see? The uncertainty adds to a sense of adventure, heightening the excitement and anticipation for the cruise.

To be starting a journey to the far end of the world, with only the Antarctic to the south, is an exhilarating feeling. The mountains and fjords of far southern Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego are all that are between the Southern Ocean and us. Cape Horn lies isolated nearly 400km south of our starting point in Punta Arenas. Will we come ashore there, standing where few people ever go?

The cabins on the Australis are comfortably spacious, each with its own bathroom, closet and drawer space. There are picture windows dressed with curtains with sea motifs in white and blue. 4 or 5 stations play a variety of selections if you want music in your cabin.

Australis features two large lounges for lectures, gatherings, and simply relaxing while watching the scenery slide by. The lounges are also where we gather for instructions and pre-boarding preparations before each of the 5 planned excursions during the voyage. English and Spanish are the official languages on board, but a number of the staff speak other languages to assist the passengers. In fact there were many nationalities represented on our cruise: French, Chileans, Americans, Canadians, Swiss, Colombians, Argentineans, British, Spaniards, Mexicans, and Brazilians, all liven up the next 4 nights and days!

Cocktails and drinks as well as tea or coffee are available all day at any time in one of the lounges, with meals served in the main dining room. Tables are set for 6 or 8 people so groups naturally form, and most people remain at a table with new found friends after the first meal or two. Australis is small enough that there is an intimacy and feeling of shared adventure amongst the passengers, and it is easy to meet people.

Breakfast is served as a buffet and there are a large variety of choices to satisfy most preferences. Fruit, yoghurt, pancakes, eggs, bacon, toast, assorted breads, cakes, coffee, tea, juice, are all served with some variations each morning. Lunch is also served as a buffet, with a different cuisine featured each day (Italian and Chilean were particularly memorable) so they do not repeat during the cruise. Dinner was always a choice of two options for starter, main course and dessert. The staff was extremely solicitous of passenger’s desires, and the meals were uniformly excellent.

There was something impossibly romantic, to be dining so well as we traveled through the vast wilderness of the Patagonian fjords. We shared our reactions to the adventures of each day, turning each encounter into pleasant conversation among new friends.

Ainsworth Bay is our first destination on our first morning. On arrival, we all gather nervously for final instructions before our first trip in one of Australis´ 4 zodiacs. There are only three steps to board them, with no problems in the relatively sheltered bay. Although morning is cold and raining lightly, but it is also calm, and our warm and waterproof layers serve well.

Luck is with us, so we see the small local colony of elephant seals. With the early spring there are two pups only a few weeks old, clinging close to their mothers. We also see the massive male resting close by, keeping an eye on his harem. The elephant seals are the stars of the morning, with everyone’s cameras happily in use. We spend quite a while admiring these enormous seals, giving them a respectful distance. We are told they are biggest elephant seals on earth, with males weighing up to 7 tons.

We are then guided through the nearby Magellanic Forest. In the soft rain we see the neighboring hills rising into the mist, and Ainsworth glacier in the far distance from time to time. The guides and naturalists easily transmit their knowledge and love of the region with a passion for the natural beauty around us. Francisco explains that this is a humid forest in the cold Patagonia, not to be confused with a rainforest in the tropics. He shows us the many variety of plants, trees, lichen, moss in the area, tells us a little about the human history of this now uninhabited place. Listen carefully and pay attention. Your knowledge might be tested later on the cruise!

We finish our walking loop back at the beach where we had arrived on the zodiacs. A welcome hot chocolate or whisky on the rocks awaits us. Back on the zodiacs, we zip over the waves to our majestic looking ship. What a pleasant way to end our tour of Ainsworth Bay!

Back on board, we change into more comfortable clothes and go to the upper deck to admire the surrounding wilderness as we leave the bay. Silence (except for the ship’s engine!) and air as pure as you can get on this Earth, surround us.

After a festive and very enjoyable lunch we take a nap in our cabin, the excitement of the morning and all the traveling the day before catching up to us. We woke with just enough time the zodiac excursion around Tuckers Islets where we see an astounding variety of birds, including Magellanic penguins, rock cormorants, condors, caracaras (hawks), skuas, gulls, even an albatross in the distance.

