During nine years I visited this country periodically as supervisor of a USA-based non-profit association. Although occasionally I stayed at the home of some friend, more than ninety percent of the times I stayed at different hotels.
These are my recommendations based on that experience: GUAYAQUIL: Here I stayed at the home of some friends. The best hotels in this city are Hilton, Best Western, Oro Verde, and Ramada.
QUITO: I stayed at two different hotels in this city: Hotel Quito and Hotel República. The Hotel Quito was an Intercontinental hotel at that time, then became a Best Western. The hotel is large (215 rooms), but is very quiet. It is located in a beautiful panoramic viewpoint. Although it is in the downtown, the view from your room overlooks a beautiful valley, behind which you only see mountains. But you cross the lobby and you are already in the city. It has a very nice swimming pool, and sauna. The restaurant on the last floor has a fantastic panoramic view of the city. It is open in the evening; at noon you have lunch at the cafeteria, by the side of the swimming pool. Address: Gonzalez Suarez 2500, phones (593) (2) 254 4600, (593) (2) 256 6674. A standard room costs approximately 100 dollars per night. The other hotel I stayed at in Quito was the Hotel República (4 stars, that I would rate as a 3-star hotel.) It is well located, is comfortable, located at Av. Republica and Azuay, phones (593) (2) 243 6553 and (593) (2) 251 2711. A standard room costs approximately 36 dollars per night. It has no swimming pool. It offers special rates on week-ends. In Quito you will find 3 star hotels at some 20 to 25 dollars per night, but I would recommend any of these two, with which I was completely satisfied.
AMBATO: I stayed at the Gran Hotel Ambato (4 stars) with a nice panoramic view, and not too expensive. RIOBAMBA: I stayed at the Hotel El Cisne, a budget hotel with reasonable comfort. LOJA: I remember having stayed at a very cheap hotel here, but do not remember the name. At that time a room with private bathroom was costing five dollars per night. These are two of the main hotels here (Loja is a relatively small city): Aguilera Internacional, phone (593-6) 257.2892; Grand Hotel Loja, phone (593-6) 257.5200.
CUENCA: I stayed at 3 different hotels in this city: Oro Verde (5 stars), Ciudad de Cuenca (4 stars), and Catedral (1 star). The Oro Verde hotel (previously known as La Laguna) is in a fantastic setting some 2 miles away from the downtown. It is on the Tomebamba river, at a place where the river forms a very nice lagoon. They had rainbow trout coming up and down the small ditch in the front. It is quite possible that the lagoon is stocked with trout. One of the pavilions of the hotel is constructed over the lagoon, while the main building faces it. Av Ordoñez Lasso s/n, phone (593 7) 2831200 - fax: (593 7) 2832849. The Ciudad de Cuenca hotel offers good comfort at substantially lower rates, Borrero 10 69 , phone (593 7): 833711. The hotel Catedral (the cheapest one where I stayed) was OK, although the wooden floor was rather squeaky. Its address and phone is Padre Aguirre 817, phone 282 3204. It is rated as a 2-star hotel, but I would give it one. I was also at a national convention of the association at the Hotel Crespo. The rooms did not impress me too much, but it is in a very nice location, facing the Tomebamba river.
MACHALA: Here I stayed at two hotels: Rizzo (3 stars) and what today is the Oro Verde hotel. The Rizzo Hotel is acceptable and obviously costs less than the Oro Verde. This last hotel has a swimming pool. SANTO DOMINGO DE LOS COLORADOS: I stayed at the Hotel Casino Zacaray. Beautiful setting, beautiful park. 4-stars. Phone (593-2) 2258359.
MANTA: Oro Verde and Howard Johnson are the best hotels here. I stayed at a budget hotel (El Inca) and cannot find it in the hotel directories. Room was OK, near the beach, very cheap. ESMERALDAS: This is not a tourist area, and there are very few hotels. PORTOVIEJO: One hotel I could recommend here as acceptable is the hotel Ejecutivo. Nothing special, but comfortable. Phone 2632105. IBARRA: I stayed at the hotel Ajaví, quite comfortable, phone 295-5555. OTAVALLO: I did not stay in this city, and therefore prefer to not recommend any hotels. There are 13 hotels in the city. TULCAN: It is on the border with Colombia, facing Ipiales. There are better hotels in Ipiales. Hope you will find this information useful.