| The best hotel recommendation for a city you are | | | | Our luck at Cusin began when we were assigned |
| about to visit always comes from a person who was | | | | room 25, a beautifully appointed rustic, |
| born there. So when Ecuador came up on my | | | | terracotta-tiled cottage with a wood-beamed ceiling |
| itinerary, my New York City workmate, Silvia was | | | | and a bathtub for piping-hot water. A roof-top patio |
| the only source I was going to listen to. | | | | overlooked private perennial gardens and 15,000' |
| "You have got to stay at Hacienda Cusin," she said | | | | Imbabura mountains. Close to the Equatorial Line and |
| lovingly. Silva was born in Quito and her family still | | | | at 8,500', the nights are cool. But every night upon |
| lives there. Her sighs while describing the hotel were | | | | returning to the romantic room, we found a roaring |
| enough for me so I immediately made a reservation | | | | log-fire. |
| via Cusin's website. After experiencing Hacienda | | | | Hacienda Cusin exudes typical Andean service you |
| Cusin, my travel mate and I changed our one-night | | | | find throughout Ecuador. |
| reservation to three nights. | | | | The staff, whom all speak English, are friendly and |
| Hacienda Cusin is an exquisitely restored 17th century | | | | customer oriented. Their specialty seems to be |
| Andean estate high in the mountains at the foot of | | | | providing no-hassle help - be it additional food |
| the Cotacachi volcano about 50 miles north of Quito. | | | | portions, help in ordering wine, or a ball to use on the |
| Less than 10 miles from the Andean shopping mecca | | | | excellent squash, basketball or volleyball courts. Wi-Fi |
| of Otavalo and less than 30 minutes from the | | | | compliments an internet café and tea is |
| Equatorial Line it is a pristine spot for great food, | | | | served all day in the library. |
| hiking and quiet reflection. | | | | But Hacienda Cusin is not all about the hacienda. The |
| Owner Nick Millhouse is British and fell in love with | | | | surrounding mountains offer great horseback riding, |
| Ecuador during a visit more than 30 years ago. He | | | | hiking and birdwatching (more than 50 species of |
| bought Cusin in 1990 and immediately began | | | | birds live on the grounds). One hike we took |
| conserving and restoring its salas, salones, | | | | stretched several miles to the foot of a valley with a |
| guestrooms and landscape. | | | | grand waterfall to greet us. Minina, Cusin's friendly |
| Many rooms are furnished with antiques. To separate | | | | dog, walked along and guided us through the easy |
| conference dynamics from the tranquility of | | | | trail. |
| house-guests an original looking monastery with | | | | A less expensive sister hotel, Las Palmeras Inn, is |
| excellent conference facilities was built nearby. His | | | | close to Otavalo, and an excellent place for lunch. |
| focus is on service, comfort and ambience. | | | | |