Insider Tips on the Best Way to Reserve Hostels in Peru
When it comes to reserving hostels anywhere in the world, everybody has their own preferred method. Almost every quest, however, begins with a visit to the traveler’s preferred booking site, be it hostelworld or a similar company. However, once you’ve compiled a few possibilities, there are different ways to proceed.
Even those of us who don’t reserve through general booking sites make it a point to visit them. Why? In short, it’s useful to be able to filter results according to price or ratings. The reviews are also more trustworthy than those found on tripadvisor, because everyone who has left a review has demonstrably stayed there.
Once you have a few options in mind, you can start thinking about how you will make your reservation. Some choose to reserve only one night, in order to compare the hostel 
with others upon arrival, and then only extending the reservation if they are pleased with the accommodations. Others don’t reserve at all, and simply show up, as this gives travelers the most bargaining flexibility. Both are good ways to ensure your comfort and access the best price, but there’s a risk involved regarding availability. During the touristic ‘high season’ in each city, (such as Candelaria in Puno, Carnaval in La Paz, and Inti Raymi or New Year’s Eve in Cusco,) lodging and deals can be scarce. In such cases, waiting might mean that you pay more for a hostel that wasn’t on your list of preferences! During the touristic ‘low season’ (which mainly falls from November through March, with the exception of New Year’s Week in some cities), it’s a powerful way to get more for less.
Others search for the hostels themselves online, in order to book directly. If the hostel doesn’t have a webpage, or has a neglected webpage that doesn’t inspire confidence, you might prefer to make the reservation through the aforementioned booking sites, in order to have more of a guarantee. If the hostel does have a significant online presence, however, look for special deals.
Pirwa Hostels offers a variety of these deals for those who book directly through the website. (We’re afraid that special discounts or offers don’t apply to reservations through the booking sites, because of the commission that must be paid to them.) They also can’t be accessed if you are already receiving another discount or special offer, as they are not accumulative. Here are some of the deals that are presently on offer:
- Currently, Pirwa Maldonado in the Peruvian Amazon is offering a 15% discount off of reservations in private rooms.
- If you reserve a private room in any of our Cusco hostels, and in Pirwa Puno, you can request a free tour of Uros. (This offer can’t be applied to reservations in February, however.)
- Stay in a shared dorm in any of our hostels in Cusco, the former capital of the Incan Empire, and save 15%.*
- Enjoy a free dinner in Plus Restaurant, overlooking the Plaza de Armas, if you stay 4 nights in any of our Cusco hostels.*
- Guests who book vía facebook (clicking on the “bookings-reservas” option) will find that the system automatically discounts 10% off the first night of the reservations of facebook fans.
- At Pirwa Colonial in Cusco, consult with reception to access the 5th Night Free promotion.*
- Present your ISIC card in reception at any of our hostels to request a 10% discount off the total amount of your reservation.*
*Our offers in Cusco are not available during New Year’s Week.
Different hostels have different schedules, but in the case of Pirwa Hostels, offers are updated every other month or so, and can be found here.