- Introduction: Two Times To Latin America
- Review: LATAM Lounge Miami Airport (MIA)
- Review: LATAM Business Class Boeing 787 (MIA-SCL)
- Review: Ritz-Carlton Santiago, Chile (I’m Conflicted)
- Review: LATAM Lounge Santiago Airport (SCL)
- Review: SkyTeam Lounge Santiago Airport (SCL)
- Review: Delta One Business Class Airbus A350 (SCL-ATL)
- Review: Amex Centurion Lounge Atlanta Airport (ATL)
- Review: Delta First Class Boeing 737-800 (ATL-MEX)
- Review: Hilton Mexico City Airport (MEX)
- Review: Aeromexico Lounge Mexico City Airport (MEX)
- Review: Aeromexico Business Class Boeing 737 MAX (MEX-MIA)
- Review: Boliviana De Aviacion Business Class Airbus A330 (MIA-VVI)
- Review: The Lounge VIP Santa Cruz De La Sierra Airport (VVI)
- Review: VIP Lounge Santa Cruz De La Sierra Airport (VVI)
- Review: GOL Premium Economy Boeing 737 MAX (VVI-GRU)
- Review: TRYP By Wyndham Sao Paulo Airport (GRU)
- Review: Espaco Banco Safra Lounge Sao Paulo Airport (GRU)
- Review: Amex Centurion Lounge Sao Paulo Airport (GRU)
- Review: Copa Business Class Boeing 737 MAX (GRU-PTY)
During my two times to Latin America review trip, I had a roughly seven hour layover at Viru Viru International Airport (VVI) in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia (that’s a mouthful, eh?). I was arriving in Boliviana de Aviacion’s A330 business class, and was connecting to GOL’s 737 MAX premium economy.
My layover ended up being rather complicated. That’s because I was connecting internationally on separate tickets, and the ground staff decided that this required clearing immigration, and that I wouldn’t be able to connect airside. So I did that, but was then told that I couldn’t clear security for my connecting flight until a few hours before departure. That’s neither here nor there, though.
Anyway, in this post I wanted to review The Lounge VIP, which is the only “traditional” lounge in the international terminal at Viru Viru International Airport. I suppose this lounge is better than sitting in the gate area, but that’s about all I can say, as lounges don’t get much more basic than this. In a separate installment, I reviewed the VIP Lounge, which is the other (less traditional) lounge in the terminal.
In this post:
The Lounge VIP Santa Cruz de la Sierra location
Finding The Lounge VIP at Viru Viru International Airport is quite easy. Once you’re through immigration and security in the international terminal, just follow the signage in the direction of gates 5-8.
At the very end of the terminal and on the right, you’ll see the entrance to the lounge. Based on the lounge’s exterior, you’d probably assume that it’s actually quite nice, though manage your expectations. 😉
The Lounge VIP Santa Cruz de la Sierra hours
The Lounge VIP at Viru Viru International Airport doesn’t have set hours, but rather they vary based on flight schedules. You can expect that the lounge will be open a couple of hours ahead of most departures.
The Lounge VIP Santa Cruz de la Sierra entry requirements
The Lounge VIP at Viru Viru International Airport is the only real contract lounge in the terminal, so there are several ways to access it. For one, the lounge is open to Priority Pass members, so that’s how I visited the lounge.
Furthermore, business class passengers on some airlines will be given invitations to use this lounge. This would include business class passengers on carriers like Air Europe (to Madrid) and Copa (to Panama City). However, note that Boliviana de Aviacion doesn’t offer its business class passengers lounge access, despite this being the carrier’s hub airport.
The Lounge VIP Santa Cruz de la Sierra seating & layout
The Lounge VIP at Viru Viru International Airport is super basic. The space is one rectangular room with “two aisles,” and rows of seats facing one another. There’s no variation here, as all the seating is the same. I’d say there are maybe 50 seats in the lounge.
I wish there were more I could add, but the above is the extent of the lounge. There’s no family room, or nap area, or business center.
At least there was Wi-Fi in the lounge, though it was on the slow side. There were some outlets throughout the room, though literally any time that someone plugged something in, the lights throughout the lounge would flicker. They might want to have that looked at, or something.
I also can’t say that the lounge staff were terribly friendly or motivated when it came to greeting guests, or keeping the lounge clean. Based on the welcome I received at the lounge, I might as well have been dealing with a tenured employee at Cairo Airport. 😉
The Lounge VIP Santa Cruz de la Sierra food & drinks
The food and drink selection at The Lounge VIP at Viru Viru International Airport roughly matches the rest of the lounge. There’s a self-serve buffet setup near the entrance, and it’s also basic.
