Hotel Prat (Peña 427, tel. 075/311069, US$7.50 pp with shared bath, US$13 pp with private bath) is a traditional budget favorite. Residencial Colonial (Manuel Rodríguez 461, tel. 075/314103, resicolonial [at] terra [dot] cl, US$8 pp with shared bath, US$9/13 s/d with private bath) fills up fast at that price.

Across the street, room sizes vary at family-run, somewhat ramshackle Residencial Ensueño (Manuel Rodríguez 460, tel. 075/312648, US$9 pp with shared bath, US$19/28 s/d with private bath and cable TV), but the beds are comfortable, and there’s plenty of hot water and good water pressure. If other guests aren’t quiet, the sound carries, but they switch the lounge TV off early.

Better than its worn exterior would suggest, Hotel Comercio (Yungay 730, tel. 075/312443, www.hotelcomercio.cl, US$35/52–47/63 s/d with breakfast) has rooms that vary substantially in size.

Though some rooms are on the small side, Hotel Palmas Express (Membrillar 728, tel. 075/320066, hotel [at] villaeldescanso [dot] com, US$50/60–60/66 s/d) is in primo condition. Given the minimal price difference, the more expensive rooms are worth consideration; amenities include cable TV, a/c, parking, and a buffet breakfast.

Despite its name, Hotel Turismo (Arturo Prat 301, tel. 075/310552, hturismo [at] tnet [dot] cl, US$53/62 s/d–US$72 s or d) is more accurately the business traveler’s favorite, though tourists will feel just as much at home in its large rooms and spacious, stylish common areas. Foreigners should ask for IVA discounts.