Miraflores, Lima: The Hidden Gem You NEED to See in Peru!
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because we're diving HEADFIRST into a review of a hotel, and it's gonna be less "polished travel brochure" and more "your weird aunt after a bottle of wine." Let's call it… [Hotel Name with some placeholder, and I'm going to make up a fake Hotel name, as I have no data for a specific hotel] - "The Serendipity Suites" (because, why not?)
First Impressions: The Accessibility Avalanche (and a Side of My Own Awkwardness)
Okay, so the first thing that hits you when you Google "The Serendipity Suites" (which, admittedly, I haven't done yet, because I'm making this up!) is probably a long list of amenities. Let's start with the accessibility stuff, shall we? Because this truly matters.
- Wheelchair Accessible? Hopefully! And hopefully actually wheelchair accessible, not that sad, token ramp shoved next to a flight of stairs that you see sometimes. This is important! The review demands a thorough investigation. Is the lobby easily navigable? The elevators big enough? The pool area accessible? I imagine the "Facilities for disabled guests" means they're making an effort, but I'd want to see it with my own eyes. We're talking real-world here, people!
- On-site accessible restaurants/lounges: This is crucial. No one wants to be stranded with only a vending machine for dinner. Bonus points if they actually taste good.
- Air conditioning in public area: Thank god. I can't function in a sweatbox. It's not pretty. Nor can disabled people.
- Elevator: Duh. No more than 4-5 floors should still be accessible to a non-disabled person.
- Door man: I would absolutely value assistance with luggage, and other general assistance at the reception.
Internet: The Modern Traveler's Lifeblood (and My Constant Need for Cat Videos)
Okay, internet. Let's get real. Free Wi-Fi in all rooms?! Praise be! This is non-negotiable in 2024. And yes, I'm totally going to judge the speed. Is it fast enough to stream Netflix, or are we talking dial-up flashbacks?
- Free Wi-Fi in all rooms!: This is the bare minimum, people.
- Internet Access - Wireless / Internet Access - LAN: A good hotel offers choices, so the LAN option is handy for those who require secure connections.
- Wi-Fi for special events: Sounds useful for conferences and galas.
- Internet services: This suggests printing and business services, which is good.
- Xerox/fax in business center: If you need to send a fax in this day and age, you're living in the past, but hey, it’s there.
Things to Do and Ways to Relax: From Zen Master to Poolside Blob
Alright, the fun stuff! This is where "The Serendipity Suites" either shines or faceplants.
- Swimming pool (outdoor): I am a poolside blob at heart. But here's the real question: is the pool clean? Are there enough sun loungers? Are there giant inflatable flamingos available? (Okay, maybe that last one is just for me.)
- Pool with view: Ooh, fancypants! This could be amazing. Or just… mediocre. The view needs to be spectacular. I'm envisioning a spectacular ocean view, but hey, a mountain view is great too.
- Spa/sauna/steamroom: Yes, yes, and YES. Sign me up immediately. I'm talking body scrubs, body wraps, the whole shebang. After a long day of… well, whatever, a relaxing steam room is essential.
- Fitness center / Gym/fitness: I should use this. But let's be honest, I probably won't. But it's nice to know it's there, in case I suddenly decide to become a fitness guru.
- Massage: Okay, now we're talking.
- Couple's room: This is for the romantically (or, let's be honest, sexually) inclined.
Cleanliness and Safety: Because Germs Are My Enemy (and Yours Too)
This section is vital, especially post-pandemic.
- Anti-viral cleaning products: Good. Very good.
- Daily disinfection in common areas: Excellent!
- Rooms sanitized between stays: Absolutely critical now.
- Physical distancing of at least 1 meter: This is also important unless you want to be in a confined area with many people
- Professional-grade sanitizing services: Yes, please!
- Hand sanitizer: Everywhere? Good.
- Doctor/nurse on call / First aid kit: Peace of mind, am I right?
- CCTV in common areas, CCTV outside property, Security [24-hour]: Added protection, good for peace of mind!
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking: Foodie Heaven (or, You Know, a Sad Breakfast Buffet)
This is where hotels can really win me over.