Interestingly, there was also an incident showing the high level of passenger service that the staff on Australis aims to deliver. The announcement for the excursion woke us from a deep sleep. Rather more slowly than we realized, we got up and got into our “zodiac gear” and went down to the 1st deck… only to discover that the boats had already left! While we thought we had missed our chance to come close to the penguins, the crew didn’t hesitate and prepared a zodiac just for us! We were given a “private” tour around the islets and could get very close to all there was to see on a delightful and sunny afternoon. We were thrilled with the experience, and grateful to the crew of Australis for their willingness to literally go the extra distance for us (Perhaps our new friends secretly envied us… but they were mainly happy for us that we shared the visit to the island).

That night we went to see how things worked on the bridge. Australis welcomes passenger visits - you may knock on the door and the captain lets you in if things are not too busy. You may ask any questions, and you will have the chance to see how the ship sails through the channels and fjords, and you can see on the charts how the captain measures the distances and tracks our voyage.

On our second day (having sailed past Cape Froward the evening before) we sailed through Desolation Bay and entered the northwest Beagle channel where Pia Glacier lies. However, during the night a windstorm had been building. When we arrived at the fjord of the glacier the wind was gusting to over 80 knots (almost 150 km/hr!). It was fascinating and beautiful to see the wind gusts rolling across the water towards us, heeling the ship over ~10 degrees in the strongest gusts. There was no chance get close to Pia Glacier on the zodiacs. Everybody was disappointed, but we knew from the beginning that this is a possibility that may occur due to weather conditions. The crew of Australis always puts safety first, giving the passengers confidence that unnecessary risks are never taken. We still had sublime views for Pia glacier from fairly close, and experienced some truly terrific weather!

The next leg of our voyage immediately after the visit to Pia glacier was a cruise through the famous ¨Glacier Alley¨ of the beagle channel. The wind and most of the rain from earlier in the afternoon were gone, so the views were lovely. Several massive glaciers flow off the ice cap that resides on the Darwin range; through the late afternoon we were treated to a wonderful palette of glaciers painted on the canvas of the Darwin mountain range.

Around dawn on our 3rd day we woke up to swells rocking the ship while sailing to Cape Horn. Before breakfast is served we will disembark via zodiacs to the Cape and visit it for as long as we like, or rather for as long as the inclement weather permits! This is the last full day of our trip, and all of the passengers seem determined to make the most of this last day. We get “dressed for the occasion”, and while some feel a little peckish no one minds an exciting excursion before breakfast. Like children, thrilling with the anticipation, we gather on the first deck to board the zodiacs.

In groups of 10-12 per zodiac we set off on our biggest adventure of this cruise. The sea seemed a little rough to some, but Australis is docked in a relatively sheltered cove near the Cape, and the zodiacs easily fly over the waves. We get to the disembarkment point on the Cape; 160 steps await us to climb up the cliff of the rock. We divide into groups and set off on the short walks to the monument, or the lighthouse. A military family lives at the Cape for a 12-month rotation to maintain Chilean sovereignty of the Cape, and a Chilean flag flies proudly on its mast.

Standing at the monument to the thousands of sailors who perished while trying to round the Cape is a sobering and solemn moment. We stand at the uttermost end of the inhabited world, seeing below us a few large waves that hint at the dangerous waters to the south. Several monuments and memorials dot the bluff overlooking the ocean, the most famous of which is in the form of a silhouetted gull.

One of our guides alerts us on concerns about the weather worsening so we have to scurry back to the ship before the sea makes it difficult for the zodiacs to be in the water. Like a flock of birds we gather at the bottom of the cliff, ready to board and take our places on the zodiacs. Cold wind hits our faces, the

zodiac hits the waves hard; there it is again, that exhilarating feeling that one gets when experiencing a great adventure. Back on board, we are greeted by a wonderful, revitalizing, breakfast…

That morning we sail north, and into a beautiful sunny day with blue skies, and, amazingly, dolphins swimming near the ship. Albatrosses follow us in the distance. The weather has changed a long ways from the cold, breezy morning with light rain!

After lunch that day we disembark for our final excursion at Wulaia bay, where we have the option of a stroll along the beach, or a climb 90 meters high to get the most amazing view of the bay. We get to the shore where close by lies the house that is being restored as a Yamana museum by Cruceros Australis. The hike up the hill on the pleasant afternoon attracts us so we follow our leader, we are in luck, and Francisco is our guide this time again. The hike starts innocently enough, pausing every now and then for our guide to explain a few facts of the place and its vegetation. Then, we get to the steep part where we slow down our pace but don’t give up; a guide remains at the back end of our line to keep anybody from getting so far behind that gets lost in the woods for this area is long uninhabited. As we crest the hill we are rewarded with a view across the bay to Holt Island, covered by glaciers in the distance. The view is magnificent! We all find a spot to sit down and rest for a while before we begin to climb down. A voice is heard: “condor!” and one glorious specimen glides down towards the bay, passing very close to us. Cameras click incessantly until it is too far to get a good shot anymore. My husband stays alert, camera ready, zoom lens on, and a second condor passes by us! My husband is satisfied with his second chance shots!

Once we get back down –which takes us half the time that it took us to get to the top!- we visit the Yamana museum. It is very nicely put together, and Cruceros Australis is still working on it. Most impressive is the replica of a Yamana canoe. The Yamana (known as the nomads of the sea) spent 60-70% of their lives on the water, living in tiny bark canoes, rarely going ashore. We stroll down to the beach, where hot chocolate and whisky on the rocks again await us. Revitalizing!

That evening we have a very special dinner. The captain bids us, his guests for the past 4 nights, farewell and after dinner we toast with a glass of champagne. It has been a wonderful cruise, and emails and addresses are exchanged, and hopes to visit one another. Cruceros Australis is truly a life experience to be lived and cherished. Next month, a new, bigger, more modern and more spacious ship shall be added to Cruceros Australis’ fleet: the Stella Australis.

Perched high on a hillside above Lago Villarica is the historic Hotel Antumalal. A small hotel with a long and distinguished history, Antumalal is located just outside the town of Pucon in Araucania Region of Chile.  It provides a wonderful combination of superb service and remarkable style and architecture in a lovely and serene location.  Antumalal is set within beautiful gardens that emphasize the natural beauty of its location.  Presidents, kings and queens, and other celebrities have stayed here since its doors opened 60 years ago.  Antumalal is owned and run today by Rony Pollack, whose father founded the hotel in 1950.  

Within walking distance is Pucon, the headquarters for adventure activities of all kinds in the region.  Activities in the area include guided climbs up the volcano, river rafting, skiing, hiking, horseback riding, hot springs, and much more, along with shopping, restaurants, and a casino in town.  Volcan Villarica dominates the area, with beautiful snow covered slopes and a dramatic plume of smoke rising from the peak.

Our visit to Antumalal was scheduled in the first days of spring.  Andrew, one of Rony’s sons, greeted us at the airport.   The drive from Temuco to Pucon was pleasant, with easy conversation with Andrew, who speaks perfect English and Spanish.  Outside the car were views of the ever-changing green fields, brown and black cows pasturing here and there, a few horses playfully running, and many trees in full blossom.  Have your camera ready and be on the look out for magnificent views of Volcán Villarrica on a straight stretch of the road: tall, beautiful and white against the blue sky!

Antumalal lies barely 2 km outside of Pucón, right on the lake and surrounded by lush vegetation and gardens.  It is remarkable to find such a beautiful hotel so close to Pucon.

At the hotel, Paulina greets us warmly.  She tells us that Rony will be with us shortly.  Rony is the only daughter of 4 siblings of the founder of Antumalal, Guillermo Pollak.  Rony manages the hotel to perfection, with a watchful eye for all the details that make Antumalal a first class home away from home.  

The history of the hotel is fascinating: Guillermo Pollak was a Czech photographer young man who came to South America from Prague in 1938; he arrived first in Argentina and then crossed the Andes to visit Chile.  Once he saw Pucón, he fell in love with the area and had his wife and first son join him in this new venture.  On the walls of Antumalal you will see photographs of many well known personalities who have stayed there over the years, such as ex president Eduardo Frei Montalva, Queen Fabiola with her husband, King Baudouin,  and even Niel Armstrong, the first man on the moon.  One of the early visitors to Antumalal in the 1940’s was then president Gabriel González Videla, back when Antumalal was only a well known destination on the lake for tea.  Impressed with Guillermo Pollak and pleased with the service and the food, González Videla assisted in securing the loan that led to the construction of the hotel.

Guillermo Pollack opened the hotel in October, 60 years ago.   The name he chose, “Antumalal”, means “corral of the sun” in Mapudungún.  He could not have chosen a more appropriate name for this boutique hotel; sunsets viewed from the hanging terrace here are astoundingly beautiful, and the sunlight seems to get trapped in Antumalal.

The hotel’s architecture is that of the avant garde style of the 1950’s, featuring dramatic lines and a red and white exterior.  It stands out from the greenery of the 5 hectares park that surrounds it.   The building itself houses just 22 rooms, and is built with a unity of style and architecture that reflects well on its builder.  The building is filled with beautiful walls of natural woods, detailed stonework floors, and windows that artfully highlight the natural beauty just outside.  Throughout the hotel there is a focus on all the details to keep the hotel beautiful and welcoming in every aspect for its guests.

