High End Hotels in Quito

By Tammy Portnoy

Quito has accommodation options for travelers of any economic stature and for travelers with specific interests.

In Quito, keep an eye out for some basic amenities when looking for accommodations, especially when looking for cheaper places to stay. Cool evenings are year-round and heat in hotels is pretty rare, so hot water and thick blankets are a necessity. Many hotels have rooms with beautiful views of the Pichincha volcanoes or city skylines at no extra charge, so it never hurts to ask.

There are the large, more luxury hotels with solid reputations, like the Swissotel or Hotel Quito. Both of these have much pricier per night costs, but are in safe enough locations and have great in-hotel restaurants. (The restaurant at the top of Hotel Quito has a great view of the city on a non-cloudy day.) The Sheraton is farther north in Quito, but is right across the street from the Quicentro shopping mall, as is the Best Western, and some rooms have great views of the Atahualpa Stadium, which is a nice advantage on game days.

For anyone who wants to be in a central location with easy access the new town, the old town and tons of restaurants, then in or around the Mariscal is the place to stay. In the Mariscal the more upscale options include the Hilton Colon, it is a beautiful hotel with great service and ridiculously comfortable beds; Mansíon del Angel, a more boutique option; and The Nu House Boutique Hotel, which has state-of-the-art accommodations that keep the outside noise out, since it is right in Plaza Foch. More mid-range options include Casa de Sol and Hotel Los Alpes, which is a few blocks outside of the Mariscal and right next door to the U.S. Embassy. Budget travelers should look into the Crossroads Hostel, the Magic Bean Hostel or Casona de Mario, which is outside the Mariscal but close enough to walk the few blocks during the day.

Travelers who aren’t interested in seeing much outside the museums, churches and plazas of the old town also have a range of options. If you don’t want to spend anything, look into Sucre Hostel. Spend a few dollars more and check out the Aussie-run Secret Garden Hostel, which claims to have the best rooftop view in town. On the extreme other end of the price spectrum, Hotel Plaza Grande (owned by Swissotel) is the nicest and most expensive hotel in town. Suites start around $600 a night.

Quito is a large city with much to see and do. Don't be surprised if you find yourself staying longer than anticipated. If you stay for more than a couple of days, ask for a discount on your room. Bargaining is always appropriate.

NOTE: If you are one of those people who like to stay at hotels near the airport when you have an early flight, that isn’t a matter of importance in Quito. Any hotel is close enough to the airport that if you have an early morning flight, you can get to the airport within 20 minutes.

A new airport is being built far outside the city, but it is currently unknown whether there will be any lodging to accommodate.