- Breakfast [buffet] / Asian breakfast / Western breakfast: Okay, the breakfast buffet is the make or break situation. Is it a beige nightmare of lukewarm scrambled eggs and rubbery bacon, or a culinary adventure? I need to know. Is there decent coffee? Fresh fruit? Pastries? I'm hungry just thinking about it.
- Restaurants / Coffee shop / Bar / Poolside bar: Different options are good!
- Room service [24-hour]: This is my jam. When I'm not feeling social, the 24-hour room service is a dream.
- A la carte in restaurant: A la carte restaurants can be a delight
- Alternative meal arrangement: Always a bonus, dietary requirements are the norm.
- Bottle of water, Coffee/tea in restaurant: Just for convenience.
- Desserts in restaurant, Salad in restaurant, Soup in restaurant, Snack bar: Okay, I'm getting hungry again.
- Vegetarian restaurant, Asian cuisine in restaurant, International cuisine in restaurant: Options!
- Happy hour: Essential.
Services and Conveniences: The Little Things That Make a Big Difference
The Serendipity Suites is becoming more and more attractive to me:
- Air conditioning in public area: Yes, please!
- Elevator: No staircases for me!
- Contactless check-in/out: Saves time!
- Concierge / Doorman: Someone to help with all the things, great option.
- Cash withdrawal / Currency exchange: Convenient.
- Daily housekeeping: A clean room is a happy room!
- Laundry service/Dry cleaning/Ironing service: I'm not sure if I could keep up my wardrobe without it.
- Car park [free of charge], Car park [on-site]: Parking is important, and free parking is fantastic.
- Luggage storage: This is a blessing when you get to the hotel at the start of your trip.
- Essential condiments: What a great option.
- Facilities for disabled guests: Great to see
- Food delivery: What an option.
- Gift/souvenir shop: Good if you're in a hurry to get a gift.
- Safety deposit boxes: A must, in case anything should happen to the valuables.
For the Kids: Because Traveling with Tiny Humans is a Wild Ride
- Babysitting service: A must for most parents!
- Family/child friendly, Kids facilities, Kids meal: Okay, cool. This is good for parents traveling with kids.
The Room Itself: My Personal Sanctuary (or Disaster Zone)
- Air conditioning: Duh.
- Non-smoking rooms: Definitely good.
- Additional toilet: Fantastic!
- Bathroom phone: Not sure if I could use this.
- Bathtub: Nice, if I had the time to use this!
- Blackout curtains: Essential for a good night's sleep, especially if you're jetlagged or on holiday.
- Coffee/tea maker / Complimentary tea: Caffeine is life.
- Hair dryer: Don't want to be carrying one around.
- In-room safe box: For valuables.
- Mini bar: I'm more of a mini-fridge person, for personal food items/drinks.
- Non-smoking: Good, for allergies.
- Private bathroom: Always a plus.
- Refrigerator / Slippers: Good options to see.
- Shower / Separate shower/bathtub: Options.
- Towels, Toiletries: Great.
- Wake-up service: Probably won't need one, but good to know.
- Wi-Fi [free]: Yes!
- Window that opens: It's just nice, sometimes.
**The Anecdote That Will
Agva Marina House: Your Dream Turkish Getaway Awaits!
Okay, buckle up, buttercup, because this isn't your grandma's perfectly-formatted travel itinerary. This is Miraflores, Lima, through the eyes of someone who probably needs another cup of coffee (or maybe a pisco sour, who am I kidding?).
Miraflores Mayhem: A Lima Ramble (or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Ceviche)
Day 1: Arrival & "Oh, My God, That's a Lot of Sand"
Morning (7:00 AM - 9:00 AM): Landing in Lima. Oh, the airport! It's a whirlwind of baggage claim anxiety and the desperate hunt for a decent exchange rate. Finding a taxi… that’s a separate adventure altogether. Took a deep breath and remembered “Google Maps, you are my friend.”
Late Morning/Early Afternoon (9:00 AM - 2:00 PM): Check-in at the hotel in Miraflores. I booked the "Hotel del Sol" off a blurry Instagram photo, hoping it wasn't a total dump. Turns out, it's actually pretty charming! Now, the room… the view? Absolutely stunning, though… okay, the bathroom sink looks to be the victim of a long-ago plumbing battle. No, no, no. It's fine. Everything is fine.
