Escape to Paradise: Sol Del Sur Hotel, Huaquillas, Ecuador
Escape to Paradise: Sol Del Sur Hotel - My Honest, Messy, and Utterly Human Review
Alright, let's be real. Planning a trip, especially to a place like Huaquillas, Ecuador, feels like navigating a minefield sometimes. You sift through endless reviews, trying to separate the paid endorsements from the genuine experiences. So, I'm here to give you the unvarnished truth about the Sol Del Sur Hotel. Buckle up, because it’s going to be a ride.
First Impressions & Accessibility: The Good, the Bad, and the Slightly Confusing
Landing in Huaquillas is… well, it's an experience. Let's just say it's not exactly Times Square. Finding the Sol Del Sur was straightforward, thanks to their included airport transfer. Now, about accessibility. This is where things get a little blurry. They do list facilities for disabled guests, and the elevator is a definite plus. However, concrete details? I'm missing them. It's a bit of a gamble, folks. You'll need to contact them directly to verify specifics for your needs.
Booking tip: Make sure you call ahead to confirm any accessibility requirements.
Check-in (and a Tiny Incident)
The check-in/out [express] was a breeze – thankfully, after my long flight. The front desk [24-hour] is a comfort, especially when you're battling jet lag. Now, here's a little story to illustrate life at the Sol Del Sur. I had arranged for a contactless check-in/out, which was great. However, the Wi-Fi password was nowhere.
Rooms: My Sanctuary from the Huaquillas Hustle?
My room was… decent. Clean, thankfully. The air conditioning was a godsend in the equatorial heat, and the blackout curtains were a lifesaver for sleeping in. The Wi-Fi [free] did work, eventually. Free bottled water? Yes, please. You'll find the usual suspects: desk, chair, TV with satellite/cable channels. Nothing fancy, but perfectly functional.
Room Anecdote: One slight hiccup: I noticed a tiny, almost microscopic, ant making his way across the TV stand. It was not a disaster, but it did demonstrate the ever-present nature of the jungle's influence (which, to be fair, is part of the charm).
Bathroom musing: The private bathroom was functional, the water was hot (crucial!), and the slippers were a nice touch. One minor but oh-so-necessary point: The extra long bed was appreciated.
Food, Glorious Food (or, Sometimes, Just Food)
The restaurants offer a mix of international cuisine and, thankfully, Asian cuisine in restaurant. I loved the Western breakfast and Asian breakfast options. The breakfast [buffet] was decent, with a decent variety. Getting a bottle of water was easy, and the same went for some coffee/tea in restaurant. I had access to the poolside bar for a quick drink.
But, here's the thing: the ambiance could be a little hit or miss. The music wafting from the speakers never quite hit the mark. But hey, it's Huaquillas, not Paris, right?
Things to Eat That's Worth It!
- The fresh fruit platters were a daily delight.
- The restaurant menu has an a la carte setup
- Ask for an alternative meal arrangement.
Relaxation: Chasing Bliss (and Maybe Finding Some)
The swimming pool! Wonderful! Especially with the pool with view. The gym/fitness center was there if you're into punishing yourself after a long day, but I confess, I skipped it. The spa was a major draw. I particularly enjoyed the body scrub and the foot bath, but let me be clear: if you're expecting a luxury spa experience of the highest caliber, lower your expectations slightly. All that said, the staff tried their best to make sure you have the best possible experience
Here is a slight downside: They do not have sauna and steam room.
Cleanliness & Safety: Reassuring, Mostly
They really seemed to take Cleanliness and safety seriously; this was very comforting. There was daily disinfection in common areas, and the staff really seemed to be Staff trained in safety protocol
More positives
- First aid kit : Check
- Hand sanitizer : Check
Getting Around: Smooth(ish) Sailing
Car park [free of charge], and they offer car park [on-site]. There is taxi service also to get around.
What's Missing? The Quirks and the Imperfections
Let's be blunt. The Sol Del Sur isn't perfect. Here are the things that could be improved:
- Subtle, but definitely a few design quirks in the decor, the details are missing.
- Wi-Fi speed. It's available, but not always lightning-fast.
Overall Vibe: Where I Landed on the Sol Del Sur
The Sol Del Sur Hotel is a solid choice for Huaquillas. It’s not the Ritz but, for the price, it offers a comfortable base, a decent pool, and a friendly staff. It's a great place to recharge after a day of exploring the city.
