From US$209
– Wonderful buffet breakfast full of Ecuadorian, western, and even a few Swiss treats
– Need to re-login to wifi after your I-device goes to sleep
When I walk into the lovely lobby at Swissôtel Quito, the traffic of this busy city melts away behind me. After an efficient check-in with a warm towel and a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice, I’m whisked up to my room in the glass elevator overlooking the mountains of Quito.
A knock on the door a minute later — a welcoming treat of a trio of mousses arrives! Vanilla, chocolate and, my favourite, raspberry. Little do I know this is a prelude to deliciousness and service.
Part of the Fairmont group, Swissôtel has the best business and convention hotel in Quito, and has won several awards to prove it. There are 232 guest rooms (plus 43 extended stay executive apartments in a separate tower), equipped with all the necessities and luxuries, including hundreds of tv and audio channels (including in English, a rarity in Ecuador).
Need exercise? There’s a large indoor/outdoor pool, tennis, racquetball and squash courts, and a large gym. Need to relax? Try the sauna, steam bath, jacuzzi, or best of all, the excellent spa. Hungry? You have five on-site restaurants to choose from.
Staff are always on the alert for what you might need or want. An example: intrigued by the pillow menu, I wrote down my selection to bring to Reception on the way to dinner. I forgot it in the room, but when I came back from dinner the turndown service person had noticed my note, and the pillows were promptly delivered! Impressive.
