During a recent visit to Quito, Ecuador, to attend TravelMart Latin America, I stayed three nights at the Hilton Colón, a centrally located luxury hotel in Ecuador‘s capital. Over the course of three separate visits within just one week, I put together this review of my experience.
THE STYLE: One of Quito’s grande dame hotels, the Hilton Colón’s exterior has classic 20th-century skyscraper style. Inside, the hotel’s most recent renovation has brought soothing, muted earth tones for an upscale yet comfortable feel. The central location in La Mariscal district, alongside Parque El Ejido, a large city park, is a big selling point for some travelers (if you’re there on a Sunday and in need of some artsy souvenirs, walk across the street and check out the artists who sell their original work). I found the check-in experience on all three visits to be swift, polite and attentive, and the staff was fully bilingual.
THE GUEST ROOMS: Guest rooms are well-appointed with the style of an international luxury hotel. For the first night, I checked into room 855, which had two comfortable double beds, a 42-inch flat screen TV, coffee maker, clock radio, two telephones, a safe deposit box and work desk with outlets at desk level (a plus, in my book). The marble bathroom was stocked with Peter Thomas Roth amenities. I got free WiFi in the rooms, which is included for some business travelers and groups; others have to pay, but can still make use of free WiFi in the lobby and restaurants.
Guests looking for additional luxuries should consider an executive room or suite in the La Pinta Executive Tower, which includes free breakfast.
HOTEL FEATURES: The Hilton Colón has four restaurants, including a sushi bar. I enjoyed the diverse offerings at Café Colón, which serves a generous dinner buffet for under $20. The fitness center includes a heated outdoor pool and Turkish bath, and business travelers can make use of 7,000 square feet of meeting space for 700 people. I was especially impressed with the hotel’s ability to respond to an emergency: when I realized, at midnight, that I had no toothbrush, I called the operator and they sent one up within five minutes.
BEST FOR: Business travelers in need of meeting space and a central location in Quito, as well as leisure travelers looking for brand-name luxury as well as proximity to dining, nightlife and tourist attractions.
MORE ECUADOR TRAVEL TIPS & INSPIRATION:
• AIRLINE REVIEW: LAN Airlines Airbus A320, Quito to Cuenca
• Culture, Nature & Adventure: 3 Great Reasons to Visit Ecuador
• Sneak Peek: Quito’s Brand-new Airport (photos)
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