Mandarin Oriental, SantiagoSantiago, Chile

Hotel Santiago, A grand claim of Santiago’s is that you can ski in the morning and go to the beach in the afternoon. This is no exaggeration. Hotel Santiago lives up to its own ‘grand’ claims, offering a larger than life experience through its scale, attentive service and pure elegance. It is essentially a resort hotel, situated at the heart of the city and boasting stunning views of the Andes Mountains.

Its guest rooms are split-level and, like their namesake, grand at approximately 560 square feet. Despite its scale the hotel offers much needed respite from the city beyond: its grounds are stunning, featuring a 1000 square meter pool, dramatic waterfalls, lush gardens and outdoor terraces. It also offers some of Santiago’s finest dining opportunities, including Senso with the city’s only menu, and chef, from the Emilia Romagno region of Italy. It also plays host to the city’s best Japanese restaurant, Matsuri and the market-style Thai restaurant, Anekena that harvests its own Thai herbs, some of which are unique to Latin America.

Hotel Santiago promises a larger than life experience that will leave you refreshed and invigorated.

Enjoy.

Dine:

At Ana Maria, for traditional countryside-style cuisine where ingredients are sourced from the owner/chef’s own farm. Cuero Vaca, one of the best steak houses in the city where all the meat is imported from Argentina.

Savour:

Chilean wines during a vineyard tour. For white and Pinot Noir visit Veramonte, William Cole and Vina Salve in the Casablanca Valley. To try red, visit Luis Felipe Edwards, Montgras and Montes in the Colchagua Valley.

Discover:

Try Pisco, the national liquor, in a Pisco Sour cocktail. A wonderful mix of cool lemon and warm liquor made from aromatic Muscatel grapes.

See:

Take the cable car railway and view the city from above at San Cristibal Hill. Enrich: Visit Terma de Puyehue spa, for outdoor hot springs and milk and honey baths (www.puyehue.cl).