We do need to have a few rules, but if you let us know what you need, we will try to accommodate. It should be obvious which of the following are rules and which are informational and suggestions. However, if you're not sure, it is a rule:

1. Check-in / Check-out times: Check-in time is 1:00 P.M., Check-out time is 10:00 A.M.

2. Reservations. You have a confirmed reservation when you have paid a non-refundable deposit of the greater of one night's stay or 50% of your total reservation. Full payment is due on check-in. Cancellations for any reason forfeit all payments made.

3. Bag storage (when you are not a guest). $1.00 per bag, per night. Please do not leave perishables or valuables in your bags.

4. Additional Guests. We appreciate your recommendations for other Jehovah's Witnesses to use our services. However, additional guests or visitors, without reservations, in our home are prohibited (just like any hotel). Our ability to accept additional guests depends on various factors, including occupancy and confirmed reservations.

5. The doors are always locked. We keep the doors locked on our home 24 x 7. For your sake and ours, do not defeat or disable any security measure of our home. We recommend that you be "in the house" by 10:00 P.M. If you are lost, or out late, it is not the time to try and save money on taxi service. Don't open the door for strangers. Use the security cameras to see what is happening outside.

6. We are not responsible for any lost items, under any circumstances.

7. You break it, you bought it. Due to government taxes and import duties, a lot of things are more expensive in Ecuador. You will have some sticker shock when you visit the malls.

8. No pets in the house. We don't have any either, in case you are wondering. There is an plethora of dogs in Ecuador, so if you need to see one, they are right outside. There is even a good chance you will see some milk cows walking by.

9. Respect other guests and the owners. Please no loud music or loud television after 10:00 P.M. (bring your own headphones, if you are a night owl). If others can hear it, it is too loud. We do have a party from time to time, and we will coordinate this with our guests. Ecuadorians like to dance and have a good time. Just not every night.

10. Coffee and Breakfast. Brewed hot Coffee is normally set to auto-brew at 6:00 A.M., and Breakfast is about 7:00 A.M. We try to leave for the ministry by 8:00 A.M. Breakfast is often fresh fruit, eggs, toast, Pancakes, Waffles, Oats, or French Toast. If you want to fix something different, we will work around you.

11. Use of the Kitchen, Laundry, or anything else in the house. Make your bed, clean up after yourself, you are your maid. Fresh towels and sheets are readily available. If you put something in the refrigerator or pantry, put your name on it. Same goes for Laundry detergents, and anything else in the bathroom. Please don't overload the washer or dryer.  Only use plastic cooking utensils (plenty are provided) to avoid scratching our "non-stick" pots and pans.

12. Electric radiant heaters are in each bedroom. We want you to be comfortable while you stay with us. Many people don't like the Sierra because it is cold at night, and most homes and hotels do not provide any heat. We ask that you please turn off the electric heater when you leave your bedroom for the day. Afternoon temperatures are nearly a perfect 70 degrees (F). The heaters have a thermostat and 3 power level settings. Please keep the power level on the lowest setting (600 W). Mid-point (straight up) on the thermostat is about 70 degrees (F).

13. Bed linens. Sunday is laundry day for all bed linens. We will always have fresh linens available.

14. Maid Service. Local sisters are often available for half or full days for cleaning, laundry, ironing, cooking, shopping and other tasks. About $15 to $25, plus travel.

15. Quito Airport pick-up / drop-off. Standard Yellow Taxi service is available, and the cost starts at about $50.00 per taxi. In addition, "Executive Taxi" service is available from our family or congregation members starting at $25.00 per person (and 2 bags), one local brother with a 4 door pickup truck is often available to handle several passengers plus luggage. We need to know your exact flight information, number of passengers and names, number of bags and size, and arrival / departure times. Depending on the size of your group and number of bags, we may need larger or additional vehicles. For international arrivals, we estimate one hour in the Quito airport to pass through customs and baggage claim and inspections. For international departures, the airport recommends two or three hours for check in, customs, and boarding. Without any traffic delays the trip to the airport is about 30 minutes from our home. However, Quito is a big city with rush-hours, accidents, and other delays. Give yourself plenty of time (45 minutes to an hour). Save yourself a lot of stress and possible extra fees by obeying the airline baggage rules, and the Ecuadorian rules on allowed items in your baggage. Metal baggage carts rent for about $2.00 inside the Quito Airport at the baggage carousels, and are highly recommended to move multiple pieces of luggage through security and out to the passenger pickup area.

