Presidente Hotel, La Paz

Advantages: beautiful
Disadvantages: altitude sickness

...I visited La Paz a few years ago. The city is the highest anywhere - many people suffer altitude sickness for a day or two, although we found that it wasn't too bad when we took it very easy to start with! The city is very beautiful - set in snow - capped mountains. There are many historic areas, as well as many new (half - built) houses. A great place to buy Bolivian goods - fabrics etc. Take warm clothes even in the summer - you can tan and catch cold at the same time. I cannot wait to get back there - a real adventure of a city if you care to look.... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: Amazing sights, very cheap, unique city, great shopping
Disadvantages: Altitude sickness, hard to get around

...! PLACES TO STAY For those looking for a luxury city break, la Paz is probably not the ideal destination. That is not to say, however, that the wealthier tourist is not entirely unaccomodated for. In the 'rich' quarter of La Paz, there are a number of four and five star hotels which offer all the modern conveniences of room service, swimming pools, fine restaurants etc for fairly reasonable prices compared to other locations. Far better catered for, however, is the traveller on a budget. In the poorer areas of this vast city, there are countless hostels, hotels and bed-sits which offer beds, showers and breakfasts and showers for some of the best prices in the world. A general price is $5 a night including breakfast and whilst the rooms may not often be the height of luxury, the Bolivians are generally extremely friendly and the service... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: World's highest capital that's high on life.
Disadvantages: Oxygen tanks are expensive.

...just off calle Illampu, is Hotel Italia. Some described it as a dump, others extolled the balcony that comes with each room. Whatever the truth its tariff of 40B certainly means it's worth a look for those travelling on a shoestring. ATTRACTIONS Football is popular in Bolivia and the cable channels screen matches from all over the world pretty much 24 hours a day. The biggest team in the country playing out of La Paz are sensibly called the Strongest FC. Boliviar are another top team (Santa Cruz) who perennially do well in the continents version of Champions League, the Copa America. All the big cities have decent sized stadiums and if you get a chance seeing a game is great entertainment. In Santa Cruz we watched local team Oriente Petrolero trash La Paz's Iberoamericana 5 - 1 in front of a small but noisy crowd. With the terraces... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful