Our tour (full trip report at http://nmcgalapagos.blogspot.com/) set us up at the Hotel Sebastian for two separate nights in Quito, one night on the way to the Galapagos and one night on our way back from the Galapagos. We had two different rooms and we found both rooms to be clean, modern and comfortable.

Our first room was a LARGE corner room on the 3rd floor complete with two sitting areas, two double beds and a double vanity. The room would have been suitable for a family of 3 to 4 people and was more than the two of us needed (not that I'm complaining). Unfortunately, the view out of this room was blocked by a tree.

Our second room was on the 6th floor and it was smaller, but had a large king bed. The view out of this room was much better and I was happy to be able to snap some pictures.

There was wireless internet available in the lobby. The hotel staff were generally friendly and pleasant. Though we found service in the restaurant to be rather slow and at times inattentive.

The hotel is located within walking distance to lots of shops and restaurants. As a result, we could hear the traffic and car horns just outside the hotel, but we didn't find this to be a problem at all and were able to sleep soundly.

Hotel Sebastian was recommended to us by a very experienced trip planner with 30 years' experience in Ecuador. The reviews were good, the photos and descriptions seemed of a very clean, well-maintained but slightly faded Grand Dame in the European style...and the price and proximity to the airport seemed to make sense as we would be transiting through Quito for at least 8 nights over a month of touring in Ecuador. Little did we know that Hotel Sebastian would be our "home" away from home...the staff knew us on sight at each return and always made us feel like they were taking extra special care of us; they stored our luggage when we downsized to smaller packs for the Amazon and the Galapagos and other destinations - even making arrangements to have our bag delivered to us when we accidentally loaded the wrong one with the wrong gear when we left for 5 days! Upon request, they set out coffee and a light breakfast for earlier than 7:00a.m. departures, and the breakfast buffet (with eggs cooked to order) was always good and plentiful, served in a cheerful windowed room with tablecloths and fresh flowers. The business center has several computers and a printer for guests' complimentary use and there is wifi in the rooms; bottled water is provided daily in the room and there is a small refrigerator. Though the bed is hard, it is very comfortable. The front desk staff was helpful in every way and though most spoke English they were patient with our practicing Spanish -- directing us on a map to a pharmacy/drugstore, optical, atm, cell phone store, restaurants (besides the one in the hotel), museums, etc. - all within easy walking from the hotel. Excellent and friendly service! Our compliments and thanks to Marcelo and Maria Belen at reception and Wilson, Victor, Rodolfo and others, the best bellmen ever! **Suggestions: Visit the Tourist Office and Craft Shop nearby on Reina Victoria; great pizza at Al Horno Pizzeria just out the front door and left across the small plaza/park!!

We stayed a total of 3 nights in this hotel while visiting Ecuador with Friendly Planet. Everyone at the hotel is very friendly and most helpful in making your stay special. The food in the restaurant is excellent and is priced very reasonably with plentiful portions.

We stayed in a regular room the first part of our stay and the corner suite the second part. Both rooms met our needs. My only negative comment on the rooms would be the hair dryer is due to be updated. The housekeeping staff does a wonderful job the rooms and especially the bathrooms were immaculate.

I would definitely stay here again if I were in the area.

From outside without special attraction, inside in the lobby we were welcomed by bundles and beautiful arrangements of hundreds of fresh roses. Travelling on Euro-basis, prices in Ecuador are modest from our perspective. So we decided in favour of the honeymoon-suite on the highest floor, tremendous large and situated at a corner offering a stunning view over Quito. We like large beds and were very happy with the 2,20m (!) kingsize bed. All the staff in the hotel, at the reception or bringing some drinks to our room, were very friendly and always had kind words for us with a smile on their lips - what a beautiful atmosphere!

The hotel is situated in a safe area with dozens of little restaurants in walking distance - nevertheless we prefered the outstanding breakfasts in the morning and exceptional good local food for dinners in the evening in the hotel-restaurant.

In summary: hotels like this are the cream on a beautiful cake like Quito.