Hotel Santa Monica — Hotel in Cuenca

The staff of this hotel get 5 stars for their friendliness and willingness to help: nothing we asked for was a problem for them. The location also gets 5 stars. It is only two blocks from the central plaza with the cathedral and most sights of the city are within easy walking distance. The room gets 4 stars. The room was very large with a sofa, 2 bedside tables, and a table with 2 chairs. The king bed was very comfortable. The windows could be opened for ventilation. We had some problems with the water, but that was probably due to the construction on a neighbouring road. The bathroom was adequate with a large shower. Internet connection was a little slow but OK for email and web browsing. We had a back room, which was quiet. The hotel is on a busy street, so a room at the front could be noisy. Breakfast was OK but not spectacular. A limited choice of eggs, and fresh cheese, and another dish which varied from day to day. Cornflakes, fresh fruit, and so-so coffee. My only one complaint would be the price. Our reservation was originally with another hotel, but had to be transferred to the Santa Monica, who generously accepted tahe price of our original reservation ($50 a night) which was good value. If I had to pay the posted price of $89 for a double, I would be less happy. However overall this is a very good hotel and I would have no hesitation staying...

This hotel is right in the middle of everything: short walking distance to restaurants, cathedrals, markets, shops, you name it. We stayed for 6 nights during Jan/Feb at would go back in a heartbeat. We chose a room with balcony overlooking the street. There was a little street noise in the morning and evening, but fine at night. The free breakfast buffet wasn't huge, but there were eggs, toast, and a few other things each morning, including several juices including mango. Jaime ("Jaimee") in reception was a great help with local info and suggestions. He lived in the US for many years so no language problems. He also took us for several day tours (he works afternoons and evenings) and his driving is perfect. The shower had plenty of hot water, though one morning it took awhile to make it to the 4th floor where we stayed. The Wifi worked well, though there were multiple hotspots and routers, so if you left your room for the dining area (top floor) you would have to reconnect to...

This hotel was AWESOME! We felt very safe, comfortable, and the staff and hotel catered to all of our needs. We were staying here in a large group, and the hotel was able to provide us close access to the historic and beautiful sites of downtown Cuenca (within walking distance), while also serving as a very safe, clean, and reliable place for our group to stay at. There are many banks, stores, and a plaza nearby which are always bustling with people. The room we stayed in was on the very top floor, and had an excellent balcony with a view of the street. The only complaint I had was that the ATM across the street made bird noises 24/7 (I kid you not), which kept my friend and I awake during our first night there. The breakfast was very tasty and diverse, and we had an awesome room and the bathroom was a great size. Overall, loved the hotel :) If you don't mind a bit of noise and "action" going on around outside, but are looking for a lovely, quaint, safe place to stay...