Food options during my late morning visit included cereal, toast, cake, cheese, finger sandwiches, fruit, chips, sausages, and soup. Most plates and bowls had saran wrap on them.
Then there was a selection of drinks, including bottled soda and water, coffee, and tea.
There was also reference to there being alcohol and cocktails, but I didn’t actually see those drinks anywhere, so I’m not sure if these were just general recipe tips, or what…
I just stayed hydrated in the lounge, and the extent of my consumption was a few bottles of water.
The Lounge VIP Santa Cruz de la Sierra bathrooms
The Lounge VIP at Viru Viru International Airport has bathrooms, but not showers. When you enter the lounge, just turn right, and you’ll find the bathrooms down the hallway.
The men’s room had two sinks, two urinals, and one stall. At least the bathroom was reasonably clean.
Bottom line
The Lounge VIP is the only traditional lounge in the international terminal at Viru Viru International Airport, in Santa Cruz de la Sierra. Lounges don’t get much more basic than this. So don’t get excited about this lounge, but at the same time, it’s probably a better place to kill some time than the terminal, as that’s even more basic.
What’s your take on The Lounge VIP at Viru Viru International Airport?
Bolivia is a dump. This is no surprise.
Ben, how would this lounge compare to the Swissport lounge in ORD?
The Swissport has $11 wine. Doesn't look like any wine here. Food wise, it's the same. Furnishings and decor wise, it's better.
That place is horrible
In my experience lounges in Latin America tend to be pretty basic so this isn't surprising. But on the plus side most airports have pp lounges as opposed to US.
After recently touring Ecuador, I was very surprised at the high quality of the priority pass lounges in several of country’s airports. Currently it’s the only country I’ve visited in Central and South America, but again the quantity was excellent.
The lounges in Rio (GIG) are pretty nice. Star Alliance in particular was lovely for a Business Class lounge.
"Based on the welcome I received at the lounge, I might as well have been dealing with a tenured employee at Cairo Airport. "
Great line Ben.
This seems much like the Priority Lounge in Liberia (LIR), Costa Rica. I used it many times as a Priority Pass member and cancelled my membership after less than a year because every time I used that lounge, I was charged with bringing in a guest when I never did (seemed obviously a scam). I reported it to Priority Pass but never got any answer.
Which type of PP membership did you have? If you had the standard membership, there would be a charge for the lounge use.
"I also can’t say that the lounge staff were terribly friendly or motivated when it came to greeting guests, or keeping the lounge clean. Based on the welcome I received at the lounge, I might as well have been dealing with a tenured employee at Cairo Airport. "
Seriously? What a rude thing to say.
I don't see a single crumb anywhere. It looks remarkably clean and there isn't even a lounge attendant in...
"I also can’t say that the lounge staff were terribly friendly or motivated when it came to greeting guests, or keeping the lounge clean. Based on the welcome I received at the lounge, I might as well have been dealing with a tenured employee at Cairo Airport. "
Seriously? What a rude thing to say.
I don't see a single crumb anywhere. It looks remarkably clean and there isn't even a lounge attendant in the toilet asking for a tip after you use the clean facilities.
The lounge looks cleaner than domestic lounges.
@ FNT Delta Diamond -- It was intended to be humorous/tongue in cheek, hence the emoji. In all honesty, the staff finally came around to clear things after the Air Europa passengers left, which was at the end of my visit (and when I took the pictures -- and I always try to post the best pictures possible). During the two previous hours, I didn't see them once walk through the lounge to clear plates or bottles.
Will there ever be a function for filtering through trip reports on airlines, class of travel, airplane, etc. ?
@ E39 -- It's something on my wish list for the blog, though the technology is surprisingly complicated for that (based on how the site is set up). So realistically, it's more of a long term goal.
Bolivia is the second-poorest country in South America, behind only Venezuela. What did you expect: Krug champagne? Yes, I agree that the offering doesn't match the relatively nice curb appeal and decor. But the overall offering is certainly no worse than what I've seen in Mexico. The Priority Pass lounges in Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlán and Cancun are as bad.
@ FNT Delta Diamond -- No, I didn't expect Krug champagne, and the lounge was roughly in line with my expectations. I don't think I indicated otherwise?