Hotel de Sal Luna Salada
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Hotel Details
Location
Uyuni
Bolivia, South America
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Expert Review: Hotel de Sal Luna Salada
Hotel de Sal Luna Salada offers a truly unique and memorable experience, earning its distinction as a Michelin Key Selected property with an impressive overall guest rating of 8.5 out of 10. Situated on the edge of the breathtaking Salar de Uyuni, the hotel is almost entirely constructed from salt blocks, providing an extraordinary ambiance that blends seamlessly with its natural surroundings.
Overall Rating & Sentiment
The general consensus for Hotel de Sal Luna Salada is overwhelmingly positive, with an overall rating of 8.5. Guests frequently describe their stay as unique, remarkable, and unforgettable, highlighting the hotel's distinctive salt architecture and stunning location. The cleanliness of the hotel is particularly praised, receiving a high rating of 8.9.
Key Highlights
Guests consistently love several aspects of Hotel de Sal Luna Salada:
- Unique Design: The most celebrated feature is its construction entirely from salt blocks, including walls, floors, and even some furniture, which creates an immersive and unforgettable environment.
- Stunning Location: Its prime position at the edge of the Uyuni Salt Flats offers breathtaking panoramic views, especially at sunrise and sunset. It's an ideal base for exploring this natural wonder.
- Warm Atmosphere & Amenities: The hotel provides cozy common areas, often featuring fireplaces, creating a warm and inviting ambiance. Amenities include a spa with a steam room offering panoramic views, an indoor pool, a hot tub, and a game room.
- Hospitality: The staff is frequently commended for being dedicated, friendly, helpful, and professional, going above and beyond to ensure guest satisfaction.
Room Quality
The thirty en-suite rooms at Hotel de Sal Luna Salada are also constructed from salt blocks, including chairs, tables, and headboards. They are elegantly designed with vibrant Andean colors and local art, offering a homely and relaxing feel. Rooms are generally described as spacious and comfortable, featuring plush, warm bedding, and comfortable beds. Many rooms offer breathtaking views of the salt flats. Amenities include heating, seating areas, and private bathrooms. Some rooms also include fireplaces, blankets, and hot water bottles for the cold nights. However, some deluxe rooms have been noted to have issues with water pressure and inconsistent hot water after 10 PM. Notably, rooms do not have televisions, encouraging guests to appreciate the unique surroundings.
Dining Experience
The hotel features an on-site restaurant, Mirador Tunupa, which is highly regarded by many guests. It serves delicious local and international cuisine, with some guests specifically praising the buffet food and even llama steak. The restaurant offers spectacular panoramic views of Salar de Uyuni and a selection of Bolivian wines. Breakfast is included in the stay and is typically a buffet, though some guests have described it as "dismal" with stale bread and limited options, such as only cold sliced ham for meat. Lunch and dinner are available at an additional cost, and some have found the prices to be high. There have also been criticisms regarding slow and impolite restaurant staff, and even instances of food poisoning from a burger.
Service & Staff
The staff at Hotel de Sal Luna Salada consistently receives high praise for their friendliness, professionalism, and dedication, with a staff performance rating of 8.2. Guests frequently highlight their attentiveness and willingness to go above and beyond, such as assisting with local recommendations or arranging special requests like birthday cakes. There have been comments, however, about some staff not speaking English, which can be a minor barrier. Some reviews also suggest the hotel may be understaffed at times, leading to slow service at the bar.
Location & Accessibility
Hotel de Sal Luna Salada boasts an "amazing" location directly on the eastern shores of the Salar de Uyuni, offering immediate access to the salt flats and breathtaking views. It is situated in Colchani, a village just outside Uyuni, approximately a 30-minute drive from Uyuni town. The hotel offers airport transfer services, with a journey time of around 15 minutes, and taxis are also available. While the location is superb for experiencing the salt flats, some guests note that the hotel's own lights can hinder stargazing at night. Nearby attractions include the Train Cemetery (about a 40-minute drive) and Uyuni town's Plaza Arce and Clock Tower (around 34 minutes).
Value & Pricing
Hotel de Sal Luna Salada is considered a luxury experience, with average room prices around $168, though nightly rates can start from approximately $270. This is significantly higher than the average room price in Uyuni, which is around $79. While many guests feel the unique experience and amenities offer exceptional value for the level of comfort provided, some reviews express that the value for money is not always as good as other hotels in the area, perceiving the hotel to feel closer to a three-star standard despite luxury pricing. Some additional costs, such as expensive food and bar items, can also impact the perceived value.
Common Complaints
While generally highly rated, some recurring issues and criticisms include:
- Dining Service and Quality: Slow and impolite restaurant staff, along with complaints about food quality (stale breakfast items, poor pizza, and even an instance of food poisoning), are noted.
- Pricing of On-site Services: Food and drinks at the hotel's bars and restaurants are considered expensive, often 2-3 times more than average.
- Room Comfort Issues: Some guests have experienced poor water pressure and inconsistent hot water in deluxe rooms after 10 PM. Loud air conditioning has also been mentioned.
- Hotel Temperature: Common areas like hallways and the game room can be "freezing cold," even with heaters in dining areas not being sufficient for all guests.
- Games Room Facilities: The games room has been criticized for having broken equipment, filthy surfaces, or a lack of accessible equipment.
- Stargazing Interruption: The hotel's bright outdoor lights can interfere with star-gazing opportunities.
- Sauna/Steam Room Issues: One guest reported dangerously high temperatures in the sauna/steam room due to untrained staff, leading to overheating and difficulty exiting.
Sources
Points to Consider
- •While generally highly rated, some recurring issues and criticisms include:
- •Dining Service and Quality:** Slow and impolite restaurant staff, along with complaints about food quality (stale breakfast items, poor pizza, and even an instance of food poisoning), are noted.
- •Room Comfort Issues:** Some guests have experienced poor water pressure and inconsistent hot water in deluxe rooms after 10 PM. Loud air conditioning has also been mentioned.
- •Sauna/Steam Room Issues:** One guest reported dangerously high temperatures in the sauna/steam room due to untrained staff, leading to overheating and difficulty exiting.