Antumalal is tied to the land and its location, and strives for harmony with the environment.  The hotel generates its own electricity from natural streams on the site, and features local produce in its menu (even some grown on the hotel’s gardens!).  One can have salad from the gardens and sip herb tea from its greenhouse at the right time of the year.  Strolling through the gardens, you can breathe calm and peace at Antumalal.  Everything here contributes to your well being and delight, from softly humming bees, extremely shy green and blue lizards, proud queltehue birds, ever so fast humming birds to the plants and flowers of all shapes and sizes.

In addition to the beautiful gardens, Rony recently fulfilled a long-standing dream of her father’s; the building of the SPA, completed in time to celebrate Antumalal’s 60^th birthday.  The SPA features a large heated swimming pool, where half of it lies indoors, whilst the other half awaits warmer temperatures outside to cool off Antumalal’s guests in summer.  It also has a beautiful hot tub bordered by mossy rocks, a large modern sauna; massage rooms, locker rooms, showers and bathrooms.  All of this around a huge inviting fireplace where you can sip the fruit juice or mineral water of your choice.  The big windows open onto the soothing green of the gardens and the view of the lake behind them.

The rooms at Antumalal are spacious, with big windows overlooking the lake, and all of them have a fireplace with fresh wood.  The feeling in the rooms is that you experience the outside from the inside.  Complimentary mineral water and chocolates await you every evening in your room.  Dining at the hotel is a pleasure, with excellent food served in the dining room or on the outside terrace, both with spectacular views of the lake.  The local salmon that Alejandra selected one evening was as good as any she has every been served!

After 2 nights at Antumalal, we found ourselves looking for excuses to stay… although we could find several, family and life in the city called us away.  The calm beauty and warm atmosphere on Antumalal left us with an indelible impression and we hope to be back!

CONTEST DESTINATION OF THE MONTH

OCTOBER 2010

The prize for the DOM in October is a marvelous All Inclusive -Airport Transfer, Full Board & Use os SPA + massages- 3 days/2 nights stay for 2 at Antumalal.

***Contest Destination of the Month - October 2010***

Please answer the following questions:

What does Antumalal mean in Mapudungun?

How old is Antumalal turning in October 2010?

To enter the contest, please send your answers to 

info@uniquedestinations.cl

On the Subject line, please indicate:

Contest Destination of the Month - October 2010

After spending two nights at Terra Viña my husband and I returned home relaxed and happy, as we had not been in a long time.  We did not realize how much we needed this parenthesis in our otherwise busy lives.

But let’s recapitulate and start from the beginning.  The trip down to TerraViña was beautiful… traffic on the well-known ruta 5 sur that Friday afternoon was light.  The day, even though it was a winter day, was sunny and the warm sunrays came filtered into the car.  

We drove past San Fernando heading for Santa Cruz.  Santa Cruz is a charming little town that was built mainly on adobe.  As we sadly know, this was one of the areas that was hit by the earthquake early on Saturday 27^th of February 2010.  We could witness this when we crossed the center of town with collapsed buildings vanished houses, and families living in their new wooden “media agua”.  But even amidst this catastrophe the people were friendly and charming and we could see that the town was slowly returning to its previous charm.  People in Santa Cruz are aware that tourism is going to take a little while before it comes back to where it was before, but they are still welcoming the visitors and proud to talk to tourists about their town and their region.

 Just at the edge of town lies the Hartwig Vineyard, where TerraViña is located.  It is just before sunset when we come in through the gate that opens onto the hotel.  A beautiful sight on the horizon, so sleek, so well lit, so welcoming.  Even after the earthquake, TerraViña is standing tall and proud amidst a picturesque vine garden.  

 We park our jeep in the ample parking area before the hotel and get our suitcases.  As we walk through the door, a warm smile on Anne’s face greets us.  I introduce myself and my husband to her as her husband, Eduardo, comes in with a welcoming smile.

Eduardo helps us carry our carry-ons to the second floor where our warm room awaits us.  We decide it is time to rest a little from the car ride, breathe a little fresh air and after a short stroll to the vineyards, we get changed and ready for dinner.  

