The best place to relax. There are 4 swimming pools that are fed by water from hot springs. There is nothing more amazing than spending time in a giant "spa". The food in the restaurant was exceptional and the service in the restaurant was outstanding. Overall, the staff at this location does their best to make you feel at home.

Located outside of Cuenca, in a suburb area called Banos. Not to be confused with the famous Banos town of the same name, in the Central Highlands.

Breakfast included. Our family of 4-- 2 adults and 2 kids ages 11 and 5. Stayed two nights. Room 203 overlooking the pool area. We have lived in Quito, Ecuador, for 4 years. Stayed here Dec 27th and Dec 28th, 2008

Pros:

• Hot (39 degrees F) volcano water fed the 4 pools spread through out the property. The main outdoor pool is inside the actual hotel. Gorgeous gardens and limited seating with table around the pool area, flanked by Turkish steam baths, poolside food and drink service. All pools are kid friendly and well staffed. Good pool side snacks. Great burgers and Ecuadorian food available.
• Great bar food and drinks and the service is quite good
• The lobby is small but boast nice artwork and quality finishing and staff is friendly people. English and Spanish are widely spoken
• A small shop is just outside the main hotel building that sells goggles, sun screen, swim suites, soap etc, the usual travels things one may forget or run out of
• The upstairs restaurant/bar and lounge are quite nice and rather comfortable
• Rooms are immaculate. Bathrooms are spotless but the hot water was not readily available which was odd as the HOT pool water flowed endlessly. Beds and linens were all fine, clean and comfortable
• TV cable in the rooms
• A huge games rooms with pool table, fuzz ball, pin pong and other sports amenities are available to all guests but ask at the reception for equipment and there is small soccer pitch with a net ball court and net
• A small playground for kids is behind the hotel
• The food, overall, is excellent. The breakfast was well put together and the coffee was amazing but the serving staff are a tad grumpy but provided good service and seemed to like the kids
• The bar plays the worst music I have ever-heard in a bar but that is my own music tastes. I really do not enjoy listening to show tunes, Zamfir and or orchestral music as I sip on my scotch and chat with my family. It became annoying to me---again, that is me, not a criticism of the Hosteria Duran
• Call taxi’s to Cuenca are easily arranged by reception
• The atmosphere is pleasant with many little nooks and crannies to poke round in, fountains and gardens and seats here and there if you need a quite moment.
• Internet is available, free, for 30 minutes but no one seemed to be counting, in the business office. Not sure about WiFi
• Excellent Value for the $$$$
• The main pool in the hotel area is closed every Monday for a complete drain and scrubbing and re-filling. We saw them do this. It is an all day project. AMAZING!
• The staff are attentive to security and to keeping the place quiet at night
• Plenty of secured car parking
• A real family place!!!
•

Cons:

• Hosteria Duran is located outside of Cuenca, in a suburb called Banos. It is really hard to find Banos. The signs are limited to non-existent passing through Cuenca so ask for directions because I do not have any decent advice. We just kept driving around asking locals until we stumbled upon a sign that read, BANOS, with an arrow pointing to the right. Or take a taxi or a bus is better!!
• All pool areas at the hotel are public access pools. This causes a lot of crowding, which we did not know about before making the booking. The crowds were rather awful. Not the people, just the crowding. This issue made the hotel feel less like a 4 star rating and a bit more like a public pool setting---YUCK
• Rooms are SMALL for a family of 4

We did not stay here but visisted twice during our stay in Ecuador to use the pools ands visit the Restaurant. All I can say is WOW my kids had a blast in the pools we walked around and visited and ended both day in the restuarant. I would say this would be considered a 5 star place in Ecuador what great service so very professional and the food I have to say another WOW. We liked it so much that we went there twice what great food and great prices. We will be going back again.

A friend & I stayed at Hosteria Duran for three nights in July. We had room 312 on the top floor. The hotel is located about 10 minutes from downtown Cuenca in Banos. Breakfast was included in the price, which included eggs, a selection of breakfast meat, toast, cheese, juice, coffee & tea. Rooms were spacious & clean with a large bathroom. The shower pressure and consistancy of the water temperature was the best that we had in any of our hotels in Ecuador.

Around the interior of the property are a number of small sitting areas. Several had fireplaces, but they were never lit when we were there. Although it was July, Cuenca got cold in the evenings & there isn't any heat in the individual rooms. The beds have adequate blankets for sleeping, but we were cold the remainder of the time that we were in the room in the evening.

We attempted to get a pre-dinner drink at the bar, but found that it didn't open until the same time that the restaurant opened for dinner - 7:00pm. At 7:00pm, the restaurant & bar still were not open. We waited 10 minutes & then inquired at the front desk. they scrambled to find staff while we and several other groups waited. The restaurant finally opened at 7:30pm. Service was good after that & the food was good as well.

The next day, we noticed dirty dishes in some of the seating alcoves throughout much of the day. We also noticed on multiple nights that the dirty glasses remained on the bar throughout the day & until morning. This detracted a bit from how nice the hotel seemed.

When we attempted to check out early for an 8:30 am flight, no one was at the front desk & the taxi driver had to assist us in locating a staff member to charge our credit card. This was a bit stressful in trying to make it to the airport on time, so I would suggest allowing a little extra time.