Santiago, capital and largest city of Chile is in the centre of Greater Santiago area. Located at an elevation of 520 meters, the city lies in the middle of the Santiago Basin comprising of fertile plains and flanked by the Andes Mountains on the east and Chilean Coastal Range on the west.

Santiago's mild Mediterranean climate has hot dry summers from November to March and cold winters from June to August. Founded by Spanish Conquistador Pedro de Valdivia in 1541, the city is the headquarters to many multinationals and is a regional financial centre with many attractions, both natural and man-made.

Downtown area houses government and financial institutions, museums, presidential palace, libraries and is a historic center. The hub for bus and train stations it is home to a large outdoor market.

A great selection of cheap hotels is available in the city, ranging from local hotels to top chain establishments. Cheap hotels are located in about 13 locations around Santiago including city centre and Providencia. Holiday Inn Express, Galerias Hotel, Best Western Majestic City Center, Hotel Bonaparte, Sheraton Hotel, Santiago Hotel Chile, Panamericano Hotel, Espana Hotel and Montecarlo Hotel are all popular budget hotels.