If staying in Quito, then for the price, quality, and location, I think Hostal New Bask is hard to beat. It certainly keeps up its billing as "The Backpacker Home".
Located in the upmarket area of La Mariscal, also known amongst Ecuadorian locals as "Gringo Landia," it has the perfect location for Quito's best selection of restaurants, clubs, and bars. It is also only a short walk away from Banco de Central, and the old town, malls, and cinemas are just a short
trole ride away, the nearest stop being Santa Clara.
The hostel boasts all of your usual amenities, including a laundry service, safety box, meals/ snacks, communal area with board games, Playstation, cable TV, video DVD, and a kitchen where you can prepare your own food. As well as these and highly useful is the free 1kg laundry washing service on arrival, hot water 24/7, a discount at a local Internet café, and tourist information for local sights of interest. There is also a huge notice board near the reception that is full of valuable information on hostels and places to visit all over Ecuador, plus a number of volunteer opportunities.
You can choose between dorms and private rooms, with all rooms having their own bathroom. Toilet paper, towels, and soap are also provided. Some of the doubles also come with TV as well. All of this for between $5 and $6 a night, so you really can't complain, especially when considering the friendly family atmosphere created by the staff and fellow guests. Security is also very impressive. Gates are locked all through the day and night and a ferocious (friendly to the paying guests!) dog prowls the locked gate on a regular basis.
The hostel from time to time takes on volunteers who help with the day to day running of the hostel. For this they offer free accommodation, food, and Spanish lessons. If not volunteering, Spanish lessons can also be arranged for a small fee. New Bask offers a discount of 10% for longterm stays and groups. Not bad at all considering the original price for a night's stay here. Of course the hostel isn't perfect. In some rooms there seems to be a slight damp problem, but you can easily deal with this for the price. Hostal New Bask is located at Lizardo Garcia 537, between Diego de Almagro and Reina Victoria. More information can be found by phoning 2503456 or 2567153.
From journal Quito's La Mariscal—'Gringo Landia'