Malecon de la Reserva 615,
Miraflores, Lima, Peru
The flashy and brash business hotel is a standards–only affair when it comes to accommodations, but the great clifftop location and social center lobby of this JW Marriott make it worth considering, especially those who need to strike deals and juggle meetings while in Lima.
© Timothy Scott
Lima's outpost of the predictable JW Marriott chain is not as fancy as the Swissotel or as coddling as the other two hotels listed here in Luxury Latin America, but with its central location on the water, it's a magnet for business travelers from around the world. The hotel overlooks the ocean and the seafront shopping an entertainment promenade, and this very American operation is fittingly across the street from a Pizza Hut and KFC. The two striking glass highrises––one with office space, the other with the hotel and casino––are unmistakable landmarks in Miraflores.
© JW Marriott Lima
You enter the hotel on the ground floor, but the lobby is one floor up, meaning everyone entering the hotel waits for one of the three elevators serving the high–rise. The dramatic lobby is the high point here, with killer views of the sea outside and lots of bold design elements inside. Sculptured lighting, a sunken fountain, and contemporary sitting areas lead to a flashy modern bar that's always buzzing with conversation and cell phone rings.
The open–kitchen grill advertises itself as Latin, but this is a restaurant seemingly designed to please U.S. business travelers, complete with beef flown in from the U.S. (rather than closer Argentina). The La Vista waterview cafe has more local flavor, with tamales and ceviche joining the burgers and fries. Nearly every public room has some kind of water view through a wall of glass.
Accommodations here are spacious and well–equipped for business travelers, but are short on character, apart from a few regional fabrics in geometric patterns here and there joining the muted color schemes. Roomy sitting areas and desks sit on plush carpeting, but the desk chairs are not ergonomic. Most rooms feature king or queen beds, but a few inexplicably have two twins. Spacious tile and marble baths have stall showers, separate tubs, magnifying mirrors, and the widest array of toiletries in town. Large TVs, high–speed Internet access (extra charge), minibars, coffeemakers, clock radios, irons and ironing boards, and closets with safes make these accommodations in line with international norms. Note, however, that a bottle of Evian from the minibar will set you back more than a good meal a block or two away. If you're looking for anything beyond a standard room, pickings are slim at the JW Marriott: 12 junior suites are the only non–standard offerings. Room service runs 24 hours and turndown service happens nightly.
© JW Marriott Lima
An excellent gym, pool, tennis court, sauna, and massage room are on site and there are lots of jogging and walking options right outside the door. The smoky casino tries to display an elegant look, but it's mainly just banks of slot machines, with a few table games here and there. Expensive valet parking, a tour desk, numerous shops, and shuttles to the airport round out the hotel's offerings, while the entertainment complex across the street has quality shops, more restaurants, and a movie theater.
If you've stayed in JW Marriotts before, you already know what to expect in this one and it is a good facility for getting work done. If you're in Lima on vacation, however, the Miraflores Park Hotel a few blocks away is a better seaside option.
Web Address: JW Marriott Lima
Total Number of Rooms: 300
Published rates: $189 to $360
Review by Timothy Scott.
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