Tips

There are numerous sources of good information to help you pick the right school in Quito for you. Here me list some of the most well-known and reputable:

• On the internet:
  1-2-3 Teach Me (www.123teachme.com)
  A good search site with excellent listings.
  
  
• South American Explorers (www.samexplo.org)
  Has excellent resources for schools across South America. Has a Clubhouse in Quito with lots of useful information as well as activities. Membership costs $50 per year.
  
  
• Guidebooks are another source of recommendations: these include Lonely Planet (www.lonelyplanet.com), Rough Guide (www.roughguide.com), Footprint Ecuador Handbook (www.footprintbooks.com) and Reise Know How.
  
  

Accreditation

In Quito, all Spanish schools should be accredited to the Ministry of Education. Always check as this is your first guaranty of quality.

Prices and Services

It's important to remember that price is not always synonymous with quality. However, good service is hard to give if below the prices mentioned above. The school will be cutting probably unacceptable corners if they offer extremely low prices. It's always worth shopping around and searching for the best deal, taking into account what is included in the package.

Location

Most language institutions in Quito are located in the north of the city, often in the tourist quarter of La Mariscal. A few schools have their bases in the historic centre. If culture and architecture is your thing, then you're best off heading for the Old Town. If you're into fun and going out all night, then stick to the north of the city. The other factor affecting location is price - prices for teaching, rent and services are cheaper in the Old Town than the north. In all cases, always check that your school and/or home-stay is located in a convenient place for public transport, banks, supermarkets, etc. The Quito Visitors' Bureau has an excellent map, searchable by street, which is very useful for getting an idea of locations - see here for that.