Who Should Book?
- Budget travelers looking for a comfortable stay.
- People who need to get through Huaquillas or need to stay close to the border.
- Anyone seeking the experience of Huaquillas, the genuine and unvarnished Ecuador.
The Quirky Observation: The hotel's attempt at "modern" artwork in the hallways was charmingly out of sync: it was like someone raided an IKEA clearance sale from the 90s. But hey, it adds character!
Here’s My Honest and Unvarnished Offer…
Ready to Escape to Paradise (or at least, to Huaquillas)?
Sol Del Sur Hotel's exclusive offer!
- Book now and receive a complimentary cocktail at the poolside bar.
- Enjoy a 10% discount on spa treatments.
- Complimentary breakfast with every booking so make sure that you can try out their menu that has an assortment of Western and Asian cuisine.
With Sol Del Sur, you've covered a lot of essentials, from air conditioning to Wi-Fi [free], so book your room and get ready to dive. Click that button, and start planning your Huaquillas adventure! Don't wait, paradise (or at least, a comfortable hotel in Huaquillas) awaits!
Escape to Alsace: Luxury & Charm at Best Western Plus Le Rhenan
Sol Del Sur: My Little Slice of Ecuador, and a Whole Lot of Chaos
Right, buckle up buttercups, because this isn't your perfectly curated Instagram travel feed. This is real travel, the kind where you forget to pack underwear and cry a little (okay, maybe a lot) when your favorite empanada place closes early. This is my Sol Del Sur Huaquillas adventure, and it's already shaping up to be… well, something.
Day 1: Arrival (and the Immediate Search for a Decent Cup of Coffee)
- 10:00 AM: Landed (ish). The flight was delayed, of course. Because, you know, travel. First impression of the airport? Hot. Very hot. And bustling with a kind of organized chaos that’s oddly charming. Baggage claim was a free-for-all. I’m pretty sure I saw a goat walk past. Ecuador, you’re weird, and I'm here for it.
- 11:00 AM: Taxi ride to Sol Del Sur. The driver, a man named Ricardo who looked like he’d seen a thousand dramas (and probably had), blasted some Latin pop that made me simultaneously want to dance and take a nap. The scenery blurred past in a cacophony of color and noise – street vendors, brightly painted buildings, the persistent feeling of being utterly lost.
- 12:00 PM: Check-in. The hotel is… it's clean, let's say that. The AC is working, which is a godsend, and the Wi-Fi actually reaches my room. Score! The receptionist, a sweet kid named José, barely spoke English but managed a charming smile. He seemed genuinely happy to see me. This is already a vast improvement over my current life back home.
- 12:30 PM - 2:00 PM: Coffee EMERGENCY. This is the part where things get messy. I. NEED. COFFEE. Badly. Like, fight-a-small-child-for-a-caffeine-fix badly. The hotel "coffee" was a sad, brown puddle of disappointment. Wandered the streets, sweat beading on my forehead, asking for "cafe" until I finally stumbled upon a tiny little cafe with a grumpy old man who understood my desperate plea. The coffee? Life-altering. The best coffee I've had in ages. Sat on a tiny plastic chair, watching the world go by, the caffeine coursing through my veins. This is heaven.
Day 2: Fiesta! (and a near-disaster involving a rogue street dog)
- 9:00 AM: Attempted to wake up. My internal alarm clock is officially broken. Finally managed to drag myself out of bed. The bed itself was a bit… saggy in the middle. Maybe romantic? Maybe not.
- 10:00 AM: Breakfast at the hotel. Standard fare, but they had papaya, which is a win in my book. Observed a family of five trying to navigate the buffet with varying degrees of success. Little kid just grabbed a banana and started eating it mid-air. I love this place.
- 11:00 AM: Venture into the city center. Okay, so "city center" is generous. It's more like a collection of shops and stalls buzzing with life. Found myself completely entranced by a group of women selling vibrant woven blankets. Negotiated (badly, I think) for a gorgeous one. Now my backpack is overflowing.
- 1:00 PM: The Fiesta! Huaquillas is throwing a street party today. The sheer noise and color are overwhelming. I decided to dive right in. Live music, dancers in traditional costumes, and food stalls overflowing with deliciousness. Ate a plate of fried plantains that were so good I nearly wept. The smells – grilled meat, fried dough, something faintly floral and sweet… just chef's kiss.