16. Personal Safety. All international travelers anywhere in the world, are special targets for robbery or other crimes. Stay awake, stay alert. Avoid traveling alone. You can normally trust the police, but don't expect that other people will protect you from being robbed (they will just watch, but will only help you afterward). Make color electronic copies of your passport and other important documents. Carry only the copies of documents on a daily basis. Divide and carry your money in different pockets. Use a small change purse for most purchases. Don't pull your wallet out on the street. Don't show anything of value (if you really don't need it on the trip, leave it at home). Step inside a store to use your phone. Don't carry anything in your outside pockets or rear pants pockets, even if they are zipped. If someone asks for the time, don't use your phone to answer them. Electronic items are especially vulnerable. Most buses and taxis now have security cameras, but don't expect that to stop the thieves. Move your purse or backpack in front of you when on the bus, or drop it to your feet. Travel in groups and make it obvious that you are watching one another. Don't hesitate to stare (with a smile) at someone if you think they may be looking you over as a target. Never accept any free food or drink, it may be drugged. Pick-pockets work in teams and often stage a distraction or squeeze play as you are trying to get on or off the bus. Leave a copy of your travel plans with your friends, family, or us, so we know where you planned to be. Buy an Ecuadorian phone "chip" for your "unlocked" phone, or buy an Ecuadorian phone. Call ahead for taxi service instead of haling a taxi on the street. A safe street in the daytime can change to dangerous at sunset.

17. Children. We love them, but they and their actions are your complete responsibility. If your children are respectful and well-behaved, they are welcome. However, neither the house or our neighborhood is "child proof / kid safe". If you are traveling with a young child, teenager or special needs child, please be aware that our home, Internet service, computers, kitchen, bathrooms, laundry, picture windows, and everything else that could be broken or damaged were not designed or arranged with your child in mind. While our home is next door to a playground, your children should always be accompanied by you. We understand that some children are more active and / or inquisitive than others. However, there are other guest rooms, personal items and sections of our home that are absolutely "off limits". It is mandatory that you and your children respect our other guests, our home, Internet, computers, telephones, rules and belongings. Please consider this before making a non-refundable reservation.

18. Altitude. Quito is high. Our house is at 10,000 feet. If you are flying directly to Quito you will likely experience some discomfort (difference in breathing, slight headache, fatigued, easily exhausted) for a few days while your body adjusts. We do when we return from the United States after a few months stay. Take it easy, don't over exert, walk slowly, don't go any higher until your body adjusts. Some pack headache tablets, or diamox, chocolate, Gingko Bilboa, caffeine, just in case. Normally drinking lots of water, resting, and taking some aspirin will do the trick. If you have existing health issues, it would be good to discuss these with your doctor before coming to the Ecuadorian highlands, including Quito. For severe reactions, going lower is probably the quickest solution. Some friends experience sickness above 9,000 feet, but feel better once they get down to 8,000 feet.

19. Doing business with the local friends: The local friends are very loving, generous and helpful, but not wealthy. It is common to view all foreigners as people with unlimited resources (plenty of money), and therefore the friends may simply wait until the end of a trip or work day to receive a fine pay. A common “day’s pay” here is about $25, however that is for general labor only. (professionals do get paid more, what might have been an $80 / hour rate in the U.S., could be  $30 / hour here). Remember that vehicles (even 10 to 20 years old) here are very expensive to buy and to maintain (parts are also ridiculously expensive). There are few "junk yards", as wrecked cars are just straightened out (sort of). Only vehicles less than one year old can be imported into the country, and that with a 40% import tax. This makes older vehicles very valuable, even 10 to 20 year old cars are still amazingly expensive. In addition, interest rates are very high. A suggested place to start calculations on private transportation is about 10$ per hour. If you want someone to wait for you while you visit somewhere, or conduct business, the "meter is still running". Please remember to include appropriate transportation costs and expenses for day trips, including meals, tolls, and whatever entrance fees for an excursion. If you plan to go "off road", like drive up the side of a mountain on dirt or gravel roads in a 4X4 truck, then the price should obviously be higher. When negotiating prices with the locals, to avoid misunderstandings, it is better to negotiate a price at the beginning, rather than wait until the end of the activity. It is best to bring up the extra costs first, because by the end of the day, you will be negotiating them, or there could be hard feelings. This can also be good advice when using a taxi. You may want to ask the price, or confirm that they will be using their taxi meter. Taxis at night often turn off their meter, so expect to pay more the later, and more dangerous it gets.

Give us a call, text, or e-mail  info@QuitoBrickHouse.com and let's see if what we have to offer meets your plans. We can quickly e-mail additional information and photos.

Note: Rooming in our home is available only for Jehovah's Witnesses. Due to very limited availability, reservations must be confirmed with a non-refundable deposit of the greater of one night's stay, or 50% of your total stay. These prices do not include any applicable taxes (Quito Ecuador has a 22 % hotel / sales tax). We request that reservations be made via e-mail. For security reasons, we recommend providing any credit card data only by phone; the rest of the information can be sent electronically. All prices are shown in U.S. dollars. Ecuador uses U.S. dollar currency.

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