How to Find Cheap Hotels in Quito, Ecuador

Quito, Ecuador is a beautiful city surrounded by the Andes Mountains with snow-capped volcanoes in the distance. Here you will enjoy the friendly people, fine restaurants, night life, sites and more.

Things You'll Need

• Computer and Internet access
• Credit/debit card to hold your room

Instructions

Get to Know Your Destination

1. Know the name. Quito is officially named San Francisco de Quito.

2. Bring a jacket for the mornings and evenings when the temperatures will drop from the daily high of around 70 degrees F down to 50 degrees F and lower by morning.

3. Take in the various cultures represented by the nomadic tribes, the pre-sixteenth century Incas and the Spanish, who arrived in 1533 A.D.

4. Brush up on your Spanish to speak with the local residents.

Make Your Way to Quito

1. Make reservations to fly into the Aeropuerto Internacional Mariscal Sucre of Quito, Ecuador for the best way to arrive. Several major airlines, like Delta and American, provide service from the U.S.

2. Get to your accommodations from the airport via taxi, especially if you have lots of luggage. Expect to spend around $5 for the ride.

Find Cheap Accommodations in Quito, Ecuador

1. To book accommodations, contact The Best of Ecuador at [phone] or visit their Web site (see Resources below).

2. Choose from the many 2- or 3-star level hotels in Quito. Prices for rooms range from $30 to $50 per night.

3. Stay in 4-star accommodations with cheap rates. The price is generally under $100 per night for one person.

4. Go really cheap by staying in a hostel for $20 and less per night.

Tips & Warnings

• Write down the name of your hotel or other destination on a card to hand to the taxi driver if you do not speak Spanish.

• Keep coins handy to use for taxi fare to get you around town and ask the hotel what the cost should be so you do not get stuck with the higher "'gringo" fair.

• Children fly within Ecuador for half the price of adults.

• While the U.S. dollar is the standard currency in Ecuador, you will need a large number of small bills like fives and ones. It is very difficult to buy small items, like a soda or even a cheap meal, with a twenty dollar bill.

• Everyone leaving Quito is charged an "exit tax," which is about $30 per person.

• Avoid the bus ride from Guayaquil to Quito unless you have 10 or 12 hours with nothing to do.

• The altitude in Quito is around 9,600 feet and will affect your ability to participate in strenuous activities for a couple of days. Be sure to drink plenty of water to help you adapt to the altitude.