- 3:00 PM: Near-disaster involving a street dog. Okay, so. There was this absolutely adorable, but very enthusiastic, stray dog. Maybe a puppy. I’m a sucker for strays. Started petting him. Big mistake. He got way too friendly and decided to follow me. Then HE BIT ME! Okay, he didn't bite me hard, but he did give me a little nip on the ankle. Cue the panic. Cue the disinfectant and the paranoid Google search for rabies symptoms. Now I’m sitting here with my leg up, contemplating possible doom. (I'm probably fine, I'm just dramatic.)
- 7:00 PM: Evening meal at a small restaurant that I think (fingers crossed) also has good food. I'm starving. The dog incident has left me shaken and emotionally exhausted.
Day 3: Beach Day (and the existential angst of sand)
- 9:00 AM: Actually woke up before noon! Progress! Still, the dog incident is still making me jumpy.
- 10:00 AM: Took a bus to a nearby beach. The bus was packed, hot, and played the most aggressively upbeat reggaeton known to mankind. Pure sensory overload, but also kind of exhilarating.
- 11:00 AM- 3:00 PM: BEACH! The sand was hot, the water was warm, the sun was relentless. Spent hours simply existing. Floating in the ocean, watching the waves crash, trying to think about absolutely nothing at all. Beach meditation. It's not a bad feeling. Got a sunburn. Again.
- 3:00 PM: Snack time. Found a little beachfront shack selling fresh ceviche. Devoured it with reckless abandon. The tangy lime juice, the fresh seafood… pure bliss. The sun was really hitting me though!
- 4:00 PM: A walk down the beach. Thinking is the worst. I am a mess. Sand everywhere. In my hair, in my bag, in everything. The thought of brushing all this sand away is exhausting. And the waves crashing, they go on and on… endless. Is this all there is? Am I just a fleeting moment of sand on a shore? This philosophical crisis fueled by the sun and ceviche.
- 5:00 PM: Bus back to the hotel, sunburnt, sandy, and questioning my life choices.
- 7:00 PM: Quick dinner at the hotel. The Wi-Fi is again unreliable, which is a good thing. I need this break from the world.
Day 4: Departures (and the lingering smell of adventure)
- 8:00 AM: Packing. Hmmm. How many souvenirs can I realistically carry? I made the mistake of buying too many.
- 9:00 AM: Last breakfast. Said goodbye to that amazing coffee. Promised myself I’d find a way to replicate it.
- 10:00 AM: Checkout. José gave me a hug! Actual hug. So sweet. This place gets to you.
- 11:00 AM: Taxi to the airport. Same driver as before. Blasting that same Latin pop.
- 12:00 PM: Take-off. Looking back at the city. Everything about this place was so messy, vibrant, imperfect, and exactly what I needed.
So, what do I really think?
Sol Del Sur? Not luxurious. Not perfect. But it provided the perfect springboard into a messy, beautiful, and utterly unforgettable adventure. Ecuador, you've officially stolen a piece of my heart. And, I should probably get that dog bite checked out when I get home… just in case.
Escape to Paradise: Iberville Motel's St-Jean-sur-Richelieu Oasis Awaits!
Escape to Paradise: Sol Del Sur Hotel - Huaquillas, Ecuador - FAQs (Because, Let's Be Real, I Have Opinions!)
Okay, so… Is Huaquillas even *safe*? I saw a YouTube video once…
Alright, FINE. Everyone asks this. And yeah, it's Huaquillas. Which means… it's not exactly a tourist wonderland like the Galapagos. Look, I won't sugarcoat it. You need to be aware. Do your research. Ask the locals. The internet's full of… well, *stuff*. My experience? I went with a recommended driver, a guy named Carlos, and for the most part, felt safe. But I wouldn’t go wandering around at 2 AM flashing my Rolex, you know? Common sense is your best travel companion here. I heard a story though, from another guest at the hotel: apparently, a tourist a couple of months back thought he could outsmart the local currency exchange with a fake bill, and let's just say it didn't end well for him. Carlos wasn't thrilled with the incident and told me to keep my cash in my socks, and I did.
Is the Sol Del Sur Hotel actually *on* the beach? The pictures look… optimistic.
