Best suited for independent self sufficient travelers who can roll with minor inconveniences. Staff was polite and friendly. Central location. Clean with nice mattress and linens. Working fireplace in cozy lobby. Electric oil filled portable radiators provided in-room heat. Perhaps those heaters were a contributing factor to the hotel's electrical circuit breaker tripping off. Lights were restored within a few minutes. Unfortunately, hotel did not remember to reset electric hot water heaters so one morning it was a cold water shower. Breakfast was fine; dining area small - get to breakfast early. Good for a couple nights while visiting the area. Would stay there again for a night or two. Lobby guest PC & free Internet was convenient.

The rooms are very dated and not all that clean. The pillows and bedding has a lot to be desired. Worst of all the staff while willing to help struggle to speak English and are often incompetent. E.g. we asked about the laundry service and were told just bring it down in the morning. We did and were told no laundry today!

Initially, the Plaza Mayor shows quite well. They have a nice looking lobby and the staff are friendly...as long as you don't ask for anything.

We had two nights booked, one and then a second with a couple of days in between while we went to the Islands. The first night was okay, a little dissapointing for the price. The rooms are out-dated and not very clean. They look good on the surface, but don't let that fool you. We pulled down the covers on the bed and found a deposit of about 30 hairs stuck to the quilt. We had another night booked, so we looked past those details and hoped for a cleaner room upon our return.

Shortly after checking in for the second night, I got locked in the bathroom. The door handle did not dislodge the door when it was turned. My finance went for help and someone came up and worked on the door handle for a while. When that failed they kicked the door down. Okay, our room did not have a closing bathroom door now.

Now, these things happen and I don't blame anyone for the occurance. The issue is that the staff did not appologize or find another solution for us. They would not give us another room or offer us a discount on the room with no door. Very unhappily we left the hotel in search of other accomodations. We found the Balsa Inn just accross the square and the experience was superior.

Oh, and it would be cheaper to buy all new clothes than use the laundry service at the Plaza Mayor.

This hotel is very conveniently located for Puno. The rooms are fine - there's a heater and warm blankets, and everything is clean. It's pretty standard for a three-star hotel, but they do have free internet in the lobby, which is great. And an elevator, which is helpful when you are carrying lots of luggage and not used to the altitude yet.

They must have changed the breakfast since other reviewers have visited, because we did not get eggs or any other hot food. They advertised an "American breakfast" but it was mostly cut-up fruit and toast. Nothing to write home about, that's for sure.

My main complaint, though, was that they told us they took credit cards. When we checked in, they said their credit card machine was broken. Three days later, when we checked out, it was STILL broken, and they demaded we take cash out of the (conveniently located in the lobby) ATM to settle our bill. I have no problem with cash-only hotels, I just prefer to be informed up front. As this was not the only place in Peru that told us their credit card machine was "broken," I don't buy the story.