Santiago

Where to stay

Bellavista, north of the Mapocho River and a short walk from Baquedano station where Metro Lines 1 and 5 cross, holds most of the hostel stock and puts Cerro San Cristóbal and Pio Nono's bars within easy reach. Barrio Brasil, further west toward the center, tends to run quieter and a bit cheaper, and it's easier to find a private room at a hostel rate there.

Getting around

• Get a Bip card at any metro station on day one. It covers both the metro and Transantiago buses and costs less per trip than paying cash on board.
• La Vega Central market, near Cal y Canto station on Line 2, has small lunch counters inside where a full set meal costs very little. It's a better deal than anything within sight of Plaza de Armas.
• The Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes in Parque Forestal has free admission, so save your paid excursion budget for things that actually cost money, like the Cajon del Maipo day trip.

When to go

June and July are the cheapest months, with cold weather keeping demand low. January and February are the tightest, with hostels filling weeks out as Chileans take summer holidays and international arrivals peak.