TerraViña is a modern building with the charm of the traditional architecture that belongs to the central valley… Hotel TerraViña has 18 comfortable, modern and delightful rooms.  There’s a room for every wish; rooms with a king size bed, rooms with 2 separate beds or even with 3 separate beds. TerraViña also has a master suite with a bedroom and a living room. All rooms have private colonial style bathrooms, oak floors that make it warmer than tile floors, cable TV, a safety box, a fan, central heating and a balcony with a spectacular view towards the Andes Mountains. 

Dinner or Lunch (or both!) is a must at Vino Bello when you are staying at TerraViña or just visiting Santa Cruz; a beautiful restaurant also located in the Hartwig Vineyard and just a couple hundred meters away from TerraViña.  Very convenient.  

This restaurant had been the stable of the property.  Once restored and refurbished, Vino Bello is the pride of its owner Janine.  A little later after arriving, we decide we must have dinner at Vino Bello.  We have heard so much about it that we are curious.  Janine is happy to meet us.  It is mutual.  Janine guides us to our reserved table and offers us some of their specialties.  Everything sounds amazingly good and we have a hard time deciding.  Finally we decide to have each a starter and my husband nails it with the specialty of the house, pumpkin soup – scrumptious!  I lean towards the grilled vegetables, very nicely done, but I prefer the soup.  For the main course my husband chooses another delicacy I choose ravioli filled with asado de tira, simply delicious!  A glass of carmenere is the perfect company for this superb dish.  Dessert is greatly recommended for the owner of a sweet tooth!  After this very generous meal, my husband and I decided we had to share a dessert.  Janine was always attentive to our wants and needs and came around often.  Once we had finished, she was happy to sit at our table and share good conversation with us.   We left Vino Bello, feeling pampered and happy, very happy to have chosen TerraViña and Vino Bello for our Destination of the Month for August!

The night at the hotel contrasts with any night in Santiago, in almost any neighborhood, it is quiet and peaceful, the air is clean and even though it is chilly outside our room, the room at TerraViña is warm, inviting and cozy.  We sleep like babies!

The next morning, a delicious buffet breakfast, awaits us in the dining room.  My husband asks for scrambled eggs and we have coffee, toasts, orange juice,  

After breakfast we are ready to go out for a visit of the surroundings.  Anne and Eduardo eagerly offer to help us choose the right spots for the day.  With their help and suggestions, we decided we wanted to visit Viña Mont Gras first and then Viña Lapostolle.  

It is very easy and quick to get to Viña Mont Gras.  The tour guide at Mont Gras is very nice and takes us on a tour around the grounds and wine cellars, answering every question the group asks and pointing out peculiar facts about this Viña.  After the tour, we are taken to a room for the tasting of the wines.  We try 3 kinds and then some people in the group ask to try one of the best wines of Mont Gras and we are granted the wish.  Superb!  We are then guided to the shop where you can find the best wines at very convenient prices.  We get tempted with a couple of the ones we tried in the tasting.  Everybody in Mont Gras is very nice, showing very high standard in the customer service.

We leave Viña Mont Gras feeling happy and satisfied, with the feeling that the time there has been well spent.  We head towards Lapostole.

Since Anne had already made reservations for us in both Wineries, they were expecting us in Viña Lapostolle.  The facilities of Viña Lapostolle were impressive.  The owner, they told us, is the great granddaughter of the founder of Grand Marnier, the famous orange liquor.

After the visits to both wineries, we drive into Santa Cruz; we want to see the town and see how much of it is left standing.  About a third of it has disappeared, not even the debris is there any longer.  The town is being reconstructed, and according to accounts we heard from people there, it would be standing before the end of the year!  Cardoen is rebuilding his museum and hotel and will reopen in September.  The Church has to be rebuilt as well, as do many other buildings, mainly private homes, in the area.  Santa Cruz, even with the horror of the earthquake, is back on its feet and standing proud in the Wine Country.

We return to our hotel for our last night, and we ask Anne for suggestions about a place to have dinner.  We choose a Peruvian restaurant called La Casita de Barreales.  The service is friendly and good and the food meets our expectations.  We get back to the hotel feeling like we have spent the best weekend in many weeks.

The next morning we wake up to the sound of Queltehues on the grounds of TerraViña.  Beautiful sunny day – again!  We walk over to Vino Bello and meet Janine in the garden, a short chat before we leave.  

After breakfast we decide we want to try another route to get back to Santiago – a longer one, but nevertheless more beautiful than the shorter version.  So, we drive by way of San Antonio.  It turned out to be a picturesque, much less trodden path.  Surprisingly, even though this way is longer, we feel relaxed coming back to Santiago.

There’s so much to do in Santa Cruz and its surroundings… we will be back!

