Flying to Lima Peru

 

Lima Airport Ramada Hotel

Arriving to Lima you can’t help but notice it is a modern airport, with lots of glass, shiny metal and welcome signs.  Upon arrival you first pass through immigrations which are a long line of incoming passengers that breaks down to several lines – my recommendation go all the way to the far end.  There are actually two agents there one for the regular line and a second for VIP dignitaries.  If there are no dignitaries, both agents help the last line making that line move the fastest.

By the time you pass through immigration – your luggage should be waiting for you.  I do have to mention maybe because I am naïve, but Lima is the first airport I’ve seen with duty free shops for arriving passengers.  Welcome to Peru would you like to buy some liquor, cigarettes, perfumes or electronics?  They had a couple of them and they were copies of the type of store you see departing any country.

At baggage claim there are some people selling rental cell phones – this is a con.  I asked about buying a pre-paid chip for my cell phone, they told me they had them.  But then wanted me to pay $10 for the chip or the phone and charge me $.49 a minute for calls within Peru and almost $2 a call for calls outside Peru.   There rates were outrageous when a local call on a prepaid plan is 20 soles less than $.10 a minute.  Thanks – but NO THANKS!

Most of the flights into Lima arrive late at night and a great hotel option is the Ramada at the Airport.  This hotel is right at the airport!  When you exit the international terminal exit through the glass doors cross the street and you enter the hotel all in less than 2 minutes.  The hotel may not be the fanciest in the world, but the staff all speak English are very helpful.  The rates are just under $200 a night and included a buffet breakfast, a welcome cocktail and internet service.  There was also a business center open 24 hours and a spa waiting to offer last minute services to passengers on late night flights.  It may be a little pricy but it does save the $20 cab ride into downtown Lima for another hotel and made it that much quicker that I was able to get to bed and enjoy some sleep.

I liked the hotel for its convenience – my only suggestion for improvement would be bottled water in the bathroom to brush your teeth.  When I asked the maid for a bottle of water to brush my teeth he told me to use the tap water.  I asked if I could drink the tap water – he told me no I would get sick…piece of advice on a traveler’s health issue if the tap water makes you sick to drink it will make you sick to brush your teeth.  I decided not to risk it and to use my welcome drink coupon for a bottle of water.