Miraflores Park, A Belmond Hotel, Lima

In the context of airlines, "business class" means "how I would like to fly if someone else were paying the bill." The Belmond Miraflores Park Hotel is another example of the kind of elegance and pampering ostensibly intended to minimize the discomfort of business travelers, but also quite enjoyable as an end in itself.

Miraflores is the name of an exclusive residential district in Lima, close to the cultural, commercial, and financial centers of the city. The Belmond Miraflores Park hotel is, indeed, surrounded by a park, and its glass face reflects its striking ocean views. Though presented as a hotel "specially conceived for business travelers," it is an elegant European-style boutique hotel, quite suitable for travelers concerned with leisure, who enjoy the fruits of the business-class conveniences.

The technology is thorough, with multiple phone lines in each room and laptops available upon request, making the Belmond possibly the most wired hotel in Lima. Many meeting and presentation options are available as well, with the latest in audio-visual equipment.

For the civilian traveler, this means little, other than the opportunity to send emails with the subject line "I'm in Peru!" More relevant perhaps are the ocean views, the fine linens, marble and granite bathrooms, or a swim in the stunning rooftop pool. There is, of course, a spa, featuring massage, and facials. Indoor fitness equipment is available as well.

Where better to raise a glass to the trials of the modern businessman than the hotel's sharp-looking Belo Bar, or chef Augusto Baertl’s eclectic international restaurant. But this is no self-containted resort — Lima is a bustling, cosmopolitan city of eight million, and the Miraflores district does not lack for nightlife. It’s all easily accessible, so there is no reason not to get out and explore, even if you have no business in Peru.

How to get there:
The Belmond Miraflores Park is about a 45-minute drive from Lima-Jorge Chávez International Airport.