CONTEST DESTINATION OF THE MONTH

AUGUST 2010

The prize for the DOM in August is a luxury weekend at TerraViña with Lunch or Dinner at Vino Bello in the romantic Colchagua Valley, only 2 and 1/2 hours from the heart of Santiago.  A 2 night/3 day stay at TerraViña.  

***Contest Destination of the Month - July 2010***

Please do the following:

Make up a poem that includes the words: TerraViña and Vino Bello

To enter the contest, please send your answers to 

info@uniquedestinations.cl

On the Subject line, please indicate:

Contest Destination of the Month - August 2010

Located on tiny Suiza street in Providencia is one of Santiago's newest and most charming boutique hotels, L’Ambassade Petit Hotel.  With just a handful of guest rooms in a beautifully restored former ambassadorial residence, L'Ambassade offers the highest level of friendly, personal service.  The hotel is a jewel, with elegant understatement in its décor and fascinating and interesting artwork throughout.  

On arrival we were warmly welcomed by Marie-Josée, one of the three siblings who own the hotel.  We felt immediately the delightful atmosphere of L’Ambassade with its fusion of French and Chilean styles.  If you can imagine a pleasing blend of a stately Chilean residence with a small pensione in the south of France, perhaps you understand the ambiance one feels on entering L'Ambassade.

L’Ambassade Petit Hotel was originally built as a private home in 1942.  Two consecutive Ambassadors used this building as their private residence in the past, inspiring its name today.  The new owners, two sisters and a brother, fell in love with the house the moment they saw it.  They have various backgrounds in hotel management and in the building and catering industries, which they acquired in France and use to great benefit here.  With a Chilean mother and a French father, the siblings spent much time living in France in the past, while frequently visiting family in Chile.  They returned permanently to Chile to pursue their passion for hospitality and forge a new future in 2009.  Marie-Josée and her two siblings believed this 68 year old building would be perfect for their project: a boutique hotel in Santiago with French flair.  The name of the Hotel was not hard to decide, after their research into the house’s history: L’Ambassade Petit Hotel.  They inaugurated L’Ambassade in November 2009; browsing through the pages of their guest book you can see the enthusiastic response from their guests and visitors.

A hallmark of L'Ambassade is personal attention lavished on their guests.  At least one of the owners is always present to attend to their guests.  The service is superb; when we visited, Marie-Josée was ready to comply with your every need at any time, while Sabrina, an associate who is there during the day, takes care of every detail to make your stay so pleasant you’ll want to return another time.  

The decoration of L’Ambassade is exquisite but not excessive, and the French ambiance can be felt the moment you step through the red door into the hotel.  The salon makes one feel at home, almost as if you were in your own living room.  Books, magazines and candles are strategically displayed on the coffee table and offer you a warm welcome.  The music, mostly French, the French teas served any time you wish in nicely decorated china, transport you to the French countryside, making your imagination play with the idea of spending some time at a French manor house.

Each of the 6 rooms is different from one another.  They have names reminiscent of a French petit chateau: La Chambre Rouge, La Suite Ambassade, Le Loft are the double rooms.  Three single rooms, delightfully decorated, give the solitaire visitor a warm welcome.

L'Ambassade has a small but inviting garden, with a table sheltered by an arbor offering the possibility of dining al fresco on warm days, or another sitting area with comfortable couches that will encourage you to slow down and enjoy an afternoon in the shade. The garden features a pool (when the season allows) and a sauna.  Shortly after arrival we enjoyed a tea (accompanied by lovely pastries!) on the balcony of our room.  It overlooks the garden, allowing us to enjoy the warmth of the sun and momentarily be surprised by a hummingbird almost close enough to touch.

Breakfast is served downstairs in the dining room, from 7 to 11 am.  The selection of homemade bread, marmalades and jams is fantastic.  The French toast and the carrot muffin I had were made by Marie-Josée, caterer by profession and passion; the tea was imported from France.

Everywhere you look in the hotel you will find a detail that makes L’Ambassade a place full of charming surprises:  Mirrors framed with painted tiles, original paintings, antique door knobs, sculptures made in bronze, ceramics, or wood, old photographs,... 

L’Ambassade is a trip to France without having to move from Santiago. 

***Contest Destination of the Month - April 2010***

Please answer the following questions:

What are the names of the 3 double rooms in this hotel?  

Why is the hotel called L'Ambassade?

To enter the contest, please send your answers to info@uniquedestinations.cl

On the Subject line, please indicate:

Contest Destination of the Month - June 2010