Baños, Ecuador
Some of the many figurines in the house. These are from our bedside table.
We stumbled across this apartment when we were trying to help our friends, Miin and Neil, to find an apartment here in Baños.
The guy quoted us $25 per person per week to this 3 br apartment right in the center of the city.
(You should’ve seen the face of the wife when she found out – she knew she could’ve charged us more.)
It comes with cable TV, free WiFi, a rooftop terrace, and hot water. And we even have hot water in the kitchen – the first we’ve ever had in South America.
For the other couple, the fully stocked kitchen was key.
For Jack, it’s the included wifi.
For me, the highlight of the apartment was the ample supply of full-sized, fluffy towels. I’m so sick of using the perpetually damp hand towel I brought with me.
Fluffy towels – add that to our little joys of travel.
If that is not awesome enough – you really have to check out these pictures below. This apartment is the definition of kitsch.
So kitsch your grandmother would want to stay here.
Our bed has this canopy thingy who doesn’t really anything.
This is our living room. I love the different paint pattern on the walls.
Our living room in Baños, Ecuador
Living room
UPDATE: A commenter chastised me for not pointing out the fact that those the kitchen island’s ‘roof’ is decorated with empty cereal and cracker boxes, faded from age and sunlight.
I guess I see it everyday I don’t think twice about unusual it is anymore.
Our roommate in the kitchen
Our green bathroom that always smells of vanilla.
Our mint-themed bathroom
There are actually quite a few of those bowls around the house.
I think this collection of pictures captures what this apartment all about: a dash of the 60’s + religious theme + happy children and puppies.
On our bedroom wall
Why we haven’t left just yet
We were originally going to stay here for only one week – and yet here we are, 3 weeks later. We’ve found our (temporary) home away from home. It will be hard to leave this place.
Especially since I’ve become so attached to my fluffy towels.
Hey Jill
I realise this is 5 years on so may not have details, place may not be for rent. WHo knows but could you send on details if you still have it. In general how di you go about looking for a plac in Banos_
Thanks
Rob
Hi Robert, we were staying at place we were volunteering and came across an a notice on the front door. So it was just luck! Nowadays, I’d probably go to Airbnb to find a long term place to stay there. How time has changed 🙂
Hi Jill,
I am a young lady traveling down south to that area in about 2 weeks, I would love how to get in contact with this place. Thanks so much!
[…] and provide many more amenities. You’ll get all the comforts of home without spending a fortune (here’s an example of happy travelers in rental apartments). If I ever rent a fully furnished apartment while trekking South America, I’d probably be […]
Hi Jill! I, too, want to know what all inquiring minds want to know: where is this place and how do i get there? 🙂
can you please send me the info to this place too? i hope to get to south america if my budget allows after mexico and central america. this apt would work with what's left of my budget…
thanks!!!!
Just sent you an email with info!
I'm not sure if my last comment went through…my husband and I are in Los Banos now and are looking for a place to stay for three weeks while we study Spanish. Is there any way you could email me the information for this place? Thanks so much!
Could you sent the info to us as well? My partner and I are in Banos now and are looking for a place for the same reasons! Gracias!
We are staying in Los Banos right now and will be here for three weeks. We are looking for a cheap place to stay and this looks awesome. Do you by chance have the contact information for this apartment?
What a steal ! Given the choice, I would never move out of this place.
What an amazing place that apartment is! Not sure about the different colours, but sure would love the fluffy towels 🙂
At least you have it for such a great price! How long did you end up staying for?
Cheers
Lisa
Jill! I want to spend some time for studying in Banos. This seems a perfect place! Could you give me the name and adress of the place? Thanks in advance!
Cheers, Bob
bob.lanen@gmail.com
Such lovely candy colors in your apartment! Really cool
Wow $25/wk with fully furnish apartment + wifi, I'd KILL for that!
Smart of you to find an alternative – looks cozy and it's gotta be a nice change for you.
