ALSTON INN HOTEL

Really didn’t want to say anything bad about the place because the staff were so nice. Unfortunately there are a few things wrong with this hotel. The biggest problem was that it sometimes smelled of smoke, we asked to move rooms after the first night and the new bedroom was better but still a faint trace of smoke. The staff were very nice about it though. The shower could have been hotter. There was no soundproofing whatsoever. The wifi was terrible in the rooms but worked in reception. The bed was a bit small for 2 people but we had a room with 2 double beds so slept separately, the frame was also a little rickety but overall was comfortable. Cleanliness could be improved, I found hairs in the bed and on the pillows and it was a little dusty in parts. Was still very good value for money though and despite all the negativity above we extended our stay for a night.

It was a nice experience in Quito, i was there for business and fun, everything was ok with the hotel, nice people and the location is very good for sightseeing.

Basic place to stay, nothing fancy.

Good hotel good people good location for night life

It is a basic hotel but very clean and extremely good and helpful staff. There is an entertainment restaurant district a couple blocks away. I will be staying here again next time I am in Quito. Couldn’t ask for nicer people.

I stayed at Alston in March 2019 and it was extremely well located to la focha (the zone) which is a nice tourist destination for many. Alston in was accommodating, kind, and a REALLY good value for the service. Keep in mind, the 5 star rating is for the hospitality and how affordable it is, this is not a 5 star hotel. I travelled alone, am American, and was skeptical of hostels for my first time leaving the country. When I return to Quito, I will happily stay here again!

Me and my partner stayed here a few times during a year of volunteering in Ecuador.

We chose this hotel so many times because it is quiet, cheap, clean, usually has good hot water, and is in a good location, close to Plaza Foch. However, despite our loyalty to what is clearly not a popular hotel (we were often the only guests), the staff weren't particularly friendly. It was very rare to hear a 'buenos dias', or even for them to raise a smile as we left the hotel for the day, which was actually quite awkward. This isn't to say that they were unfriendly, but they were not friendly either, which was particularly disappointing given the fact we stayed here so many times over quite a long time period. Breakfast is not provided and there isn't an option to pay extra for it. However, Plaza Foch's many restaurants offer an abundance of breakfast options, so this isn't a problem.

The hotel is in need of redecoration and lacks character, but the rooms are clean enough, the WIFI is good, and the hot water normally works well. If you are looking for a cheap, quiet hotel in a good location for a short stay then this place isn't a bad option. I feel like this place could be a lot better with a bit more effort, but the tired decor and lukewarm staff let it down.

Stayed here for 2 nights while in Quito, room basic but very comfortable bed and all staff at the hotel were really friendly and helpful and some spoke excellent English.
Hotel staff arranged a taxi to airport which is about an hour away and cost $18.
Hotel is only 2 mins walk away from lots of great bars and restaurants and about 20 mins walk away from historic centre (only $3 by taxi).

A very reasonably priced hotel that is clean, secure, well-located, excellent value -- and with a wonderful owner-manager (Johnny Gomez Janine) who is fluent in English and friendly/helpful for information and assistance for tours/transfers/local information.

The hotel is on a one-way street and the sign not very obvious - our taxi driver nearly missed it, but it is actually quite conveniently situated for getting to most places. The building is old, with the advantage that it has large rooms, but the stairs can be a drag if you have a lot of luggage.
Front desk staff are very helpful, especially Sandra, who was on duty in the afternoon. She helped us way beyond expectations in dealing with a damaged luggage claim and getting our case replaced. The hotel was booked by an overland tour operator (so cheap is an important criterion for them), but I would have preferred a place which also offered breakfast (the coffee shop a few doors down is incredibly over-priced; we found another good place on our second day, but opening times are very "Latin American": we intended to return there on day 3 but the bar was still closed at 8.15, despite having told us they would open before 7.30.... it was a long walk to find anywhere acceptable open before 8.30 or 9. Another problem we had was the noise: our room (n.22) was on the first floor, overlooking the busy main road, which was very noisy by day. But at night, the porter evidently had all his friends round to visit every night, because there were always outsiders sitting on the sofas in reception, just below our room, chatting and laughing loudly until very late at night. I didn't visit other hotels in Quito, but I think we could have done better even on a limited budget

The Alston Inn was very good. The people at the front desk are pleasant and helping. They regularly clean the rooms and have free wifi. There was no food available a the hotel, but plenty of small restaurants in the area for a good price. The hotel was also a short walk from shopping and bars, which are decent. I would definitely suggest the Alston for those in Quito.

I don't know if it's just because I loved Quito so much, but I thought this was a fantastic place to stay. Great location (10 minute trole ride to Old Town, 5 minute walk to Plaza Foch), very clean, hot showers, extremely kind staff, good internet, perfect temperature rooms, etc. Very enjoyable.

