Outstanding service in an elegant colonial house in the centre of Cuenca.

First Impressions:
Mansion Alcazar is a lovely hotel, hidden behind impressively carved wooden doors on a pretty street with Moorish balconies, latticed windows and overhanging eaves. Guests ring the doorbell, and are invited in. The lofty central courtyard of this old colonial house has a fountain and a huge chandelier. There was a sudden downpour while we were there, and water dripped through the glass roof on to the tiled floor, but minions immediately appeared with mops and buckets.

Beyond the courtyard is a tranquil garden with grass, palm trees and more fountains. Upstairs, the drawing room stretches right across the front of the house, with bevelled glass in the windows, comfortable sofas and books.

Rooms:
The recently decorated bedrooms lead off the courtyard on the ground floor and upstairs. Furnishings are sturdy and sumptuous, and extremely comfortable. The weather was chilly and wet during our visit, and in our room we found hot water bottles and glasses of warming liqueur.

There seem to be few rooms with double beds - most are twin - and some bedrooms looked quite dark, particularly those on the ground floor.

Reasons to Come:
1. The service - warm flannels and cool fruit juice on arrival, hot water bottles and grappa at bedtime, umbrellas at the door, attendants hovering eagerly. Everything one could want.
2. Perfect location - near the main square in the old colonial centre of Cuenca.
3. Convenient base for visiting Cajas National Park, craft markets in local villages, and museums and churches of Cuenca.
4. Panama hats are made in Cuenca, not in Panama - buy one straight from a workshop.

Mansion Alcazar
Calle Bolivar 1255 y Tarqui
Cuenca
Ecuador

Telephone: 00593 7823 918
Fax: 00593 7823 554

Website: www.mansionalcazar.com
Email: Info@mansionalcazar.com

First published by Travel Intelligence Ltd
©SarahShuckburgh