Peru: Free night at Machu Picchu’s cushy Belmond hotel

Luxury brand Belmond offers a deal for summer travelers going to Peru: Stay three nights at one of its hotels and receive a free night at a sister site. That means you could visit Lima or Cuzco and then stay for free at the iconic Belmond Sanctuary Lodge at Machu Picchu, where rooms cost more than $1,000 a night.

The deal: The Discover Peru offer applies to stays in Belmond hotels, such as in a 16th century monastery-turned-hotel on Cuzco’s main square or in Lima’s upscale Miraflores neighborhood. Room prices aren’t cheap, which makes the free night all the more cherished.

You can go online or call to make a reservation. After you book, a representative will contact you to ask where you want to spend the free night. Blackout dates apply, so have more than one site and more than one date in mind. The freebie has to be part of the same journey; it’s not something you can save for a later trip.

When: The offer is good for travel through Sept. 30, based on availability.

Tested: I found a room at the Belmond Hotel Monasterio in Cuzco for $345 a night for Sept. 8-11. It comes with breakfast, iPod docking stations, flat-screen TV, marble bathroom, free Wi-Fi and other extras.

By comparison, a night at the Sanctuary Lodge before and after those September dates runs about $1,230 a night. Provided there’s availability, you could stay at one of the most coveted luxe hotels for free as part of your Peru journey. I would call and find out what hotel rooms are available on what dates for the freebie before you commit to a reservation.

Info: Belmond Discover Peru, (800) 237-1236