Unfortunately we had to cancel our booking. Wil was very helpful and thorough in the entire process. We received our refund promptly. We will definitely book here when we return to Quito.
Overall the apartment was well furnished and tastefully decorated. All the appliances were of high quality and everything worked. The Wifi was trouble-free and had good speed. I stayed there for a month and only had one period of about 3 hours when the provider interrupted service. The owner is very helpful and responds within a reasonable timeframe. It is not a very quiet environment, though. It is located on a busy street and the neighbors like to play their stereo loud enough that the bass-heavy notes penetrate into the living room, and sometimes they do that early in the morning, around 8 to 8:30. The street noise subsides during the night and did not interfere with my sleep. I mentioned the neighbor's music to the owner and he contacted the building manager but they still kept doing it periodically. The neighborhood is safe and there are grocery stores and wine shops within easy walking distance.
My husband and I recently had a wonderful stay at this vacation rental. We were relocating to Quito and needed somewhere to stay for the first week while we found an apartment. We loved the Carolina Park neighborhood so much that we ended up renting a long term apartment only a block away!
Wil was wonderful over the phone, assisting us to get into the place quickly. Soraya, his in-country assistant, met us at the apartment and explained everything to us about the rental. The apartment is new, the furniture is in mint-condition, and you have EVERYTHING you need for a comfortable stay. The beds, couch, and linens are top quality. We particularly enjoyed having a phone available to call to the US for free, so we were able to stay in touch with family and follow up on business matters.
In addition, I felt that the building was really accessible to those with disabilities. This is something I look for when I travel, as my mom needs wheelchair accommodation. When she comes to Quito, I will recommend she stays in the Pablo Picasso apartment.
In addition, the neighborhood is safe, has lots of restaurants and 3 malls within walking distance, and is across the street from the best park in the city. There is always something going on nearby and downtown is a short bus or taxi ride away. Now that I know Quito a bit more (one month in the city) I would recommend staying in the Carolina area as it is very safe. You can enjoy downtown in the daytime, but go back to your quiet neighborhood at night.
Thanks, Wil and Soraya!
I felt insulted from my first interaction with the owner. For example, he required me to buy insurance in addition to the required security deposit - the insurance was more than the cost of a nightâs rental. When I called from the airport on check-in day to get entry instructions, Wil accused me of not having paid. I had to provide proof of payment with a screenshot of the receipt. When we arrived at the apartment, we were met by a friendly caretaker but had to spend the next half hour going through an exhaustive inventory list which included the numbers of each kind of dishes, fake plants, light fixtures, pictures on the wall and on and on ad nauseam. There was no dish soap and only 1/3 roll of toilet paper in one bathroom and none in the other! No coffee filters either; not to mention no welcoming starter package of coffee. Nothing about this has been welcoming. I rented through VRBO as an owner for 12 years and this is Not Okay!
The apartment was neat and clean, conveniently located, with good security. The caretaker is friendly and helpful, but guests should know that she doesnât speak English, although the owner, Wil, is fluent in both Spanish and English and was available by phone.
My husband and I spent 11 days at this very modern and secure rental. From my first inquiry, the owner was extremely responsive and helpful. The bed in the master was very comfortable. Upon arrival there were roses on the bed and a dozen in a vase--a lovely, welcoming touch. They had also pre-stocked us with bottled water, a bowl full of fresh fruit, coffee, tea and milk--which was very helpful until we could get to the market. The Internet connection was speedy and the free U.S. phone access and washer/dryer were definite positives. The security guards were friendly, helpful and especially patient with my poor Spanish. One called a taxi for our 4am trip back to the airport so I didn't have to struggle on the phone trying to make my request. Virtually everyone we encountered was very patient and pleasant as we did our best with limited Spanish skills.
We only had one suggestion to improve this virtually perfect rental--to provide more than one key to the apt. As the front door is very secure, a key must be used to open it from both the inside and outside. If one party is out and another party remains in the apt, the remaining party cannot get out of the apt unless the door is left unlocked--which you wouldn't want to do.
The apt. is located in an upscale area of the city, across the street from Carolina Park. As in any big city, you need to have your guard up and your "radar" on. With that said, we walked to and from dinner at various nearby restaurants every night without incident.
