When looking to book this recent stay in Quito, I must admit to being a little put off by the choice of either paying a hefty damage deposit or buying an insurance policy (I chose the latter). What tipped the scale in deciding to stay was the option of having a driver, maximizing the limited time we had to spend in Quito/environs. Patricio was an excellent driver & as a native of the city, a great tour guide as well (plus a guide book to fill in the details). Using translation apps, we were able to get our respective points across. The homey apartment reminded me of my mom’s place - if she had collected nicer art! Its location at the top of a hill in a residential area might not be ideal for some. We generally prefer to be in the center of town and go out in the evenings but Quito’s historic center, while charming by day has a not so lovely reputation after dark. So this worked for us because at the end of the day it was nice to relax in such a pleasant space, use the internet (good WiFi), and enjoy the view. At the bottom of the hill we tried Estrella & Pluma (Chinese-with great dumplings, called “ravioli”), El Chacal Parilla, and a yummy bakery, supplemented with a visit to the Megamaxi grocery/superstore. At the end of our stay, using the stackable washer/dryer allowed us to start fresh on the next leg of our trip, a Galapagos Islands cruise. From airport pick-up to drop-off, with visits in-between to the Centro Historico by day and night, Mitad del Mundo, and Papallacta Thermal Baths, this stay in Quito was memorable. Thank you to our host, Carla & our driver, Patricio!

The apartment was very nice. Having a driver (Patricio) to pick us up from airport, take us site seeing and getting groceries was invaluable