Hotel Faranda Los Tilos, Ascend Hotel Collection

Good kind

The hotel is set on the outskirts of Santiago, a bus right to the centre leaves almost outside the hotel every 20 minutes and costs €1. Small commercial centre, cafe (not brilliant) and small supermarket in the vicinity little else. A small grassy area with tennis courts used by locals. We parked in a little car parking area below the hotel. It's quite a steep slope up. Both the area and the hotel from the front don't give you much confidence in what you are about to receive. Both look run down, loads of graffiti on the local commercial centre and units closed, rubbish and graffiti round the hotel area , long grass and weeds surrounding the hotel. Took absolutely ages for someone to come to reception to check us in although later he was extremely helpful in telling us how to get to Santiago centre. Twin room OK, good size but a bit dark and gloomy outlook. Fridge with two bottles of water in (were they free or not?). Bathroom good size but chipped tiles, worn bath, hot/warm water coming from both taps on basin, clean towels. Large TV and Wi-fi, neither used. The whole hotel felt 'dead' and 'gloomy' maybe because it was out of high season. That feeling continued through breakfast which ostensibly was a buffet. Very little choice, only one other person in the dining room, server not particularly friendly, made us coffee and that was about it. For one night it was adequate but I wouldn't want to stay there any longer.