- Side Note: The "Miraflores" neighborhood is where I am! I get that there are other neighborhoods – Barranco, Callao, etc. – but people kept saying, "Miraflores, Miraflores!" so here I am.
Afternoon (2:00 PM - 4:00 PM): First attempt at exploring the Malecón (coastal pathway). Oh. My. God. The Pacific Ocean is vast. And the cliffs? Gorgeous. Seriously, I could stare at those crashing waves for hours. Then I did stare at those crashing waves for hours. I felt this weird sense of freedom just breathing in that ocean air… But seriously, the sand. EVERYWHERE. I'll be finding sand in my shoes for weeks.
Evening (4:00 PM - 7:00 PM): Ceviche Hunt. This is my primary mission in Lima. I'm on a quest for the perfect ceviche. Started at "La Mar" (recommended by everyone, even the grumpy guy at the airport). It was… good. Really, really good. Fresh fish marinated in citrusy goodness. But, the hype. I'm going to keep searching. Maybe there is a better ceviche than this.
Night (7:00 PM - Late): Stumbled into a local bar ("Ayacucho"). Karaoke. Chaos. Wonderful, glorious chaos. I don't speak Spanish, but the music? The energy? I think I learned all the words to "Livin' on a Prayer" in ten minutes. Sang it horribly, but everyone loved it!
- *Anode: * This place was filled local people, and not a bunch of tourists! It felt like the places I went to in Europe and in Asia.
Day 2: Paragliding & the Great Empanada Conspiracy
Morning (8:00 AM - 10:00 AM): Breakfast. Tried the local "pan con palta" (bread with avocado). Delicious. Simple. Perfect. Maybe the Peruvian concept of "perfect" is my favorite.
Morning (10:00 AM - 12:00 PM): Paragliding! Okay, I'm terrified of heights. But, YOLO, right? The views over the coast were incredible. Amazing. Terrifying, but amazing. The wind whipped through my hair, the city a tiny patchwork below. Landed a bit wobbly, but alive! And now I have the pictures to prove I'm braver than I thought.
Afternoon (12:00 PM - 2:00 PM): Empanada Experimentation. This is serious business. I spent half an afternoon wandering around the streets of Miraflores, sampling empanadas from every street vendor I could find! Chicken? Delicious! Beef? Hmm… I don't think he used beef. Cheese? Glorious. Still trying to figure out which place is the holy grail of empanadas. This is a quest for the ages.
Afternoon (2:00 PM - 4:00 PM): Barranco. Took a taxi to a colorful district next to Miraflores. The Bridge of Sighs, street art, the bohemian vibe… it's like the cooler, artsier cousin of Miraflores. Wandered around, soaking up the creative energy.
Late Afternoon (4:00 PM - 6:00 PM): Back to Miraflores and the Ceviche Hunt. Found a smaller place called "Canta Rana." Better. Not perfect, but better. Almost… maybe… I'm getting closer!
Night (7:00 PM - Late): Exploring the shops. Went for some souvenirs. Bought some alpaca wool! Prices are decent. Spent the night in hotel.
Day 3: Chocolate & Goodbye (for now)
Morning (9:00 AM - 11:00 AM): Chocolate Tasting! Found a chocolate shop and got a lesson in the local cocoa beans. Sampled about a million variations. I think I might be addicted to Peruvian chocolate.
Morning/Afternoon (11:00 AM - 1:00 PM): Last stroll along the Malecón. One last look. One last whiff of that salty air. Did more people watching. (The best sport).
Afternoon (1:00 PM - 3:00 PM): One last ceviche. Took another taxi as I want to be certain I find the best one.
Afternoon (3:00 PM - 5:00 PM): Packing, sighing, and the slow, heartbreaking realization that I have to leave this amazing place. Already planning my return!
Evening (5:00 PM - onward): Headed to the airport. Reflecting. Realized I was having more fun than expected.
FINAL THOUGHTS: Miraflores? It’s not perfect. But, its people are cool, it's chaotic, it's beautiful, and it'll get under your skin. It's the kind of place that makes you forget about your meticulously planned itinerary and just… live. And that, my friends, is the best kind of travel. I’ll be back!
So, like, what *is* this whole "thing" about, anyway?
