Lima wrap up report - The Maria Luisa
Well, I just returned to the US today, after two and a half weeks in Lima.
I had a pretty enjoyable stay at the Maria Luisa. I booked the Matrimonial room, for 70 soles. The beds are a bit too hard, but I almost got used to it before I left. Some of the room cleaning is half assed. The one guy with glasses does a fantastic job of cleaning, though.
Remember to ask for a safe to be brought to your room. It's not bolted down, but kept all my valuables safe on this trip.
The night time receptionist, Lourdes and the night time security guy, David were always super helpful. They seemed to be training a mousey looking chica for the daytime, and she was beyond clueless.
Now, if they would only wire the whole hotel for wi-fi, I wouldn't have to go downstairs, or to the front of the second floor to get a decent signal. I did find a few other signals, such as Grimaldo and Red Travel during the day, and a couple of free weak signals at the back.
The on-line booking form on the Maria Luisa website is rather flakey. The 60, 70 and 90 soles rooms fill up the quickest. One daytime receptionist mentioned that the rates might be going up in January, when I was asking about a reservation for a ISG member. The night time chica didn't know anything about a price increase.
I think there there is a lot of competition in the area, and all hotels seem to have similar pricing. Unless everyone has a price increase, they'd probably lose some business.
If noise bothers you much, bring some ear plugs, as doors slamming, chicas getting pounded, or even babies crying can happen at the ML. And the tiny rolls of toilet paper they have run out quickly!
It's too bad they don't take credit cards, but I guess it would just be a big cost in the long run for them. They get nervous if you owe them for more than 6 nights.
And somewhere over the last three years, the ML has lost one of their stars. The key rings still show the 3 star designation, but outside, it only shows two. Maybe they pissed someone off?
And my final last thing I liked about the ML, is that you will NEVER been woken up by housekeeping wanting to clean your room. Leave your key downstairs when you go out if you want it cleaned. Doesn't matter if it's 5pm, or noon.
Lima Wrap up report - Assorted food, money changing
If you bring stacks of 20's and some 50's, you may never need to change money in the streets. Most medium sized restaurants, supermarkets, boticas, etc, all offer as good or better exchange than you find on the street.
Many won't touch $100 bills, though.
80% of the time, I changed money in the street. I got rates between 3.075 and 3.09 on my trip. Some places will only stick with the 3.0 which I avoid like the plague. The closer you get to Pizza Alley, the lower the prices I was offered. One guy had the balls to offer me 3.02! I could usually get 1 sole more than their first good price. Sundays are the worst time to change.
I never got any fake bills, but if you stay in the ML, ask Lourdes to show you the fake 100 sole bill they have. Rather hard to spot, at least for me!
I found a number of lunch time places within a few blocks of the ML. I think I liked El Parquecito, next to Tequila Rocks the best. They have a 10.9 sole or 15.9 sole lunch special. There wasn't usually much of a difference between the two. Includes taxes and tip too. You go down the long hall. They usually don't give you the menu for the cheaper 10.9 sole lunch, but will if you kindly ask for it.
I ate at places as cheap as 6 soles, and never came away wanting more food. Lot of good variety!
There is a pizza restaurant, just around the corner from ML, next to the Hair Salon (same street as Tequila rock). I think it's called Pippo's or something similar. They have a 5 sole special all the time, two pieces of pizza, drink and garlic bread. Also a good 10 sole lasgna or pasta special, and a 8 soles for 1/2 a pizza, or 15 soles for a whole pizza. The service isn't fast, but it was a good deal, and I always found the food enjoyable.
I only ate once in Pizza Alley proper, but did hit some of the restaurants closer to the McDonalds. At many, you can get a good meal for 16 soles or less.
My total cost for 17 days at the ML, food, chicas, taxis and other entertainment was $1400. I used some frequent flyer miles, and $40 in taxes for the trip. I even managed free upgrades to first class on all 4 segments of my flights on full planes. (Don't even ask how I did that!) 7 Chica sessions. 3 in room massages w/extras, 2 massages in salons with no extras. 3 movies, 3 excellent buffet lunches, and no purchased Chiclets. :)
Lima wrap up report - Las chicas!
I'm pretty much a "just relax" type guy when I go on vacations. I just try to have some fun, and not try to bite off too much. I'd go to the park and read, and watch the incredible people as they talk and do strange stuff in the park.
Teenagers trying to sell me a hairless Peruvian dog, the endless Chicklette sellers, one gay guy who was either trying to sell me drugs, or himself, and the interesting people I shared benches with, were all fun.
I had PMed David a month or so before I came, and let him know what I was looking for. The first day I was recovered from my plane flight was a Sunday, and pickings are often bit tough then. He sent me a chica that was pretty nice, but not as good as the great ones that would follow.
When I posted here that I was looking for a good massage, he told me about Sandra, a 32 year old chica that gives massages, plus extras if you're interested.
She came over, and gave me an excellent 90 minute massage, and then a great BBBJ. While she doesn't look 21, she looks quite nice for 32, and has a super attitude. Nice spinner type body, intelligent conversation, and a real GFE. This was the only chica I repeated with on my trip, a total of three times! I've asked her if I could post her picture, and she agreed. So when I edit it (no face shots), I'll post it here.
I even went out to eat with her a couple of times, and went to the movies and such. Our last session lasted so long, I almost didn't make my airplane!
Her normal fees are: Massage 90s, Massage+HJ/BBBJ 150s, Massage + FS, 200s. I also gave a bit extra for taxi as well. She's also up for three ways, although I never got to have that pleasure. PM David if you'd like to meet her.
David was great to have as a resource on this trip. His amigas that he introduced me to were very good, and very service orientated. His knowledge of great places to eat was also superb!
I'm almost embarrassed to say that I saw no chicas that weren't amigas of his. I looked at one Pizza Alley girl a bit, and had been hoping for some extras at one of the salons offering massages, but nothing ever came from it.
If you're lucky enough to meet some of David's amigas, you know what I mean. :)
Thank you, David!