Hostels

[JAN FIORUCCI]

I understand motels are a no-no. What is a hostel like?

[JOHN RUSCICA]

Hostels are great for budget travelers.  I have always had good luck relying on Hostelworld.com for people’s evaluations and the online reservation service works well.  However, be aware that a high score on “fun” factor and a great bar can translate into noisy nights.  Hostels are good for getting recommendations from visitors on the local sights.  Some of my best times have been meeting good people at the hostel and enjoying the location together.  People running the hostel are often very helpful.  Again, you can read these and many other elements on Hostelworld.com.  Hostels, especially the larger ones, sometimes coordinate convenient and economical excursions.  You might also want to check-out Reservas.net in South America which is usually a step-up from hostels.  Go for it!

[COUNTRY EXPERT- SUZAN HASKINS]

Some of the accommodation referred to as hostels in Ecuador are more like small hotels or B&Bs — and while some are targeted at the young backpacker crowd, many are often in quiet neighborhoods, have rooms with private bathrooms and cable TV, etc. I use Tripadvisor when I am traveling to a place I’ve not been before and have had good luck with that.

In Quito, I highly recommend Hotel El Andino (see our travel recommendations on this website) — it may be referred to as a hostel but it is very safe, quiet, private and comfortable. And about $30 a night – -can’t beat it. It is family-owned and the owners are top-notch people. I’ve recommended it so often, in fact, that they are often full. But there are many sweet places just like that all over Ecuador. (Dona Esther in Otavalo, La Cuadra in Cotacachi and Izhcayluma in Vilcabamba to name a few.)

Funny story: my husband and I were traveling in Mexico with our 90-lb. chocolate lab and we could not find a hotel in Villahermosa. So we went to a “motel.” The price we were quoted was, at first, an hourly rate — as most people only stay a few hours. When we explained we wanted the room for the entire night, the rate was $32. It was one of the safest places ever — because they have garages where you can pull your car in so no one sees you (all about privacy). And the room was sparkling clean and there was a little revolving window where they would bring you food and beer. You’d put the money in and revolve the tray; they’d put the food in and send it back. Again, the server never saw the people inside. If you could get past the porn on the TV…and they had other channels, of course…we loved it. There was even a courtyard to walk the dog. They must have thought we were a most unusual “threesome.” 🙂

 

 

 

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