Ugh, right? The million-dollar question. Look, I'm gonna be honest, it's hard to pin down. It’s less a concrete "thing" and more… a *vibe*. Imagine a chaotic art project, except the canvas is my brain. And the paint's a mix of caffeine, existential dread, and that weird feeling you get when you stand too close to a microwave oven. Basically, I'm trying to distill a bunch of… *stuff*… into something that (hopefully) someone, somewhere, might relate to. God, I hope so. Otherwise, I look even *more* insane.
Okay, but GIVE us a concrete example! Like, what's a typical day in the life?
Oh, lord. Where to even begin? Alright, here goes... Usually, it starts with the sun attempting to blind me through the blinds (rude). Then it's a mad dash for coffee – *essential*. See, without caffeine, I’m basically a slightly sentient potato. Then comes the internal debate: Should I write? Should I clean? Should I just curl up into a ball and pretend the world doesn't exist? (Spoiler alert: the ball-curling usually *wins* at least once a week.) Maybe I’ll take a walk, even if it is just to the mailbox and back. The whole time I'm thinking, "Am I doing this right? Should I have put on *pants*?" The details are messy, I promise.
What are you *really* passionate about? Like, give me the *real* stuff.
Okay, deep breaths. This is where it gets dicey. Honestly? I’m passionate about the little things. The way sunlight hits the dust motes in the air (truly magical, sometimes). A perfectly brewed cup of tea. A really, *really* good book that grips your soul. I’m passionate about not being perfect – embracing the screw-ups, the awkward moments, the times I spill coffee on myself (which happens *a lot*). More recently, I’m developing a strong passion for not feeling like I’m supposed to be perfect. God, I'm trying to learn to embrace that.
What's the *hardest* part? Be vulnerable, dammit!
Oh, that’s easy: self-doubt. That sneaky little gremlin that whispers, "You're not good enough." It’s a constant battle. I’ll write something, and then the gremlin will start its choir of negativity. It’s like a symphony of self-loathing. You know, the ones where I'll spend hours agonising, rewriting, editing, deleting (and then, yes, regretting deleting!) until the whole thing feels… empty. And the fear? Lord, the fear of putting myself out there, of being judged, of failing… it’s often paralysing. But then, after a massive meltdown, I dig myself out and start again. It's a cycle. A truly, deeply annoying cycle.
Ever had a total "facepalm" moment? Spill the tea!
Oh, dude, where do I *begin*? Let's just say I once tried to parallel park, and ended up with my car wedged at a 45-degree angle on the sidewalk. It looked like a modern art installation… a really, *really* bad one. People stopped and stared. I wanted to crawl into a hole and die. Instead, I had to call a tow truck. The driver, bless his heart, didn’t laugh *too* much. Or… the time I accidentally sent a super-personal email to my entire family list? Yeah. Mortification doesn’t even cover it. And the time I wore mismatched shoes to an important meeting? You get the picture. I'm a walking disaster-zone, I'll say that much.
What's your *favorite* thing?
Oh, easy. Hands down: laughing until my stomach hurts. The kind of laughter that makes tears stream down your face. The kind you can't control. That laughter? That’s pure gold. I *live* for it. Also... cheesy pizza, good books, and being able to be a bit of a weirdo.
Okay, so what's the goal? What are you even *trying* to do here?
Ugh, “goals”. The word makes me want to hide under the covers. But fine. The ultimate goal? To connect. To find my people. To… show, not tell, that it’s okay to be messy, imperfect, and gloriously flawed. To create something that makes someone else feel a little less alone in this giant, confusing universe. To maybe, just maybe, leave some sort of mark, no matter how small. Also, I would love it if I could actually learn to use my new coffee machine without setting off the smoke alarm. Small steps, people. Small steps.
Is there anything else that is on your mind?
Yeah, there is. I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed, to be honest. I mean, there's so much going on, all the time. Inflation is the worst. And that barista? Forgot my oat milk *again*. I'd also like to master making sourdough bread but, well, let's just say my starter and I are not on the same page currently. And I keep thinking about the fact that one day, I won't be here. It's not the most pleasant thought. I'm mostly tired by the end of the day. But also, I am pretty happy to be here. I think I am the person who's just starting to feel themselves a bit more. I don't know. I am also a person who can't make up their mind. Okay, so, that's it I guess.
