Alisamay

Gulliver Expeditions chose this hotel for us, and it was a little more upscale than I needed. Check-in was easy, the room was large and clean, and it had its own balcony and plenty of hot water. The pool and back garden were attractive, and markets and restaurants were nearby. There was plenty of choice at breakfast. I’d stay again.

The hotel provides earplugs, and you’ll want to use them because street noise carries easily through the room walls. I only stayed one night, but found the hotel clean, enjoyed the generous breakfast, and the staff spoke English. They use UV filters to purify the water, so it’s safe to drink.

We came in thinking the room would cost $45 a night, which seemed like a great deal. Then we found out booking.com had somehow booked a room for one person instead of two. The man treated me like a criminal and accused me of trying to rip them off. I left in tears, worn out after two nights without sleep. I’d avoid this place. There are better hotels in Banos for the money. Sleep was impossible with the road noise, dogs, chickens, and loud guests. Staff did nothing about the guests, and there wasn’t even a fan to help drown the noise out. When I asked for one, the man laughed at me. The spa wasn’t hot at all, and both it and the pool had leaves and dirt on the bottom. The pool furniture was dirty too. Breakfast was uncomfortable as well. The man serving stared at his phone, with notifications blaring every 30 seconds. He left the room and put the phone on charge without turning them off. Someone was also defrosting a freezer and banging on it while we tried to eat. We were the only people there, which made it incredibly awkward. The pool area was trash, and the place just wasn't worth the money.

A good hotel in a small tourist town. As in many places in Ecuador, there are lots of wild dogs, and sometimes they make a lot of noise at night.