Hotel Doña Esther & Árbol de Montalvo restaurante

Very close to the center, a few steps from the market and a very well kept old typical house. You feel home here, rooms are well equipped, very clean and very silent because they open towards the internal porch. You may have dinner and breakfast there and even food is good, fresh and of the best quality. They offer you international dishes but even local recipes.

Stayed at this hotel for 7 nights in total to explore the surroundings of the bustling town of Otavalo. The hotel had everything one could wish for, great beds, perfect showers, proper, friendly and helpful staff and a restaurant which made the best pizza’s I’ve tasted on my trip through Latin America.

We were excited to stay at the property based on recommendation from our tour guide. Check in was easy and staff was friendly. However after a few hours other people checked in maybe 3 or 4 families. The children were screaming and banging on doors so loud that we couldn't hear each other trying to talk to each other. I went to the front desk and ask why there was so much screaming and they said they would calm down soon. We were ready to go to the restaurant and enjoy a lovely dinner because we read a wonderful menu. But then realized that the entire restaurant was full from the large group that was screaming to each other from the balconies so we decided to wait until they were finished to try and enjoy dinner. Things calmed down and we had a ok dinner. We returned to our room and the group returned making more noise than before. I was watching Netflix with my earbuds and the noise from the group was so loud I couldn't hear the movie with my earbuds in so I went to downstairs and was asking why they were screaming so loud and a woman said what is your problem. I said we are trying to sleep and relax and it's so loud we can't relax. She said well I am the owner and this is south america and this is how it is. I said I have lived in Ecuador for 13 years and I understand but this is too loud for other guests. She was very rude and didn't say anything but this is how it is here. I walked outside to get some air and she came out and said they are going to be quiet now and never showed any remorse about how we felt and was very cold. Also the property is in need of updates and repairs. Very outdated and the restaurant wasn't that great. We ordered a simple pepperoni pizza with onions and the red onions were raw and so strong we had to pick them off the pizza. Over all they seem to have spent more money on having the towels monogramed with their name than updating the property. Don't get me wrong I love a mom and pop property but seems run down. I used the bathroom in the lobby restaurant and there was no toilet paper and mold on the wood work in the bathroom. And the lack of any accountability from the owner and the way she spoke to me was completely unacceptable. Too bad because it could be a great place but it doesn't seem like any updates have been done since they opened the property in 2003. We were so excited about our stay but we will not return to this property. The attitude from the owner and lack of our concerns are unacceptable. All she had to say was we are sorry about the noise we will talk to the group about it. I have lived in Ecuador for 13 years I understand the culture. But discounting me concerns be it was just 2 of us for a large group to make more money is unacceptable. Too bad because this could be a great property. Oh and their website isn't working showing a critical error. I would have shared that with the owner if she wasn't so rude.

Wow! Beautiful. Charming. Great courtyard. Fantastic food, baked in a large outdoor oven. Gorgeous. Warm blankets for chilly nights. Serves Coca tea.. Incredible. Large range of food choices. Breakfast choices included. The yogurt, granola and fruit is enough for two, with delicious honey.

Good place in Otavalo located near the Saturday Poncho Market. Very clean, breakfast was very good. Staff was friendly and even they offer rides to Quito airport. It is also good that the hotel has a restaurant for lunch or dinner.

My primary reason for visiting Otavalo was the Saturday morning Poncho Market and Dona Esther is located at a short distance from there. The Dutch couple who own the place are helpful and friendly, as are the staff, although few speak English. Wendy, the owner, had a small electric heater put in my room, which I really appreciated. Noise reverberates around the courtyard and tour groups in particular tend to forget that they aren't the only guests. The valve for the shower is positioned so high that I couldn't reach it; but I was given a mop handle with which to move the lever.