When I arrived at the small airport in Cusco I was surprised to find a young lady with my name on a board in the Novotel booth. She said she was there to take me to the hotel and had a van and driver outside.

I got into the van and we rode to the hotel. I was directed to the lobby couch and had coca tea as the altitude is over 11,000 feet and some people get very ill. She then said she would help me to check in. Now mind you I am neither old or feeble and have traveled and worked all over the world. She asked for my credit card and passport and she said that I had to pay for the room in advance not at the end. I did. She returned both.

Then I said I would like to take the city tour in the afternoon as had done in 5 South American cities before. She said fine and said the bus was too big to get into the little street. I said I did not want to take a large bus tour very sternly but only a small van bus. She said that was not possible and the price would be $45 US dollars. That was more than I paid in Santiago and Buenes Aires but I still went along.

I met the bus in the main square and it was an hour late( from picking up about 30 people) and we proceeded with the tour. The guide was very good but as well as he tried to manage we were always sitting on the bus waiting for a straggler. At the end of the trip they took us to a store to buy things and then they had a girl sell cds of Peru music and pictures to the passengers. The whole thing wreaked of "take the tourist."

During the tour the girl next to me told me she paid about $12 US for the trip.

When I got back to the hotel I asked to speak to the manager of the hotel and explained I did not like the hotel selling my name to a tourist agency. The lady at the airport was not from the hotel but an agency that had a contract with the hotel. I also do not like handing over my passport and credit card to an agent and worse I hate being taken advantage of. The manager never apologized only said that's how they do things. She admitted that her conceige could have found me a small bus tour but the one that i was on was the best. I waited for a note from her or fruit or even a refund but nothing. Please remember this is a 4 star hotel.

i will not go on and tell you that i have had better rooms with more conveniences in a motel six. I will write the chairman of the hotel group but if I were you I would by pass the Novotel. I stayed there as the Monasterie was booked.

The hotel was good for a stay in Cusco and good for the price. We stayed 2 nights after visiting Machu Picchu. The concierge service is great. The room we had was fresh and clean. It was made up as soon as we left and the room service was good.
The complimentary buffet breakfast was adequate, good choices of anything you may like. The hotel has cable television and fast Wi-Fi in the courtyard.
Had no problems checkin in and checking out, everything was great. The menu for the restaurant is adequate if you don't want to venture out to the city but as close as the hotel is from the Plaza (center of the city), you have many choices.
Ask the concierge service for anything that you may need, they are extremely helpful

The hotel atrium (not thr reception which is very standard) is really beautifull and welcomes you witha a very good impression.
As you walk ito the rooms hallways everything changes.
The rooms are too standard and without any sense of style.
I would reccommend much more the "Hotel Monasterio" which is amazing.
Cusco city is really worth visiting, it is one of the most beautiful cities I have visited; Machu Pichu is a most.

the public areas are unusual and very attractive.

Breakfast choice was limited but adequate. Typical buffet dinner available, however, there's also an a la carte menu which is worth trying.