Okay, let's talk transparency, shall we? The brochure might say 'beachfront,' and technically, *it is*. But beachfront in the "you can see the sand from the window" kind of way, not the "step onto the beach and build a sandcastle" kind. The beach is… *close*. A short walk. Maybe five minutes. Think of it as "beach-adjacent." I had these romantic notions of waking up to the sound of crashing waves. Reality? I woke up to the sound of… well, a rooster. And then car traffic. And then a distant, muffled party. Okay, maybe the waves *eventually*… but getting there might take a bit. Also, be prepared for the beach itself. It's… wild. Natural. Stuff washes up. Embrace it. Or don't. My take? The beach was ok. The pictures? Over-hyped. Always.
What's the food like at the Sol Del Sur? Is it all… seafood?
Seafood, seafood, and… more seafood! Okay, not *always*. They do have some alternatives, but seriously, you're in Ecuador! You *should* be eating seafood. The ceviche was pretty good, honestly. And the grilled fish? Delicious. I, being the adventurous eater I am, went for the *encebollado* one morning. It's a fish stew, which isn't usually my jam, but... it needed some serious hot sauce to make it palatable! Don't get me wrong, the staff was friendly, but the food? A rollercoaster. Some great highs, one truly terrible low. (Avoid the chicken, it's like something you'd give to your dog). Order fish, embrace the potential tummy rumble, and pack some Pepto-Bismol, just in case. You know, safety first!
Are the rooms clean? Because I have… standards.
Clean? Yes. Immaculate? No. Let's just say they're… *lived in*. Think "rustic charm," but with a side of "maybe wipe that down yourself." The linens were fine, the towels… well, they were there. But I wouldn't go around picking them up from the floor... let's be honest. There's this story I've got from a fellow traveler. I think you should know: The first day in the hotel I met an older couple, and they had an issue with the shower that wouldn't let them turn the water off. After an hour of the front desk trying to help, they were moved to a different room. These things can happen. I'd recommend always inspecting your room and asking for replacement towels as needed. Bring some Lysol wipes, just in case. My overall feeling was it was clean enough.
What’s the vibe at the hotel? Is it a party place? Do they have karaoke? (Please say no.)
Thank GOD, NO KARAOKE. It's… laid-back. Very laid-back. Relaxing, I guess. Think families, couples, a few adventurous types. Not a raging party scene. Seriously. The most action you will see is when the staff is in a rush through the halls, and let me tell you, not a lot of people seem to be in a rush, but then somebody has to be late to work... It's all very chill. There might be occasional music drifting from the restaurant, but nothing too crazy. You can actually SLEEP. Which is a major win in my book. So, if you're after a quiet, non-frenzied experience, this is the place for you. If you're looking to rage? Probably not.
Is the staff friendly? I’ve heard mixed things…
The staff... well, they're a mixed bag, like the contents of my suitcase after a week of travel. Some are super friendly, genuinely helpful, go-out-of-their-way-to-assist types. Others... not so much. Let's just say there were a few communication hiccups. My Spanish is terrible, their English is… *nascent*. But mostly, they try. They *really* try. And that counts for a lot, right? Remember that guy, Carlos? He was all smiles and helpfulness. So maybe my opinion is skewed. The waiters in the restaurant? Generally pretty good. The front desk, at times, seemed overwhelmed. Patience is key here, people. And a phrasebook. And maybe a healthy dose of good humor. One memorable experience was when I tried to order a coffee on the first day. The waitress didn't understand me AT ALL, and I tried to explain myself with my hands, and she just ended up looking at me with this blank stare. Ultimately, the hotel staff's friendliness depends on the staff. It's like anywhere, really. There's good and bad, but it usually all works out in the end.
What’s there to *do* in Huaquillas, besides the beach? (And, uh, is there even anything to do?)
Okay, let's be honest. Huaquillas isn’t exactly brimming with attractions. It's a border town. It's… how do I say this nicely? It’s *interesting*. There is the border market, which is a sensory overload and a shopping spree. You can explore the town a little. You *can* take day trips to other locations in Ecuador, but be prepared for long rides. Honestly? I spent most of my time at the hotel. Reading. Swimming in the pool. The pool area was pretty good. I'm not going to lie. One time I spent a whole afternoon there, and felt incredible. The hotel offers some tours, but I didn't try any. My expectations were low,Cheap Hotel Search
