Illa Experience Hotel

Staff

It was a five star property, even if it’s rated as 4 star. The details of the renovated mansion is beautiful in the quiet and charming street. The staff was very attentive, most of all, it was one of the best food in our 2 month South America trip.

It’s a beautiful property with friendly staff. The view from the window/balcony was amazing. The food was delicious. They had the same menu for lunch and dinner. Since I stayed there for a few days, I had tried most of the items I wanted to try, but they were able to come up with a few “specials” to keep it interesting. The rooms were impeccable!

They advertised that they offered experiences with local artisans making hats or chocolate, but for the three nights I joined over two separate stays, 2 were the same (making a drink) and 1 was making a dessert.

Can't speak highly enough of this hotel. The concept of a 'boutique' hotel used to mean something - a smaller place where you would feel there was some kind of effort made to make your stay special or different. Nowadays it just gets used to mean any small hotel, but the ILLA is a true boutique hotel. They have 12 rooms in a beautifully renovated old colonial house near the historic centre of Quito (5-10 min walk). Everything about the place and your stay there has been thought about - from thoughtful little touches and gifts they leave for you outside the room, to daily 'experiences' with local artisans where you learn about and participate in Ecuadorian crafts. The staff are super attentive and helpful, the breakfast is excellent and the restaurant does very nice food (albeit on the pricey side). The rooms are extremely large (ours even had a separate 'reading room' attached to it) and well appointed. The hotel has several indoor and outdoor spaces for sitting and relaxing, and breakfast is served in a glass-walled restaurant with an incredible view of Quito & the mountains. There's a pool, though Quito can be fairly cold so it was not in use when we stayed. The location is on a small, pretty street ideally located for the historic centre without being right in it, and we found getting in, out and around super easy. At night, the whole neighbourhood is very quiet, so whether you feel that classifies as 'unsafe' depends on your approach to travel, but we walked home after dark on several occasions without feeling unsafe at all.

We loved everything about our stay. It's worth noting that the gym is very small, but it has a working treadmill which is what we needed, and a very nice view of the garden.Also worth saying that some rooms are on a below ground level, so don't have much natural light. If you like that, in terms of sleeping soundly, then ask for one of those. If you don't like it, ask for a room on one of the upper floors.

The staff here is amazing. They are thoughtful and helpful. The hotel is designed beautifully and artfully. I loved the central water feature. The hotel is in the city center so we had no problems walking around and checking it out. The food at the restaurant was very good as well. All in all, we had a wonderful stay and very much appreciated the refuge after several days in the Amazon.

We were delighted with our room. It was clean, spacious and luxurious, just as described on the website. The hotel was situated in a quiet street in old town Quito. It was within walking distance to many attractions and in fact was itself a historical building. The hotel staff were friendly and accommodating. They provided and shared aspects of their culture with us daily.

Our only complaint is that there was construction next door which was distracting from the peacefulness. (This is only a temporary state and beyond the control of the hotel).

We cannot say enough great things about this hotel. Definitely next level luxury in terms of service and comfort.

There were very few restaurant options in walking distance, however the hotel has an outstanding breakfast included as well as upscale dining available.

This was the most stunning and comfortable hotel we stayed in while we were in Ecuador! It is on a quiet charming street and everything is clean and bright. Wonderful views from the bar area!!

There were no negatives for this property! We loved everything!

Everything

Lights are too bright in the dining room for a romantic dinner. Should have candles or low light. The staff couldn’t turn down the bright lights.

The property is well curated and small so it really feels like a boutique hotel. It has a pool and a terrace even though it was always too cold to use them while we stayed. Breakfast was nice and the staff was nice.

They could give you more tips on what to see, where to shop and eat. Some of the streets surrounding the hotel at night get dark and empty and it can feel very dangerous to walk around.

We stayed at Illa Experience for our last night in Ecuador and Galapagos. It’s an exceptionally designed small hotel with stunning rooms, interior furnishing and views. We loved our suit and double-shower! We dined at the restaurant which provided exceptional dining experience. Breakfast was also wonderful. Staff and services were exceptional!

We liked everything

This hotel is a true gem. Beautifully renovated. Stylishly decorated. Impeccably clean. Everything we could ask for and more. But what makes this place a redo is the staff. Exceptional! The wonderful type of people you’d like to be friends with. They went out of their way to make our stay memorable and that’s what our stay here will always be…..unforgettable!

Nothing!

Location, staff, decor

breakfast

There are no words to describe the wonderful staff, the beautiful hotel surroundings, or the lovely accommodations that are all part of the Illa Experience. To a person, all the staff made sure to make our stay a memorable one. We sampled great wines with the help of sommmalier, Francisco. We attended special events in the lobby each night presented by the staff. We had one of the most amazing and memorable dinners with chef, Juan Carlos at the helm. One of us was ill and the staff did everything they could to help us including making special chicken soup and checking on us regularly. We had a very early flight to the Galapagos and came downstairs to find coffee, tea, and a sack lunch waiting for us. We hope this review encourages others to stay at the Illa Experience. They will not be disappointed. We think of and miss the staff to this day.

NOTHING! We were literally treated like royalty, Everything was above and beyond expectations. We would stay at this hotel and eat more dinners in their restaurant if we could. Loved the atmosphere and the fresh flowers placed everywhere.

Impeccable service. At all hours the staff anticipated and deliver service far beyond the level of Four Seasons Hotels. We returned multiple times because we simply love the hospitality. The property is beautifully appointed. Uniquely boutique. The radiant heat flooring and mirrors demonstrates the meticulous level of detail. Daily evening activities drawing from local talents from artisanal ice cream making to painting were lovely as well.

Amazing place and service

Sadly the pool wasn’t working but it was being repaired or refurbished

The breakfast was very good and the view magnificient

Beautiful, huge room. Great restaurant.

Excellent staff. Exceptional service- best of any hotel I have ever stayed in.

the hotel was beautiful and very comfortable. The staff are exceptionally nice…

unfortunately, the hotel was not in a very safe neighbourhood.