seeksocean

My daughter is in language school in Cuenca and my husband and I plan to fly New Years Eve to Quito. We get in at 10:15pm. We aren't sure whether we want to spend just one night and then fly on to Cuenca, or a few days in Quito first.

Regardless, we need a place to stay. Is there a hotel that is easy enough to get to the airport from, but still within range of fun things to do for jet-lagged travelers on New Years Eve? My daughter tells me it's quite a scene. We like small friendly places and I assume we could catch taxis to the airport, but I don'y want to be too far away. I speak passable Spanish, not that it matters.

Jeff_Costa_Rica

The airport is close to the city, too close, really, because it's in a built up area. That'll change in 2009, when the new airport opens about an hour outside Quito. But for now, it takes no more than 30 minutes to get to any hotel in the New City, even less late at night. If you look at the Fodor's homepage and click on the map, and go to the Ecuador link, you'll see a selection of hotels. Casa Cultura and La Mansion del Angel are two small boutique hotels that I like and lot of other people do too. Neither has many rooms, so whether they'd have availability at this late date, I don't know.

I think Quito is a fun city. If you have the time to spend more than the night there, I'd do it.

Jeff_Costa_Rica

Typo: That should be "Cafe Cultura," which, despite its name, is not a restaurant.

seeksocean

HI Jeff, Thanks! You helped me on my last question about cheap airfares. As of now I have booked one ticket on my miles and am waiting it out on the paid ticket.

I am now thinking of doing the Cafe Cultura, if available for two or three nights. Then, I am assuming that we can just go to the airport and buy a ticket on the next flight to Cuenca. Does that sound right, or is it something I should book and buy now? What airline is the best for that?

What would you do for 2 days in Quito? Thanks, I REALLY appreciate it!!!

Jeff_Costa_Rica

Three domestic airlines:

TAME (pronounced tah-may)
www.tame.com.ec

AeroGal
www.aerogal.com.ec

Icaro
www.icaro.com.ec

TAME and AeroGal can do E-ticketing. I thought Icaro did too, but I don't see anything on its webpage that indicates that you can do it. All three fly between Quito and Cuenca. I guess if I had to choose, I'd go with TAME. All three are okay, but TAME seems to have its act together just a little bit more. On TAME's website, click on the little British flag icon up in the upper right corner for English.

Can you just show up at the airport the day you want to fly and buy a ticket? Good question. Probably, but traveling immediately after the holidays, who knows?

Quito's Old City can easily occupy a day of your sightseeing time. The New City, where Cafe Cultura is, has a lot of great retaurants and bars and shops. A lot of tourists congregate in that part of the city. The locals call it "Gringolandia."

Cuenca is wonderful place too, as I'm sure your daughter has told you. Make sure you give it ample time.

seeksocean

Thanks again Jeff! Maybe we should be staying in the 'old city' area instead. There were rooms available at Cafe Cultura at $214 for two nights including tax. We don't get in until so late at night that maybe a cheaper hotel to 'crash' in might be better? Or not?

Any suggestions on hotels in $100 or below in the 'old city' area? Also, many hotels offer an airport transfer for around $10 per person. I am an old hagler of taxi fares in any language from way back. And maybe metered taxis are what they have anyway. What would you do?

I think I'll pre-book my Cuenca ticket. The control freak in me won't deal well with a wait at the airport if flights are sold out.

Anyway, keep the info flowing if you feel like it. I sure appreciate it. My daughter has barely taken her nose out of the book as she is studying in Cuenca. Mom showing up with a few bucks should liven her up!

seeksocean

Tame airline had a good E-ticket for $115.00 RT. I am thinking that we land in Quito at 10:00pmish, so that's a wasted day. So, really we'll have the 1st of January and part of the 2nd to check Quito out, since the flight to Quito I chose was leaving at around 5pm.

That leaves 8 days in the Cuenca area and then back to Quito for one night. Does that sound like a plan....or?

The Galapagos is out of the question, I think. It just seems too expensive for me this time around. My daughter said she knew of, "a cooler cheaper place."

atravelynn

What's the cooler and cheaper place than the Galapagos?

seeksocean

Not sure. My Mom ended up in the hospital. So, no trip for me now!

alowen25

Sorry to hear that. If you make it to Ecuador later, I recommend staying in the new city, not the old city (safer). I'd also say head to Cuenca quickly - much nicer than Quito. The national park just north of Cuenca is amazing. The south of the country is also beautiful if you can keep going past Cuena.