Guest User
January 29, 2024
We arrived straight from Cotopaxi wearing hiking boots and looking a mess. The staff at Samari still treated us amazing, taking our backpacks from us and welcoming us to the hotel. I thought the guy who helped us was going to fall over carrying all of our luggage, but he was adamant about us not carrying our bags. The lady at the desk was very nice. She spoke very quickly in Spanish but I was still able to understand most of what she was telling us. A few other Americans arrived the day after us that didn't seem like they spoke Spanish, so I am sure they have people working the front desk that speak very good English. Samari was very good about answering all of our questions on WhatsApp before we arrived as well as everytime we talked to the front desk. We were leaving via taxi around 5pm to go back to Quito because we did not think the busses from Banos to Lago Agrio were running overnight. However, checkout was at noon. The staff allowed us to have late checkout while we went to the spa, stored our bags for us *which was not locked up, but was out of view of guests*, and offered for us to use the pool, stay on the grounds, etc while we waited for our taxi to come. We took an Uber to Pailon del Diablo and a public bus back (50 cents a person) and got off right in front of Samari. Our room was very clean, although got very dark at night. The lighting is not amazing in the rooms, but in the morning, there is plenty of natural light and the room is very bright. It also looks like other guests can see into your room with the thin curtains, but upon walking around outside and looking in, you cannot see in. The spa was very relaxing with the exception of people jumping in the pool and yelling. Shampoo and soap provided in spa bathrooms as well as towels if you ask for them. The restaurant was on the pricier side, but the food was very good. The grounds and architecture are absolutely gorgeous, and the staff was amazing. Also had a very cute kitty that liked to be pet!