BootsnAll Travel Community

Hello from Colorado where I have been a chalet host for the last winter. I took care of ten guests at a time from other coutries in a townhouse in East Vail. Basically I was responsible for the place, preparing, cooking, and serving three course meals, and taking care of whatever came up during the course of my guests stay.

I am just finishing work here and have some spanish lessons and volunteering on the horizen with The Yanapuma Foundation. The foundation was started by a man from Scotland whom uses is spanish school to fund his volunteer projects. I spent a month there last fall and am really getting motivated for a great summer in South America.

I have been looking online for accomidation during the last few days. I have found places ranging from hostels to apartments and am trying to get a list together to either book from here or to investigate when I get to Quito.

Does anyone have any expertise in this matter? I have previously stayed in La marascal but have been looking in Colonial Quito as well.

I am trying to find advise as far as good companies, schools that rent rooms to those not enrolled, hostels that are unique and affordable, etc!!

I would like to get my accomidation sorted out before I go. It would give me more time to focus on the language and get back into volunteering. If anyone has any ideas please let me know. I am easy going and get along with most but also have a tendency to like privacy and quiet!

Thanks for the attention and I look forward to haearing from those who can help.

The south American Explorers club in la Mariscal (Jorge Washington y leonidas plaza) maintain a list of apartments, homestays, and hotels/hostels suited for gringos. They also rent their spare room out for about $100 a month i think.

Agree with Dusting Duvet that South American Explorers is a good place to start.

my-Quito.com has some good lists of hostels, hotels and Spanish schools.

If you are staying for a longer period, my advice would be arrange short term accommodation and then scan the property advert pages of El Commercio when you get there.

As regards area, it depends what you want:
Historic Colonial Quito is noisy and bustling.
Mariscal is full of Gringos but has lots of restaurants, bars etc.
North Quito is more exclusive, especially around Av Gonzales Suarez.
Guapulo is interesting and arty but has steep hills.
South Quito is poorer and there are fewer tourists.
My recommendation to you would be to look in La Floresta -reasonably quiet, safe and close to the Mariscal.