Just a few things we wish we knew before arriving in Ecuador: bring sunscreen from home--you'll need it and it's ridiculously expensive there; bring any medication you think you might need from home, i.e. headache remedy, OTC allergy meds, cough medicine, Imodium, etc. as you cannot just go into a pharmacy and buy a bottle of Advil--they do sell OTC meds but the process is a hassle, especially if your Spanish is not great; big bills (anything over a $20) are just not accepted--you will need a good supply of 1s, 5s and 10s; if you're venturing away from the apt or any upscale restaurants, bring a small roll of TP in your purse/backpack--public toilets are an adventure.
This was a great, clean, modern, well-located and affordable rental in a beautiful country. We would definitely stay here again.
My wife, 2 and 1 yr old and myself stayed here for 10 days on a last minute trip and we were very pleased. It has everything you could possibly need to make your stay comfortable.
Wil is very easy to communicate with and quick to respond. Very accommodating as well. We literally booked this rental last minute. The night before our flight I was ironing out the details and getting all the paperwork and payment in order. Wil was great at getting everything over to us to make sure we were well received upon our arrival. I was impressed and thankful. Couldn't have gone any smoother. During our stay he was in communication with us making sure everything was in order and to our liking.
The apartment is very safe. Centrally located to everything. It includes a parking space, but didn't need it as we took a cab everywhere. It's so inexpensive and convenient that it just was not worth renting a vehicle. We used easy taxi app on our phone and since the apt is centrally located we had a taxi waiting for us as soon as we walked downstairs. Many restaurant options nearby. Some within walking distance. Supermarket, banks, and malls close by too. Long walk or short cab ride.
Noise was not an issue except one night when the neighbors decided to turn up the stereo at 2a.m., but a simple call to the guard downstairs and they came up and had them turn it down. The guards are very friendly. Everyone in the building we ran into while coming or leaving was very friendly and greeted us.
You have access to the roof top terrace which has spectacular views of the city. There is a rock climbing wall for kids on the first floor. The kitchen is equipped with everything for your stay. Great if you want to stay in and cook. Washer and dryer is also included which was a must for us with kids. Worked well. The dryer has an issue which Wil told us about. Sometimes it takes a bit longer to dry, but worked well for us. Two bathrooms are great. Lots of water pressure and great hot water too. I would recommend taking your own towels as the ones at the apt smelled like hard water. We had to wash them as we didn't take any, but the smell was not completely eliminated. The bed sheets smelled a bit musty also and we washed them and smelled fine afterwards. Beds are great size. All 4 of us fit on one bed. Great internet service with free VOIP phone to call the states free.
Overall, very satisfied with our stay and experience. Will stay again in the future.
We stayed here for over a week while visiting our daughter who was studying in Quito.
The apartment was excellent and the location was the best part. Accessibility to shopping, and the Park, and other speciality shops was wonderful and all within walking distance of the condominium.
We only have two comments: the mattress on the bed was too hard and having the TV in one bedroom is not convenient for other guests in the apartment, it really needs to be in the living room.
The apartment was home for us!
My husband and I and another couple spent 10 days in February in this lovely apartment. When we arrived we were greeted by the owner's representative who had set the table and provided roses and a bottle of wine. She showed us around the apartment and the building. While she did not speak English and my Spanish is limited, we communicated just fine!
We found the apartment to be well located for taking the bus to our Spanish school (Equinox, highly recommended), as well as for walking to grocery stores, restaurants, shopping malls and the lovely Parque La Carolina. The apartment kitchen was well stocked with dishes, pots and pans, etc. Being on the 12th floor minimized any traffic noise.
I agree with other reviewers that the owner is highly organized and very prompt, professional and easy to communicate with, and that the inventory is amazingly detailed. I also agree with the suggestion to have a TV in the living area, but this is very minor. We truly loved our stay and would highly recommend this apartment.
Four of us stayed in this apartment for 12 days and we found it to be highly appropriate for our needs. We found the apartment to be clean, comfortable, convenient and safe. The location is really handy and it was great to be across the road from Parque La Carolina. The kitchen was well-equipped; bedrooms were comfortable and bathrooms were great too. The rooftop terrace has amazing views and it was wonderful to have access to it. One minor suggestion for improvement: the inventory at the start was perhaps a little intimidating and too comprehensive! The owner was prompt, professional and approachable in his communications. This was a great apartment and we would definitely return and recommend it to others.
