Casa Serena

Just what we needed for a transit night: a clean, comfortable bed in a quiet room. Some parts of the room could have been cleaner. We came by bus from Cuenca, and Casa Serena is only five minutes from the station. Serena’s son kindly picked us up and drove us to the airport the next day, another five-minute trip.

My layover was over 10 hours, and I needed somewhere to leave my luggage. For the same money, I found a place where I could shower hot, nap a little, and use the internet. The owner and her grandson were so friendly, it’s hard to beat. Casa Serena, thank you for the hospitality.

We chose this for one night because it’s near the airport. The rooms were clean and spacious, and there’s a large mall nearby with a big food court for dinner. But the hostess wasn’t very welcoming. The place is really a room on the ground floor of a family home, more like an Airbnb than a hotel, with no shared hotel area or reception. She offered an airport ride for $6, though a regular taxi would usually cost $1-2, or it’s a 15-20 minute walk. When we paid, she had no change and sent us back out at 8:30pm to get some. We had $40 for a $29 room, not a huge bill. That didn’t feel professional.

The room had a private bathroom with a hot shower, a large double bed, a big-screen TV, microwave, fridge, table, fan, air conditioning, towels, soap and even cutlery. I think there was cable, though we didn’t watch. The Wi-Fi was really good compared with other places we stayed in Ecuador and Colombia. The place was sparkling clean, with good facilities, and the woman who welcomed us was friendly. It’s especially convenient for travelers, within walking distance of the airport and main bus terminal, and there’s a mall about five minutes away. The area felt very safe. For anyone wanting to visit the old town, the location might be less ideal; I’m not sure how good public transport is, but you could take a taxi. We write more about South America and Ecuador travel on our blog thekcouple.