Casa Newen Bed and Breakfast has been operating for around 8 years and in that time we have seen a rapid increase in both the number of tourists who visit Chile and the accommodations that are available in Santiago.

I mention this because over the last couple of years, we have received a number of guests at Casa Newen Bed and Breakfast who where in need of last minute accommodation because the departments, hotels and bed and breakfasts that they booked in Santiago was nothing like the photos they saw or the location was not close to the city.

Recently a very nice lady from Canada, knocked on our door asking if we had any rooms available, luckily a couple from San Francisco had just left that morning, we told her that we did and she sighed with relief and sat down to enjoy some tea that we had offered her. After some friendly chit chat she explained that she had booked to stay at a bed and breakfast in Santiago that was very close to the city and was offered a great rate, to be sure she quickly did a google search and found great reviews in tripadvisor.

Well after arriving in Santiago and waiting 1hr for her transfer to pick her up she decided to catch a taxi to her bed and breakfast. When she arrived at the address that was given to her, she found a non nondescript apartment building, puzzled she asked the taxi driver to wait as she rang the button of the complex, A nice lady appeared, and she tried to explain the situation to her.

She was shocked to learn that the “bed and breakfast” that she had booked was nothing more then a rented apartment, were a gentleman asks that they make no noise when they arrive or depart so as not to raise the suspicion of his nieghbours! Their had been various tourists that had left annoyed at the lack of services and the general lack of interest of the “host”

To Luis and my self these stories are becoming more common, we would advice anybody who is thinking of visiting Chile and more specifically Santiago to ask the bed and breakfast which there thinking of staying; how long have they been registered and licenced with the national tourism office SERNATUR and with their local town as a bed and breakfast in Santiago.

If they are not licenced or can not give you a specific answer, STAY AWAY. Of course you can always check this information at the sernatur.cl website.

Casa Newen Bed and Breakfast in Santiago de Chile, was one of the first bed and breakfasts in Santiago. We are a registered and licenced bed and breakfast for the last 8 years and apply the international bed and breakfast standards to all our services.

Adda & Luis Carvajal

Casa Newen Bed and Breakfast
contact@casanewen.com
www.casanewen.com

When going about your daily life, you want to know exactly what to do in unfamiliar situations to save face and time. So, here are a few tips:

In some shops and chemists you have to line up to take a number and then line up to pay at the cash register (caja). This applies at PreUnic chains, chemists and at some snackshops.

Bear in mind the word ¨snack shops¨ means a licenced drinking and eating place. Also, the word ¨nightclubs¨ means a brothel. To have a drink and dance you go to a “Discoteque” or a “Pub”.

You´ve done a good deed for the day if you tip the teenagers who put your stuff in bags at the shopping centre, usually about CLP$100 , as they are not getting paid.

When shopping at large supermarkets like Lider, Jumbo or Monserrat near our bed and breakfast, you get your bread or fruit weighed and tagged by the attendant before going to the register.

To get served at a delicatessen within the supermarket, you take a number and wait for your turn. The check out operator at the front of the supermarket will usually ask if you want to make a donation taken from your change, to donate to a certain charity organization.

Usually only give a tip of 10% in restaurants if it is not already added to your bill.

Taxi drivers do not expect tips, but if you want to, they´ll certainly accept it!

One of the first questions most of our guests to Casa Newen ask is “how can I get down town?” Well the answer is simple. If you like, you could walk a few blocks to catch the Metro, or if you are in a rush you can catch several types of Taxi´s (distinguished by a black body and yellow roof) around the corner from Casa Newen Bed & Breakfast.

A Colectivo is a type of taxi that has a specific route shown on a sign on top of their roof. it takes a maximum of four people, that hop on board anywhere along the route. The fee starts from $350 to a maximum of $400 (Chilean Pesos) per person, depending on where you get off. It is the ideal transport for 1-2 people to take from Casa Newen to the Manuel Montt Metro Station and vice versa.

A Traditional Taxi starts from $200 (Chilean Pesos) and has the advantage of dropping you off exactly where you want. They also appear more frequently and let you pay for the ride, so it is more cost effective for 3-4 people.

Another thing to be aware of is that the cost of taxi´s can vary from day to night-time. The best thing to do is ask your driver before-hand how much the journey will cost. If it seems unreasonable move on.

With these small tips you should have no problem navigating around Santiago and across the beautiful country that we call Chile.