EQUUS ERRO HOSTERIA — Hotel in Parroquia Salango

I prefer to keep this short and to the point. I understand how holidays work and if no reservations are made, you will have to make do with what is available. And that usually means spending more than what is comfortable, and since we were tired from driving all day and everything else around was booked, we had no other choice.||||Initially, my girlfriend and I were offered an upstairs room, with a decent view (despite the sun-less, cold weather and the trash that is kept between the hostel and the beach). Since we weren't sure we wanted a cold and cloudy beach experience, we opted to stay for one night only. After making this decision, things went downhill very quickly. We were given a small room on the first floor and it was equipped with a mini fridge and television. The area was more or less clean except a spill in the fridge that hadn't been cleaned up in quite some time and some dusty places that look like they've never been cleaned.||||The price was $70, but taxes brought the price up to over $90! We thought Manabi was tax exempt? Guess not. The most upsetting thing about paying so much for one night was the following:||||1. No breakfast included. We decided to have a snack the afternoon we arrived (an order of french fries and two beers), but since we didn't order off the menu, we were promptly told to go look for food elsewhere, in Puerto Lopez. Not too far, about a 10 minute drive, but it was the fact that they refused to serve us that bothered us. We didn't bother asking for a menu after that again.||2. Overcharged for a snorkeling tour. The owner decided she would charge an extra $10 for a tour that costs $25. She initially told us this was the price, but after confirming the tour, she magically brought out a slip of paper that stated the price was for $35 per person. Funny how those things just slip the mind huh? No transportation included for the extra $10 each either. We had to leave our car there for security reasons in the neigboring town of Salango where the tours are (which all the operators confirmed for us was $25 per person). Meaning we had to spend extra money on a taxi in the end to keep our car safe.||3. No parking spaces, the owner tells everyone to line their cars outside, and there are no cameras. The police do make their rounds every once in a while, and that somewhat helped, but for the price charged, there really should be a dedicated hotel parking.||4. The beach is not too far, but it's the crossing of a smelly horse stable that you must pass by in order to get there. Luckily, my allergies were not sparked. There is a remnant of trash lying between the hostal and the beach, which does not look very nice.||||We tried to make the best of our stay, but the owners way of working is not completely honest. Whenever we did try to ask or complain about these things, we would just get irrevelant stories that had nothing to do with our conversation. We also felt the staff was kind of rude to us after we decided to only stay one night and not spend any additional money on the expensive menu.||||Will pass on this hostel, next door's Hotel Tsafiki looked much nicer, with parking spots and breakfast included, a clean pool and had a beautiful entrance to the beach from their premises (the owner of Equus will proudly boast she used to be the owner of Tsafiki, which does not make her look good at all actually) I recommend travelers to avoid this place, you will not feel you are getting your...

This is a rather simple hostal but with really nice touches and fantastic service that makes the stay memorable. You are right on the beach and the staff bring out a cooler of drinks, set up the hammocks and chairs so that there is no work involved in spending the day at the beach. We arranged for a horseback ride along the beach. Great guide, well behaved horses and very reasonable rate. My daughter and I loved every minute of it. In terms of the hostal... the rooms are simple but very comfortable beds. We did not have trouble with bugs or mosquitos in the rooms. Water, towels, etc were all plentiful. It was quiet for those who want to sleep. The pool is small but perfect for a dip after a day at the beach. There are far less tourists on the beach but still a short ride to various other small towns with good restaurants. ||||The best thing about Equus Erro however, is the service. We were traveling with young adults and my older mother-in-law and the staff were very attentive to the different needs/requests for everyone in the group. Good massage for my MIL, games and drinks for the younger set, etc. Last, we realized after leaving we had left a cell phone --the staff quickly located it in one of the hammocks and made arrangements to send it to Quito via a bus company where we retrieved...

This place was HELL ON EARTH.. ||Started out nice enough...but the changed after we turned out the lights!!! Wife woke up at 3am COVERED in ants. (See link from next morning video AFTER room was sprayed with poison!)|| https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DdoSWmgb_ZE&feature=youtube_gdata_player ||||Ants in our bed, on the walls, ceiling, floor, pouring in from outside..the room was literally alive. Manager, Sol. Proceeded to start spraying Raid everywhere while we were still inside!!!!...with my 8yr old. ||||We changed rooms but family was to scared to sleep. ||||Next morning no apology, no im sorry, no forgive me, just some story about it happening to Sol when she was young before a tsunami, which scared my son even more. (My wife Ecuadorian... no tsunami she ever remembers.)||||We ate breakfast...paid full price for bad food, thought she might at least comp our disgusting meal!! ||I approached Sol asking for at least a DISCOUNT on room. "No please leave we have other guests, our obligation was only to change rooms. Not our problem" UNBELIEVABLE. This seriously was the WORSTE STAY ANYWHERE IVE EVER BEEN IN ANY COUNTRY. I felt totally scammed, you would think any legitimate business owner with an ounce of common sense would understand the value of a good impression. . What goes around...