Esplendor by Wyndham Montevideo Cervantes

First appearances are important, and at the outset the Esplendor makes a fine one, even living up to its own upscale claims. The sleek and contemporary lobby welcomes visitors with a tasteful art display in a restored building on a quiet Montevideo back street. Guests can perch on trendy lounge chairs and peruse the multitude of art books that are stacked carefully on the surrounding tables and floor-to-ceiling bookshelves. The hotel’s rotating Obras en Esplendor art show is a curated exhibition of local and international artists on each floor -- a clever use of the restored historic building that houses the property, one that showcases the beauty of the period architecture and distinguishes the hotel from similarly priced competition. The vibe throughout the common areas is sophisticated and serene, attracting a wide range of travelers that includes older Brazilian and European tourists plus many couples and families. 

Esplendor Hotel stands on an unassuming back street in the center of Montevideo. The immediate neighborhood is safer than many of the other central districts, which can be an issue in the Centro. Ciudad Vieja, the city's historic district -- home to a number of restaurants, gorgeous colonial architecture, museums, and the seaport -- takes just over 10 minutes to reach on foot. Plaza Independencia and Teatro Solis are both about a five-minute walk from the hotel, with the city's business district -- the Centro -- just beyond that. The waterfront is an eight-minute walk from the hotel, while the Rambla, or promenade, takes about 10 minutes to reach via taxi. The restaurants on 21 de Setiembre and the trendy Punta Carretas neighborhood, which is home to trendy dining and nightlife, take less than 10 minutes to reach by taxi as well. Expect a 35-minute drive to the international airport. 

The spacious rooms at Esplendor are initially aesthetically pleasing. There are shades of cream and beige mixed with trendy charcoal grays and sage, all offset by sharp spruce wood floors, high ceilings, and soft lighting. The features are modern as well, with all rooms including flat-screen TVs, air-conditioning, free Wi-Fi, and minibars, as well as space to get comfortable, with plenty of tables and roomy desks. However, decor is spartan and, in many cases, beginning to look worn. Fabric headboards are sagging and stained, scuff marks ring the lower portions of some walls, and exposed cords are tangled haphazardly around table legs. Bathrooms also appear classy at first, with contemporary fixtures and hardware, plus bright tan tiling as well as shower/tub combos. However, we saw an abundance of moldy grout, and the lack of towel racks and shower design that floods the bathroom don't make the best impression. It's not worth bothering with an upgrade to a suite, the extra space just feels cavernous and they otherwise have minimal additional luxuries.

Breakfast here is abundant, and replenished often -- oatmeal, eggs and bacon, a range of pastries, juices, coffee, and fresh fruit are all served in a pleasantly large and sunny room. Guests can also choose to take their meal outside on the deck. There’s no on-site restaurant for lunch or dinner, and room service isn't offered, so travelers looking for a late-night meal will need to venture outside the hotel.

The dark spa has a wide, long pool as its centerpiece, lit from underneath and pleasantly heated. The sauna is small but works well, though the shower next door seems to be perpetually out of service, meaning guests have to walk the distance to use the lobby bathroom (in nothing but a towel this might feel a bit awkward). The 24-hour fitness center is really just a small side room with a few cardio machines -- they are all modern and there’s a TV.

A banquet room has ample space for large parties, as well as a stunningly elaborate gold-leaf ceiling. There are also a couple of small meeting rooms that the hotel makes available for rental, otherwise the business center consists of several computers next to the lobby. While it’s free, the Wi-Fi sometimes has a weak signal in the rooms.