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I’m not sure what costs you’d have besides airline fees? I’ve never paid any customs fees to bring pets to Ecuador, and I brought a 90-lb. chocolate lab in 2001 and two cats from Mexico about nine months ago.

If your paperwork is in order, there is no reason you’d pay any fees. (No customs or duties on pets.) And I can’t imagine any reason they’d need to be warehoused overnight.

As for airline fees: If they’re small enough to fit in the cabin under the seat in front of you as carry-on luggage, then the fee is minimal. If they have to fly as cargo, you’ll have to pay cargo fee – -this is all up to the airline, so check with your airline to see what those charges will be.

 

 

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You can call land lines from a cell phone in Ecuador. You can text and do all the things you can with a cell phone in the U.S. I’m not sure where to buy a phone close to the conference, but across the street from the Swissotel is Ecuador’s World Trade Center — I’ll bet you can get one there. Look for red signs that say Claro…

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You can buy a local phone here for about $40 or $50. You can use that, of course, for international calls (not exactly cheap) and/or texting. To make free international calls, if you have a laptop or ipad, you can use skype… from your hotel room, of course. If you don’t want to bring a computer, there are “cabinas” all over the country where you can easily pop in and make an international call.

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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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If you are on an organized tour, you won’t have to worry about anyone cutting your bag. The bus will be private and safe.

I take the public bus frequently from Otavalo to Quito and those buses are also very safe — however on a public bus I always hold my bag on my lap — unless I have a seat to myself and can spread out. I would not put it in the overhead or on the floor.

When I am about on my daily errands in Cotacachi, Otavalo, Quito… I have a very small purse that I carry my phone, camera, cash, etc. It’s about 4 inches by 5 inches and it straps over one shoulder and across my body diagonally. I have never been pickpocketed either. Basically you need to be aware of your surroundings, as you would anywhere. Don’t pull out your camera or smartphone without looking around first to see if someone is watching you. (In Ecuador, I have a $30 phone like everyone else… no one wants to steal it.)

Don’t stand in crowds where people can press up against you and get a hand in your pocket. Don’t hang out in nightbclubs until the wee hours and them stumble home alone… Don’t walk around dripping in gold, diamonds and an expensive watch. Normal common sense stuff.

If I were by myself in Quito at night, I would take a taxi. But usually I am with my husband and we walk. We’ve never even come close to having an issue. I will say that the less you look like a tourist, the more comfortable you will be. If you’re wearing safari gear and pulling out a map because you don’t know where you are going, the more you look like a tourist.

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I will let Edd weigh in here, but I don’t think that’s a good idea. You should try to wait that time out if you can in Ecuador. Once you get your cedula you are good to go.

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Sorry, Andrea, I forgot to answer your second question. For airport transfers, contact Mauricio Bonilla <gbsmaury@hotmail.com>

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Try contacting the following insurance companies

Cruz Blanca: www.cruzblanca.com.ec/ 

Coop Seguros: http://www.coopseguros.com/

As to be put in touch with someone who speaks English. You may find a hospital plan in Salinas or Manta that may be a better choice. As for car rentals, try Expedia.com — last time I rented in Manta that’s what I used.

 

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Andrea, Salinas is not a large city. You might find some tutoring work, but it won’t be enough to amount to much.

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There are always rumors about new planned golf course, but as of now, the only courses you’ll find are in Quito and Guayaquil. Here is some info:

 

Learn more about Quito Tenis and Golf Club at qtgc.com. Memberships are limited and can be difficult to obtain. However, there are three other options (Los Cerros, Los Chillos, and Arrayanes) all within about 30 minutes of the heart of the city. Initiation fees average about $10,000 with additional monthly fees of about $200 to $300. You’ll also find two golf courses in the larger city of Guayaquil and a nine-hole course in Cuenca. All told, course quality in Ecuador ranges from adequate to excellent.
And keep in mind that playing golf in the rarified atmosphere of the high-altitude Andes Mountains will cause your ball to spin less, curve less, and soar farther than ever. Instant game changer.

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Perfect, you will find plenty of clients. You might want to run a classified ad on the internationalliving.com website. Contact Emma Haran <eharan@internationalliving.com> for details.

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Hey Andrea, see the post right above yours. Email Jack Moss and ask him to send your request to his list. Intheandes@gmail.com – -Be specific about what you are looking for. You can also email Larry Smith <lsmith9287@gmail.com> who is a rental manager here in Cotacachi. He may have something. Same with Susie Guerra: susana.guerra.7771@facebook.com 

Worse case scenario, check out Hostal La Cuadra. They have private rooms with shared kitchen: http://www.lacuadra-hostal.com

Suzan

 

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Angela, I’ve also heard that information bantered about but I don’t know anyone who has ever been charged those fees. Let’s see if Edd has any experience here. Also, please send a link to the website you reference so we can see this info?

Thanks, Suzan

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I am not exactly certain — this is not a topic I’ve ever deigned to do much research about… I’ve always thought it was pipes in older properties, because in upscale hotels and restaurants, this does not exist.

But I asked my waste-removal consultant (my husband) and he says the problem is at the local (entry-level) site, for two reasons:

1)

Older houses have clay drainpipes and TP sticks to them as if they were velcro, hence blocking the pipe.

and 2)

If it is modern construction and they use PVC, they often uses a small-diameter pipe to save money. And these can easily block up.

Suzan

 

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We have no lines in Cotacachi…. 🙂

 

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