Review: Hilton Colón Guayaquil | Hilton Honors

Mostly used by business customers, or customers going to the Galapagos Islands, the Hilton Colón Guayaquil hotel allows a well-deserved break near the airport in one of the largest cities in the country.

The Hilton Colón Guayaquil is located 4 kilometers from the José Joaquin de Olmedo International Airport in Guayaquil on a busy boulevard.

A 10-15 minute drive from the popular Malecon 2000, the property is surrounded by a few small restaurants and cafes tucked away in the surrounding streets, surrounded by large parking lots and office towers.

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When you make your reservation at the Hilton Colón Guayaquil, it is possible to book the airport shuttle at the same time. You will be asked for your flight number and estimated time of arrival before confirming the free shuttle.

A hotel attendant will be waiting for you at the hotel shuttle exit with your name on a card. The minibus can accommodate up to 15 passengers and arrives at the hotel in less than 10 minutes.

I found that the driver was going rather fast on the road, with my suitcase swinging left and right, but you quickly get used to this kind of driving in Ecuador.

The lobby of the Hilton Colón Guayaqui is grandiose. With its high ceilings, large windows, glass elevators, light fixtures and bar, there is no doubt that this is a Hilton property.

The reception area is somewhat hidden behind imposing columns to the right of the entrance, which can cause a crowd of guests during many arrivals. The staff welcomes us behind a Plexiglas, with a face cover, and does so with enthusiasm and a smile in their eyes.

Only three elevators are available for the entire hotel which sometimes causes a slight delay in getting back to your room.

The lobby is the perfect place to meet other guests. A lounge is located near the entrance with several comfortable sofas and chairs. The bar also offers a wide variety of cocktails and lively evenings a few nights a week to occupy your time after dark.

For my stay at the Hilton Colón Guayaquil, I booked a room with two Deluxe double beds. It is possible to get a room with a view on the boulevard or on the inner courtyard with swimming pool (prefer the latter, because the view of the boulevard leaves something to be desired!)

The room has a large smart TV, coffee maker, small refrigerator, alarm clock and full bathroom with shower. We also receive two bottles of water daily during the stay.

The beds are comfortable, the bedding is soft for a restful night’s sleep. Two USB outlets and an electrical outlet are located on the bedside table between the two beds. The floors are made of floating wood, the decoration of a nice light grey; the room has clearly been updated recently.

The room also has a desk area with wall outlet, accent lighting and a notepad. A chair is located near the windows overlooking the boulevard.

The bathroom is divided into two parts, one with the sink and mirror and the other with the toilet and shower, but without closing with a door.

The main mirror is backlit and a small removable magnifying mirror makes it easier to adjust your makeup.

The rain shower has a good water flow and the products offered smell good without giving off too strong a scent.

Breakfast at the Hilton Colón Guayaquil is served as a US$35 buffet in the Café Café restaurant. The buffet is impressive with a large selection of pastries, cold cuts, cheeses, fruits … Other a la carte options are available including coffee or tea.

The Hilton Colón Guayaquil has two restaurants. Café Colón is open at various times of the day with an a la carte menu. Breakfast is served here in the morning as a buffet at US$32 per person, and in the afternoon from 4:30 pm onwards, tea is served with a buffet full of petit fours.

In the early afternoon or evening, you can also go to the Vereda Tropical, whose menu includes meats and seafood from the grill. The outdoor terrace overlooks the pool.

Sal & Pimienta is a restaurant with a varied menu and a counter-bar to choose small dishes and snacks to take away or enjoy on the spot. It is located right next to Café Colón.

In the Galeria, adjacent to the hotel, the Kioto Sushi Bar restaurant welcomes new guests with a complimentary cocktail and a menu of sushi and Japanese dishes.

The main attraction of the Hilton Colón Guayaquil is its inner courtyard. A large swimming pool with pool bar is surrounded by trees and palm trees. You can lounge on the many comfortable lounge chairs with their cushions, or sit in one of the lounges or cabanas around the pool.

There are also tables where you can enjoy a meal or a drink under a pergola. It’s a really nice place to stay for a few hours. A word of warning: the water in the pool is not very refreshing by North American standards, between 85 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit! A shallow section allows children to swim safely.

The Hilton Colón Guayaquil gym is located on level s1. Without a window, there is a wide variety of cardio equipment, weights and strength machines. The room is well air-conditioned, avoiding the intense heat outside.

The spa is located on level s1 of the Hilton Colón Guayaquil. There is a hot tub, a cold tub, a steam sauna and a dry sauna available to all guests.

The facilities are unfortunately not in excellent condition. The hot tub doesn’t have enough water to make it worthwhile to relax in and the saunas weren’t very hot. 30 to 60 minute massage therapy services are offered on site.

You can also pick up towels for the pool at the spa entrance.

Hilton Colon Guayaquil also offers parking, wifi, business lounge, room service, bar, and access to several stores in the adjacent Galeria.

Although the Hilton Colón Guayaquil is not located in the most popular part of the city, it is still easy to find everything you need without even leaving the hotel.

My favorite part is without a doubt the swimming pool, even if it is very hot, and the numerous deckchairs where you can lounge. By exploring the surrounding streets, we manage to find some small cafes and convenience stores, which is really great if you don’t feel like paying full price for meals at the hotel.

A cab to the Malecon 2000 costs about US$7 and allows you to discover the more “touristy” side of the city in a reasonable time.