This accommodation exceeded our expectations. We rented the apartment for 10 days. It was perfect for two couples with separate bathrooms, plenty of towels, great showers, ample closet space and fantastic laundry facilities. Plenty of taxis were available. It is not far from the main bus routes to get downtown. Grocery markets were a 15 - 20 min. walk away. The roof-top terrace was stunning with magnificent views all around. We felt very comfortable and safe staying here.
Because the owner specifically asked for suggestions for improvement, here are some recommends. Have some oil and vinegar available to make a quick salad dressing. We donated some. The large TV (which came with Netflix, Wifi and movie capability) is located in the master bedroom. For us, as two couples, relocating it to the living room would be great. We were careful to remove our outdoor footwear at the front door as requested. Perhaps a mat here and the ottoman located here, to sit on, would be helpful. Corner protectors would help keep the wall corners pristine. The 2nd bedroom could benefit from adding a narrow night table with a small lamp.
On our arrival, having to check through and sign off on the extremely, extensive inventory checklist ( which went so far as to list pencils, paper clips and lightbulbs) was odious.
The extra insurance requirement/deposit seems excessive and was impossible for us to procure being as it is only available to US citizens. We have not encountered this problem in other apartment rentals in Europe and elsewhere.
Our suggestions are minor in detail. Overall we loved this place and would not hesitate to return ourselves or recommend it to others.
My wife and I stayed for 21 days from Feb 7 through Feb 28, 2015. We are in our late 60's. While there I walked three blocks to a Spanish school each day. I've been trying to think of something useful to say that hasn't already been said by other reviewers - but it has mostly been said. I'd recommend this apartment to my closest friends or family members. If I were to return I wouldn't even look for another location to stay. I'd try to reserve this unit again. All of the good things that have been mentioned before are absolutely accurate. The building is very new and very secure. The guards are friendly and recognize you as you come and go. The Picasso is located in a newer modern safe part of the city. Taxis are incredibly plentiful and inexpensive. You can take the bus for 25 cents but they can be very crowded. However, for $2 or $3 you can go most places in comfort in one of the taxis that seem to come along about every fifteen seconds. I couldn't believe how completely equipped the kitchen was. The rental price seems exactly right. My wife and I both felt fortunate that we'd selected this property and dealing with the owner was a pleasure.
Great "home away from home". Central location across from Carolina Park with many restaurants in the area to choose from. Very secure building with 24 hour security at front desk. Would consider staying here again.
My wife and I rented this apartment while visiting our daughter who is studying in Ecuador. Our first impression was "This apartment is fantastic!" and it just got better from there. The full kitchen, dining area and spacious living room gave us plenty of room for our daughter to invite 5 of her friends over for dinner. After a long day of hiking and exploring Quito we really appreciated the comfortable beds and updated bathrooms. The rooftop views were spectacular and is where I took one of my favorite pictures from our trip. This apartment is in a great location with the park across the street and plenty of restaurants and shops within walking distance. I would definitely stay here again on our next trip.
Location Location, Location! Very comfortable apartment in a high security, new building in the newer La Carolina section of Quito. Fronts on large city park. Comfortably furnished with all we needed for a three month stay. Building is Located in level ground with great access to shopping and all necessary services. Easy walk to Quito's largest mall. Great restaurants within a few blocks. Public transportation at the front door. Very responsive owner and local manager.
Lovely apartment! Really enjoyed our stay especially since there was a portable heater and Quito tends to be chilly in the evenings. Our apartment contact in Quito, Saroya, was very available for every need we had. I would recommend this apartment for a lovely stay in Quito.
This is a beautifully furnished apartment in a safe area of Quito. There was 24 hour security. The owner Wil, was very attentive and helpful in making sure our needs were cared for and the apartment was satisfactory. When we arrived there was a vase of beautiful roses, rose petals on the bed spreads and a bottle of wine on the table. I enthusiastically recommend this property to anyone spending time or taking a vacation in Quito. We had a wonderful trip.
We missed our stay this year but hopefully we will come back
My wife and I signed up to stay in this beautiful condo this year but then our sons and family decided that they would come to visit us to enjoy the city together. This forced us to cancel our reservation and look for larger accommodations. The owner understood that his condo would not fit our needs and gracefully refunded our payment. We hope to come back to Quito in the future and stay in this condo since we found the owner to be very helpful and understanding person.
Perfect location, spacious and conviniently equiped
Great apartment ideal for business guests at the right rate. Conveniently located by La Carolina park to exercise in the morning before busy days. Very well equiped, clean and spacious and paying special attention to all those little details that everyone misses when staying at a hotel room