No frills, not maintained very well and not very clean. I would have rated just a bit higher if I did not find hair through out the room/bathroom and the spots on the walls. The sheets were clean, the front desk staff very friendly and helpful, and it is a non-smoking hotel (which is why I booked it) but beyond these 3 important items, (they do provide soap and shampoo) the rest is down hill. The furniture is basic, very old, needs cleaned real bad and the comforter and blanket needs burned. See picture of the blanket - this is supposed to be white and the fuzz has all balled up so bad it looks like some type of pattern. I can forgive old, but not cleanliness and there was no reason to have hair, old blankets, dirty furniture and walls. The bathroom fixtures are old, small round bowl, and you have to hold the handle to get the toilet to flush right.

They also have free wifi which is a plus but signal was very spotty in our room and the intermittent connection was not worth the hassle. Great signal in the lobby, and our room was not far from the lobby, I just think it was the concrete structure. They had two wifi channels, but room reception issues need addressed.

Last problem was the hot water, yes very very hot. You have to constantly monitor the cold feed to keep from being scalded. If someone in another room flushes a toilet, watch out, cold is gone and you get scorching hot water. This is a real problem and again, unacceptable. It must be an unfixable problem with an old building unless there is a major remodel. Regardless, beware.

Now, this is a low budget hotel. I get that. But that is no excuse for being dirty. I stayed for the two nights I booked because I at least had the clean sheets, private room (although noisy) with private bath.

You should also be aware that it is in the older part of the city. During the day it felt safe, no issues. At night we were told to be careful. They call the area the "Pink District" because there are a lot of night clubs among other things. I had no problems with the location, but it is not next to the historic center. A cab to the historic center is about $3 or 4 dollars. To Telerifico is $5, The center of the world (Equator at 0.0.0) was $40 rt, and the airport is $26 to $30 each way. The airport btw is a hour drive.

In sum, I would not stay there again. If you are on a tight budget and need spacious rooms somewhat near the historical center and can handle some cleanliness issues, then you will probably do ok.

Stayed here our first night in Ecuador. Check in after midnight was smooth.Comfortable beds, plenty of hot water and decent TV, but this is a no frills place. I would stay again. No breakfast, but plenty of places close by.

I stayed here for one night 'everything was perfect 'beds were super and WiFi works like I charm , I also enjoyed the TV because they have option to either watch in Spanish or English most channels, I speak Spanish but prefer to watch in English, Location is awesome I went to the mariscal market and visited this jacket deli , with great coffee more than ounce, it is located just to the left f the hotel .I am planning one week at the same place, because I liked it so much.

I had a pretty good experience just recently at the Alston Inn. I chose the hotel because I was already familiar with the area in Quito and had contact with the owner previously. It's very plain compared to most hotels that are higher priced with very few extras. There is wonderful hot water and cable television with plenty of channels with English options. The beds were very comfortable and the blankets were warm. Most places in Ecuador, unless you're staying at a hotel chain that's typically from the US or other higher end hotel chains, will not have air conditioning or indoor heating. The same was true for Alston Inn, but Quito has a fairly mild climate most of the time. I had an inside room that required me to walk outside and across a courtyard to get to my hotel room. When I returned to my room around eight or nine at night, one of the gentlemen working at the front desk walked me to my room as I was staying by myself...definitely appreciated! Wifi worked fairly well for me and my room was at least quiet, though this could be because I had an inside room. I didn't eat at the hotel, but there is a delicious coffee shop on the same block. About two blocks down you can find The Magic Bean, which seems very popular among backpackers in the area. It should cost around $5 to take a taxi to Alston Inn from the airport or anywhere really in the northern section of Quito itself. The owner is very friendly and if you let him know that you want to practice your Spanish, he'll be very helpful! He also speaks English very well though!

I stayed here with a group last week for 1 night. We chose this hotel because of its close proximity to the airport in Quito. Three of us shared a room. Hotel is in need of a serious upgrade, but for one night it was okay. All three of us managed to get a hot shower in the morning. The hotel itself is in a noisy part of town, so there was a lot of activity going on in the evening. Take some ear plugs and you will be fine! The front desk staff were really nice, and they did help us during our stay.

I stayed in this hotel for one night in between flights, booked through expedia. This hotel looks very plain. I got a room with 2 beds on the main floor. The blanket on one of the bed smelled of body odor. The hot shower lasted for only one person, not two in a row. The front desk however was very helpful and friendly. I would not recommend this hotel because there are many other hotels in the area that offers the same price without BO and with hot water.

For the money, excellent hotel to spend your sleeping hours in. Aside from no heaters in the rooms, the blankets kept me warm at bedtime. The owner and front desk staff speak very good english and are helpful when asked. It is an older hotel without much in line of amenities, however the price offsets those things. I will defintely stay here again, as it is a very safe hotel with security.

I have traveled extensively in South America. Typical low budget, sparsely decorated motel. Great location(during the day). A nice market just down the street, coffee shop next door and many restaurants in the neighborhood. Staff very helpful in arranging tours. Would definitely stay again..