Ecuador’s Quito was a pleasant surprise at the end of a glorious trip to a number of pockets of the country, including the coast, the Jungle, the Highlands, and some great Colonial towns along the way. While Quito’s Old Town had me ‘before hello,’ I ended up staying in the New Town, largely for ease of grabbing food at the end of a long ‘walking day,’ 90% of which was spent in Old Town. More on the architecture and history later.
Hotels. Hotels. Hotels. In hindsight, since I wasn’t into a real night life scene my last few days in Ecuador, I wished I had stayed in Old Town. A few suggestions from my walks and from others I spoke to who gave these choices a thumbs up.
The Plaza Grande comes hot on the heels of two hotels inaugurated in the historic centre in: the Hotel El Relicario del Carmen and the Villa Colonna. El Relicario del Carmen is housed within an early 18-century mansion, with a lot of colonial charm and character in its 18 rooms. The Villa Colonna meanwhile, is an intimate and exclusive offering, with only five suites. The attention to detail, whether in the décor or the service, is faultless, with the owners even offering guests use of a mobile phone during their stay. I really could have used that in Quito btw.
The Patio Andaluz occupies two glassed-in patios of an old Quito mansion, with 31 rooms including several split into appealing mezzanines.
Hotel Plaza Grande
Address: Calle García Moreno y Chile esquina
Tel: (+593-2) 2567 600
Web: www.plazagrandequito.com
Prices for suites: Royal $550; Plaza View $650; Presidential $2,000. All + taxes.
Press contact: Cristina Chávez, cchavez@swissuio.com
Hotel El Relicario del Carmen
Address: Venezuela 1041 y Olmedo
Tel: (+593-2) 228 9120 / 228 5917
Prices: $70-$90 + taxes
Web: www.hotelrelicariodelcarmen.com
Press contact: Jessica Salvador, info@hotelrelicariodelcarmen.com
Villa Colonna
Address: Benalcázar 1128 y Esmeraldas
Tel: (593-2) 2955 805
Prices: $150 + taxes (breakfast and welcome cocktail included)
Web: www.villacolonna.ec
Press contact: Rigoberto Orosco, rigoberto@villacolonna.ec
Hotel Patio Andaluz
Address: Avenida García Moreno N6-52
Tel: (+593-2) 228-0830
Prices: $150-$175 + taxes
Web: www.hotelpatioandaluz.com
Press Contact: Francisco Baca, gerencia11@hotelpatioandaluz.com
New Town suggestions include:
L’Auberge Inn (for the budget traveler)
Address: Av Colombia N12-200
Tel: (+593-2) 255-2912
Prices: $20+ taxes
Web: www.ioda.net/auberge-inn
Anihi Boutique Hotel (this is a very new hotel located in the residential area of La Mariscal – a review will follow in a separate post)
Address: Jose Luis Tamayo 687 y Wilson
Tel: (+593-2) 250-1421
Prices: $130+
Web: www.anahihotelquito.com
Cafe Cultura
Address: Robles 513
Prices: $80-120
Web: www.cafecultura.com
Cafe Cultura is a converted mansion complete with a garden, fireplaces and mural-filled rooms.
Hotel Quito
Address: Gonzalez Suarez N27-142
Tel: (+593-2) 254-4600
Prices: $100-$145
Web: www.hotelquito.com
This is a renown Quito landmark. Large in size, they can accommodate many in their 215-room hotel which is set up high on the hill above Guapulo.
Nu House (another newbie, apparently a spa is on the way)
Address: Foch E6-12
Tel: (+593-2) 255-7845
Prices: $145-350
Web: www.nuhousehotels.com
Modern with a Scandinavian flare. It combines wood and glass and has a view of the Mariscal area. They have 57 rooms, most of which have dark wooden floors, tiled bathrooms using river stones and a little richness and depth with over the top drapes – think: red-velvet.
Renee Blodgett is the founder of We Blog the World. The site combines the magic of an online culture and travel magazine with a global blog network and has contributors from every continent in the world. Having lived in 10 countries and explored nearly 80, she is an avid traveler, and a lover, observer and participant in cultural diversity.
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