Grand Hyatt Santiago

A clean-lined contemporary look—Philippe Starck lightfixtures, suede curtains, Bang and Olufson technology—predominate in this modern 24-story tower, located in the quiet residential district Las Condes. The Grand Hyatt brand’s instinct for the business traveler's needs is sharp; even the smallest guestrooms come equipped with a separate sunken seating area (ideal for impromptu meetings) and ample work space (though the imposing views of the snow-capped Andes might prove distracting). The Thai kitchen at Anakena restaurant turns out spicy curries and traditional wok-cooked noodle dishes like shrimp pad thai that's easily the city's best. For its massages, body treatments, and foot baths, the new-in-2009 tri-level Ako spa seeks inspiration closer to home, incorporating ancestral techniques and homoeopathic remedies of Chile’s Mapuche tribe.