Plaza San Blas, Quito

Advantages: Beautiful setting, churches and Spanish colonial architecture
Disadvantages: Traffic noise and fumes, some street crime

...a young girl of perhaps eight or nine, who chatted amicably with the bronze man, leaning on his elbow, until her mother eventually succeeded in calling her away. Reluctantly, she complied, turning to wave as she did so. As in any city, one of the pleasures of wandering round old Quito is to observe these little human episodes. From the Plaza de Teatro it is only a few blocks further to the Plaza de San Blas, which marks the northern limit of the old town. Beyond lie the business district and the area known as Mariscal, also named after the ubiquitous Sucre, which is the modern shopping and entertainment hub of Quito, and where most of the big tourist hotels are located, which has given it the alternative soubriquet of Gringoland. My wife and I never penetrated into this part of Quito except by taxi on our way to and from the airport... Read review

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Advantages: A five-star stay…
Disadvantages: …with just three-star facilities

...simplicity often trumps ritzy ostentation. Attentive service matters, but nothing is nastier than the kind of smarmy obsequiousness that always seems to mask a sneer. And so on. Maybe it's simply down to that indefinable essence known as character or personality. These inconsequential musings are prompted by my trying to pinpoint what it was about the Casa San Blas at Cusco that I liked so much. The hotel is certainly not without its limitations and even its failings, but it's a nevertheless a charming and delightful place to stay. Let's try to summarise what it has to offer. * Location * The Casa San Blas is situated just a few minutes' walk from Cusco's Plaza de Armas (central square), and is therefore convenient for all the main sights of the ancient Inca capital, such as the Qorikancha (Sun Temple), the Cathedral... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: pleasant climate, lots to see, bustling with local activity
Disadvantages: usual big city issues - traffic, smog, beggars, street vendors

...are excellent and include the surrounding volcanoes as well as the city itself. The old city is a place of churches and traditional markets. The central square is the Plaza de la Independencia at the heart of colonial Quito. The square is surrounded by the Cathedral, Presidential Palace and the Archbishop's Palace as well as the much more modern City Hall. There are a number of spectacular churches in this area although many are in need of significant repair. The second major square in the old city is the nearby Plaza de San Francisco. This open cobblestone square is dominated by the Monastery of San Francisco and its associated buildings. Although much of the new city is modern office blocks, it also offers an extensive range of shops and various significant museums. The Casa de Cultura Equitoriana lies just to the side of the Parque El... Read review

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