Escaping from a noisy Vina del Mar hotel after a sleepless night, we checked into the new Bahia Bonita Apart Hotel in Concon, a few miles drive to the north along the scenic, rugged coast.

Located at Av. Borgono 22040, about 100 yds up a side street, it overlooks the picturesque bay of Concon with its yacht harbor at the sheltered point. Warmly welcomed at the reception office by Senor Hector Serey, we were shown several apartments from which to choose one. We chose a two bedroom with two full baths, living room, and well equipped kitchen plus spaceous balcony on the top floor. As my wife put it, I could stay here for a while ( which we did ), and the view is to die for,s.i.c.. Being rather new, the apartment was super clean and absolutely spotless. The very functional kitchen with ample counter space was equipped with a 4-burner gas stove, microwave, refrigerator,and plenty dishes, glasses, pots and pans, as well as silverware.

Although the room rate includes breakfast served in the room, we stocked the kitchen shopping at a large supermarket in Renaca and at the gigantic Lider store with 70 check-out lanes on the north end of Vina del Mar. Also included was daily maid service of the apartment with fresh towels and linen as needed. The master bedroom had a queen bed and the other two single beds. Both bedrooms had berber carpet floors. Each bathroom had a tub/shower and one had a hair dryer as well. The good size living room had a comfortable couch, two stuffed couch chairs, and a TV with cable service. The living room as well as the master bedroom had large glass windows substituting for walls and affording endless views of bay and beach.

The common area provided a grassy area with pool and lawn furniture, a play area for children, and gated parking guarded by official greeter Ray, a super friendly labrador retriever. The hotel has no restaurant but a nunmber of very good waterfront restaurants are just down the block, among them Aqui Jaime, which we can recommend. So if you don't mind to drive a few miles into and out of Vina del Mar occasionally, the Bahia Bonita Apart Hotel is a great place to spread out in quiet comfort. The reception is staffed 24 hours a day but English varies from one helpful staffer to the next. The hotel has a website with pictures and information at ---.