Two kilometers west of Pucón on the Villarrica road, poised among wooded hillside gardens with immaculate flower beds, pools, and cascades, the Bauhaus-style Hotel Antumalal (tel. 045/441011 or 045/441012, www.antumalal.com, US$100/140–140/185 s/d) prides itself on personal service; when you arrive, the staff place a fresh fruit basket in every room and even wash your car. Each of its 20 rooms boasts lake views and a fireplace; the common areas have panoramic views through giant plate glass windows, as well as a strong wireless Internet signal. In addition to a heated pool and a private beach, it’s also added a spa with a hot tub, sauna, and massage services. The higher rates correspond to the summer peak; the off-season rates are a giveaway. Half-board rates are also available; the restaurant has been gaining clientele from nonguests as well.

Part of the pharaonic casino a block northwest of Gran Hotel Pucón, the 82-room Hotel del Lago (Ansorena 23, tel. 045/291000, fax 045/291200, www.hoteldellago.cl, US$189–315 s or d with breakfast) is a self-contained mega-eyesore whose main redeeming feature is a cinema that shows first-run movies.