Great article and some very nice pictures. BTW you got an awesome deal. Just $25 a week! There would absolutely be no excuse to not be able to pay rent in time.
How do you go about finding a place like this?
Wow – this beats the snot out of our Austrian apartment, which cost us 43EUR per night!! That does it…we gotta get our butts to South America!! 🙂
Not a bad deal at all. For that price, leave the hostels behind…
Sun-bleached cracker boxes as decor for only $7?! I imagine it kind of like living in a strange roadside amusement park exhibition or something. You know, without the day-old cotton candy and never-ending line-ups.
You, my friends, are getting a seriously sweet deal.
I'm all kinds of jealous of your new pad! Can't wait to hear more!
OMG, the empty boxes as decoration… I have never seen anything like that! What a steal at $25 a week, and you're splitting the cost with another couple? I might just stay there forever.
What a cute place! I can imagine how nice it must be to find a home away from home and take a break from the backpacker life. Everyone needs that every once in a while. And the price doesn't hurt!
You look so happy with your towels!
That's a pretty big apartment. Love the kitchen decoration.
Um…how do you *not* comment about the "cardboard box chic" thing going on above the kitchen sink? I'm confused…is that decorative or just a pre-recycling holding spot?
On another note–I've never seen someone so happy to have towels!
Lol – I guess I've seen it everyday I don't think much about it anymore. But you're right – I should say something about it. And no, it's for decoration.
Wow, that is an excellent price! It looks clean and comfortable even with the crazy decor.
fluffy towels. you know, you really do take the little things for granted until you realize you just want to dry yourself with something soft and dry hahaha. the house looks awesome. way to get a great deal, and for three weeks at that!
Soft, dry and LARGE. I'm so sick of my little hand towel 🙂
This has to be one of the best travel deals I've ever seen! I will be leaving for a long RTW trip next year and will definitely be looking into apartment rentals. Would you mind sharing some of your strategies for finding a place?
Everyone keeps making fun of us because we keep saying we'll leave at the end of the week… we've been saying that for the past 3 weeks.
Paris! How wonderful… I have no doubt that it'll be worth it though. Can't wait to hear about your Paris experience.
Yeah we used to have those traveling towels as well. Unfortunately we lost it somewhere. But like you said, nothing beats the feeling of being wrapped up in fluffy goodness.
Hi Jill,
What's the name and location of this apartment?
I am sponsoring a boy in Ecuador and would love to stay there when I go.
THANKS!
Lol, maybe a little bit of both? It's a collection of empty cereal and cracker boxes, faded from age and sun. It's awesome!
Hi Jill!!
What's the place called and the address? You can email me directly. I am sponsoring a kid in Ecuador and would love to stay there when I visit one day!!
Let me know!
I'll email you the info.
Glad you enjoyed. The apartment still cracks us up too.
That place looks like home away from home. Sweet deal!
Awesome! What a deal 🙂 If I could speak spanish I'd be all over that.
The owners lived in the states for 40 years – the guy speaks perfect English 🙂
I LOVE this! I can see how something so silly & cozy would be appealing after hostel-ing it up. What a great place. Thanks for the pictures. Made me smile. 🙂
Good GRIEF! What a STEAL!!! Shoot, if it were me – I might never leave!
The decor in this place is hysterical! And might I ask what's on the ceiling in the kitchen? Is that where all the recycling goes? Or is it a modern art piece?
WOW! What a steal! I'm struggling to find a place in Paris that's decent for under 800 euro. Le Sigh. It's such a cute place though, definitely looks like a place I'd stay for a long time!
I love fluffy towels too! Jerry and I are traveling with microfiber travel towels and they're actually working wonders for us. You don't get that nice feeling of being wrapped up in fluffy goodness, but they get the job done — pack small, soak up water really well and dry quickly.
Are you KIDDING me? That place if just $25 a week? Heck, I'd never leave! So fun!