This was a great place to stay in Cuenca, really cheap and convenient. The staff wasn't particularly friendly but was polite and efficient enough, and the common area was a great place for meeting people. The travelers I met here were among my favorites, which contributed to how much I liked it. The common area had plenty of comfortable chairs and satellite TV, so I could watch English-language shows and movies.

For $4.50, I had a private room without bath. A couple I met swore they were only paying $4 each, but the staff would not bargain with me. It's possible they were paying less each, but also possible the hotel was actually getting $8 for the same room I had.

It was pretty large, with very sunny windows, sink, mirror, dresser, and coat rack, but the bed was not too firm. I found out later the walls were sort of thin when an amorous couple moved in next door. Nightmare-inducing. The shared bathrooms as usual did not feature toilet paper or even toilet seats (why? it HAS to be the cheapest part to replace!), but the showers were adequate. Towels were not provided.

The hotel is close to banks and bakeries, and there's a local bus nearby to go to the main bus terminal. It's close walking distance to the flower market, the main market (great for buying baskets or pottery), the artisan market, the river, and some of the better restaurants in town (which are not Ecuadorian).

I was required to pay per-night here, and they were insistent about it. The hotel reception is located on the second floor of the building. My room was also on this floor, but I think there was at least one more floor of rooms. They locked the street doors at night (I think it was after 11pm), so we would have to buzz up to be let in. It's a good safety factor, but sometimes I had to buzz a long time to wake up the receptionist.

I definitely enjoyed my stay here. Nice, affordable, and I met some great travelers.

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