Inside the candy themed room. Picture: Mariah Ore
MONOGAMY in South America is not always viewed as a vital key to a happy marriage as it is in many western countries. ‘Love Hotels’ are catering to a market, committed to affairs.
Sexuality seems to be ingrained in the Latino psyche, perhaps a little contradictory for people predominantly Catholic.
There’s an acceptance in Latin America, or a resignation to, the machismo culture. The rationale is men have sexual appetites, which want satisfaction.
James, a Swiss expat who lives in Colombia explains: “Affairs don’t always break up relationships here. Some people just turn a blind eye to keep the peace and the family together. Affairs are somewhat accepted, or viewed as just the way things are.”
Latin America certainly has the facilities to make meeting a lover as secret and easy as possible.
Discreet pay-by-the-hour, ‘Love Hotels’ protect reputations.
Sophisticated venues are popular with high-profile people such as politicians, celebrities and corporates who want to avoid the scandal of their dalliances being made public.
A room inside one of the Love Hotels. Picture: Mariah OreSource:Supplied
Although operations differ from place to place, privacy is generally a key aspect, particularly with those located on the outskirts of South American cities. Some are surrounded by high walls or shrouded with trees and shrubbery.
Driveway entrances often include a feature to block visibility of car numberplates, so passengers can’t be identified.
Discreet driveway entrance to garages, which adjoin to rooms. Picture: Mariah OreSource:Supplied
Jan, a 32 year-old Australian woman visited a Love Hotel in Argentina, with her local boyfriend at the time.
“When you arrive, you don’t go to reception. In fact you don’t see anyone at all. It’s totally private.”
A common way of accessing involves guests driving through entrance gates to a series of garages, which specify room types. Once a room is selected the car is driven into the corresponding garage.
Then either hotel reception or patrons close the garage door. There is often a deposit box where money is delivered. Credit cards would reveal customer names so transactions are usually made in cash.
Snacks and sex toys are usually available from reception. Picture: Mariah OreSource:Supplied
Hotel staff then unlock the door to the adjoining room or a key will be dropped into a box. Or sometimes payment is made inside the room via a hole in the room wall. This hole acts as a vault with two sliding plates, one on the room side and one to the outside corridor and is also used to deliver room service.
“It is a pay as you go system. You order by ringing reception and then you put your money in the vault. Your delivery comes through this same gateway. You don’t have to see anyone, so you can still be naked when your meal arrives. And the food is actually pretty good,” Jan laughs.
“Condoms are often provided but if you want sex toys, lubricant or other things off the menu you need to pay a fee.”
Reception may ring through a reminder ‘wake up call’ when the allocated time is up. For lovers having too much fun, they can usually extend the time.
When patrons are ready to leave, they call reception before driving out of the garage to a boom gate. They are advised via an intercom if there are any issues with the room or payment before they can depart through a concealed private exit.
Love Hotels vary from gaudy cheesy options, whose exterior might be dotted with large love hearts or fluoro lights, to very high-end luxurious options.
Fluoro lit hotels are usually a giveaway that rooms are available by the hour. Picture: Mariah OreSource:Supplied
Short stay hotels have different names depending on location. Sometimes they are just referred to as Motels such as in Mexico, Brazil and Colombia. In Chile they are known as Couples’ hotels while in Guatemala they are Autohotels and in Argentina, Telos. Personally I like Panama’s take of ‘Push Button,’ which derives from pushing the access button in the garage — but it also brings others things to mind.
The concept started in Japan and it’s a lucrative market there, estimated to be worth more than $40 billion annually and they’re are also popular in other Asian destinations such as Thailand, China, South Korea and Taiwan.
The trend has taken off in South America and you will see Love Hotels everywhere with advertisements in bars and discos.
Business is booming in Buenos Aires, Argentina where there are hundreds of trendy short stay hotels. Many inner city options offer modern rooms, sophisticated facilities, quality decor and linens and a room service menu, which might even impress foodies.
Although room types differ across the industry many have spas, porn movies on demand, vibrating beds, mirrors and mood lighting. Some offer themed rooms with costumes and bondage paraphernalia.
Mirrors on the ceiling or walls are a common part of the decor. Picture: Mariah OreSource:Supplied
Australian traveller, Ken, who spent his 30s travelling Colombia visited one outside Cali. “It had a sound system, smoke machine on a dance floor for around one hundred people, two separate king bedrooms, with huge mirrors on the ceiling, a sauna, spa and a funny thing dangling from the ceiling which I later worked out was a ‘harness’ for adventurous activities.”
“Another one I visited in Santiago, Chile, also had mirrors on the ceiling and funny kitsch red lights all over the walls.”
It is not just philandering couples fuelling the demand for short stay hotels.
Many young people in South America live at home into their thirties or until they are married, especially in regions which are quite religious.
These hotels offer a convenient, affordable and much appreciated escape to fornication, without judgment.
Some clientele are couples looking to add some excitement into their lovemaking.
“Sometimes, married people just want some ‘sexy’ time away from their children,” a local Colombian man tells me.
While I’m not an advocate for extra martial affairs, the concept does have its merits.
Let’s be honest — sexual desire is a human characteristic.
Where there is suppression, it can lead to problems, especially in cultures where sex before marriage is forbidden.
“These hotels actually help society I think because there are less sexually repressed people walking the streets,” Ken thinks.
Jan reasons, “The existence of pay by the hour hotels is an affordable, straightforward efficient approach, which is clearly meeting a need.”
One thing is certain.
For those who don’t have a stay at home option, a ‘Love Hotel’ beats the back seat of a car, or the local park!
(*names have been changed for privacy reasons)
Sally Watson is a freelance travel writer and photographer at Wing Woman Adventures. A self-confessed vagabond and seeker of new frontiers, adventures and international friends, she aims to inspire people to travel widely, independently and confidently! Follow her on via her blog, Wing Woman Adventures, and on Facebook,Twitter and Instagram.
Photos courtesy of Mariah Ore, a writer, photographer and multimedia producer atTiny Spider Media currently based in Medellin Colombia.
