Review: Hilton Colón Guayaquil

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Hilton Colón Guayaquil: Location

The Hilton Colón Guayaquil is on a busy boulevard, four kilometres from Guayaquil's José Joaquín de Olmedo International Airport.

The hotel is a 10- to 15-minute drive from the popular Malecón 2000. A few small restaurants and cafés are tucked into the surrounding streets, among large parking lots and office towers.

Hilton Colón Guayaquil: Earning Hilton Honors points

Another way for Canadians to earn Hilton Honors points for hotel stays around the world is through the American Express Membership Rewards program.

You can transfer 1,000 Membership Rewards points into 1,000 Hilton Honors points. For example, you could transfer 30,000 Membership Rewards points from your American Express Cobalt^® Card into 30,000 Hilton Honors points.

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Hilton Colón Guayaquil: Airport shuttle

When making your reservation at the Hilton Colón Guayaquil, you can also arrange the airport shuttle. The hotel asks for your flight number and expected arrival time before confirming the complimentary shuttle.

A hotel employee waited at the hotel shuttle exit holding a sign with my name. The minibus could carry up to 15 passengers and reached the hotel in under 10 minutes.

I found that the driver went rather fast, sending my suitcase sliding from side to side. You soon get used to this style of driving in Ecuador.

Hilton Colón Guayaquil: Lobby

The lobby at the Hilton Colón Guayaquil was impressive. Its high ceilings, large windows, glass elevators, light fixtures, and bar left no doubt that this was a Hilton property.

Reception was somewhat hidden behind large columns to the right of the entrance, which could cause a crowd when several guests arrived at once. Staff greeted us from behind Plexiglas, wearing face coverings, but with enthusiasm and smiles in their eyes.

Only three elevators served the hotel, so there was sometimes a short wait to get back to the room.

The lobby was a good place to meet other guests. A lounge area near the entrance had several comfortable sofas and chairs. The bar also offered a wide range of cocktails and entertainment on some evenings.

Hilton Colón Guayaquil: Room

For my stay at the Hilton Colón Guayaquil, I booked a Deluxe room with two double beds. Rooms overlooked either the boulevard or the inner courtyard and pool. I would choose the latter, as the boulevard view was not particularly appealing.

The room had a large smart TV, a coffee maker, a small refrigerator, an alarm clock, and a full bathroom with a shower. Two bottles of water were also provided each day.

The beds were comfortable, with soft bedding for a good night's sleep. Two USB ports and an electrical outlet were on the nightstand between the beds. Laminate flooring and pale grey decor suggested that the room had recently been updated.

There was also a work area with a wall outlet, task lighting, and a notepad. An armchair stood near the windows overlooking the boulevard.

The bathroom had two sections: one with the sink and mirror, and another with the toilet and shower. There was no door separating them.

The main mirror was backlit, and a small adjustable magnifying mirror made applying makeup easier.

The rainfall shower had good water pressure, and the toiletries smelled pleasant without being overpowering.

Hilton Colón Guayaquil: Breakfast

Breakfast at the Hilton Colón Guayaquil was served as a US$35 buffet at Café Café. The spread was impressive, with a wide selection of pastries, cold cuts, cheeses, and fruit. À la carte options including coffee or tea were also available.

Hilton Colón Guayaquil: Other amenities

Hilton Colón Guayaquil: Restaurants

The Hilton Colón Guayaquil had two main restaurants. Café Colón opened at various times throughout the day with an à la carte menu. It served a breakfast buffet for US$32 per person and, from 4:30 p.m., afternoon tea with a buffet of small pastries.

In the early afternoon or evening, you could also visit Vereda Tropical, which served grilled meat and seafood. Its outdoor terrace overlooked the pool.

Sal & Pimienta offered a varied menu, with a counter where you could choose small dishes and snacks to take away or eat on site. It was right next to Café Colón.

In the Galeria beside the hotel, Kioto Sushi Bar welcomed new guests with a complimentary cocktail and a menu of sushi and Japanese dishes.

Hilton Colón Guayaquil: Inner courtyard

The main attraction at the Hilton Colón Guayaquil was its inner courtyard. Trees and palms surrounded a large pool with a swim-up bar. You could relax on cushioned loungers or settle into one of the lounge areas or cabanas around the pool.

Tables under a pergola offered another place to have a meal or a drink. It was a pleasant spot to spend a few hours. The pool water was warm by North American standards, around 85 to 90°F. A shallow section gave children a place to swim.

Hilton Colón Guayaquil: Fitness centre

The fitness centre at the Hilton Colón Guayaquil was on level S1. The windowless room had a wide range of cardio equipment, weights, and strength-training machines. Good air conditioning provided relief from the heat outside.

Hilton Colón Guayaquil: Spa

The spa was on level S1 of the Hilton Colón Guayaquil. All guests could access its hot tub, cold plunge pool, steam room, and dry sauna.

Unfortunately, the facilities were not in great condition. The hot tub did not have enough water for a comfortable soak, and the saunas were not very hot. Massage treatments lasting 30 to 60 minutes were available.

Pool towels were also available at the spa entrance.

The Hilton Colón Guayaquil also offered parking, Wi-Fi, a business lounge, room service, a bar, and access to several shops in the adjoining Galeria.

Hilton Colón Guayaquil: My overall impression

Although the Hilton Colón Guayaquil was not in the city's most popular neighbourhood, it was easy to find everything I needed without leaving the hotel.

My favourite feature was the pool, despite its very warm water, and the many loungers around it. Exploring the surrounding streets also turned up small cafés and convenience stores, useful when I did not want to pay hotel restaurant prices.

A taxi to the Malecón 2000 cost around US$7 and made it easy to explore the city's more tourist-oriented area.

Go further with Hilton Honors

To make the most of your stays and points earning, see our complete Hilton Honors program guide and our best Hilton Honors credit cards ranking. If a points purchase promotion is running, check our Hilton Honors points purchase guide.

When planning other stays in the Hilton Honors program, explore the Hilton Honors American Express^® Card and its welcome offer. Our guides to Hilton Honors status and using Hilton points will help you decide how to earn and use your rewards.

Our Hilton Honors Free Night Reward guide explains the terms, how to find standard rooms, and hotel examples where the reward can offer good value. Read it before planning a stay with a certificate.