August Visit

Post new topic

Member since 19 December 2011

toolsolutionsMember04 June 2012 18:35:50

Hi

We have been considering Ecuador as a retirement destination. We have been diligently reading the posts, Blogs( thanks Dano, yours are the best IMHO), and media print for over 2 years.

My significant (very significant, according to her) other, Beth, and I are coming to Ecuador for the first 2 weeks of August.

We are starting in Quito for a International Living Symposium first week of August ( I know, probably a mistake, but decided to start there)

We have rented a car and are planning to tour the country for about 10 days ( I have driven in China, Korea, India, Algeria, Egypt, Tunisia, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, Yemen, Chad, Libya, Israel, United Arab Emirates, Syria , Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, and the most dangerous Florida) So, any advise on whether conditions for driving in Equator are more harsh than the above truncated list would be appreciated. LOL (Oh, and I have a brand new Flash Drive of South American roads on my GPS) And best of all, Beth speaks Spanish, so when, not if, I get lost, she can get directions.

Although Cuenca is our primary destination, we have read about other possibilities in Equator that we would like to explore (and, any additional suggestions are appreciated).

I just finished reading Danos blog on Cuenca expat social life, so we may show up at the watering holes mentioned in his latest edition. Of course, as before, any additional suggestions are welcomed (and I guess asked for, seeing I am writing this post)

I searched for hotels in Cuenca, and have found several that look good. Again any suggestions are appreciated.

Well, there is my introduction. Thanks in advance for any advice or information

John and Beth

vinny66 Serial expat

Member since 14 September 2011

vinny66Serial expat04 June 2012 19:57:51

479

Hello,

I think you have all set and ready for your trip to Ecuador, you drove in difficult places before, you have GPS ( but they don't work good out of the main cities) and you know Spanish.

About Cuenca, I didn't read Dano's blog but the meeting places here are Di Bacco restaurant on Tuesdays and Thursdays and Zoe bar on Fridays.

About hotels it depends how tight is your budget. There's some really nice hotels here but they're expensive. I can recomend Santa Lucia, Morenica del Rosario, Crespo, Mansión Alcazar.

Good luck with your trip and once you're here maybe we can meet.

Vinny

eddstaton Contributor

Member since 16 March 2010

eddstatonContributor05 June 2012 02:11:32

148

Overall the roads are surprisingly excellent. We're speaking at the IL conference so I'm sure we'll meet you there. Hotel Victoria is another good choice in Cuenca. See you soon--safe travels!

Articles to help you in your expat project in Cuenca

Accommodation in Cuenca
The rose-colored lenses through which potential expats have been made to view Cuenca often blur how the real ...
Accommodation on the coast of Ecuador
Visiting Ecuador's coast offers a whole host of exciting adventures, from whale watching to parasailing to just ...
Accommodation in Ecuador
A few blatantly commercial websites will tell you that you can waltz out of the airport on arrival in Ecuador and ...
Work in Cuenca
There is no doubt that the Spanish colonial city of Cuenca is a wonderful place to call home, as demonstrated by ...
The Cajas National Park
Las Cajas parque nacional is located about a half hours drive (or hour bus ride) to the west of Cuenca, along the ...
How to Access Your Money in Ecuador
I've noticed that there's a lot of information on the Internet about how Americans access funds from ...
Healthcare in Ecuador
Ecuador, as a fast-developing nation, has laws that are constantly evolving, but one thing is certain: the ongoing ...
The Working Holiday Visa for Ecuador
Ecuador is truly a paradise for adventure and nature lovers, and thanks to the Working Holiday Visa program, they ...