The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of esters from alcohols using acetic acid as acetylating agent and clays as catalysts, which comprises the preparation of esters in a single step from the reaction of aliphatic, acyclic, cyclic, heterocyclic, .alpha.,.beta.-unsaturated and aromatic alcohols with carbon atoms in the range of C.sub.1 to C.sub.10 with acetic acid in a molar ratio of 1:3 to 11 using reusable natural montmorillonite/metal ion-exchanged clay catalysts in the solvent medium of aliphatic, aromatic, or chlorinated hydrocarbons at 30-140.degree. C. for a period in the range of 0.02 to 3.0 hrs, and recovering the corresponding esters by simple work-up procedure.