The Hotel Cuenca is a 3-story hotel in the middle of downtown. My stay, arranged by my Ecuadorian fiancee, was for the 4 nights of June 19-22, 2007.

The hotel's entrance is up a couple of steps and through double glass doors. Check-in was very smooth (and the staffer did not ask for my credit card). The room key (a real one) was attached to a wooden turnip-shaped ball, making it hard to lose yet interesting to keep in one's pocket.

The hotel's lobby is spotless ("gleaming"). An around-the-clock coffee station is just beyond the front desk, and then a public computer amidst a comfortable sitting-area, with a fine restaurant beyond that.

Although the hotel has no elevator, the stairway is carpeted and well-lit. The bellman on duty will eagerly and energetically carry your luggage up/downstairs for you. The carpeted upper floors have central sitting-areas, which consist of new, plush furniture, lush potted plants, and classy wall and free-standing artwork. The stairway area is open and extends from the lobby level to a skylight above the 3rd floor. The skylight enables guests to see if it is raining before they venture outside.

Our room (#304) contained two full beds, a desk with chair, a very large stereo system, a nightstand with lamp, another chair, a TV (cable with remote), and tasteful wall artwork. The bathroom, up one step from the bedroom, had generous shelf and hanging-clothes space. The sink had enough counter area on which to spread toiletries. The large shower had a sliding glass door and a basket of towels set at the far end. A wicker basket of extra "Hotel Cuenca" soaps and shampoos was provided.

The only "negative" was that the water pressure in the shower was rather weak, and the water took awhile to heat up on a couple of mornings. The staff's explanation was that this was because so many guests were using the water simultaneously.

Both bathroom and bedroom were gleamingly spotless, and unused electrical outlets were reachable in each. There were no climate-controls; unlike the rest of Ecuador, where air conditioning is a necessity for foreigners unused to the heat, climate-control does not seem needed in Cuenca -- the city is in the mountains, and the year-round temperature generally ranges from 50 to 65 degrees F.

The mattresses were firm, the pillows were reasonably plush, and all linens (including the bedspread and the window curtains) were exceptionally clean.

The room was quiet, with these exceptions: [1] When people in the first-floor restaurant or the lobby spoke too loudly, the sound carried; and [2] from approximately 2:30 to 4 p.m. daily, the staff performed cleaning (sweeping around the edges of the lobby carpet with brooms!) and minor repairs (brief hammering). Neither the room nor the lobby floors creaked, and no room doors squeaked -- a plus anywhere.

The housekeeping was impeccable, and as thorough as it could be without becoming invasive or disruptive. The hotel's overall cleanliness was further evidenced when I saw the maids in the stairwells... using cloths to clean the fronts of the pictures on the walls. Holy mackerel!

Overall staff responsiveness was outstanding, even according to Ecuador's premier standards. Every request or question that we had was handled immediately and thoroughly.

After approximately midnight, the front hotel doors are barred, and a night watchman/bellman/clerk keeps his eye out for guests who want to come in or go out. He patrolled the entire lobby floor constantly and courteously kept his voice down in order to avoid disturbing sleepers above.

The hotel's restaurant is elegant, with fine furniture and cloth napkins. No menu item exceeded $8. My fiancee and I were sorry that the first time we dined there was on our last day.

Checkout consisted of my providing my Visa card and passport number; the bill came to the promised $35 per night. The hotel had a bilingual "guest satisfaction" survey in the room; I filled it out with highly positive remarks.

Other: Ecuador uses the U.S. dollar and U.S. electrical current. Cuenca is Ecuador's 3rd-largest city, and it seems very safe. Check first to learn whether hotels or merchants accept credit cards, and how steep the surcharge will be, if there is one. Even if a place accepts (for example) Visa cards, it may not accept YOUR Visa card (something about "international" cards); accordingly, when you pack for Ecuador, take double the cash that you think you'll need, and then take even more than that.

Summary: The Hotel Cuenca's rooms are above-average to excellent, and the cleanliness, restaurant, and service are outstanding. The hotel is downtown near everything. You get all of this for $35 per night. I give the Hotel Cuenca my unqualified endorsement, and I recommend it to you unconditionally.