Piriapolis is a resort town that some say looks like Monaco at night. It is an hour's drive east of the Uruguayan capital of Montevideo and 30 minutes west of the better-known resort of Punta del Este. It is smaller and quieter than Punta but remains one of Uruguay's most popular vacation destinations. It has a beautiful rambla (seaside walk), more than 10 miles of white sandy beaches, surrounding hills and forests, and a number of tourist attractions, hotels and restaurants. Except for the better-known hotels, many Piriapolis hotels are small, but they provide good food with the basic comforts of good hotels in a tourist resort town.

Argentino Hotel Casino y Resort
Built in 1930, the Argentino Hotel Casino and Resort is the most famous hotel of Uruguay. Its location is right in front of the beach along the famous rambla, near to downtown Piriapolis. It has 300 rooms and 56 suites, a casino and full spa, two thermal swimming pools and one of marine water. It has tennis, paddle, football and volleyball courts, aquatic and aerobic gym classes, a children's club to entertain kids, and Wi Fi Internet on all floors. There are several choices of single, double and triple rooms such as standard, superior and senior. Some are in the old area and others in the rebuilt area of the hotel.

Argentino Hotel Casino y Resort
Rambla de los Argentinos (front of beach)
Piriapolis, Uruguay
001+598-43-22791
argentinohotel.com

Terrazas del Puerto
The location of Terrazas del Puerto offers one of the most beautiful views of the sea in all of Piriapolis. This view may be enjoyed from sunrise to sunset, from the rooms, the lobby and the hotel restaurant. The sunset is particularly nice since one can see the sun come down over the horizon between the many sailboats along the sea. This hotel has 26 double rooms and four suites with living rooms. All rooms have a private bathroom with a kit of toiletries, a small bar and refrigerator, cable television, direct dialing telephone, a ceiling fan, and a heater when needed. It has an excellent breakfast buffet, and allows for parking in a covered garage.

Terrazas del Puerto
Avenida Piria / Pasaje Superior
Piriapolis, Uruguay
001+598-43-21432
terrazas.com.uy

Hotel Colon
The Hotel Colon dates back to 1910 when it was built as part of the 8,000 hectares developed by Francisco Piria, who founded Piriapolis in 1890. The hotel's Venetian tiles, its carved oak staircase and hand-beveled mirrors are remembrances of Piriapolis' past. Its central waterfront location is near the port and overlooks hills and ocean beaches, with plenty of fresh air, sun and sea. Open the whole year round, the hotel offers home-cooked meals in a restaurant fronting the sea. There is also a heated pool with Jacuzzi, free airport transfers and tourist information services. All rooms have cable television, direct-dialing telephones, heaters, ceiling fans and room service.

Hotel Colon
Rambla de los Argentinos 950
Piriapolis, Urugual
001+598-43-22508
hotelcolonpiriapolis.com